A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA 50315
515-244-8603
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Tuesday, December 24, 2024
6:00 p.m.
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Celebrate the season at our Christmas Eve Service at 6:00 p.m., where we’ll share the story of Jesus’ birth through fun and unique perspectives—including the wise musings of a curious camel! Come experience the wonder and magic of Christmas Eve!
Join the live service on Zoom!
Zoom Passcode: Safford
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
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Service Volunteers - December 24 | |
Celebrant: Barb Martin
Song Leader: Barb Martin
Musicians: UU Singers
Pastoral Care Associate: Jim Carty
AV Volunteer: Kent Newman
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Forum: There will be no Forum after the December 29 service. Forums will resume January 5, 2025. | |
Our Congregation: Spotlights | |
As a reminder, the Sunday spotlights on Our Congregation are reserved for information from a church-recognized group (e.g., committee, Faith in Action partner) about church wide events and activities, or topics of urgency to the congregation. Spotlights should be written out and no longer than 2 minutes (approximately 250 words). To submit a Spotlight request please complete the Spotlight Request Form. Questions? Reach out to celebrants@ucdsm.org. | |
Room 114 is available as a Quiet Room during service. | |
Visit the Caring Community Webpage for the following options:
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Caring Ministry – for temporary assistance, such as meals or rides, or to volunteer (515) 423-0847 or email caring@ucdsm.org.
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Pastoral care - for support through a difficult time email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org.
Check the news feed in Realm if you missed last Sunday's Joys & Sorrows.
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Singing Our UU Gratitude! | |
Please take a moment to share a thank you or kudos. Submissions will be shared on the board in Griffin Hall and in upcoming worship services. Please click the button below to fill out the form. | |
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS | |
Lost Keys! A set of car keys were found this week in the church kitchen. Please email admin@ucdsm.org to claim them if they are yours! | |
Please note that Youth Faith Formation classes will not meet on December 22 and 29 to allow families and volunteers to enjoy the holiday season. Classes will resume on January 5th.
We wish you a joyful and restful holiday!
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Thank you to all who purchased this year! Remember to take your flowers home with you on Christmas Eve! Click here to view the Poinsettia insert. | |
Church offices will be closed December 24- January 1. Enjoy your holiday! | |
You may have noticed that we recently installed a whiteboard next to the alarm panel by the south doors. To help us ensure everyone’s safety and avoid accidental triggers of the alarm system, we kindly ask everyone to use the whiteboard to sign in and out whenever entering or leaving the church. This simple step will help us keep track of who is in the building and prevent anyone from being unintentionally locked in. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work together to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all. | |
No Zen Meditation with Meredith
December 25-January 1
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Meredith will not be leading Zen Meditation December 25- January 1. Meditations will begin again on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Click here for updates.
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No Tai Chi
December 23-January 2
| Tai Chi will not be meeting for two weeks over the winter holidays: December 23- January 2. The on-going class will resume January 6 at 9:30 a.m. and we will start a new 6-week beginner session that same day. There is no fee for the class, but we do accept a free-will donation for the church. If you are interested in starting Tai Chi, please reach out to the instructor, Jan Knock. | |
Click the button below to submit an announcement or event for publication
Deadline: Wednesday at Noon
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Cookies & Cocoa Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 24 following the Service
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Join us after the December 24th service for a warm and festive gathering in the Griffin Hall! We’ll share cookies, cocoa, and holiday cheer as we celebrate the season together.
We invite everyone to bring a plate of your favorite holiday treats to share with the community! Whether it’s cookies, brownies, or other seasonal favorites, your contribution will add to the joy of the evening. Let’s come together to connect, celebrate, and savor the warmth of the holidays. We hope to see you there!
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Christmas Brunch/Lunch Potluck
Wednesday, December 25, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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Don't feel like spending Christmas alone, inviting people over, or visiting those relatives this year? Then come to church and celebrate the holiday with some UU's and friends! Sign up to join the Christmas Brunch/Lunch Potluck in Griffin Hall from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on December 25. Bring dishes to share, either a brunch or a lunch dish with a serving utensil. All else will be provided. Family and friends are welcome.
Your Christmas Hosts,
Kay Scott and Sandy Simmons
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Feast of Holy Innocents
Prayer Service for Peace
Sunday, December 29 at 2 p.m.
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The Peace, Justice, and Democracy Team of First Unitarian Church of Des Moines is a co-sponsor of an upcoming Feast of Holy Innocents prayer Service for Peace. This event is being organized by the Des Moines Faith Committee for Peace and will be held at the Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community located at 3306 University Ave. in Des Moines.
This ecumenical service is one of a series organized over the last several years by the Des Moines Faith Committee for Peace. We will be taking time to lament the terrible losses of war, to pray, reflect, imagine and re-commit ourselves to the cause of peace-making worldwide. Carmen Lampe Zeitler will offer Reflections for the service. As a co-sponsor of the event, we would like members of First Unitarian to help publicize, attend, and encourage others to attend. For more information, please email pjd@ucdsm.org.
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cUUriosity Conversations
Sunday, January 5 following the Service
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Join us after the service Sunday, January 5, for cUUriosity Conversations! This is an open and welcoming time for visitors and friends to ask questions, share thoughts, and learn from one another about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation. We look forward to seeing you there! | |
First Unitarian Humanist Update |
**Annual Meeting:
Don't miss hearing Iowa State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott discuss the upcoming legislative session. She will be speaking at the Humanist Society annual meeting on Saturday, January 18th. The business meeting will start at 6:30 PM in Griffin Hall, with Ms. Garriott's talk at 7:00.
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COMMUNITY MINISTER UPDATE
Rev. LoraKim Joyner
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Bird Walks in 2025
with Rev. LoraKim Joyner
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During these walks, we will have time for conversation, reflections, and quiet, as well as seeking to identify as many birds as possible. There will be plenty of opportunity to learn about birds and practice the spiritual aspects of watching birds. This is without a doubt a wonderful mindfulness practice. If the weather is particularly wintry, please make reservations so we can keep in touch with you. On such days, the walks will be shorter and/or we can meet to enjoy a warm coffee and conversation so we can build community and share our connection to nature.
These walks will be led by our renowned avian conservationist, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, who is First Unitarian’s community minister and Co-Director of One Earth Conservation. Donations (suggestions of $5) are much appreciated. All donations will go towards bird conservation in the Americas. Click here to donate.
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Saturday, December 21, at 9 a.m. | |
Join Rev. LoraKim Joyner on the Bill Riley Trail for a bird walk: Celebrating Winter Solstice. We will meet at the “Centers Trails Access” which is the parking lot at the Greenwood Ashworth swimming pool at 102 45th Street. Click here for more information. | |
Saturday, January 4, 9-10:30 a.m. | |
Focus and expected viewings: Celebrating National Bird Day – What Could the New Year Bring to You and Birds? Hopefully we will get to see some water birds and some great winter weather.
Location: Grays Lake Park parking lot off where Grays Lake Road begins the John Grubb Lane.
Click here to register.
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GRIFFIN HALL ARTIST FOR DECEMBER
Ann Mowery
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Ann Mowery, a member of the church and an artist, began thinking about the aging body when she approached 70 years old as she was struggling with how she looked at this age.
She had never painted the figure up close or worked on creating realistic skin tones. This combined with her search for a way to continue painting with a worsening hand tremor. These forces moved her to initiate her oil series of larger scale body parts, presented in Griffin Hall.
Stop in Griffin Hall this month to view Ann's work and join her for an Artist Reception on December 29, from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.!
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DMARC - Food Pantry Donation Update | |
Locally, food pantry and DMARC are almost synonymous! First Unitarian has been a member of DMARC since the mid-80s. Thanks to a very generous and anonymous donor, any gift you give to DMARC from November 1st to December 31st will be MATCHED, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000! (Donation link) Note: Rev Sarah Trone Garriot from DMARC was our featured presenter at last Sunday's Forum. Click here for more information on donating with a Dollar-for-Dollar Match or donate using the link below. | |
2024-2025
Faith in Action Partners
Young Women's Resource Center | Al Exito
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The Young Women's Resource Center and Al Exito are First Unitarian Church's Faith in Action Partners for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
The Young Women's Resource Center is a non-profit organization that supports, educates, and advocates for girls and young women ages 10-24. Through small groups and individual support, the YWRC provides programming for all young women, no matter what they may be going through. Girls and young women are defined as people who have been socialized and/or identify as female. Trans and nonbinary friends are welcome.
Al Exito is an organization that supports Latinx youth. It inspires, prepares, supports, and positions Latinx leaders from middle school through college for postsecondary attainment, career readiness, and civic engagement.
The Faith in Action team will offer you opportunities to support these two organizations in the coming months. Please follow Intercom to find out what these will be.
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Longest night Soup Supper | |
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Kitchen Training
Celebrant Team Meeting
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Kitchen Training
Connection Circle
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Solstice Cocoa, Crafts & Carols!
Humanist Watch Party
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Ministerial Search Committee | |
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Awakening Heart Sangha, Zoom
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Office Closed
Christmas Eve Service
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Cookies & Cocoa Holiday Party | |
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Office Closed
Christmas Brunch/ Lunch
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Office Closed
Connection Circle
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For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar. | |
Missed a Sermon? Want to Re-visit? | |
Videos of past sermons can be found here.
The text of past sermons can be found here.
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Staff Contact Information | |
Rev. Meredith Garmon
Interim Minister
mgarmon@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 102
cell: 352-682-8492
Faithyna Leonard
Faith Formation &
Congregational Life Coordinator
fleonard@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 101
Off Mondays
Tuesday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Jamie Seitz
Communications Coordinator
jseitz@ucdsm.org
communications@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 105
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Tracy Aukes
Church Administrator
admin@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 103
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Zoom meetings available upon request
Hannah Notch
Office Manager & Childcare Coordinator
hnotch@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 107
Tuesday - Friday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Sally Boeckholt
Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 104
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