A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA 50315
515-244-8603
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Sunday, December 29, 2024
10:00 a.m.
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Come join Bruce and Barb Martin (and their family) in singing your favorite songs selected from our hymnals. It’s mostly music but there will be treats and coffee after and offering baskets during. Promises to be a good time. Please join us!
Join the live service on Zoom!
Zoom Passcode: Safford
** There will be no slides on Zoom**
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
**Note the time change -
Service will begin at 10 a.m. this week**
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Service Volunteers - December 29 | |
Celebrant: Barb Martin & Family
Pastoral Care Associate: Ana Davis Evans
AV Volunteer: Bill Paxson
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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 | |
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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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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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! | |
All Leader Gathering
Saturday, January 11 from 9-11 a.m.
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Kick-start your group in 2025!
All leaders, members of groups, and those interested in leadership are welcome for the next All Leader Gathering. Join us January 11 from 9 - 11:00 am in Griffin Hall to gather with fellow members to share ideas for more effective ways to lead and be a member of a group. January's agenda will include deep discussion of self-differentiation, self-awareness and the impact on group dynamics.
Breakfast will be served. Please RSVP to leadership@ucdsm.org.
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Talent Limited/A Monthly Reading Group
Sunday, January 12 from 5-7 p.m.
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Our small group of would-be thespians has been meeting since June 2023 on the 2nd Sunday of each month. We invite you to join us on Sunday, January 12, for a play chosen, directed, and read by our members. We gather at 5:00 p.m. for a potluck, so bring your beverage of choice and something to share. The reading begins at 6:00 and we are usually finished by 7:00 p.m. The event is held in the party room at The Towers Club, 3663 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312. All are welcome! | |
Grief Circle
Monday, January 13 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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The Grief Support Circle meets monthly on the 2nd Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the Minister's Office. Our society is not great at confronting grief. As a result, there is abundant unhelpful advice, platitudes, and reactions out there. Perhaps even more unsettling, though, are the things we can’t talk about. What if you feel relief after someone dies? What if losing them also means losing a way of life for you? Let’s lay it all out on the table in a safe, judgment-free zone. Beyond losing a person, what else are you dealing with? What do you wish people would ask you? What do you wish they’d stop saying? We’ll extend ourselves – and others – a hefty dose of grace as we talk through this sticky topic. | |
Women Around the Table
Tuesday, January 14, from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
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Women Around the Table will meet at the church in Griffin Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All women are invited for conversation and connection. Morning treats will be provided, but participants are reminded to bring their own beverage. | |
Women's Wednesday
Wednesday, January 15 from 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Join us in the Stonewall Conference Room for a discussion chosen by women, about women, and discussed by women. Any person interested in or curious about a female perspective is welcome to join us! | |
Unity Circle
Thursday, January 16, at 12:00 p.m.
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We will be meeting at noon on Thursday, January 16, for lunch and a program. Our January topic is 'Parrot Rescue in Central America.' Our speaker will be Rev. LoraKim Joyner, Community Minister. Please bring a dish to share, and your own table service and a cup for your beverage. Looking 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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Upcoming Bird Walk
Saturday, January 4, 9-10:30 a.m.
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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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Office Closed
Connection Circle
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Sunday Service (*Note the time change*) | |
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Office Closed
DMARC Book Group
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Ministerial Search Committee | |
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Awakening Heart Sangha, Zoom
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Office Closed
Bent Needles
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Sunday Forum
Coming of Age
Coming of Age Parent Group
cUUriousity Conversations
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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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