A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA 50315

515-244-8603

CORRECTED - Jon Royal celebration service information is now included below. Our apologies.

When relationships are wounded, the work of repair is facilitated by recognizing some distinctions between the meanings of different stages or levels of repair.



Join the live service on Zoom!

Zoom Passcode: Safford

(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)

Forum

On Repentance and Repair

Discussion for our 2023-24 UUA Common Read: Danya Ruttenberg, On Repentance and Repair.

Upcoming Forum on

"Repentance and Repair"

November 17th

Every year, our Unitarian Universalist Association selects one book for UUs across the nation to read and engage. The Common Read selection for 2023-24 is:

Danya Ruttenberg, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World

This Common Read offers a glimpse into one of our faith’s foundational sources: Judaism. Readers follow the author, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, into a framework for making amends offered by the 12th-century Jewish physician and scholar Maimonides. Written for people of any or no faith tradition, On Repentance and Repair introduces practices for accountability that can bring us into wholeness and make a difference in our personal, community, and national relationships.

You can order the book from inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop.

We will have a forum on November 17th, which should give you time to get and read the book!

Here at UCDSM, we're a few months late in taking up the 2023-24 Common Read. We plan to catch up by attending to the 2024-25 Common Read in the spring.

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.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

FAITH FORMATION

No Youth Faith Formation Classes December 1st

After all the turkey and pumpkin pie, we're giving everyone a chance to rest those stuffed bellies! On December 1st, Youth Faith Formation is taking a little break. Enjoy the extra time to relax with family and friends, and we'll see you back the following Sunday!

Childcare will still be provided!

It's getting chilly out there! When we go outside, we want everyone to stay warm and comfy. So, remember to dress in your warmest clothes:



• Wear layers – shirts, hoodies, jackets – so you can add or take off clothes if you need to.
• Hats, gloves, and scarves are awesome for keeping you toasty!
• Warm shoes or boots are best for cold days, especially if there’s any rain or snow.

When you’re prepared for the weather, it’s much easier to focus on the fun stuff. Grab your cozy clothes and let’s make the most of the season!

ADULT PROGRAMMING

Defend the Vulnerable, Speak Truth to Power, Care for Ourselves

The Adult Programming Team seeks volunteers to help us plan our programs to “Defend the vulnerable, speak truth to power, and care for ourselves” as we struggle to live with 4 years of Donald Trump as President and live in a ruby-red Iowa. APT will work with Rev. Garmon to organize programs (Forums, classes, and groups) about how we can live our values and care for each other in the face of an environment that is hostile to much of what we care about.

How do we support:

• Our public schools?
• Our public libraries?
• Our union workers?
• Our LGBTQ friends and neighbors?
• Our immigrant friends and neighbors?

We could go on, but let's start with that list.

We want to invite congregants to join us as we plan for programs that will equip us to Defend the vulnerable, speak truth to power, care for ourselves. By signing up, you will help us to plan but not necessarily to present programs around our theme.

Sign up here to join our planning process!

Join a Circle Supper

A small group (4-5 households) of First Unitarian Church members or friends will meet for dinner and friendly discussions starting in October 2024 for 4-5 months. The purpose is community building by getting to know other church members or friends in a more intimate setting. Each household usually hosts the group once, and the meals are potlucks arranged by the person having the dinner at their home that month. Meals in restaurants or at the church are available if you don't feel you can host. There is still time to sign up. Please register here.

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

Morning Zen with Meredith

Tuesday - Saturdays, from 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

Morning Zen with Rev. Meredith Garmon is now offered on Zoom every Tuesday through Saturday morning at 6:00 am.

Detailed information can be found on One Earth Zen. For the chants and sutras, it will be helpful to have the booklet: "One Earth Zen: Sutras, Chants, and Songs." You may also pick up a copy in the church office.

Format:

Opening Chants

25 minutes zazen (silent seated meditation)

6 mins kinhin (walking meditation)

9 min Sutra service (recitations)

10 min dharma discussion

Closing chant

UU101 Class

Saturday, November 16th, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Come learn about First Unitarian history within our church and the denomination as a whole. UU101 is structured to help new prospective members and visitors learn more about Unitarian Universalism. Here is a great video to watch prior to the class to get a history overview. If you would like to attend the class, please RSVP by clicking here. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Faithyna Leonard.

COMMUNITY MINISTER UPDATE

Rev. LoraKim Joyner

Upcoming Bird Walk

Saturday, November 16th, at 9:00 a.m.

Community Minister LoraKim Joyner will lead us in our first Bird Walk of the winter season with the theme: Flying over Politics. how watching birds can connect us to life, allowing us to see beyond the divisions of politics and difference.

We will meet at the Easter Lake Garden parking area near the West Fore-bay Bridge inside the park (use the entrance on Watrous/Evergreen Avenue) To learn more about the event and to register click here.

Click here to listen to Rev. LoraKim speak about her ministry in parrot conservation and how birds help us see the beautiful and the tragic in this recently released podcast with Species Unite. 

CHURCH EVENTS AND NEWS

Click the button below to submit an announcement or event for publication

Deadline: Wednesday at Noon

Offices will be closed November 28th - November 29th for Thanksgiving. All announcement submissions for the November 29th Intercom need to be sent to Communications by Thursday, December 21st at 12:00 p.m.

Trans Day of Remembrance and Resilience (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20th that honors transgender and gender-expansive people who have died from transphobic violence and celebrates the resilience of the trans community.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Prayer:

On this Transgender Day of Remembrance,

we remember those who have been murdered for being who they are,

those who face violence on a daily basis,

those who have lost loved ones, and those who worry for loved ones.

May we come to a time when we cease to shame children around gender roles and expression,

where we allow for freedom and exploration of identity and expression,

and to a world that operates from love especially when things are difficult and confusing.

May all of us who live with the threat of violence find support, strength,

community, hope, and safety from violence.

By Sunshine Jeremiah Wolfe

Poinsettia Orders Due December 1st

Order your holiday poinsettias now and help make the auditorium beautiful for the Music Service! Dedicate your flower to the memory or in honor of a special person or event and take it home with you after the Music Service. Scan the QR code with your phone or click here to place your order. Orders are due December 1st.

Jon Royal Celebration of Life

Saturday, November 23rd at 11:00 a.m.

Longtime member Jon Royal died on Friday, November 1st, at the age of 76. A celebration of his life will be held in Griffin Hall on Saturday, November 23rd, at 11:00 a.m. He asked that memorial contributions be made to the Endowment Fund of First Unitarian Church. Condolences may be sent in care of his daughter, Sydney Royal-Welch.

Progressive Voices Concerts Presents

Alice DiMicele

Saturday, November 16th at 7:30 p.m.

Listen: “Live”

Alice DiMicele is an Americana/ Folk Singer-Songwriter based in Southern Oregon. Her voice is rangy, sometimes soft and intimate, other times bold and brassy, evoking a distinct mood in every song she sings. Alice built a dedicated fan base as an independent musician with stirring live performances spanning a three-decade career. Her new album, Every Seed We Plant, is her sixteenth release, a snapshot of life in these times – gut-wrenching, hopeful, vulnerable, intense.

Where/When: All shows start at 7:30 p.m. in the First Unitarian Church auditorium.

Tickets: Single Tickets: $22 Advance /$27 Door Season Tickets:4 shows for $78

Save $10 off of the advance price and $30 off of the door price! 6 shows for $117 — Save $15 off of the advance price and $45 off of the door price!

Tickets available now online at Humanitix. Tickets are also available in person at church after services the four Sundays before each concert.

More information is also available online at www.ucdsm.org/concerts. Email questions to concerts@ucdsm.org.

Women's Wednesdays

Wednesday, November 20th, 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Join us in the Stonewall Conference Room for a discussion chosen by women, about women, and discussed by women.

**Please note, Women's Wednesdays will now be meeting on the THIRD Wednesday of the month.**

Central Iowa Community Land Trust Informational Open House

Wednesday, November 20th, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

UU's move Des Moines to act on affordable housing! Three older, one younger UU + other AMOS members + the Des Moines government are about to make affordable home ownership MUCH more available in the metro. 

Yes, Sally Boeckholt, Barb Klubel, Cheryl Long and intrepid AMOS leader, Courtney Dufford, were critical in bringing to the forefront the concept behind the multi-million-dollar investment that the city of Des Moines will be making in a Community Land Trust. You are invited to learn more and celebrate the power of UU's to make an enormous difference.

What: The informational open house for the Central Iowa Community Land Trust

When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 5:00 – 6:30 PM, Program portion at 5:30

Where: Des Moines Central Library - 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines

Unity Circle

Thursday, November 21st, at 12:00 p.m.

We will be meeting at noon on Thursday, November 21st, for lunch and a program. Our November topic is 'Aging in Place.' Our speaker will be Anne Nieland with Smart Senior Transitions, LLC. Please bring a dish to share, and your own table service and a cup for your beverage. Looking forward to seeing you there!

For November, we will be partnering with Faith In Action partner Al Exito in honor of the Mary Campos Scholarship Fund. Money contributions, if you wish to contribute, will get to Unity Circle members Dave Witke and/or Gene McCracken to deliver to Al Exito.

mUUvie Discussion Group

Saturday, November 23, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Please gather together to watch and discuss the 2022 film, "Silent Night in Algona." The film is based on a true story set in Algona, Iowa, in 1944. The film captures the resilience of a small town during WWII when a young farmer with a debilitating back injury devises an unconventional plan to save the corn harvest using German POWs. Fear and resentment spark tensions among the people and could stand in the way.

We will meet in Room 107. Popcorn will be provided. Bring your own drink. RSVP to mUUvie@ucdsm.org to let us know that you're coming!

Coffee With the Board

Sunday, December 1st, from 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Please join us for Coffee with the Board on Sunday, December 1st, after service in the Stonewall Conference Room.

Break Barriers, Build Beliefs (B4) Workshop

Saturday, December 7th, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

On Saturday, December 7, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines will participate in the Break Barriers, Build Beliefs (B4) workshop offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for congregations involved in the search for a new minister. The Ministerial Search Committee invites all congregational leaders, members, and friends to participate in this workshop. The workshop will be in-person from 9 am - 2:30 pm, with lunch provided. RSVPs requested to plan for food and child care.  

The UUA designed the Break Barriers, Build Beliefs (B4) program to promote inclusive thinking and help prevent discrimination in searching for a new minister. This program includes a three-hour B4 workshop and a Sunday morning service with a facilitator trained by the UUA. In the workshop, attendees will:

• Consider the hopes, expectations, and concerns they have for a new minister
• Learn more about the ministerial search process, and
• Explore how creating categories and putting people in them interferes with choosing the best candidate.

Please join us on Saturday, December 7 at 9 am in Griffin Hall to participate in this UUA-sponsored workshop led by Rev. Patrice (PK) Curtis. RSVP for the event here.

Minister's Discretionary Fund Report

Thanks to the generosity of UCDSM members, since Aug 1 this year, I have given out $4,900 — $100 at a time, 49 times — to our homeless or financially struggling neighbors who have come to our church looking for help.

If you can contribute to keep this help going, please use the envelopes marked "Minister's Discretionary Fund" on the back table in our auditorium sanctuary. Then drop the envelop in the offering basket.

Gratefully,

Meredith

Griffin Hall Artists for November

Regina Lloyd and Saundra Devick

Regina Lloyd began her lifelong interest in art a young age through the Des Moines Art Center. She continued to develop her skills as a multimedia artist and historian while studying in Florence, Italy and traveling Europe during her teenage years. To learn more about Regina, please look at her artwork and read her biography, which is located in Griffin Hall.

Living in Iowa her whole life, raising five children, and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature are the ingredients to Saundra Devick's love of painting. Saundra has drawn and painted a wide variety of subject matter in almost exclusively oil, pastel, and watercolor. To learn more about Saundra, please look at her work and read her biography, located in Griffin Hall.

 For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar.

Click here to learn more about the Iowa Latinx Project, Dawn Martinez Oropeza spoke about during last Sunday's Forum.

Former member, Brian Campbell (Moved to Asheville 😞), interviewed Dawn in 2020 when he was on faculty at Central College. The podcast was titled Divided by Difference. A wonderful, surprising story! Yes, it's about 40 minutes but if you can find the time, most of you will thoroughly enjoy it! 

There is still time to contribute to the Mary E Campos Scholarship fund. Thanks for your continued support of our 24-25 Faith in Action partners.

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.

Young Women's Resource Center

Our Champion is Judy Davis and

Nicole Cable

Al Exito

Our Champion is Gene McCracken and Dave Witke

Who Do I Contact for...?

Please refer to the corresponding email based on your request or inquiry.

Administrative, financial, and pledge requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Communication requests: communications@ucdsm.org

Building/room usage requests: hnotch@ucdsm.org

Calendar requests: calendar@ucdsm.org

MORE LINKS

WWW.UCDSM.ORG | Board of Trustees Business 

Caring Ministry | Staff Contact Information