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

515-244-8603

The Ontological, the Semantic, and

the Tribal

with Reverend Garmon

Some times we have differing perspectives on what exists in reality. Some times, instead, our difference is over what words mean. And sometimes the disagreement isn't about either of those.

Join the live service on Zoom!

Zoom Passcode: Safford

(Please mute your mic before

the service begins!)



Zoom may not be available.

Join us in the auditorium at 11:15 a.m. as we hear Mike Andreski moderate a forum with our candidates for the At-Large City Council seat which was opened when Mayor Connie Boesen assumed her new role. The five candidates are: Dr. Claudia Addy, Benjamin Clarke, Justyn Lewis, Mike Simonson, and Rose Marie Smith. Join us this Sunday!

Zoom

Meeting ID: 856 2018 2535

Passcode: 865068

Visit the Caring Community Webpage for the following options:

• Caring Ministry – for temporary assistance, such as meals or rides, or to volunteer (515-244-8603 ext. 108)
• Pastoral care - for support through a difficult time

Check the news feed in Realm if you missed last Sunday's Joys & Sorrows.

Ann Mowery is the Pastoral Care Associate available for this service time. Please email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance during the week.

Children & Youth Programming

There will be no children and youth programming on

03/17 while metro schools are on spring break.

Regular programming will resume on 03/24.

Children and Youth programs happen on Sundays!

• Elementary-aged (Kindergarten-4th Grade) children of visitors, friends, and members are welcome to go to the One Room SchUUlhouse during services after the Story for All Ages.
• Middle-school aged youth of visitors, friends, and members are welcome to join their own group after service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.
• High-school aged youth of visitors, friends, and members are welcome to join our youth group after service every Sunday morning.

Adult Programming

Sign up for Spring Adult Programs!

Our Adult Programs webpage has our exciting Spring courses and groups. Be sure to register now!

• Bird Walks - Spring 2024 - 3/31, 4/13, 4/28
• Compassionate Communication - 3/23
• Circle Suppers - Beginning now
• Connection Circles - On-going
• Metaphysical Awakening Book Group - Begins 3/26
• UU Wellspring Sacred Earth - Begins 4/14
• Tai Chi - On-going



EVENTS THIS WEEK

Path of Membership Opportunities

Whether you are ready to commit to membership at First Unitarian, or just curious to know more about us, we offer regular opportunities for visitors and prospective members to learn more about our congregation and Unitarian Universalism.

• Our next "UU 101" class on history and identity will be Saturday, March 16th, from 1:00-3:00PM.
• Our next "cUUriosity Conversation" for new visitors to ask questions about us will be on Sunday, April 7th, immediately after service until 12:00PM.
• Our next "UU 201" class on membership and life at First Unitarian will be on Saturday, April 20th, from 1:00-3:00PM.

Please contact Birch Spick, our Congregational Life Coordinator, at cloffice@ucdsm.org with any questions. You can read more about our Path of Membership here.

Unity Circle

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

[Please note: this date is different from the one in the Unity Circle Booklet]

We will be meeting for lunch and a program. Our speaker will be Tim Coughennower from the Des Moines Police Department! His talk will be based on his assessment of our church security and safety procedures.

Please bring a dish to share, and your own table service and a cup for your beverage. Looking forward to seeing you there!

"Speaking Grief" Movie Screening

Friday, March 22nd at 6:30 p.m.

in Griffin Hall

Let's get better at grief.

On Friday, March 22, the Grief Support Circle is hosting a viewing of the documentary "Speaking Grief." All are invited to the screening, because we can all get better at grief. From the documentary's website: "Speaking Grief helps us move away from the idea that grief is a problem that needs to be 'fixed' and illustrates that grief is a universal, yet individual experience." Film will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Griffin Hall, with cookies and beverages available. A short discussion time will follow.

Contact pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for more information.

First Unitarian Humanist Update

** Watch Party: Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 p.m.

Our watch party series will continue at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines. Send a note to info@humanistsocietyofiowa.org for more information.

** Book Group: Sunday, March 17th at 12:00 p.m.

The Humanist book group meets on the first and third Sunday of each month in the south conference room. You can join in person or via Zoom.  We will be discussing chapters 34 and 35 of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll.

Introduction to Compassionate Communication

Saturday, March 23rd from 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

in Griffin Hall

In this introductory workshop participants will engage in discussion, learning, and exercises that show how to have healthy and more rewarding relationships, especially with one’s self.

This workshop is facilitated by Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication. Please click here for more information.

Click to Register.

This workshop is free, though we encourage donations that will offset the cost of the workshop to One Earth Conservation.

Sacred Bridges CUUPS: Ostara

Saturday, March 23rd at 3:00 p.m.

in the Labyrinth

Join us for a Magical Ostara Celebration with Sacred Bridges CUUPS! As the wheel of the year turns and the promise of spring fills the air, we invite you to join our community for a joyous Ostara celebration.

Nestled within the serene embrace of our labyrinth, we'll come together to honor this sacred time of balance and renewal.

For more information click here. Let's welcome the light, embrace the warmth, and celebrate the beauty of Ostara together!

"Metaphysical Awakening" Book Club

Starting Tuesday, March 26th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Join us for our book club where we will meet with author, Michael Lewis, and explore his book in weekly Tuesday evening sessions (March 26th-August 27th).

Register here.

Central Iowa Trans Lives Festival

Saturday, March 30th from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

In honor of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, this fourth annual all-ages festival showcases the creative work of transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming adults and youth from around Iowa. Work includes visual art and crafts for sale, food trucks and booths, live music, poetry, literature, dance, drag, and comedy performances. Local nonprofit and community organizations providing support and resources to the trans community will also be on hand. The festival is open to everyone, and admission and parking are free. LGBTQ+ affirming security will also be provided so that everyone can experience a safe and fun event. Hosted by First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, an LGBTQ+ Welcoming Congregation.

Trans Lives Fest - Volunteers Needed

Saturday, March 30th from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Trans Lives Fest is First Unitarian's largest public-facing event. Last year, over 700 folx attended! We need your help to make the 2024 Trans Lives Fest another successful First U event! The festival is at First Unitarian Church on March 30, 2024, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

We need volunteers to help before, during, and after the event! Note that volunteer shifts are shorter this year, so we encourage you to sign up for more than one shift to help us fill all the slots. Questions? Contact tag@ucdsm.org. Thank you!

Sign up here to volunteer.

Volunteer Sustainability Training:

Stop Recruiting, Start Retaining

Starts April 6th from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Griffin Hall

We will meet six Saturday mornings: April 6, April 20, May 4 (space to be determined), May 18, June 1, and June 15. Everyone is welcome and leaders are particularly encouraged to attend. We will use the UUA curriculum "Stop Recruiting, Start Retaining" in the form of webinars. If you're part of a group, but not a leader, you'll come away with a better understanding of healthy group dynamics. If you can't commit to all six sessions, you can catch up by watching the webinars on your own.

Fellowship, Food and FUNds (FFF 24)

Submissions due April 8

Sale April 27-28

Our annual food fair fundraiser, Fellowship Food and FUNds, is coming up at the end of April! Do you like to plan or host dinner parties? Do you like to help others throw a party? Have some fun ideas for activities culminating in a meal together? Do you love to cook or bake? We need you and your talents to help raise money for the church and have a great time getting to know people better.

Submission forms for events and food items for auction available here.

More information will be available after Sunday services and on the website. For questions or to volunteer to help with the sale, email foodfair@ucdsm.org.

Sacred Bridges CUUPS Pagan Jubilee

Volunteers Needed

Calling all kindred spirits!

Sacred Bridges CUUPS is seeking volunteers to help make our Pagan Jubilee: Beltane May 4th, 2024 event magical!

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Greeting guests and guiding them with warmth and grace.
• Assisting with event setup.
• Helping to ensure a smooth transition by aiding in post-celebration cleanup.

Interested in becoming a part of our mystical team? Complete our survey to join the enchantment. Let's co-create an unforgettable Beltane experience together!

Artwork in Griffin Hall

The artwork hanging in Griffin Hall are a few of the Trans-life artists who will be displaying at the Trans Lives Fest coming up at the end of the month.

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

Our Faith In Action partners are Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund and The Freestore. If you would like to donate to Faith in Action partners, please donate directly to them through the links provided.

If you would like to donate to the Freestore, click here.

If you would like to donate to the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund, click here. 

In addition to providing monetary donations for our Faith in Action partners, one of the goals of this committee is to improve relationships through volunteer events that support the organizations. We will announce events that church members can be involved with in the coming months.

Freestore

Our Champion is Mike Smith

Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund

Our Champion is Doug Aupperle

Needed: Nominations to USDSM Board of Trustees

The Nominations Committee is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the BOT for July 2024 – June 2027. It’s an exciting time at First Unitarian Church, as new BOT members will have the opportunity to continue great work with our Interim Minister and will welcome in our new Settled Minister in August 2025. There are many ways to serve your Congregation, and the BOT is one of them! If you have questions, please chat with a member of the current BOT or Nominations Committee. Self-nominations are accepted. Please feel out the form here. Just scroll to the bottom of the page. Thank you for your time and consideration in serving First Unitarian Church!

Nominations Committee: LeeAnn Back, Sue Huber, Crystal Loving, Gianfranco Berardi, and Kerry George. Email us at nominating@ucdsm.org

Green Sanctuary 2030 Survey

We are a UU Green Sanctuary congregation! All our past efforts through Energy and Justice for All led us to achieving Green Sanctuary certification on February 19, 2015. Our current activities include development of a mini forest in West Des Moines and education sessions with Shelley Buffalo of the Meskwaki Settlement on ways we can be supportive of the indigenous peoples in Iowa. The UU Green Sanctuary program has been reborn for 2030 and we want First Unitarian of Des Moines to enter the pipeline for certification in 2030. In order to participate, congregations must complete projects within three intersectional domains: mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and justice. Justice activities are an essential component of the new Green Sanctuary process. We know that our First Unitarian members love Mother Earth and are seeking ways to put our 7th principle into action. This is your chance! Please help us by filling out this questionnaire.

Search Committee

We are looking for a few good search committee members! The Board of Trustees have begun making calls to all member households. One purpose of these calls is to surface names for our Search Committee. After we have finished our phone calls with each of you, we will work with our Nominations Committee to produce a slate of seven candidates for the Search Committee. This slate will be voted upon by the congregation at the June annual meeting. Once selected by the congregation, the Search Committee begins their work.

For more complete details about what it means to serve on the Search Committee, please click Ministerial Transition. This will take you to our website page dedicated to this transition.

REACH Grant Applications

Available for 2024

A program of the Endowment Committee

It’s almost a new year and a new opportunity to share your ideas for Radical Engagements And Creative Happenings!

REACH Grant Applications for 2024 are now available.

REACH grants can be awarded to church members or groups for ideas related to community outreach, educational opportunities for members. This is your chance to plan or improve a program or event beyond our usual budget limitations. We have $13,079 available for grants this year, with each individual grant capped at $2,500. So, what would you like to do?

The REACH grant application form is available on the church website, here.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your project prior to completing the application, please e-mail the Endowment Committee at Endowment@UCDSM.org.

Here it is...Your Moment of Zen

Raven went to see Prairie Dog Roshi. When she announced herself, Prairie Dog poked her head out of her burrow and blinked in the bright sunshine. Raven said, "I hear that Buddha Macaw looked up from the branch of her Jobo tree and saw the morning star and announced her realization. I get the feeling that something is missing from the story. I went to see Jackrabbit Roshi and asked him what happened when Buddha Macaw saw the morning star. Jackrabbit said, 'She realized the truth of mutually dependent arising.' What do you say? What happened when she saw the star?" Prairie Dog crawled out and stood erect. She crossed her paws on her chest, scanned the horizon briefly, and said, "She realized the underlying fact of oneness." "Well," thought Raven, "Prairie Dog Roshi seems to know her metaphysics, but maybe I'm not a metaphysician." See full post here.

Who Do I Contact for...?

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

Financial Requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Pledge Requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Administrative Requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Communication Requests: communications@ucdsm.org

Building Use Requests: hnotch@ucdsm.org

All Other Inquiries: mgarmon@ucdsm.org

Intercom Weekly Submissions

Deadline: Wednesday @ 12 noon

Two ways to get your message across:

1. Submit your Intercom Weekly article to communications@ucdsm.org.
2. Want more of a "boost?" Select from an entire menu of communications using Our Events form! Staff LOVES to receive these forms!

Helpful Hints:

• In the body of an email, please include a title, relevant dates and times, contact information, and a brief description of your event or announcement.

• Please proofread your article before submitting

• An image can help make your article stand out! Please feel free to attach an image to your email. (JPG or PNG files are preferred.) Note: images that violate copyright laws will be rejected.

• The Intercom Weekly is sent out to our mailing list on Friday at 12:00 p.m.

• We run announcements for no more than three consecutive weeks, so please plan accordingly.

• Per church policy, we do not share private email addresses or phone numbers in our communications. We will set up an @ucdsm.org email address for you. Please contact the office for more information.