The Board of Trustees is currently accepting Nominations for the 2017 Unsung UU Award to be presented at the Annual Meeting (June 4). Each year, the Board of Trustees presents this award to a member or friend of our church who works tirelessly behind the scenes, is someone we can always count on, and is always willing to assist when needed.  Please help us identify the Unsung UU for 2017 by completing the nomination form and submitting it to the Board of Trustees at [email protected] or by dropping it off in the church office by Sunday, May 7, 2017. To see a list of past recipients, go to ucdsm.org/unsung-uu, or see the wall plaque in the gathering space.

Are you new to Unitarian Universalism or our church? Or maybe you’re not new but would like to know more people and explore our faith? Join us for this three-session class to reflect on our spiritual journeys, explore core Unitarian Universalist values, and connect with others.  Sign up on-line: ucdsm.org/classes-for-visitors. Questions? Contact Laura Berardi, membership coordinator, at [email protected].

Proposed Revision of Endowment Fund Bylaws

Sunday, April 9, 9:15 & 11 am, Channing Hall

& Wednesday, April 12, 6:30 pm, Peace Conference Room

The Endowment Disbursement and Investment Committees will be proposing some changes to the Endowment Articles at the annual meeting on Sunday, June 4. The original founding document for the Endowment Fund was approved in 1987. The proposed changes are intended to simplify and streamline the management and oversight of the Fund to bring it more in line with current circumstances and practices. Any changes to the Endowment Articles will require approval of the membership. The Committee will hold three meetings at which members can learn about and discuss these changes (Sunday, 4/9 @ 9:15 & 11am, Wednesday, 4/12 @ 6:30 pm).

As UUs, we commit to Standing on the Side of Love in our justice work. As First Unitarian, we commit to artner with area organizations working to bring about a more just world. It's time to nominate more organizations to stand with, so... Who do you love? What organizations should we stand with? To learn more about our Faith in Action Community Outreach Partnership and to submit a nomination, go to www.ucdsm.org/faith-in-action.

In the past couple of weeks you’ve learned WHAT it is (food & fun), and WHO can participate (EVERYONE), and WHY (food & fun & meeting new people & supporting the church). And now the issue may be that you love to cook, but don’t have room to host a group, or you have lots of room, but don’t like to cook. HOW can you help? NO PROBLEM!  Let us know, and we’ll match hosts who have space, with cooks who don’t.

See this week’s order of service for more info, or go online to: http://ucdsm.org/fabfunfoodfair  for complete info and a offer submission form.

 The Queers Are Here is a series by Stormy O'Brink about gender non-conformity, identity, and folx who break the mold.  Featuring acrylic portraits of queer, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming themes, this series aims to present queer power rather than the adversity our community faces.  See this work on the art wall in Channing Hall during the month of March.

Meet the artist between services on Sunday, March 26.

Do you want to get to know a few more people at First Unitarian? We will learn the art of 1:1 relational meetings and then have a chance to practice and meet new people.  If you like this, consider joining a newly forming team whose ENTIRE focus will be building community at our church.

During this ministerial transition, Rev. Erin Gingrich, Laura Berardi - our Membership Coordinator, and some lay leaders are forming a team to help our congregation get to know each other better. We will use two of the tools utilized in community organizing- 1:1 meetings and house meetings.  Training will be offered in each skill simultaneously.  If you want to learn about both tools, join us for both trainings!

Contact Sally Boeckholt --  [email protected] -- for more information. Childcare will be provided on 3/27. If you would like childcare for 4/1, please RSVP to Laura Berardi at  [email protected] by 3/29.

Thank you to John Maly for serving a three year term on the Board's Financial Oversight Committee.

Three cheers for Liz Bredeson, Hilary Hippen-Leek, Deidre Fudge and Sally Boeckholt for leading the 2017-18 Stewardship Drive.

Thank you to Mike Lauer for volunteering in the child care room on 3/9, and to Janelle Bailey for volunteering in the childcare room on 3/12 and 3/19 when we were short-staffed!

The Sanctuary Discernment Committee is studying all the ramifications of First Unitarian Church becoming a Sanctuary Church. The following are some of the upcoming educational forums and discussions. 

Sunday,  March 26, 9:15 & 11 am
Forums with Erica Johnson from American Friends Service Committee.
See Forum announcement at top of this email.
 
Monday, April 3, 6:30 pm, Channing Hall
This will be an open discussion with the Sanctuary Discernment team to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, explain our plans and ideas. The team wants this process to be open and active.  
 
Sunday, May 7, 1 -3 pm, Channing Hall
Alejandro Alfariz Santiz, pastor at Las Americas/Trinity United Methodist Church in Des Moines. He will speak about the immigrant experience, what his congregants and others in the immigrant community have experienced, and how sanctuary might be an effective tool in the fight for just immigration laws.
 
We are planning more educational forums, discernment circles and other informational sessions, so please check often for updates.

Attend this training to become volunteer mediators committed to helping students resolve their conflicts peacefully.  Cost is $25 which includes a light breakfast and lunch.  To register, contact Scarlet Lunning Huey with your name and contact information at [email protected].

In March and April, First Unitarian Church is partnering with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPHeartland) is one of the largest and oldest reproductive health organizations in the Midwest, and we operate 14 health centers across Iowa and Nebraska. In Polk County we have three health centers and provide education, outreach and advocacy. The mission of PPHeartland is to provide, promote and protect reproductive and sexual health through health services, education and advocacy. For more than eight decades, we have been committed to cultivating communities where people have meaningful access to the reproductive health care they need, where sexual health education is comprehensive and equitable, and where individuals have the right to lead a healthy and meaningful life. Last year, we provided reproductive and sexual health care to 52,963 individuals across our affiliate, reached 55,414 individuals through our education and outreach services, and advocated to protect reproductive health rights in the communities we serve.

Get Involved!

There will be a number of ways to be involved in assisting PPHeartland in March and April. During the month of March, we are collecting items for our Book sale. You can drop off donated items at church in the bins under the Faith in Action bulletin board. Items accepted include books, magazines (less than 2 years old), tapes/records/CDs, DVDs & videos, games & puzzles. All items MUST be in good condition. Find more information at: http://desmoinesbooksale.com/

In April, we will be collecting items to be used by our clinic and education staff, and you can volunteer at our spring booksale April 20-24. More information on all of these opportunities will be available at our table in the gathering area and on the Faith in Action bulletin board.

If you'd like to set up a regular (weekly or monthly) contribution to our social justice activities, click here and enter the dollar amount for "Social Justice Outreach". 

Mar 28  |  Scriptease, 7 pm, Auditorium

This month, StageWest is collaborating with Gateway Dance Theater to present Shankuntula by Kalidasa

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