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A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315 | P: 515-244-8603
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This Sunday, April 23 @ First Unitarian
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"Earth Day"
with Rev. Erin Gingrich
9:15 & 11 am
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In this intergenerational service we will celebrate our connections and the oneness of life.
PLUS - Before or after Sunday service, put your UU beliefs in action. Join your fellow UU’s for a bit of Spring Cleaning, by participating in a trash pickup around the church and at both McCrae and McKinley Parks. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, pants, long shirt sleeves, and gloves. Bags will be provided. Stay as long or as little as you and your family would like.
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Sunday Forum at 11 am: Climate & Environmental Justice
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Too often climate change gets talked about as "jobs vs. polar bears" or "so many parts per million will likely lead to so much sea-level rise by 2100." However, climate change is hitting people--and not fifty years from now, but today. Climate change is worsening famines and swelling up unprecedented floods. It is creating a new form of colonialism where some nations import global goods while exporting global environmental disaster. Come listen to local citizens who have friends and family around the world that have seen climate change first hand. Climate change is about people, and when it is about people--about power and inequality and suffering--then it is about justice.
Speakers include:
- Lata D'Mello, Assistant Director of Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa
- Jeff Chungath, Indian-American immigrant with family in south Asia
- Dr. Sara Hamideh (invited), Iranian-American professor of urban design at Iowa State and expert on climate change, natural disaster resiliency planning, and the effects of climate change and disasters on poor women
Sponsored by Energy and Justice for All. Discussion will follow.
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Intergenerational Service - No Children's R.E. this week
Childcare for infants & toddlers available during both services
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Joys & Concerns for Sunday must be submitted by noon on Friday.
Past Joys & Concerns -
4/16/17
If you are in need of temporary assistance, such as meals, rides, or hospital visits,
OR if you would like to help please
visit the Caring Ministry web page
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Also this Sunday:
5:30 pm: Energy & Justice for All potluck & film (Channing Hall)
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This Sunday, April 23, is the Day!!!
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You need to submit your offerings for events & silent auction items for the Fabulously FUN Food Fair FUNdraiser #18 no later than SUNDAY! A complete list of offers will be posted on the website during the week.
See the insert in Sunday’s OOS for more info, and go to www.ucdsm.org/fabfunfoodfair for complete information and the online submission form.
Also on Sunday in the Gathering Area: See fun photos & pick up a handout with all the info you need to know how to participate in our annual Food Fair. And we’ll have a laptop available for those who want to submit right there!
The Sale & Silent Auction opens Sunday, April 30 after 1st service.
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Discussion About the 2017-2018 Church Budget
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Sunday, April 30, 9:15 & 11 am, Peace Conference Room
Come
hear how your pledge dollars will continue our 140-year legacy in 2017-18. Join our Director of Finance and Administration Deborah Dessert in the Peace Conference Room to hear more about the results of our recent successful Stewardship Drive and how those dollars will be used for the coming year.
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UU Singers & Bell Ave Ringers Musical Revue
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A Concert Fundraiser
Sunday, April 30, 1 pm, Auditorium
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Enjoy an hour of great music and help dress up the First Unitarian choirs by attending our concert premiere and contributing in a free goodwill offering to fund materials for new choir stoles! Pre-concert munchies will be provided 30 minutes before show time in the gathering area for your stomach's delight. Come and celebrate a great year of music with us!
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Child Dedications on May 14
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As part of our May 14 Mother’s Day services, we will have an opportunity to share in a ritual of dedication for some of the children in our church community. During this simple ceremony at the 11:00 am service we will acknowledge the children’s given names, bless (or honor) them with the four elements, and declare our responsibility to them as parents and as a community.
Contact Rev. Mark Stringer no later than May 3 if you wish to have your child dedicated or if you’d like to know more about the ceremony.
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Family Promise - May 28 - June 4
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First Unitarian Church is hosting 3 families for
Family Promise from May 28 to June 4. We are in need of meals, evening hosts, night hosts, kitchen clean up and drivers.
Thank you in advance for your support!
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Please stop by the Lost & Found table in the gathering area this Sunday and take home anything that belongs to you. Unclaimed items will be donated.
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Interested in Quilting?
New Quilt Group Forming
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Are you interested in learning to quilt? Want to build on quilting skills you already have? Or would you like to help create new baby quilts we give to new babies in our congregation?
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Deadlines for Applications
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Community Outreach Partner Applications
At First Unitarian, we commit to partner 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.
Applications are due by May 1, 2017.
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Please help us identify the Unsung UU for 2017 by completing
a 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. For more information & a nomination form, go to
ucdsm.org/unsung-uu
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Many thanks to Patrick Dempsey and his daughter McKenna for trimming back the bushes along Casady Drive!
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Social Justice Highlights
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ARC of Des Moines Speaker Series:
"The Roots of Racism:
When History Intersected with Science"
Sunday, April 23 1 pm, Channing Hall
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with Karen Laroux, Ph.D.
Was it always this way? The association of skin color and race is a surprisingly modern development. Colonialism and early science shaped the way Americans understood skin color, creating a new definition of race — one that persists today. Join us to learn how earlier generations understood race, how scientists contributed to changing the meanings attached to race and whether history suggests we can change how we think about race.
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Sanctuary: What is it? What does it mean for our church? Opportunities to learn
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The Sanctuary Discernment team is proposing that we resolve, as a church community, to become a Host Sanctuary Congregation. This means someone under imminent threat of deportation could be living in our church until his/her case is resolved. We will be voting on this decision at the annual meeting on June 4. To help you make an educated vote, there are several opportunities for discussion.
The focus of these groups will be on how becoming a host Sanctuary congregation may allow us to express and act on our values and principles and in the process, grow into the community we wish to become. Please consider joining the discussion at one of these upcoming events:
Wednesdays, April 26, May 3, May 10 and May 17, 6:30 - 8 pm
New! Sanctuary Book Study Group
: The Sanctuary Discernment Team is offering a book study, using the book
Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal by Aviva Chomsky as our guide. Register on-line today:
www.ucdsm.org/adult-re-registration
Sunday, May 7, 1 -3 pm, Channing Hall
Alejandro Alfariz Santiz, pastor at Las Americas/Trinity United Methodist Church in Des Moines, 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.
Tuesday, May 9, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Channing Hall
Talk About It Circle
Sunday, May 21, 9:15 and 11 a.m.: Mike Stimson will share his experience as a lawyer to several DACA students in California and share an overview of our immigration system. Members of the Sanctuary Discernment Team will also be on hand to answer questions. Bring your questions, concerns, fears, and hopes.
Wednesday, May 31, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Mary Safford Room
Small Group Discussion
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Film Screenings: "I'm Not Racist... Am I?"
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I'm Not Racist... Am I? is a feature documentary following a diverse group of teens through a yearlong exploration to get at the heart of racism. Through some tense and painful moments, we see how these difficult conversations affect their relationships with friends and parents, and ultimately challenge them to look deep within themselves.
Film screenings feature a post-film discussion with the director, Catherine Wigginton Greene.
These are free events, but seats are limited, so reserve your seats on Eventbrite today:
For the Drake University showing, you may want to purchase a $3 parking permit to park in commuter lots for that evening (free parking may be taken up on the streets surrounding Drake).
Click here to get a day parking permit.
Sponsored by: Plymouth Church, Des Moines Public Schools, AMOS, Drake School of Education, Anti Racism Collaborative (ARC) of Des Moines, North High School and Roosevelt High School student group, CORE, and TRHS' PROUD.
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Peacemaking Circles Training
July 17, 18 & 19
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Kay Pranis, international leader in restorative justice, specializing in peacemaking circles, will be leading a training in peace circles in July at First Unitarian Church. Cost is $150; scholarships are available. If you are interested, please contact Harvey Harrison - [email protected] or 515.277.9715. Registration is limited, so sign up early.
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Outreach Partner for March & April
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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.
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Get Involved!
In April, we are collecting items to be used by our clinic and education staff. Please bring the items to church and place in the tubs in the gathering area before April 30.
Go to ucdsm.org/outreach-partner for a list of items on their wish list.
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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".
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Religious Education This Week
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Talking with Our Children
About Social Justice Issues
Our children are hearing us talk about social justice issues such as immigration and Black Lives Matter. They and probably have questions.
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We are still looking to hire Religious Education Teachers
to work with our Preschool – Grade 1 Children!
Click here to learn more
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Sunday R.E. Classes for Children & Youth
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This Sunday, April 23, is an Intergenerational Service
Children in Kindergarten and up are invited to attend service with their parent/ guardian
Child care is still available for infants and toddlers
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High School Youth Group
Wes Norman, Adviser
Scott Stilwell, Adviser
Dana Stuehling, Adviser & OWL Facilitator
Julie Brown, Adviser & OWL Facilitator
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Wednesday Night Programming
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These multi-generational evenings of food and fellowship are accompanied by a variety of programming for children, youth and adults. Childcare is available for little ones under age five. Detailed information is included in the Wednesday Programming email, or by clicking the link below:
Wednesday, April 26:
5:30 pm: Dinner ($5/adult, $3/kid) - Taco Bar (prepared by Gene McCracken)
5:45 - 8:30 pm: Children & Adult Choirs, Our Whole Lives, Coming of Age, Navigators, Spirit Play, Soul Matters, Sustainability Task Force
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Tracy Beck
Director of Religious Education
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Megan Irey
R.E. Assistant
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More Upcoming Meetings & Events
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If you wish to schedule a meeting or event,
please contact Jane White:
[email protected] or 515-244-8603 ext. 107
For a FULL list of upcoming meetings and events, click below:
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For Sunday, April 23 events please see top section of this email. Events from the Announcements and Social Justice Highlights sections above are NOT repeated below.
Apr 21 |
Free Film Screening of "Good Food", 7 pm, Auditorium
Apr 28-30 |
Coming of Age Retreat, off-site
May 1 |
FEDS Meeting, 6:30 pm, DRE's Office
Book this month:
Dragon House, by John Shor
May 6 |
Coming of Age Celebration, 6 pm, Channing Hall
May 11 |
Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:30 pm, Channing Hall
BOT meetings are open for others to attend.
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When you buy from amazon.com, use
this link and a % of the sale is donated to First Unitarian.
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