A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315 | P: 515-244-8603
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This Sunday: May 19, 2019
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This This month’s theme of Curiosity invites us to explore life with the mind of a beginner. In this service, we consider how we might greet life with the freshness of beginners—how do we open the doors to our minds and souls? How do we lean out into the new? How do we listen to others with the expectation that we're about to discover something fascinating? Each moment centered in the spirit of "beginner mind" keeps us curious and alert to what we might learn and the ways we might grow.
Special music:
UU Singers
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Faith Formation Classes for Pre-K - 8th grade
9:15 & 11 am
See the "Faith Formation" section below in this email for information on this week's classes.
Child care will be available for infants and toddlers (up to age 4) in Room 112
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Joys & Concerns for Sunday should be submitted by noon on Friday.
You may also submit a hand-written joy or concern on Sunday morning.
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Also this Sunday:
11:00am - 12:00pm
Forum: Welcoming Congregations @ Channing Hall
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Mark Your Calendars!
On May 26, Memorial Day weekend, we will have only one service at 10:00 a.m.
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On June 2, we will have only one service at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Annual Meeting at 11:30 a.m. All members are encouraged to be in attendance.
Agenda
- Elect new Board of Trustees and Endowment Committee members.
- Approve 2019-20 Budget.
- Celebrate Unsung UU Award Recipient.
Detailed meeting materials can be obtained after May 17th:
- On the website: www.ucdsm.org/annual-meeting
- At the Welcome Table
- By mail upon request (contact Jane White, office assistant
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Fabulously FUN Food Fair FUNdraiser
#20
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We’ve still got seats open at some fabulously fun events. Coming up soon:
#12 - Day of Mindfulness with Debra Rodgers.
In addition to mindfully eating delicious homemade vegan food & drinking tea together, we will enjoy sitting meditation, walking meditation & deep relaxation. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome. Gluten-free friendly.
Sat,
June 8. 9 AM – 3 PM. 9 seats left. $35.
#48 - Picnic on the Water with Rev. Jennifer.
An afternoon of canoeing, kayaking or paddle boarding, & maybe some swimming at Grey's Lake, followed by a picnic supper catered by The Grateful Chef. BYO water vessel, or rent it from the marina at Grey's Lake.
Sun, June 9. 3 PM – 7 PM. 2 seats left. $25/ages 12 to adult; $10/child under 12.
Thank you to ALL who donated, bought & bid! We’ve sold more than 460 seats at 52 events, and auctioned off more than 25 items. That’s a lot of good food and great fellowship & fun!
So far we have raised just over $16,000 for the church!
To sign up for an event, please email
royalbl@mac.com
to make sure no one else beat you to it. Barb will let you know and, if you get in, will let you know how to pay and will notify the hosts.
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Executive Report for March 2019 and Mission/Vision Report
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Getting to Church During Road Construction
(Bell Ave is now Closed from Fleur)
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On Monday, April 1, 2019, crews closed the inside lanes of Fleur Drive in both directions to begin work on the median. Northbound traffic has been moved to the inside lane on the southbound side as crews remove and replace the street.
Crews will also repair the storm sewers and add a new sidewalk and water main.
The entire reconstruction of Fleur Drive from McKinley Avenue to just north of Bell Avenue is scheduled to take 4 to 5 years. Phase 2 of the project, replacing the southbound lanes from Watrous to Bell avenues, is set to begin in the fall of 2020.
Please use an alternate route traveling to the church.
Martin Luther King drive to 7th ave. is a good alternate route.
There are detour signs that take you to Park Ave and down SW 9th
Fleur drive may be periodically closed entirely during the construction.
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May / June Outreach Partner:
Young Women's Resource Center
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Young Women's Resource Center supports, educates, and advocates for young women 10 -21 years old in the Des Moines area.
The Young Women’s Resource Center is a non-profit organization that supports, educates and advocates for young women ages 10-21. Through small groups and individual support, the Young Women’s Resource Center provides programming for all young women, no matter what they may be going through.
GET INVOLVED
Here’s how you can make sure our girls grow up to be great.
It is only with the support of more than 300 volunteers annually that the Young Women’s Resource Center is able to provide quality programming to young women in our community. Come join a dedicated group of individuals and contribute your time and talents at the YWRC. Being a volunteer means you can
truly give back to the community and impact the lives of numerous young women.
When you volunteer at the Young Women’s Resource Center, you are helping to make the lives of girls and young women more successful.
Volunteer opportunities with First Unitarian include:
Both events will be late afternoon/early evening.
Please click links below to sign up.
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Come support CCI’s effort to
Stop Racial Profiling
by attending the
Des Moines City Council meeting
this
Monday May 20 at 4:30pm
at
400 Robert Ray Drive.
Hubbell Elementary students will present petitions and be among the speakers supporting the ban.
“The Des Moines Community will have no peace until a ban on racial profiling ordinance is passed by our city leaders. Profiling individuals based on the color of their skin is an injustice and insult to all people”. CCI For more details ask for Sharon or Iris at 255.0800.
The Racial Justice Team includes: Harvey Harrison; Janet Thurtell; & Janice Hawkins; Janis Eliot serves on the CCI Board.
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First Unitarian Church at the Capital City Pride Parade!
Sunday, June 9, 11:30 a.m., East Side of the State Capital Building
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Help First Unitarian Church maintain its proud tradition of support of the LGBTQ+ community by marching with your fellow UU's in the Capital City Pride Parade on Sunday, June 9! We invite all church members, both LGBTQ+ and straight/cisgender allies, and including adults, teens, and children, to meet in the parking lot of the Lucas Building at 321 E.12th St. (on the EAST side of the State Capital Building) at 11:30 a.m. The parade starts promptly at 12:00 p.m., so give yourself ample time to get there and park. (PLEASE NOTE: The parade begins ONE HOUR EARLIER than in earlier years!) Parking will be available in the visitor lots just south of East Walnut & E. 12th Streets and also in the Judicial Branch lot at East 12th St. & East Court Ave.
We also invite everyone to again wear your favorite First Unitarian Pride or Standing on the Side of Love t-shirt. (Don't have one yet? Some are available for purchase in self-serve kiosk in the gathering area after services on Sundays.) Some signs will be available for you to carry in the parade if you wish, or you are welcome to stop by the table in the gathering area after services to make your own. We are especially encouraging people to make and bring signs that focus on transgender rights, protecting LGBTQ youth (e.g., stopping bullying & conversion therapy), not using religion to justify discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
Contact Doug Aupperle at aupperle.douglas(at)gmail(dot)com for more information.
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Funeral Memorial Team re-forming!
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Help is needed now, but first a huge
Thank You
to Pat Peterson for heading this compassionate service group for so many years. Pat recruited Susan Jellinger to continue this caring service the church offers after a death in a family,. So Susan seeks additional church members to help at memorial receptions after funerals at the church. This could involve baking or buying cookies for the reception, setting out table cloths and centerpieces, preparing the reception serving table, making coffee, arranging cookie platters, and/or serving during the reception.
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Next Meeting:
The next Compassion and Choices meeting will be held at the NW Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave, Des Moines on
Thursday, June 6 at 1 p.m.
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Hosting Family Promise June 9-16
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Family Promise of Greater Des Moines (FPGD) assists families experiencing homelessness through a network of 14 area faith-based host congregations that provide clean, safe overnight shelter and nutritious meals for a period of one week every 3 months. The host congregations provide each family with a private room for sleeping as well as dinner and food for breakfast and for packing a lunch.
Its First Unitarians turn to host 3 families (up to 14 people) from June 9-16, 2019
(Please note the date change from the first week in July to the second full week in June)
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Journey of Accompaniment: Part 24
Accompaniment Story:
"But if not you, who? If not us, who will?"
by Karen Lauer
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The past few weeks have been busy as the compas have each met with their lawyer and traveled to Omaha for “Master Calendar” hearings.
These hearings signal the start of efforts to remove an asylum-seeker from the U.S. and set the date for the “Merits Hearing” when the case for asylum is presented to the judge.
The truth is, though here legally seeking asylum, they are actually in “removal proceedings.”
I try not to think ahead, to worry about the future. I work hard to keep myself from the “what ifs.”
When people ask how the compas are doing, I honestly say, living their lives. Each woman is making an independent life here, finding friends and becoming part of the community. They anxiously await applying for work permits; their lawyer will let then know when to submit the paperwork.
I’ve struggled with a type of emotional malaise lately. The great relief of finding legal representation for D and K is countered by the knowledge that thousands of people are struggling for their lives with no help at all.
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Michael and Karen Lauer have officially been sponsoring an asylum-seeker since November 10, 2018. Asylum-seekers cannot be released from detention without U.S. citizen sponsors. Homeland Security has approved Michael and Karen as sponsors.
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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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Humanist Book Study Group Summer Schedule
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Sunday, May 19, Rm. 103 at 9:30 A.M. will be the final 2 Chapters of, 'Swerve, How the World Became Modern". We will discuss articles for Summer study.
We WILL meet during the summer months from 11:00 A.M. until noon , following the single Sunday service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, in Room 103. Any Sunday with a holiday will NOT be "made up", thus no schedule changes will be needed.
We encourage Book Study participants to peruse the UUA and American Humanist Association websites for articles of interest and these will be the basis for our upcoming Summer Sunday discussions. All are welcome to participate.
Tom Harvey current President of Humanist Society of Iowa. (515) 822-5713 or text.
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FORUM: Iowa 4-H, May 19
The Struggle Between Discrimination Against vs. Inclusion
of LGBTQ+ & Other Minority Youth
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John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, former executive director of Iowa 4-H, will speak about his efforts to make Iowa 4-H more inclusive of racial and ethnic minority youth and to implement Obama-era policies to make it more welcoming to LGBTQ+ youth as well. He will also share about the push-back he then received over this from the Trump administration and conservative media campaigns, after which Iowa State University Extension fired him from this position and withdrew these policies. Sponsored by the Welcoming Congregation Renewal Team.
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Sacred Bridges CUUPs
monthly business meeting
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Sacred Bridges CUUPs monthly business meetings move to the 2nd Sunday, 6:30-8 pm, in the Peace Conference Room.
However
, the June 9 meeting will be in the Mary Safford area because our church community hosts Family Promise families that week..Possible agenda items include: June Meet N Greet Picnic, Community Outreach, and SB Symposium planning begins!
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Celebrating the ties that bind humanity together while also prizing the beauty of individuality,
Teneia's
groove-heavy blend of Folk/Soul Rock 'n Roll will leave your mind filled with inspiration and your heart filled with hope!
Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Teneia currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona. She is an internationally-touring musician and songwriter, and has
nine albums to her credit. She has won multiple awards, had her work featured in television and film, and shared the stage with various critically-acclaimed artists.
Tickets at the door are $25
Watch Teneia on YouTube:
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May Artist of the Month: Robert Hagins, Sr.
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Bob Hagins, Sr. led a varied and interesting life. He learned plastering from his father which led to his ability to restore such historical sites as the Polk County Courthouse, the Salisbury House, the first National Bank building in Davenport and the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City.
He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943. Upon returning to Des Moines, he attended Drake University, discovering his passion for art, and earning Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Fine Arts. He taught art in Indianola from 1961 to 1981.
Through the years, he travelled the world, taking part in workshops and classes enjoying painting watercolors on site. He promoted world peace by learning and presenting the Japanese Tea Ceremony. He became a Secular Humanist and Zen Buddhist practitioner. He remained a great teacher with an inquisitive mind and was a life-long learner. Bob Hagins, Sr. passed away Nov. 8, 2018, at the age of 93.
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Welcome to the table.... and let's talk.
1st Thursday of the month at 12:30
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A group of UU women gathers on
the first Thursday of each month at 12:30 pm
to talk about topics of interest to the group. All women of the First Unitarian Church are invited to join us in the RE gathering space (downstairs). Sometimes the topic is pre-selected by a member of the group and sometimes we deviate from that. And sometimes the topic is continued for several meetings.
Please join us and don’t forget to bring your “brown bag” lunch!
The next talk is scheduled for Thursday June 6th.
Please come and join the conversation!
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From the First Unitarian Caring Ministry Team: Could your college kid use a little love from their church home during the final stretch of classes and exams?
Send their name and college/university mailing address to
caring@ucdsm.org
and we’ll make sure they get some snail mail love!
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Please welcome Julie Morocho as the new Child Care Coordinator for First Unitarian! Julie grew up in the church and is part of a three-generation family currently attending. She has her degree in human services management and also a substitute teaching authorization. She is a regular substitute for the Waukee School District. Julie also has experience as a preschool teacher, including managing a classroom and student behavior services. She is proficient in Spanish as well, having taught English in South America.
We welcome Julie’s enthusiasm and lifelong connection to Unitarian Universalism to the child care room, which primarily serves children 4 and under and their families. Julie replaces Amanda DuBose, who moved to Ohio recently with her family. Amanda began building a program for the child care room to more deliberately share our UU values and traditions with our littlest ones, and Julie’s education and personal background are a wonderful fit for carrying that work forward. Many thanks to Amanda for all the work you did, and a big welcome to Julie! We are fortunate to have both of you sharing your talents with us!
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THIS WEEK in Faith Formation
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Registration is now open for Summer Faith Formation
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Pre-K - Grade 5
Sundays, May 26 thru September 1, 10 am only
Join teachers Sam and Naomi for Picture Book stories and learning based on our UU principles and sources. Classes will end their mornings together (weather permitting) outside on our playgrounds and trails.
Older children are encouraged to attend the service
Child care will be available to infants and toddlers (up to age 4
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Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) is First Unitarian's high school youth group. All youth in grades 9 - 12 are invited to join us!
Please join us for the July 7th get together.
Welcome New YRUU Youth and send off our Seniors!
Stay tuned for more details
High School Youth Group is on break for the summer
and will regroup in the fall.
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Wednesday Night Programming will return in September 2018. Have a great summer!
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More Upcoming Meetings & Events
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If you wish to schedule a meeting or event,
We do not list rentals, closed groups and committee meetings in this email.
For a FULL list of upcoming meetings and events, click on:
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For Sunday, May 19 events please see top section of this email. Events from the Announcements section above are NOT repeated below.
May 18 | Memorial Service: Liz Pugh @ Auditorium, Channing Hall and kitchen 2:00pm - 4:00pm
May 20 | Small Group Ministry @ Scottish Rite Park 10:00am - 12:00pm
May 28 | Aging to Sag-ing Book Study Group @ Mary Safford Room 11:00am - 12:15pm
June 1 | Memorial Service: Terry Swanson @ Auditorium, Channing Hall, Kitchen, Gathering Space 10:30am - 2:00pm
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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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