A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315 | P: 515-244-8603
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This Sunday: January 19, 2020
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“Keeping the Dream Alive” by Katie Wheeler, Jastifah Miller, Noah Brown, and Jerika Thomas
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Going to the Mountain:
A Martin Luther King Day Service
9:15 & 11 am
with Amy Petrie Shaw
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“Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We are called to do more than sign petitions and click like on social media. As people of faith, as humans with moral and ethical foundations, how do we approach racial justice in 2020?
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Faith Formation Classes for Pre-K - 6th Grade
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Child care will be available for infants and toddlers up to age 4 in Room 112 for both services.
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9:15 am
Pre-K - Grade 3: Room 111
Grades 4 - 6: Room 108
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11:00 am
Pre-K - Grade 5: Room 111
Grades 6 and up are invited to
enjoy the service with the adults.
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Also this Sunday:
9:15 - 10:15 am:
Forum: Immigration & UU Law @ Channing Hall
9:30 - 10:15 am:
Humanism Book Discussion @ Room 103
10:30 - 11:00 am:
Drop-In Meditation @ Room 108
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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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The church office will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday.
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Artist Reception Postponed
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The Artist Reception for Alice Guerrero originally scheduled for Friday, January 17 has been postponed until January 24, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.
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Upcoming Budget Roundtable
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You are invited to join Rev. Amy Shaw and DFA Charles Lewis for the last of three budget round tables. Our mission tells us we are going to grow ethically and spiritually, serve justly, and love radically. How should we apportion our resources to do that best? Come and share your thoughts, hopes, and dreams as we begin the process of creating the UCDSM budget for the 2020-2021 church year.
Thursday, January 23 @ 6:30 - 7:30 pm in Channing Hall
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Starting today, each month the Board of Trustees will provide you with highlights of its most recent meeting via an issue of Intercom Weekly. During the Board’s December 19 meeting the Board was pleased to pass a motion that the church pay an additional $2147.50 to the UUA over and above the $7000 approved in the yearly budget passed at the 2019 Annual Meeting. Members may recall that budget constraints resulted in a less than full congregational pledge to the UUA this year but that the budget also gave the Board discretion to increase the payment if pledge revenue exceeded pledged income before the 2020 Annual Meeting.
The Board continues to work with Rev. Amy, the staff, and the Accessibility Team to improve accessibility. To that end, Director of Finance and Administration Charlie Lewis obtained estimates for hearing loops to improve the sound in the Auditorium and Channing Hall. In addition, Rev. Amy met with a sound engineer to discuss speaker and soundboard needs in the Auditorium.
The Board appointed three congregational members to join the Board members of the Nominating Committee. The new members are Linda Lemons, Pam Backstrom, and either Nate or Wendy Hoogeveen (Nate and Wendy will let us know which will serve). Finally, the Board approved new Mission and Vision Statements for our church.
The new
Mission Statement
of Des Moines First Unitarian Church is to:
“Grow ethically and spiritually
Serve justly
Love radically”
The new
Vision Statement
is:
“To live our values as a welcoming, interconnected congregation where members pursue their ethical and spiritual truths, and are empowered to listen, learn, and speak out as we advocate for justice.”
Look for more references to these Mission and Vision Statements from the pulpit and elsewhere in the life of our church.
Board meeting minutes are more detailed and are usually available about three weeks after each Board meeting on the “Connect” drop-down menu on the church website under “Board of Trustees” and “Board Business.” They become official when approved at the next Board meeting. The next Board meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16 in Channing Hall. You are all welcome and encouraged to attend.
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Many thanks to the following volunteers who put in over 200 hours of time to help host two families in the Family Promise program the week before Christmas: Sue Huber, Carmen Dow, the Nate and Wendy Hoogeveen family, Jo Cox, Jean Tauber, Kent Newman, Anne Quinlan, Susan Jellinger, Dave Witke, Becky Evans, Kara and Mike Andreski, Janine Choudhury, Amanda Kruse, Gene McCracken, Theresa Miller, Ann Mowery, Al Powers, Sally Boeckholt, Amy Luebbert, Bill Brauch, Tim Wilson, Jude Cigrand, Heidi Mannetter, Ed Hotchkin, Heidi Levine, Heidi Lackmann, Eric Hayes, Barb and Leon Hendricks, Mary Hays, Sandy Simmons, Karen and Michael Lauer, John & Angela Tedesco, Lisa Haefner, Linda Lovell, Patti Cale-Finnegan, Ellen Taylor, Carolyn Spencer, Cathy Beck-Cross, Cheryl Long, Patty Notch, Barb Martin, Kay Hertz, Thom Williams and Janice Hawkins.
Special thanks to Al Powers for finding the Family Promise keys that Elaine Imlau dropped in a box of towels in the shower room.
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On December 24, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines made a very public stand in the face of a harsh Immigration policy. We decided to Side with Love. This moment in our Social Justice History wasn’t at the hands of a few “leaders”. It was us. It was we.
It was Folx from all over our beloved community; Religious Education, Choir, Hospitality and Social Justice. I want to thank the following folks who made this happen. These folx engaged in a variety of activities, whether it was purchasing needed items, planning, cooking, calling, greeting, dreaming and getting their hands literally dirty.
Mary Ellen Barber, Volker Liebeseller, Harvey Harrison, Bill Brauch, Karen Lauer, Michael Lauer, Elaine Imlau, Theresa Miller, Ron Heideman, Ellen Taylor, Morgan Dredge, Sally Boeckholt, Barbara Klubal, Linda Lemons, Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw, Barbara Royal , Heidi Levine, Patty Notch, Jayla Notch, Julie Morocho, Leo Morocho, Linda Krypel, Douglas Aupperle, Ed Hoskins, Karen Miller, Janice Hawkins, Bill Allen, and Nancy Bratt.
Again, thank you!
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FABULOUSLY FUN FOOD FAIR
ONLY 2 EVENTS WITH OPEN SEATS REMAIN
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#11 - Celebrate the Chinese New Year!
. Join us to welcome the Chinese New Year on Thursday, January 23, 2020 with a delicious dinner at Shanghai Restaurant in Waukee. We'll begin with a cash bar at 6:00 and sit down to Chef Bill's delectable appetizers & entrees at 6:30. We believe you'll agree that an evening in Shanghai will help warm your January. Adults only.
HOST(S): Margaret Karbeling & Bob Belosky. Thu, 1/23/2020. 6:00 PM. 2 seats left. $60
#32 - Our Religious Journeys.
On 03/31/19 in the service, Dave Witke shared 2 of 3 key points in his "religious journey" to Humanism. On 03/14/20, Dave will share his 3rd point. Two other Humanists will also share their journeys. All participants will have an opportunity to examine, share & discuss their own journeys. Before the presentations & discussion, we'll break bread & pop a cork or cap. Menu TBD - we ask for your trust that we'll have an array of wholesome & tasty morsels. Note: This is a work in progress, conceived 13 1/2 hours before the FF submission deadline! Ages 12 & up.
HOST(S): Gene McCracken & Judy Davis, Al Powers, Dave Witke. Sat, 3/14/2020. 6:00 PM. 8 seats left. $30
To purchase a ticket to any event, contact Barb Royal (royalbl@mac.com)
Send pictures of people having fabulously fun times at events to:
Elaine Imlau (eimlau19@gmail.com)
P.S. Over 500 people are participating in events and auction exchanges, and have contributed over $17,000 to the church!
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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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January/February Outreach Partner
Home Forward Iowa (HFI)
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Home Forward Iowa is honored and delighted to be First Unitarian’s Faith in Action Community partner for January and February of 2020. HFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization on behalf of Iowans experiencing homelessness. We hope over the coming weeks to create a better understanding of the causes of, services for, and solutions to homelessness across Iowa.
A planned volunteer activity is the biennial homeless Point in Time Count, which takes place in late January. There are several volunteer roles involved with the unsheltered count, which is what we’ll be focusing on. The actual focus is on people sleeping in places not meant for human habitation on the night of January 29. However, most of the work is done ahead of time so that those doing the actual count know where they are looking and who they expect to find. This includes activities such as posting fliers and contacting law enforcement, 24-hour business employees, food pantries, and others where those at risk of or experiencing homelessness are likely to be known. If you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity and the communities involved, contact Tim Wilson at tim@homeforwardiowa.org.
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Discussion with Andrew Seidel, Author of The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American
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The UU Humanists will be joining the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers for a discussion with Andrew Seidel on his new book, The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American. His presentation will be at 6:30 PM on Monday, January 27, 2020 in the Drake Olmsted Center Sussman Theater. There will be a small group discussion and book signing after his presentation at a location to be determined.
The Humanist group will gather in the lobby of the Sussman Theater at 5:45 PM, so we can attend the talk as a group and show our support for the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers. Everyone is invited to join us for the talk and discussion.
You are also invited to attend the Humanist book discussion at 9:30 AM on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in the large activity room. We have just started reading this book, and would welcome additional participation.
Contact Al Powers for more information.
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JOIN AMOS FOR LEGISLATIVE MENTAL HEALTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL
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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 8:00 AM
Despite growing need, Iowa’s mental health services are ranked with the lowest in the nation due to lack of beds, mental health providers, and equitable reimbursement. However, the AMOS postcard campaign is making a difference! We need to take that momentum into the legislative session!
Join AMOS members at the Capital on Wednesday, Jan. 29. We will do a short training/briefing at 8:00 (location TBD) and arrive at the Capitol at 9:00.
Our plan is to meet with legislators in teams. We invite you to do three things:
- Ask your friends to join us,
- Help us publicize this important date.
- RSVP to Connie McKeen, cmckeen@q.com, 515.556.9432
Include the names of your legislators if you know them; if not, just share your address and we will look them up. After receiving that information, we will begin to form legislative teams. We plan to be at the Capital until 3:00 PM on Jan. 29. If you can’t be there all day, come and leave when you can.
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Resilience Screening and Discussion
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Resilience Screening and Discussion for Faith-Based Communities scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at First Unitarian.
Please join staff from Iowa ACEs 360, members from First Unitarian and other faith communities, as well as staff from our faith in action partners in viewing the award-winning film Resilience. Resilience provides information about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study and how the biology of Stress and the Science of Hope chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists, educators, and communities, who are using cutting-edge brain science to disrupt cycles of violence, addiction, and disease. A discussion following the film will focus on how faith-based communities can help build safe, welcoming environments for children and adults to heal and thrive. Bob and Barb Glass, Linda Lemons, Gene McCracken, and Denise Rathman have seen the film and hope others will also view it and consider how we might use this information in our community. Light refreshments will be served.
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Migrant Justice Forum/Film Screening
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Join members of the Immigration Justice Team for a forum on Sunday, January 19 at 9:15 – 10:15 am in Channing Hall to hear the latest about First Unitarian's immigration justice work. The forum will include a screening of the documentary film, The Last Dream, a look at how American children of El Savadoran descent created a play about the loss of their TPS status and took it to Washington D.C. to perform for members of Congress. (Due to the Trump administration’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cancellations, the children’s parents are at risk of deportation.)
There will also be an opportunity to “Write Here, Write Now” to our US Senators, urging them to pass legislation to create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants with TPS. Our senators need to hear that this issue matters to us as constituents and as people of faith and conscience.
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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, January 19 events please see top section of this email. Events from the Announcements section above are NOT repeated below.
Jan 17 | Artist Reception: Alice Guerrero @ Channing Hall, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
*postponed*
Jan 20 | Small Group Ministry @ Off-site, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Jan 20 | UU Law: Caucus Processes @ Auditorium, 12:00 noon - 10:00 pm
Jan 20 | Grief Support Group @ Room 114, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Jan 20 | Trance, Meditation, & Altered States @ Room 107, 6:45 - 8:30 pm
Jan 20 | Awakening Heart Sangha @ Channing Hall, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Jan 21 | Film Screening: Resilience @ Channing Hall, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Jan 22 | Wednesday Night Dinner @ Channing Hall, 5:30 - 6:15 pm
Jan 22 | Bell Ave Ringers @ Auditorium, 5:45 - 6:45 pm
Jan 22 | UU Singers @ Channing Hall, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Jan 23 | Budget Roundtable @ Channing Hall, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
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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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