A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315 | P: 515-244-8603 |
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Building the Beautiful Community
with Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw
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What does it mean to be truly beautiful, and how can we approach transient beauty as a spiritual practice?
Zoom Passcode: Safford
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
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Forum: Q&A with Rev. Amy
with Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw
11:00 a.m. in Griffin Hall
Join us for a conversation with Rev. Amy! Get to know them better, and ask about the past church year and plans for 2022-2023.
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Zoom Passcode: Griffin
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Joys & Concerns for Sunday should be submitted by noon on Friday.
- Caring Ministry – for temporary assistance, such as meals or rides, or to volunteer
- Pastoral Care – for support through a difficult time
- Senior Minister – for an acute need (515-244-8603, ext. 102)
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Pastoral Care: May 8 — 14 |
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Ann Mowery is the Pastoral Care Associate available for the week beginning at
10:30 a.m. this Sunday. Email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance or call the Associate's telephone number in the church directory.
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Thank You!
from the FFFFF and PPP
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Our "Alphabet Soup Event," the Fabulously Fun Food Fair Fundraiser and Post Pandemic Party, was a success! Thank you to everyone who attended – your presence and generosity were a great way to celebrate coming back together in person.
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May 1 Day of Service – Success!
from First Unitarian Staff
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Thanks to everyone who participated in the Day of Service last Sunday! Working together for the good of our community brightened up the dreary day. |
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Budget Roundtable with Rev. Amy and our new DFA, Alice J. Stewart!
from the Board of Directors
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We are beginning to plan ahead for the next Church Fiscal Year!
Join Rev. Amy, our new DFA, Alice J. Stewart, and members of the Board and Financial Oversight Committee for the last of our of three meetings to discuss the budgetary plans and challenges in the past and coming year.
This meeting will take place in Griffin Hall, and is also available via Zoom.
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This Saturday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m.
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Mark Your Calendars!
Saturday, May 14, 6 – 8 p.m.
A churchwide Member Art and Music Coffeehouse
in Griffin Hall
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Do you like to sing, give a reading, lead a meditation, dance, or play an instrument? Please drop in and share your talent with us on this open-mic night!
Do you enjoy music and art but try to avoid the stage's limelight? Please plan to come and just be entertained!
No advanced sign-up is required. A stage and microphone will be provided as well as snacks and munchies, but please BYOB.
Let's spend a fun night celebrating music and the arts together! Because childcare is not available, this is a tween to adult low-key "chill" event. Inquiries or questions? Contact Karen Kraemer at choir@ucdsm.org.
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Chalice Groups Forming!
from Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw
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Coming Soon!
You asked for them and they are coming! First Unitarian is beginning a Chalice Group small-group ministry program!
What is a Chalice Group?
Chalice Groups are fun and meaningful small group ministries which meet once a month. During their 60–90-minute meetings, each group discusses the monthly topic; topics designed to generate conversation and thought without requiring homework.
How Do They Work?
Each Chalice Group of 8-10 people meets monthly with a Group Facilitator. The Facilitators are being recruited now, so if you are interested, please email revamy@ucdsm.org and volunteer. Each Facilitator picks a time and a location for their Chalice Group. The Facilitators names, and their times and locations will be shared in the Intercom and in physical sign-up sheets at church beginning May 15th, 2022. People can sign up under the Facilitator they choose. Locations may include Zoom only groups.
What do Facilitators have to do?
Facilitators have to:
1. Attend a monthly meeting with the other Facilitators and the minister to choose the monthly topic and try it out together to make sure it generates conversation
2. Send out reminder emails to their Group about their monthly time and location
3. Tell their Group what this month’s topic is and get the conversation going
4. Except in cases of emergency, commit to Facilitating for the length of this Group cycle (so either three or six months at a time)
Watch for the sign-up sheets beginning May 15th at church, and consider volunteering to Facilitate today by emailing revamy@ucdsm.org.
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Let's Have a Rousing Revival:
All of First Unitarian is Invited!
from the Leadership Team
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Sunday, May 22
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
West Des Moines
Cornflower Shelters A & B
Potluck and more - see what's happening around church! Get reconnected to things you enjoy or discover something new for you and your family.
Want to be part of discussion group or movie night? Help plan parties? Organize for social change? Teach our awesome UU children and youth?
Bring a dish to share, your place setting (let's not throw too much in the landfill), a camp chair and lawn games. We have a playground right by the shelter, and lots of space.
We are REVIVING our faith in Central Iowa!
See you there!
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Please Show Up for Racial Justice!
from Just Voices Iowa
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We need YOUR help. PLEASE do the following asap:
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Attend the next City Council meeting on Monday, May 9th at 4:30 pm to show solidarity and support these demands:
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An independent, 3rd party investigation of the DMPD over the last 5 years – this would include a thorough look at the Summer of 2020 protests in Des Moines and the police response, among other behaviors and misconduct.
- The establishment, by ordinance, of a Community Review Board, like Cedar Rapids has successfully done, to ensure impartial civilian oversight and accountability going forward.
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Meetings are held at City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Parking can be found on a ramp across the street ($1 per hour) or at the parking meters.
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Call, email, or write a letter to all of the Des Moines City Council members and Mayor Cownie stating the two demands noted above. You’ll find their contact information here.
You can find the report on the Just Voices Iowa website here.
If you’d like to view the presentation by Public Works, here’s the link. Start at the 2-hour, 45-minute mark.
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Urge Congress to fulfill its pledge
to Support the Green Climate Fund
from Write Here, Write Now
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This month we’ll write our Senators and Representative Axne to urge them to work to include funding for the Green Climate Fund in 2023 federal budget negotiations.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a vital international effort to assist developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help their people adapt to the worst effects of climate change. Yet despite the fact that the United States is responsible for a huge share of emissions causing this crisis, it has made only token contributions to the Fund since committing to support it in 2014.
Join in writing Senators Grassley and Ernst and Representative Axne to urge them to ensure America does its fair share to address a problem our nation plays a huge role in creating.
Letters are due by Friday, May 13. You can send your letters by US Mail, by e-mail, or by direct online submission.
(Click-on the graphic below the “WHWN: Green Climate Fund” heading).
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UU Women's Lunch May 10
from Barb Royal
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All UU (and UU-interested) women are welcome to join the monthly gathering of the UU Women’s Lunch Bunch (2nd Tuesday of each month).
Please be sure to RSVP by the Saturday morning before the luncheon if you plan to attend: womenslunch@ucdsm.org
When: Tuesday, May 10, 2022
11:30 am - 1:00 p.m.
Where: FireCreekGrill - 800 S 50th St., WDM
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First Unitarian Humanist Update
from the First Unitarian Humanists
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You’re invited to join the Humanist book group on Sunday, May 15, as we continue reading Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. We will review chapter 8, followed by a general discussion of the entire Part II, The Agricultural Revolution.
The book group will meet in the Stonewall Conference Room at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is invited, either in person or via Zoom!
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The First Unitarian Kitchen Is Most Definitely Now Closed!
from the Kitchen Project Committee
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Deconstruction of our kitchen took a major leap forward this week as a muscular team of volunteers removed ALL the cabinets and counters on Tuesday. This was an amazing effort with a great crew completing the work in under three hours! Here is the team; from left, Al Powers, Ann Mowery, Tom Thurtell, Ron Heideman, Sherwin Back and Walter Pearson. |
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Awaiting their move to Habitat Restore, the cabinets are temporarily stowed in Griffin Hall.
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There is an old adage, the lost is always found. Might these keys belong to someone in the congregation?
If so, you can collect them from our new Director of Finance and Administration Alice Stewart.
At the auction, held as part of last Saturday’s FFFFF, we received a successful bid for the ten-burner, two-oven Wolf range! It will be removed this weekend; watch for next week’s KP update for more info about its new owner.
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Submissions to the Intercom Weekly are due on Wednesday at 12 noon. Submissions after the deadline cannot be guaranteed a spot in that week's newsletter.
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For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar. |
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Share, Community, Action Gathering
with Pachamama Alliance-Iowa
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Tuesday, May 10, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines in Griffin Hall (use South Entrance)
“Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them.”
-Paul Hawken
To hear Paul Hawken describe Regeneration in a two-minute video, click here.
Pachamama Alliance-Iowa’s Core Leadership Team has chosen Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken as the pathway to our work. We will begin by discussing “Punch Lists” which can be found on page 250 of the book or www.regeneration.org/punchlist. We highly recommend you purchase the book. We view it as a gateway to the regeneration.org nexus.
Visit Regeneration.org to learn more about the book and plan to order from your local bookseller.
Do remember to preregister, as we will be sending materials to review ahead of our gathering. We hope you will join us!
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If you wish to add your meeting or event to our calendar, please contact: calendar@ucdsm.org
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Positions Open!
We want to hear from you!
from the Board of Directors, Financial Oversight Committee, and Nominating Committee
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Wondering how you can make First Unitarian all you want it to be? We are looking for individuals to serve on the Board of Trustees, the Financial Oversight Committee and the Nominating Committee. Please contact Chelsea Hayes or Fern Stewart. We would love to hear from you. |
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Minister Evaluation
Member Feedback Requested
from the Board of Directors
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UCDSM members, it’s time to take the ministerial review survey and give feedback for Reverend Amy. To access the survey click here.
The survey will be open through May 17, 2022.
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Unsung UU Award – Nominations Open!
from the Board of Trustees
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Each year, the Board of Trustees presents the Unsung UU 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.
The Board of Trustees requests nominations from the congregation in the spring and announces the recipient at the Annual Congregational Meeting on the first Sunday after Memorial Day. A plaque with the list of recipients dating back to 1977 is on the wall in the church foyer.
Please take some time to fill out the nomination form and let us know who has made a difference in your life as a part of the First Unitarian community. Go to https://www.ucdsm.org/unsung-uu-award/ and submit the form at the bottom of the page by May 15, 2022. If you prefer a paper form, they will be available in both the office and by the auditorium doors when you come to service.
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2022 – 2023 Community Partner Nominations & Champions Wanted!
from the Faith In Action Coordinating Team
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Faith in Action is a bridge connecting First Unitarian with the service organizations of our community. Each year our congregation selects 2 community organizations as partners. Each selected organization has a Champion from the congregation who serves as a conduit for engagement activities with the selected groups.
The organizations receive half of the Sunday collections and also offer opportunities for our members to engage in activities and programs which allow for focused involvement.
At our next congregation annual meeting we will again select 2 organizations for the coming year beginning September 2022 and ending August 2023.
The Faith in Action Committee is seeking nominee organizations for the coming year. If you know of an organization you believe will be a good fit with our UU Community, nominate them today!
Below is the link to the application
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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 "Donation."
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Faith in Action Partners
Knock and Drop | Just Voices
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Our current partnerships run from September 2021 through August 2022. They were selected by our members at our June 2021 annual meeting. The organizations are: |
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Our Champion is Gene McCracken
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Our Champion is Harvey Harrison
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Staff Office Hours & Contact Info |
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Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw, Senior Minister
Sunday: Service 9:30-10:30, 11am-2pm by appointment
Monday: Sabbath
Tuesday: 11am-5pm
Wednesday: 11am-1pm and 3pm to 5pm (1-3pm slot is available for drop-in visits)
Thursday: 11am-5pm
Friday: Writing Day
Saturday: By appointment
Alice J. Stewart, Director of Finance and Administration
515-244-8603 ext. 101
Mondays: by appointment
Tuesdays – Thursdays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fridays: by appointment
Zoom meetings available on request
Devon McClurken, Director of Faith Formation
Off Mondays
Tuesday-Friday, Sunday: by appointment
Emily Petty, Communications Coordinator
515-244-8603 ext. 103
Off Mondays
Tuesday-Friday, Sunday: by appointment
Hannah Notch, Social Media and Executive Support Specialist
Tuesday - Friday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
To have an event or meeting added to the church calendar, email Hannah at calendar@ucdsm.org
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Intercom Weekly Submissions
Deadline: Wednesday @ 12 noon
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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 (or ask a trusted friend to proofread if you need help!) We try to check every article, but we still miss things.
- 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 as the contact person for your group which will automatically forward to your private email, so you won't have to do anything special to view it. (Please allow a few extra days for us to set up the email when you submit your announcement.)
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Text "UCDSM APP" to 77977 or toll free (833) 816-9022
to download our app
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