A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA 50315

P: 515-244-8603

Justice vs. Mercy

with Rev. Garmon

As we seek to understand what justice is, let us notice how the concept has evolved. "Justice" used to mean, roughly, "the punishment deserved" -- hence, the blessing of mercy sometimes granted relief from justice. Justice today is what we long for, not what we hope to escape from.

Zoom may not be available for this event. Please consider forming a volunteer Team.

Join the live service on Zoom!

Zoom Passcode: Safford

(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)

Joys & Sorrows for Sunday should be submitted by noon on Wednesday.

Visit the Caring Community Webpage for the following options:

• Caring Ministry – for temporary assistance, such as meals or rides, or to volunteer (515-244-8603 ext. 108)
• Pastoral care - for support through a difficult time

Jim Carty is the Pastoral Care Associate available for this service time. Please email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance during the week.

The Celebrant Team created a Google Form to streamline the process of getting Spotlight requests scheduled. Check it out!

NEWS THIS WEEK

Jack Williams: Progressive Voices Concert Series

Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.

JACK WILLIAMS AT PROGRESSIVE VOICES CONCERT SERIES

Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Location: First Unitarian Church Auditorium

Music Video: "Where the Light Has Gone"

• Single Tickets: $22 Advance, $27 Door
• Season Tickets: 4 Shows for $78, 6 Shows for $117
• Available online at Eventbrite or Sunday at church after services the 4 Sundays before each show.

Veteran singer-songwriter, Jack Williams, opens the 13th season of the Progressive Voices Concert Series with his colorful, storytelling songs and masterful guitar playing. More information about him at: https://www.jackwilliamsmusic.com/

A limited number of complimentary tickets for this concert are available for those otherwise unable to afford to attend. Please speak confidentially with our minister, Meredith Garmon, to obtain them.

Unity Circle

Thursday, October 19 at 12:00 p.m.

We will be meeting at noon on Thursday, October 19th for lunch and program. Our own Rev. Meredith Garmon will be speaking to us and with us! His topic is...

Who I Am

and

Where We Will Be Going

Please bring a dish to share, and your own table service and a cup for your beverage.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Trans Reading Event

Saturday, October 21 from 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Forest Ave Library, 1326 Forest Ave, DSM

Join our Queer and Transgender Action Group (QTAG) at Forest Avenue Library for some trans book readings for teens and adults, featuring different trans authors. QTAG members and friends will read excerpts from their own works and other trans literature. Snacks, tea, and time to chat will also be available to everyone.

If you have questions or identify under the trans umbrella and would like to read aloud some of your own writing or that of another trans author at this event, please contact tag@ucdsm.org.

mUUvie Discussion Group

Sunday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m.

The mUUvie discussion will be viewing and discussing the movie "Cassandro" on Sunday, October 22nd. (This is rescheduled from last month.)

"Casandro" is based on the true story of Saul Armendariz, an amateur wrestler from El Paso who rises to international stardom when he creates the character Cassandro, the "Liberace of Lucha Libre." He upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life.

We will meet at 7:00 PM in Room 107 at the church. Popcorn will be provided; bring your own drink.

RSVP to mUUvie@ucdsm.org or on the Facebook invite so that we know that you are coming. (The entrance will be locked at 7:10 p.m.)

Jane Pinkerton Bell

Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m.

On September 2, 2023, Jane Pinkerton Bell passed away just two months shy of her 83rd birthday – after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas; however, the majority of Jane’s formative years were spent in upstate New York (in the Fredonia area). She graduated from Emma Willard in Troy, New York and then attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

In 1973, Jane moved to Iowa. She went on to earn two master’s degrees and held several prestigious positions – including being a teacher in Afton, an adjunct instructor at Drake University, the Director of Marketing at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and lastly the co-business owner of Hill Simonton Bell.

Jane is survived by her daughters Elizabeth (Barone) Ledlow and Julia Neisemier, her sisters Susan Clarke and Anne Carmichael, her step-children Teja, Victoria and David Bell; and many nieces and nephews.

Jane was a long standing member of the First Unitarian Church. Her Celebration of Life service will be held here on October 22 at 2:00.

First Unitarian Humanist Update

** Book Group ** 

The Humanist book group will meet at 12:00 noon on Oct. 15, right after the forum. You can join in person at the church or via Zoom at https://humanistsocietyofiowa.org/bookclubzoom/. We will be discussing chapters 18 and 19 of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll. 

**Cemetery Tour**

We have arranged for a guided tour of Glendale Cemetery on Saturday, October 21st at 2:00 PM, with a group dinner after the tour.  You must be able to walk about 1 &1/2 miles and the tour will take about 2 hours. There is a request for a donation between $10 and $20 to the Glendale Cemetery restoration fund per person. We will gather afterward for a group lunch/dinner at a place to be determined.

Please RSVP to treasurer@humanistsocietyofiowa.org if you plan to attend, with the number of people, and if you expect to join us for the meal. Please reply regarding the dinner question as soon as possible.

For directions to Glendale Cementary, click here.

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.



Want to publicize your church event? We have a form for that!†

Visit our Our Events page to fill out the form.

Email communications@ucdsm.org with any questions.

Zoom Help Needed

We are looking for 3-4 people to co-host Sunday services via Zoom. It would be best to have computer skills and a laptop with HDMI.

Please contact Bill Paxson if you have an interest in getting trained.

AVTeam@ucdsm.org

Ecochallenge

Sunday, October 1st - Tuesday, October 31st

Green Sanctuary is encouraging participation in Drawdown Ecochallenge. Presented by Ecochallenge.org, Drawdown Ecochallenge is a 31-day challenge to take action for a better shared future. It has a game-like format involving accumulating points for your environmental actions. Fun actions encourage new habits. Small steps lead to big change. Together, we build a sustainable world and a healthy planet. It starts October 1. Sally Hartman from Iowa City has created a team for all Iowa UUs which you can join now. The team is called Swine Republic UUs. You can start your own team individually, organize a team for First Unitarian, or join this one and get others to join too. We can go hog wild! Yeah team!

The challenge runs from Sunday, October 1st to Tuesday, October 31st. Let's make a difference!

Join me to see how 31 days of action add up to a lifetime of positive change for you, our community, and the planet.

REGISTER NOW

Church Cleaning

Do you appreciate having a clean church?

If so, your help is needed in keeping the building clean. Every Saturday a crew of volunteers cleans the church. We will continue to clean the church until funds are available to hire cleaning staff.

Please sign up to help!

Progressive Voices Concerts

NEW SEASON

Starting October 14, 2023

The Progressive Voices Concert Series is returning for its 13th season at First Unitarian Church!

This season's lineup of nationally and internationally-touring singer-songwriters includes both some past favorites and new faces to our stage:

Jack Williams -- October 14, 2023,  http://www.jackwilliamsmusic.com/

Mean Mary -- November 11, 2023,  http://www.meanmary.com/

Rupert Wates -- December 16, 2023,  http://rupertwatesmusic.com/

Triflemore -- February 17, 2024, http://www.triflemore.com/

The Honey Dewdrops -- April 13, 2024, http://www.thehoneydewdrops.com/

Annie Mack -- May 18, 2024, https://anniemackmusic.com/home

Where/When: All shows start at 7:30 p.m. in the First Unitarian Church auditorium. 

Tickets:

• Single Tickets: $22 Advance /$27 Door
• Season Tickets:4 Shows: $78, 6 Shows $117

Tickets available soon online at www.eventbrite.com. Tickets are also available in person at church after services the four Sundays before each concert.

More information is also available online at www.ucdsm.org/concerts.

Email questions to concerts@ucdsm.org.

Women's Wednesdays

Wednesday, October 25 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Topics chosen by women, about women, discussed by women.

Join us on the last Wednesday of every month from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the Peace Library.

• 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.: General meet and greet, catch-up.
• 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Discussion

Sacred Bridges CUUPS: Samhain

Tuesday, October 31 from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Join us for Our Annual Samhain Ritual!

Date: October 31st

Time: Gather at 6:30 PM

Ritual: Starts at 7:00 PM

Meet: In Griffin Hall at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

As the leaves fall and the veil between the worlds thins, we invite you to our annual Samhain ritual to honor our ancestors, celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year, and embrace the magick of this sacred time.

Read More

First Unitarian Music & Art Festival

Saturday, November 4th from 5:00-7:30 p.m.

Save the Date for a Fun Fall Festival

Saturday, November 4th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Church

Plan now to attend the First Unitarian Music & Art Festival (FUMAF)

This year's event will include:

• Potluck meal
• Music throughout the evening
• Art Items available for silent and live auction
• Activities for children

We will have a variety of artwork and creative pieces. You are welcome to donate up to three items - paintings, photographs, mixed media, ceramic sculpture, handmade jewelry, weavings, embroidery and other handwork, knit items, woodworking, and everything else you do creatively! The more items we have, the more fun everyone will have. Proceeds support our church!

New this year!

We plan to include children's and youth's artwork in the auction. If you have children or know children in the church, please encourage their parents to consider participating.

We could love to have you join us in planning & hosting this fun evening. Please email fumaf@ucdsm.org with questions and offers to assist! You may also reach out to Liz Bredeson or Heidi Lackmann directly.

 For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar.

Safety First!

Keeping Scammers Away

Every so often, more often all the time, we get scammers pestering the church. Usually, staff can keep them away. But scammers often pull emails and names off of our website and impersonate folks.

Look for poor spelling and weird requests and always verify the email is coming from an email you know. Contact officestaff@ucdsm.org if you're even a little bit leery. We love to keep you safe!

While staff and leadership continue to explore ways to mitigate these events, remember that the best way to keep yourselves safe is to only communicate with groups and individuals through Realm.

Learn it. Use it. Teach it. Keep the scammers away.

Stay safe out there, everyone!

Photo by Franck on Unsplash

Successful Building Work Day

October 7th!

Thank you to everyone who helped with our 2nd Building Work Day this year. A crew led by Walter Pearson, in the morning light of Griffin Hall, sanded and refinished the shelves under the windows, a huge and visible project! Crew members included Walter Pearson, Sherwin Back, Julie Murphy, Doug Hoffman, and Ron Heideman. Thank you all!

Doug Aupperle and Tom Thurtell installed much-needed shelves in the old organ pipe storage room - that whole space has been really transformed during these work days, with a good cleanout, better lighting, and now useful shelves for our A/V equipment. Great job!

Al Powers, with help from Jeremy Guenther (and a bear claw), cleared tree debris from our roof, making things safe and clean for winter.

Al Powers, Bill Paxson, and Doug Aupperle worked on improving the auditorium sound system to improve sound quality.

It was a cheerful and productive morning. The Building Team and volunteers worked alongside the Family Promise morning crew (thanks for the breakfast goodies!) and the Church Cleaning volunteers led by Sarah Guenther to welcome our guests and spiff up our church building.   

Thank you to everyone for your efforts!

Our Faith In Action partners are Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund and The Freestore. If you would like to donate to Faith in Action partners, please donate directly to them through the links provided.

If you would like to donate to the Freestore, click here.

If you would like to donate to the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund, click here. 

In addition to providing monetary donations for our Faith in Action partners, one of the goals of this committee is to improve relationships through volunteer events that support the organizations. We will announce events that church members can be involved with in the coming months.

Freestore

Our Champion is Mike Smith

Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund

Our Champion is Doug Aupperle

Rev. Meredith Garmon, Interim Minister

mgarmon@ucdsm.org

515-244-8603 ext. 102

cell: 352-682-8492

Alice J. Stewart, Director of Finance & Administration

director@ucdsm.org

515-244-8603 ext. 101

Mondays: by appointment

Tuesdays – Thursdays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Fridays: by appointment

Zoom meetings available upon request

Birch Spick, Faith Formation Coordinator

& Congregational Life Coordinator

FFOffice@ucdsm.org

CLOffice@ucdsm.org

515-244-8603 ext. 103

Off Mondays

Tuesday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Hannah Notch, Office Manager & Childcare Coordinator

hnotch@ucdsm.org

515-244-8603 ext. 107

Tuesday - Friday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm

To have an event or meeting added to the church calendar, email Hannah at calendar@ucdsm.org

Faithyna Leonard, Communications & Rental Coordinator

fleonard@ucdsm.org

515-244-8603 ext. 106

Available by appointment only.

Intercom Weekly Submissions

Deadline: Wednesday @ 12 noon

• 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.)

Please email communications@ucdsm.org to submit your information.