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

P: 515-244-8603

Kitchen Dedication

with Rev. Victoria Safford & the Kitchen Project Committee

Celebrant: Kara Andreski

Pianist: Bruce Martin

Director of Choirs: Karen Kraemer

Music: UU Singers

Song Leader: Andrew Curl

A/V volunteer: Bill Allen

Pastoral Care: Jim Carty

Hospitality Coordinator: Terry Meek

Join the live service on Zoom!

Zoom Passcode: Safford

(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)

Joys & Concerns for Sunday should be submitted by noon on Friday.

Click on the Caring Community webpage for the following options:

• Caring Ministry – for temporary assistance, such as meals or rides, or to volunteer 
• Please note: the Caring Ministry phone number is now
• 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.

Please note: The Des Moines Women's Half Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at 8:00 a.m. Due to construction, the route this year utilizes Bell Ave. and Thomas Beck Rd. with possible police detours in place. Please plan your commute to church accordingly!

NEWS THIS WEEK

This section holds events happening this week, as well as articles submitted in the past 7 days. Be sure to continue scrolling to read about other upcoming events, church news, and social justice efforts!g

In Memoriam

A memorial service for Susan Gross will be held on Saturday, May 6, at 2:00 p.m.

A Letter form Rev. Victoria

Dear Friends,

Your church needs your help.

To date, 172 out of 285 households (60%) have contributed $439,321 toward our goal of $615,000 (70%).

This is not much different from returns in recent years. What’s changed is the Board’s commitment to presenting a balanced budget at this year’s Annual Meeting. For too long, the congregation has operated on deficit spending. This was never responsible, and it is no longer an option. Occasional rentals and fundraisers cover a small portion of the budget, but this church runs on pledges....

Read the full letter here!

Recurring Pledges

Automatic giving is amazing! Your recurring contribution is the painless way to help even out the church's cash flow, strengthen the budget, and grow programming. Once it's set up, it's also easy to change the amount of your gift if you choose. Get one-on-one help setting yours up by contacting the DFA today! 

Alert: Scam Emails Circulating (Again)

Staff and congregants have received emails from scammers this week posing as Rev. Victoria. Please know that Rev. Victoria's official email address is vsafford@ucdsm.org. This email address has not been hacked; the scammers are instead using fake addresses. Church staff, including Rev. Victoria, will never ask congregants for money or gift cards, especially not via email. Please ignore any "church" emails that are not from official ucdsm.org email addresses.

Please do not reply to or click on any links associated with potential scam emails.

Thank you,

Church Staff

Women's Monthly Lunch — May 9

from Barb Royal

NOTE: New location - A Dong Restaurant, 1511 High St, Des Moines

All UU (and UU-interested) women are welcome to join the monthly gathering of the UU Women’s Lunch Bunch (2nd Tuesday of every month at 11:30). 

There’s always good food and lively conversation. 

Please be sure to RSVP by the Saturday morning before the luncheon if you plan to attend: womenslunch@ucdsm.org

When: Tuesday, May 9, 2023: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Where: A Dong, 1511 High St, Des Moines

mUUvie Discussion Group

Saturday, May 13, 7:00 pm

Please join us for our next movie watch party and discussion.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) is a dark comedy about a man who abruptly ends a lifelong friendship and the spiral of consequences that ensues. We will meet in the downstairs gathering area to watch the film, then have a 30-minute guided discussion. Popcorn will be provided; bring your own beverage.

RSVP to muuvie@ucdsm.org with questions and to let us know you're coming.

Thanks to a REACH grant, we now have a video license that allows us to show movies at the church!

Progressive Voices:

Last Concert of 2023 Season!

Saturday, May 20, 2023, 7:30 p.m.

First Unitarian Church Auditorium

Tickets: $22 Advance /$27 Door, available after Sunday services in the gathering area, or online.

There’s just something about Ellis Delaney. At once funny and wise, thoughtful and uninhibited, with a captivating voice that is matched by tender, sometimes funny, uplifting lyrics. If you looked up the definition of open-hearted in the dictionary, you just might find a photo of Ellis there. Their performances are transformational; leaving audiences feeling better, with softened edges & opened hearts.

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, Victoria Safford, to obtain them.

Come one, come all to Big Tent II!

from the Ministry of Fun

Join us at Pete Crivaro Park on Sunday, May 21, following church for food and fun.  

What: Potluck picnic

Main course with meatless options and drinks provided. Please bring your own table service, a lawn chair perhaps, and a dish to share. 

When: 11 am - 2 pm on May 21

Where: Pete Crivaro Park 

Groups from our church community will be on hand so you can learn more about them AND there will be a drawing for a fun gift basket! You are also encouraged to bring your favorite lawn game. We are looking forward to a great time together!

Women's Wednesdays – May 31

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

Meets the last Wednesday of every month from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in the Peace Library.

1:30-2 p.m: General meet and greet, catch-up.

2 p.m. – 3 p.m: Discussion

This month's topic: "Fairy Tales"

Spring & Summer Programming:

Closer Than You Think!

Warm weather is approaching, and the Adult Programming Committee has lined up some great classes for these Spring and Summer months! Some of these groups begin meeting this month, so sign up today!

May 15 – September 11

Facing Death with Life

This is a facilitated process of personal reflection, learning, and spiritual growth focused on death and dying, helping participants move from viewing death as an abstract concept to developing a personal recognition of its meaning in their lives.

This free course meets in person for 8 ninety-minute workshops. Meets from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm on the first and third Mondays of the month, starting May 15, and ending September 11.

Read more

Led by Hilary Hippen-Leek and Elliot Nassif.

Register here

_______________________________

Mistakes and Miracles

"UU Common Read" book discusses the joy, disappointment, and growth of multiculturalism and anti-racism work in our congregations and movement. The UUA common read is titled Mistakes and Miracles by Palmer and Lin. 

Please sign up for a free 90-minute Zoom session in late May. We will watch a 45-minute video overview of the book that includes the two authors and two UU ministers. Then, we will discuss next steps. 

Wednesday, May 24 at 2:00 pm

or

Thursday, May 25 at 6:30 pm.

You can sign up for either; a Zoom link will be forthcoming.

Read more  

Led by Gene McCracken

Register here

_______________________________

Hindsight, Humor, and Hope: Who, Me, an Elder?

Helps participants design their later years through reflection, discernment, soul stretching, and exploration of new life possibilities.

This free course meets for 6 two-hour workshops on Tuesdays, starting August 22 and ending September 26. Meets 1:30–3:30 pm in-person at First Unitarian Church.

Read more

Led by Barbara Royal and Dagny Fidler.

Register here

FFF #23 Update

$11,660 Raised Last Weekend!

Thanks to all involved in FFF 23 at the end of April including the promotional team, people who offered events and auction items, Emily in the office for document help, the table delivery crew, the potluck team and the sale crew. We didn’t count exactly, but had by our best estimate 75 in attendance Saturday night. We had seats for sale at 28 events and 34 items up for auction. Two-thirds of the events are sold out and with auction items we have raised $11,660 so far.

You missed the sale? Want to help support our church and meet more people over delicious food? Want to sign up for more? Help us reach our $13,000 mark from last year! 9 events still have over 45 seats open. Check this updated list and email foodfair@ucdsm.org to reserve and choose how to pay for a spot now. Purchases can be paid in one of these three ways: 

• From the church website Giving Opportunites link at the bottom of the home page, under Fund designate Food Fair. 
• From the Realm Giving link, under Fund designate Food Fair.
• Deliver a check to the church, write FF Bid #s on your check.

Grounds Work

Saturday, June 10, 9 am — 12 pm

Mark your calendar! Grounds Work Day is Saturday, June 10, from 9 am to 12 pm. Come help beautify the exterior of the church!

Contact grounds@ucdsm.org with any questions.

Next Family Promise Hosting Week

July 9 – 16

Sign up to help with hosting, rides, and meals here!

Not able to volunteer, but want to support the program? Sign up for donations in kind for our setup here.

Haven’t been an evening or overnight host before, but would like to try it? Background checks must be on file to do so. Please do the following:

• New hosts, please fill out this form and send to Hannah Notch at hnotch@ucdsm.org
• New drivers, please review the driver information and fill out the driver application form. See the volunteer driver information and links to documents here.

Send cash donations directly to Family Promise of Greater Des Moines here:

https://www.familypromisedm.org/get_involved/donate.html

Thanks for your involvement and support!

Contact: Elaine Imlau, Chair | familypromise@ucdsm.org

Request: TV for Church Building

from Lynne George

We are in need of a new or good used TV for downstairs. Two groups, Family Promise, & mUUvies utilize a TV for their activities. The current one is no longer functioning.

Size: 55” or larger. 

Maybe you are moving, downsizing, transitioning and have a good TV you are willing to share. Maybe you would just LOVE to go out and purchase one! Either way, contact the church office, who will get in touch with these groups. Then someone will come pick the TV up!

Thanks!

Rev. Victoria's Spring Calendar

Friends, you may always reach me at vsafford@ucdsm.org or at 612-405-3318 (a cell number dedicated to church work). We can schedule a Zoom appointment when I am working remotely from St. Paul, or we can meet at church or in your home when I’m here in Des Moines, or simply talk by phone. If you’d like to meet in person during an upcoming visit, please reach out to schedule an appointment! reach out to schedule an appointment. Weekends remaining for in-person visits: May 5-7, June 2-4, June 9-12. You can view my calendar 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.

Come to the May 6 Covenant Workshop!

Covenant is at the heart of Unitarian Universalism from the beginning—what are the promises we make to each other as we journey together in religious community. It is the third of the key documents that congregations need: to understand their mission, create their vision, and articulate a covenant on how you will be while you’re working your mission and toward your vision. 

In 2019, First Unitarian created both our mission and vision, but we haven’t clearly articulated our covenant. It’s time for us to articulate explicitly how we want to be with each other, to unearth what is implicit in our community, and to create

the culture that we want to have in our congregation.

Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley, one of the MidAmerica Congregational Life Consultants, has worked with our leadership before, and now she will be here to engage the whole congregation in delving-in to our covenant. She specializes in covenant and safe congregations issues, as well as working with the UUA’s Hope For Us conflict resolution team. She has worked for the UUA for 16 years, and brings her skills and gifts to help us understand what’s important to us in how we are together.

The Covenant Workshop will be Saturday, May 6, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.  Please come and be part of building our Covenant. We promise the coffee, donuts and bagels will be good!  

-Rev. Safford and the Right Relations Team (Bill Brauch, Scott Clair, Linda Lemons, Jean Rommes and Katherine Vance)

Want to Dip Your Toes in AMOS?

Then join us on a neighborhood walk to see what residents on the southside would like to see in affordable housing in their neighborhood. You'll be paired with one or more AMOS folks knowledgeable about the Community Land Trust that AMOS proposed to the city--and now has planning in full swing.

May 6, 9 a.m. – Noon

For more information or to sign up contact Cheryl Long.

Humanist Update

Book Group

The Humanist book group meets at noon on the first and third Sunday of each month, both in person at the church (right after the forum) and via Zoom.  The next meeting will be on May 7, when we will discuss chapters 8 and 9 of Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution. 

Watch Party

The Watch Party format will resume on Sunday, April 23. Join us at 1:00 PM at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines to watch and discuss the Bill Maher 2008 documentary film Religulous. Email humanistsocietyofiowa.org if you have any questions or suggestions for future programs.

Secular Summit

Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 10, when you can join the Humanist Society of Iowa and the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers for an afternoon program that will feature several excellent speakers and stimulating discussion. More details will follow as the plans are finalized.

Ceremony of Dedication

for Older Children

& Those with New Names

Our service on Sunday, June 4, will include a Child Dedication Ceremony. Most often we hold Dedications for families with infants and toddlers, but this time we’re extending the invitation to children of all ages, right up through high school. Some families arrive at the congregation long after their children are little; others, for lots of reasons, choose not to have a dedication when their kids are small, or didn’t get around to it in the bustle of those early years. For others, this can be a welcome opportunity to mark and celebrate a new name for their child (perhaps one the child has chosen for themself as they’ve come into new and truer identity). If you’d like your family to be included in this special dedication, or just want to know more, send me a note at vsafford@ucdsm.org. (And of course: if your child is an infant and you’d like to take part, we’ll welcome them too, with joy, on this day!

General Assembly (GA) 2023

from Linda Lemons

General Assembly (GA) 2023 "Faithfully Becoming" will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, from June 21-25, 2023 in-person or virtually as best meets your needs. Delegates will be voting on Article II, and deciding whether it is time to add values and new covenants. The UUA Board of Trustees is receiving feedback from all UUs, regarding Article II through the end of the month. Please click here  to share your thoughts. A presentation of the Article II Study Commission submitting their Proposed Article II to the UUA Board can be found here.  

Please click here to register to hear Sofice Betancourt, candidate for UUA President.  I think you will be impressed.

Interim Ministry Selection Advisory Committee

We wanted to give you a quick update on where we are in the Interim process. First and foremost, thank you to everyone that provided feedback during the forum or via email on two of the key questions in the interim packet. The portal opened on April 6^th and our was submitted by the 8^th (one of the first four to submit.) We have been in the waiting period the last couple weeks but things are about to heat up. In fact, May 1 is when the names of the interim ministers interested in our opening will be released to us. Then we will have a flurry of interviews with those interested. Our next deadline is May 15^th that is when we have to let the UUA Transition office now for each candidate whether we consider them a ‘Yes’, ‘Maybe’, or ‘No’ regarding their perceived fit. Then based on those pairings offers are extended on May 17^th. So if all goes to plan we should be able to announce our new interim minister by May 19^th or sooner. 

If you have any questions let us know. Thanks for all you do!

Scott Emison Clair, Shelly Kaldenberg, Doug Aupperle, Crystal Loving, Steven Herwig, and Elliott Nassif

Unsung UU Nominations for 2023

Now Open!

Deadline: May 12, 2023

The Board of Trustees is currently accepting nominations for the 2023 Unsung UU Award to be presented at the annual meeting in June. Each year the Board of Trustees presents this 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.

Please help us identify the Unsung UU for 2023 by completing this form and emailing it to unsunguu@ucdsm.org by May 12, 2023.

Griffin Gallery Artist May

Luis Guzmán Montano captivates viewers with his use of colors and mastery of oil paint. Born in El Salvador, Guzmán Montano incorporates Salvadorian and American culture in his surrealist paintings. The work shares the artist's perspective on life using symbolic images like birds, barbed wire, trees, and figures. His signature blended lines and borders can be found in all of his pieces.

-Cindy Barahona Roth – Witter Gallery. Storm Lake, IA

It's Time for NoMowMay in Des Moines!

Here’s your invitation to join this experience! Carolyn Uhlenhake Walker, Joann Muldoon, and myself, Janice Hawkins, want you to join us in inviting our pollinators back to our yards, our cities, and the state. Since the 1970s, the number of pollinators has dropped by 50%, which is a threat to the survival of life on Earth, including human life. Increasing their habitat is one way to bring back these pollinators, which include: butterflies, bees (honey bees & about 350 native Iowa species!), moths & hummingbirds.



How can you participate? Allow pollinators to enjoy the low-growing plants that are an important source of pollen & nectar in April & May before other plants have bloomed. Mow less, mow higher. Use fewer herbicides, insecticides, & fertilizers. Seriously focus on replacing non-native turf with native plantings that will bring visual interest & color to your yard.

We invite you to come to the Gathering Area between Service & Forum (10:30-11:00) on Sunday, Apr 23, and/or Sunday, Apr 30. We’ll ask you to complete a form & provide you with a sign. Or you can save time by completing the form here! That way, yours will be ready to go when you come to church. One sign will be given for each Des Moines address. If you wish for another, a freewill cash offer of up to $5 would be appreciated. If you live outside of Des Moines, a freewill cash donation of up to $10 would be appreciated. If you live out of the area, we’d ask you to honor whatever the weed ordinance has listed for maximum height of your grass. Email NMMDesMoines2023@gmail.com with any questions.

See ucdsm.org for further details!

Our current partnerships run from September 2022 through August 2023. They were selected by our members at our June 2022 annual meeting. The organizations are:

Hawthorn Hill

Our Champion is Sally Boeckholt

Let's Talk

Our Champion is Ellen Taylor

Rev. Victoria Safford, Transitional Contract Minister

vsafford@ucdsm.org

Office phone: 515-244-8603 ext. 102

Cell: 612- 405-3318

Alice J. Stewart, Director of Finance and 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. 106

Off Mondays

Tuesday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Emily Petty, Communications Coordinator

communications@ucdsm.org

515-244-8603 ext. 103

Off Mondays

Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

To submit an item for the Intercom, email communications@ucdsm.org by Wednesday at noon.

Hannah Notch, Social Media and Executive Support Specialist

hnotch@ucdsm.org

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

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