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

P: 515-244-8603

Choose Abundance

with Reverend Garmon

It's easy to look at our lives and focus on scarcity, on what is in short supply. And this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We always have the option to choose abundance.

Join the live service on Zoom!

Zoom Passcode: Safford

(Please mute your mic before

the service begins!)



Zoom may not be available.

Did you know there is a water quality monitoring site in our creek that runs through the church property? Volunteers and Polk County Conservation staff collect water quality data on this and over 70 sites throughout Polk County. Ginny Malcomson, Polk County Conservation Water Quality Coordinator, will present the history of the project, water quality findings, local watershed events and opportunities.

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

Check the news feed in Realm if you missed last Sunday's Joys & Sorrows.

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

Children & Youth Programming

Children and Youth programs happen on Sundays!

• Elementary-aged (Kindergarten-4th Grade) children of visitors, friends, and members are welcome to go to the One Room SchUUlhouse during services after the Story for All Ages.
• Middle-school aged youth of visitors, friends, and members are welcome to join their own group after service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.
• High-school aged youth of visitors, friends, and members are welcome to join our youth group after service every Sunday morning.

NEWS THIS WEEK

Board of Trustees Update

Thank you to those who could attend the Board/FOC budget forum on February 25th. As an update, the Board is starting the budget process using the ending estimates from the FY 23-24 budget. We will use this as a baseline budget to give Stewardship a goal to maintain our church in a similar fashion. We have heard from members in other spaces, and again last Sunday, regarding many issues including, but not limited to:

• Growing the church
• The importance of separate positions for Faith Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator, as it’s a lot for a half-time position
• Building our financial impact in social justice programs
• Coordinated communication with the Congregation and community
• Building needs
• The one-time need for additional funds to support a new minister

Over the coming month, the Board and FOC members will be in touch with Teams regarding their line item in the budget. We plan to review a draft budget at our March 19th board meeting and release it to the Congregation at the March 31st forum, to be held in conjunction with the Stewardship Committee.

We are under a time of change with onboarding Tracy Aukes, our new church administrator, and will be hiring a new bookkeeper. We will have office changes as Birch leaves us to continues their spiritual journey.

We will do our best to communicate Executive Team changes and keep you apprised of office and duty changes. We look forward to seeing you Saturday at the Stewardship Dinner to "Ignite the Fire of Commitment" for your church!

We are First Unitarian Church of

Des Moines: We are “Igniting the Fire of Commitment”

Saturday, March 2nd from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Griffin Hall

It is time for us to gather to create the church of 2024-25! Join us for dinner and pledge conversation, fun and activities as we continue to build on the good church we have built and inherited.

Dinner for all, as well as childcare and activities for our children!

Together we can support the programs we value, provide engaging religious education for all ages, keep our building in good repair, and attract and retain a valued staff to assist us in keeping that flame alive!

We will be asking for pledges the night of the event, and in the weeks following. We appreciate every member’s contribution. Your thoughtful generosity is valued.

For more info on how to approach giving, check out this giving guide from the UUA.

Let’s ignite the fire together!

Please RSVP and request childcare by emailing stewardship@ucdsm.org.

Afghan Family Update

Good news! The family has confirmed semi-permanent housing thanks to the help of UU member Susan K-B. They will move March 17th.

A few family members had their first grocery shopping trip with their new WIC and SNAP cards Tuesday. Add in searching for foods that are halal and the process is quite mind boggling even with the help of a native English speaker, not to mention very boring for the two little children in tow.

A big thank you to all who have volunteered time and/or contributed to the family fund. Our current balance is $10,682.54. With less needed for the food budget, more will go towards housing expenses. The need will continue after the family moves a no one is able to work yet and the father is still waiting for his interview with the American embassy to approve his visa.

The signup for our last two weeks of hosting is now out. Sign up here. A list of needs for clothing and household items will be out soon. Immediate need for boys clothing-jeans, joggers, short and long sleeved shirts, and socks in sizes ranging from 6, 8, 12, 14 and adult small and medium.

First Unitarian Humanist Update

** Book Group: Sunday, March 3rd at 12:00 p.m.

The Humanist book group meets on the first and third Sunday of each month in the south conference room. You can join in person or via Zoom.  We will be discussing chapters 34 and 35 of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll.

** Watch Party: Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 p.m.

Our watch party series will continue at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines. Send a note to info@humanistsocietyofiowa.org for more information.

mUUvie Discussion Group

Saturday, March 9th from 7:00-9:30 p.m.

in Griffin Hall

To align with March's spiritual theme of generosity, please join us to watch and discuss "Please Give." This 2010 dark comedy centers on Kate (Catherine Keener), an affluent woman with a guilt complex, who attempts to befriend her elderly neighbor in hopes of buying her apartment after the old woman's death so she can expand her own living space. The movie's rendering of complex characters in a conflicted economic landscape is varied, hilarious, and touching.

Popcorn will be provided. Please bring your own drinks.

RSVP to mUUvie@ucdsm.org so we know that you are coming, to ask questions, and to offer ideas for future movies!

Forum Congregational Discussion:

Covenanting with the Wider UU World

Proposed Revision of Article II

Sunday, March 10th at 11:15 a.m.

in the Auditorium

Delegates to UUA General Assembly 2024 will be voting on the proposed revision of Article II for the UUA Bylaws. The Adult Programming Team is providing a time for congregants to share their reflections regarding Rev. Garmon’s sermon; to ask questions, and discuss how the proposed revision of Article II could impact our congregation. Members of the Board of Trustees will also be available to share their thoughts about Article II and answer questions.

This link will send you to our new page on our church website related to this topic. Here you will find detailed information about the Proposed Revision to Article II.

Zoom will be available

Meeting ID: 856 2018 2535

Passcode: 865068

Des Moines City Council Candidates Forum

Sunday, March 17th at 11:15 a.m.

in the Auditorium

Three of the six announced candidates have confirmed! We are working on the others. Thanks to Mike Andreski for agreeing to emcee this forum.

We are looking for questions you may have for the candidates. Click here to access the survey. Please note, the survey will close March 11th.

Please mark your calendar, plan to attend and submit questions if you have them. Thanks!

Unity Circle

Thursday, March 21st at 12:00 p.m.

[Please note: this date is different from the one in the Unity Circle Booklet]

We will be meeting for lunch and a program. Our speaker will be Tim Coughennower from the Des Moines Police Department! His talk will be based on his assessment of our church security and safety procedures.

Please bring a dish to share, and your own table service and a cup for your beverage. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Introduction to Compassionate Communication

Saturday, March 23rd from 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

in Griffin Hall

In this introductory workshop participants will engage in discussion, learning, and exercises that show how to have healthy and more rewarding relationships, especially with one’s self.

This workshop is facilitated by Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication. Please click here for more information.

Click to Register.

This workshop is free, though we encourage donations that will offset the cost of the workshop to One Earth Conservation.

"Metaphysical Awakening" Book Club

Starting Tuesday, March 26th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Join us for our book club where we will meet with author, Michael Lewis, and explore his book in weekly Tuesday evening sessions (March 26th-August 27th).

Register here.

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

2022-2023 was a successful year for REACH grants to help with activities. These grant funds assisted with:

Trans Lives Festival

Ministry of Fun All Church Picnic

No Mow May Project

Movie Group’s license for more films

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

REACH Grant Applications

Available for 2024

A program of the Endowment Committee

It’s almost a new year and a new opportunity to share your ideas for Radical Engagements And Creative Happenings!

REACH Grant Applications for 2024 are now available.

REACH grants can be awarded to church members or groups for ideas related to community outreach, educational opportunities for members. This is your chance to plan or improve a program or event beyond our usual budget limitations. We have $13,079 available for grants this year, with each individual grant capped at $2,500. So, what would you like to do?

The REACH grant application form is available on the church website, here.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your project prior to completing the application, please e-mail the Endowment Committee at Endowment@UCDSM.org.

Pam Hibbs

Art Gallery Exhibit

Pam Hibbs is a Des Moines artist with a studio at MainFrame Studios. She received her BFA in painting and started raising a family, putting art on the back burner when tragedy struck. To help with the grief of losing a daughter, she started painting again where she was instantly drawn back into the emotive qualities of paint which allowed her to be honest with the canvas. Everyday she strives to keep moving forward, to be her best self, and to share her emotive paintings with the world.

Who Do I Contact for...?

Please refer to the corresponding email based on your request or inquiry.

Financial Requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Pledge Requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Administrative Requests: admin@ucdsm.org

Communication Requests: communications@ucdsm.org

Building Use Requests: hnotch@ucdsm.org

All Other Inquiries: mgarmon@ucdsm.org

Intercom Weekly Submissions

Deadline: Wednesday @ 12 noon

Two ways to get your message across:

1. Submit your Intercom Weekly article to communications@ucdsm.org.
2. Want more of a "boost?" Select from an entire menu of communications using Our Events form! Staff LOVES to receive these forms!

Helpful Hints:

• 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

• 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. Please contact the office for more information.