A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315 | P: 515-244-8603 |
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This Sunday: July 11, 2021 |
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Fill Up Your Cups
Megan Westphal
**Please mute your mics before the service begins
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As Unitarian Universalists, we're compelled to heal and help others by refilling their vessels. But sometimes, we're refilling from our own empty vessels. This service is about learning to fill and heal ourselves first, before we take care of others.
Join music therapist and UCDSM member Meghan Westphal for this engaging service using music and imagery.
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Or Dial In:
(301) 715 8592 • (312) 626 6799
Meeting ID: 885 408 840
Passcode: 781950
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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: July 11 - 17 |
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Susan Jellinger is the Pastoral Care Associate available for the week beginning at 11 am on Sunday morning, July 11. You may reach them at [email protected] or by calling their telephone number found in the church directory.
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Submissions to the Intercom Weekly are due on Wednesday at noon. Submissions after the deadline cannot be guaranteed a spot in that week's newsletter.
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Lens of the Future Update
Current Level: Level 3
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Now that we’re at Level 3 for building access, please remember to schedule your visit to the property, so we can manage how many people are on the grounds at any given time and coordinate with our custodial contractor on cleaning the building. Please contact Kerrie Lee ( [email protected]) to submit your scheduling request.
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Welcome Cheryl Coker
Bookkeeper
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My name is Cheryl Coker (she/her/hers), and I live in Norwalk. I am a mother of 4 adult children and I have 11 grandchildren. I am happy to be here and look forward to meeting you all. A few thing I enjoy are spending my time learning new things and getting lost on random spur of the moment road trips. |
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Let’s Set the Table to Re-Open!
From: The Leadership Team
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We’ve had plenty of time away from one another for the past year and a half. Now, it’s time to imagine what it will be like to gather in person.
Please join your fellow UU members and friends in small in-person groups to consider how we’ll be in community going forward.
Watch for an email invitation that will offer two dates to choose from. Please respond quickly so your hosts can plan the event.
There are two Zoom sessions available for those who prefer to meet virtually. (Please note, these are two different links!)
In-person events will be held in a variety of locations, at the host’s discretion. You may be invited to someone’s home, a backyard, a park, the church patio, or Griffin Hall. You’ll be with 10 – 15 other church members and friends.
There will be plenty of time to reconnect with old friends and get to know new folks. Your hosts will guide the group through a few questions that will help staff, the BoT and Rev Amy understand your ideas and hopes as we plan for the coming church year.
Your input is critically important to rebuilding our church community and transforming from a virtual world to in-person!
Please contact the Leadership team with any questions.
Katie Allen, Sally Boeckholt, Bill Brauch, Liz Bredeson, Darin Jensen, Greg Nichols, Patty Notch
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Committee Updates
From: The Board of Trustees
Next board meeting: Thursday, July 15 @ 6 pm
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The Board met on July 1 and approved new representatives to a variety of standing committees. For the complete list, see all of the Committees of the Board.
At the upcoming Board meeting on July 15, there will be discussion of areas where board members will either serve on non-board committees. These might include such areas as a Board member’s involvement on the Accessibility team, or the Faith Formation council, etc.
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Volunteer Church Grounds Summer Spruce Up and Weeding Work Day
From: The Grounds Council
Saturday, July 17 @ 9 am - 12 noon
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It’s that time of year again when weeds abound. The Unitarian Church Grounds Council is planning a work day to weed and clean up the various gardens and walkways on the church grounds, and we need some folks to help for a couple of hours.
We will assign small groups to the different work areas and follow all current COVID safety guidelines provided by the church. The downstairs bathroom will be available for volunteers. Water and snacks will be supplied.
Please come and help if you can! We’ll work rain or shine, in heat and humidity, so dress accordingly. Bring work gloves and extra rakes, pruners and weeding tools if you have them. (We also have a supply of tools at the church.) You might see the fox, the badger family, beavers and several species of birds, as well as other critters. Children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult.
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Humanist Book Group
Sunday, July 18 @ 11:05 am
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The Humanist book group (usually) meets on the first and third Sunday of each month, after the church service. In our next meeting we are discussing Steven Pinker’s book – Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress. Join us on Sunday, July 18 at 11:05 am. |
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On August 1st we will start a new book The Constitution of Knowledge: In Defense of Truth by Johnathan Rauch.
Send a note to [email protected] if you would like an invite to join the Zoom session for the book club. |
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Attention All UU Women
From: The UU Women's Lunch Bunch
Tuesday, July 20 @ 11:30 am
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The UU Women’s Lunch Bunch is returning to in-person gatherings starting in July!
We’re hoping you’re all vaccinated and ready to be together again.
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DATE: 3rd Tuesday of each month, beginning July 20, 2021
TIME: 11:30 am
PLACE: FireCreek Grill - 800 S 50th St., WDM (at least for this 1st gathering)
RSVP REQUIRED: [email protected] (goes to Barb Royal, for now) - by Saturday, July 17.
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Invitation from Compassion & Choices
Please join us for our statewide meeting!
Saturday, August 7 @ 9:30 am
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Date: Saturday, August 7, 2021
Time: 9:30 am - 12 noon CT
Where: Zoom
Keynote speaker: Elizabeth Armijo, Compassion and Choices National Advocacy Director
Topic: Legislative efforts in Iowa, addition of New Mexico as the the 11th jurisdiction to allow medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults, and stories from Iowa advocates.
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Hospitality Teams
From: Membership and Hospitality
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As we grow closer and closer to being able to resume in-person services, we are beginning to think about the role of hospitality and what that will look like when we return. Duties may stay the same, but they may also be slightly altered depending on what is needed for in-person services.
Membership Coordinator Lyra Halsten and Hospitality Coordinator Terry Meek are working on updating the Hospitality Team rosters in order to ensure that we are fully staffed and ready to welcome everyone back. Because Hospitality is one of the most important committees that we have, Lyra and Terry hope that all current hospitality team members will return. If you’re a new member and haven’t been assigned to a team, we will be in touch with you to find out your preferences! If has been a while since you participated, we ask you to sign up again. The time commitment is low; teams serve 1 Sunday, every other month. It is the perfect opportunity for those seeking engagement and connection! If you want to make friends and have fun, you belong here!
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Intercom Changes Coming
From: The Communications Team
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The Communication Team is working with our Communication Coordinator, Kerrie Lee, to improve your Intercom experience. Continuing the work begun with our church website redesign, we’re going to make changes that streamline our weekly communication. Our goal is to help you spend time on the information most relevant to you, while not missing out on news that’s important for all of us.
Phase One begins next month and will reduce the amount of scrolling you need to do. Intercom items that are lengthy will be introduced with a just few sentences to pique your interest and then you can follow a link to read the rest of the article if you choose. This change will balance out the information you see when you open the newsletter and let you glance more quickly through each week’s content. And If you’re a contributor, this also eliminates the need to limit your message to a set number of words. However, we still recommend being as brief as possible, while sharing the complete details about your issue or event.
Please contact the Communication Team if you have comments or suggestions about how to continue improving church communications. |
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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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2020-21 Outreach Partners
Central Iowa Immigrant Support Coalition &
Planned Parenthood North Central States - Iowa
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Through August, half of our collection-plate contributions will continue to be split between the Coalition and Planned Parenthood. Beginning in September the contributions will go to our new Social Action partners, Knock & Drop (food delivery) and Just Voices (anti racial-profiling). In the past year we have helped these organizations with over $4,000 each in support of a variety of programs.
To make a one-time or repeating contrition to our Social Justice activities and our partners, go to our website and enter your information for the ‘Donation/Basket’ Fund. |
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More Upcoming Meetings & Events |
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If you wish to add your virtual event to our calendar,
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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July 13 | Let's Set the Table to Re-Open! @ Virtual Meeting, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
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Intercom Weekly Submissions
Deadline: Wednesday @ 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 7:00 am.
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The deadline is Wednesday at noon. Submissions after the deadline cannot be guaranteed a spot in that week's newsletter.
- 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 official looking @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 [email protected] to have your event added to both the calendar and the newsletter.
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Please remember that Rev. Amy will be on vacation/study leave from June 8-21, 2021. They will be working digitally at UUMA Ministry Days and GA from June 22-28. They will then be on vacation/study leave again from June 29-July 31, 2021. During these periods, they will not be checking congregational email or returning non-emergency calls or messages. If you have an emergency during this time, please call or text Rev. Amy directly on their cell and be clear about the nature of the emergency.
As announced in the Annual Meeting, the rest of the staff has returned to the building as of Tuesday, June 15. Office hours for each individual are listed below.
Office Hours
Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw
Out of the office until August
Charles Lewis, Director of Finance and Administration
Out of the office June 23 - July 7
Devon McClurken, Director of Faith Formation
Tuesday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thursday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Lyra Halsten, Membership Coordinator
Tuesday - Thursday: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kerrie Lee, Communications Coordinator
By appointment only (through the end of July)
Peyton Busch, Social Media & Executive Support Specialist
Tuesday - Friday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
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Text "UCDSM APP" to 77977 or toll free (833) 816-9022
to download our app
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