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

P: 515-244-8603

Finding Home

with Heidi Levine

Lay-Leader Bio:

Heidi Levine has been a member of First Unitarian Church of Des Moines since the fall of 2015. Heidi and Tim Wilson relocated to the Des Moines area when Heidi joined the Simpson College leadership as Vice President for Student Development, and UCDSM is the fifth UU congregation where Heidi has found a spiritual home.

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 

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

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

Our beloved Florence Frette died on June 6 at 100 years old. A memorial service for Florence will be held at First Unitarian Church on Saturday, July 8, at 11:00 a.m. 

Florence's daughter, Linda Kenworthy, is accepting cards on behalf of the family. Please contact the Church Office or Pastoral Care for her address.

A Letter from Rev. Garmon

Dear First Unitarian Church of Des Moines,

LoraKim and I are excited about coming to Des Moines. We haven't been there yet, but we've signed a lease on a house into which we expect to move in July. I'm so looking forward to meeting you all in person!

LoraKim and I are headed to Australia and New Zealand from Jul 24 to Aug 22– our first time venturing together outside the Americas. We are fans of women's soccer, and the Women's World Cup will be going on. We have tickets to five of the games -- and are also looking forward to seeing the parrots, penguins, and other sights. It's a trip we've been planning and looking forward to for a long time.

So our plans are:

- Drive with moving truck into Des Moines, about July 14 or so (that's Bastille Day, but I'm hoping we won't have to storm anything). For the week thereafter, I'll be unpacking and also available for church meetings.

- Fly to Australia on Jul 22.

- Arrive back in Des Moines on Aug 23.

While away in Aus-NZ, I'll have some limited availability to respond to emails, but probably not much. So, as Rev. Victoria's last day was Thu Jun 15, I'd like to get started today, Fri Jun 16, on hearing from UCDSM folks and planning for the year ahead. From here in NY, I can have Zoom meetings with people, and I invite any UCDSM member to email me with thoughts and questions. (Just be sure to identify yourself as connected with UCDSM.)

If you'd like to schedule a video meeting with me, please text me at 352-862-8492 to schedule that. Otherwise, email me at mgarmon@uuma.org.

Let the fun begin!

Yours in the faith we share,

Meredith

Please Note: DFA Vacation

June 12 – June 23

Director of Finance & Administration Alice J Stewart is on vacation until June 23 with limited phone and email access. For assistance during this time, please email officestaff@ucdsm.org. Staff will promptly respond to or record your inquiries to be addressed upon Alice's return. Thank you for your understanding.

Church Office Closed Tuesday, June 20

The church office will be closed Tuesday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth. Regular hours will resume on June 21.

Please email officestaff@ucdsm.org with any questions.

To All Pledging Members:

To all pledging members and friends: If you have changed your pledge amount for the upcoming 2023-24 church year, please be sure to make the same change to your recurring payments on PushPay or Realm. If you have any questions about this process, please call or email DFA Alice J Stewart.

Next Family Promise Hosting Week

July 9 – 16

Help us feed, entertain, transport, and house 3 families on-site in our church for one week as they work their way back into their own homes: July 9-16. A variety of positions are available, including providing meals, evening host, overnight host, van driver, setup, takedown, and laundry. First-time hosts and drivers must complete a background check process.

Sign up here!

Contact Elaine Imlau at familypromise@ucdsm.org.

Thank you for your consideration!

Pastoral Care & Memorial Services

This Summer

Between the end of Victoria’s time with us on June 15 and the start of Rev. Meredith Garmon’s ministry in August, we will be without a minister. Rev. Garmon’s contract with us begins on August 1. He will be on vacation (on a previously scheduled trip to Australia) and begin his full-time presence with us on August 23rd. With requests for Pastoral Care during the interval, please reach out to Ann Mowery, Pastoral Care Chair. (Ann will be away June 11-June 24; during that time, please contact Barb Glass using the same email address linked above).

Victoria has arranged for on-call officiants to be available for members’ memorial services between her departure date and Rev. Garmon’s contract date; memorial services may be arranged by calling the church office: 515.244.8603.

Grounds – Thank You!

from Theresa Miller

Thank you to everyone that came out on Saturday to work on the grounds. We took out some nasty Tree of Heaven, weeded the playground so the kiddos can play safely and weeded the Hosta beds by the steps from the upper parking lot. Trash was picked up from the woods and the around the entire property. One of the benches and the broken bird feeder were also removed. Hopefully we will be able to have another work day in September. Feel free to pick up trash or pull a weed or two next time you are at church.

Humanist Update

Book Group

The Humanist book group has moved to 11:00 AM for the summer, right after coffee time, on the first and third Sunday of each month. You can join in person at the church or via Zoom.  The next meeting is June 18, when we will be discussing chapters 2 and 3 of what promises to be a very interesting book – The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll.

mUUvie Discussion Group

Sunday, June 18, 7:00 p.m.

Please join us for Navalny, 2022's Best Documentary Feature winner. It details the 2020 assassination attempt of Russian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Alexi Navalny, in which he was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent.

We will meet in the "brown couch" classroom at the church to watch the movie, followed by a 30 minute discussion. Popcorn and soda will be provided, but feel free to bring treats to share.



RSVP to mUUvie@ucdsm.org so we can plan seating details. Looking forward to an intense film experience and discussion!

Kitchen Care Training

Did you miss out on the training sessions we held in May? If so, you’ve got another opportunity. The training takes about an hour and can be really fun; especially if your instructor manages to spray water all over herself. To get on the list, simply email kitchencommittee@ucdsm.org. Indicate whether you are available anytime, weekday mornings, Saturday mornings, or just evenings. Once we have enough interest we will schedule and contact you.

Women's Wednesdays

is on Summer Break!

Women's Wednesdays is on Summer Break for June and July. Join us again on August 30, when we will discuss The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

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.

We are raising funds for our Pagan Jubilee: Beltane May 4 2024 Celebration! Funds will also be used for other chapter items deemed necessary by The Council. For example, supplies, CUUPS Kids activities, or classes.

Bake sale will include items for Pride, Fathers Day, Juneteenth, and Summer!

Event Timing: June 18, 2023 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - During Coffee Hour at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines.

Contact us at: sacredbridgescuups@gmail.com for any questions.

We appreciate your generosity for baking, and donating items to help fund the chapter!

Please use this form to let us know what you’ll be baking!

Notice:

Grief Support Circle Schedule Change

The Grief Support Circle continues to meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, but we're moving to a new time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us in the Minister's Office for a check-in and support during the grieving process. We understand grief ebbs and flows; you can attend once or many times, when your loss is new or years old.

June meetings: June 22.

The Grief Support Circle also offers a once-a-month Sunday morning meeting time: the third Sundays of the month at 10:45 a.m., following the service. Space allowing, this group will also meet in the Minister's Office, but check the board for location.

Next Sunday meeting: June 18.

Questions? Reach the co-facilitator team at griefgroup@ucdsm.org.

Sacred Bridges CUUPS will be having a potluck to celebrate Litha! Meet in Griffin Hall at First Unitarian Church on June 24 at 1:00 p.m! All necessary dishware will be provided. Along with some lemonade to drink.

To sign up to bring a dish fill out this form.

We will also briefly have a Monthly Business Meeting update about the Bylaws Survey, and any other new items.

There will be a small ritual at the end to celebrate Litha as well. Bring the whole family, and celebrate with us!

WELCOME

We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Meredith Garmon to our congregation! He will join us in August for a two-year interim ministry. We’ll post his contact information, summer availability, and more of his biography on our website as it becomes available. For now, you may find his introductory video greeting there, and reach out to Reba Eagles or Search Committee Chair Scott Emison-Clair for information.

Don't Forget To Sign Up!

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

This free workshop series is designed to help participants plan their later years through reflection, discernment, soul stretching, and exploration of new life possibilities. The gift of extended years finds many people becoming elders with deep personal questions such as, Who am I now? and What will I do that is meaningful? We will think about What is ‘old?’ and What is an ‘elder?’

Dates: Tuesdays, August 22 through September 26 (6 sessions)

Times: 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Read more 

Register here!

Survey: Children & Youth Faith Formation 2023-24

Dear First Unitarian Families,

Our current church year has been a year of trying new things, including moving all children & youth programming to Sunday mornings after service. With nearly a whole programming year over, we know this works well for some families and less-well for others. We'd like to know what works best for you and your family, so please take the time to fill out this survey by June 30.

First Unitarian Building Team:

Help Wanted

Do you love our building? We Do!

It takes a lot of love – and maintenance – to keep it looking beautiful and being useful to so many people. The Building Team assists the church admin in overseeing building needs.

Want to Help? We are looking for friends with the following SKILLS OR who are willing to be general helpers to those with skills! Follow this link to the Volunteer Opportunities form, and checkmark "Grouds & Building Work" to get involved with the Building Team.

Skills Needed:

· Light Carpentry/Woodwork

· Plumbing

· Electrical

· Painting

· Mechanical

· Assisting with any of the above and general help

Current and Upcoming (Possible) Projects:

· Restoring the front of the stage in the sanctuary (sanding, varnishing, cleanup)

· Restoring the window seats in Griffin (sanding, varnishing, cleanup, light carpentry?)

· Rethinking storage issues post-kitchen reno (tables, etc.)

· Floor repairs post-lift renovation

· Parking Lot work

Upcoming events:

• June 10 – Grounds Help Day
• June 17 – Building Help Day
• Sign up for one or both of these specific events here!

Current Building Team: Al Powers (Chair), Louise Alcorn, Doug Aupperle, Walter Pearson, and Tom Thurtell

Food Fair Update

We are only $300 from our $13,000 mark raised last year! 10 events still have over 40 seats open. Help us reach $13,000! Check the updated list and email foodfair@ucdsm.org to reserve your space.

Purchases can be paid in one of two ways:

• Online use this link and designate Food Fair under Funds 
• Deliver a check to the church, write FF Bid #s on your check.

Griffin Gallery Artist June

Sean Abramowitz

Making Tree Soul Portraits is my way of saying, “I see you. I see all the jagged, incongruent, weird, uncategorizable parts. I see the parts that you don’t feel like you are allowed to show. I see the parts you find ugly and embarrassing. I see the parts you have forgotten.

Trees are a powerful symbol for me because they don’t have any consciousness around the directions they are growing. They don’t try to be this way or that way or fit themselves into some kind of a box or role. They just respond to their environment and grow in the most effective ways to survive. And they always turn out beautiful.

-Sean Abramowitz

Faithify Fundraising – LGBTQ+ Rights

To add moxie to the challenge of restoring LGBTQ rights in Iowa, the Iowa UU Witness Advocacy Network starts a Faithify funding campaign on Monday, June 5^th.  This campaign will enable IUUWAN to provide outreach and support to the Iowa LGBTQ+ community and allies through training, shared resources, and networking strategies.  Fighting for justice now is crucial!  All contributions will make a difference.  A UU funding source will match donations!  Go to the fundraising website, Faithify.org, and look for the pink flamingo from now to July 5.

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

Our Interim Minister, Rev. Garmon, will begin in August 2023. Contact information will be available soon.

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