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

P: 515-244-8603

Bread & Roses: The Work of Our Hands & the Work of Our Hearts

with Rev. Victoria Safford

On this Labor Day Sunday, we’ll reflect on the value of work, from jobs we’re paid to do to the vocations and avocations that call us to lives of integrity, service and joy. What does work mean, in a culture committed to capitalism? How can we honor the labor of all workers, paid, unpaid, and underpaid, and celebrate good work, well-done? 

Join the live service on Zoom!

Zoom Passcode: Safford

(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)

Forum: Film Viewing & Discussion

SUMMONED: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare – Film & Conversation

with Green Sanctuary & Rev. Victoria Safford

11:00 a.m. in Griffin Hall

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In the depths of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins as the first woman on a presidential cabinet. Against overwhelming odds, she became the driving force behind Social Security, the 40-hour work week, the eight-hour day, minimum wage and unemployment compensation. The film features compelling interviews with David Brooks, Nancy Pelosi, Amy Klobuchar, Lawrence O’Donnell and others to explore the history of our attitudes toward immigration, poverty, Socialism, and the role of government. We’ll talk about this and more after the 55-minute film.

Note: Due to copyright, this forum will not be available on Zoom. You can find the film at PBS or Amazon. 

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 

Ann Mowery is the Pastoral Care Associate available for the week beginning at

10:30 a.m. this Sunday. Email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance or call the Associate's telephone number in the church directory.

Please note: Email Scammer Alert

We learned this week that scammers are at it again, this time posing as Rev. Victoria and asking for gift cards. Please know: church staff and lay leaders will never ask you for money, gifts cards, or favors in this way. If an email looks suspicious, double-check the sender’s address, delete the email, and then send a quick note to Alice Stewart in the office (director@ucdsm) so we’re aware of it.

Please do not forward the suspicious email!  

Bob Glass Memorial 

from Barb Glass

The memorial service for Bob Glass will be held at the church Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Due to COVID prevalence, masks will be provided and there will be no coffee following. Conversation and viewing of a display and memento gallery will be in the lobby and adjacent areas after the service

We need four volunteers to compile remembrance bags (bags and filling provided by Barb and other family) about an hour before Bob's 2 pm service on Sunday, September 11. Please sign up here if you are able to volunteer. We'll set the bags out for attendees to take after the memorial.

Questions? Contact Susan Jellinger at memorialreceptions@ucdsm.org.

Nicky Keller Memorial Reception

From Barb Royal & Susan Jellinger

A service to celebrate the life of Nicole Keller will take place at church on September 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Nicky was a long-time, beloved member and leader in our congregation who died of COVID in December 2020. Nicky’s family is working with church volunteers to plan the celebration.

If you wish to help out with the reception after the service, please go to this SignUp Genius and volunteer to bring cookies and/or help with one of the three working shifts or tasks of doing table flowers, washing table cloths. Because of the kitchen remodel we do not have access to serving platters, so we ask those bringing cookies to have them on a serving tray or plate. Thanks in advance for your support.

First (Official) Week

In the Des Moines Office!

from Rev. Victoria Safford

I’m excited to be in Des Moines this week for my first in-person weekend with you, Sept. 1-5. These first weeks have been exhilarating as I’ve gotten to know you better through a whirlwind of online meetings, phone calls, and emails. You may always reach me at vsafford@ucdsm.org or at 612-405-3318 (a cell number dedicated to church work).

If you’d like to meet in person during my visit this week, please reach out to schedule an appointment!

Available times:

Fri. Sept. 2 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Sat. Sept. 3 from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Mon. Sept. 5 from 9:00 am – 1:00 p.m.

Please come if you have a pastoral concern (a sadness or some issue weighing on your heart), a spiritual query, a question or something you’d like me to know about congregational life (church programs, committees, or the ministry transition), or just come to introduce yourself and say hello!

You may find my fall schedule, with in-person visits, here.

Building Reservations

from First Unitarian Staff

The Church Office is thrilled to see more activity in the church building over the last few months. If you will be using any portion of the church building, please check with the office to make sure it is available. The office maintains a list of building reservations.  

Contact Alice and Hannah to get your gathering on the list. Thank you!

Youth Faith Formation

Moving to Sundays

from the Board of Trustees

In their August 18 meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed an ad hoc committee of program staff and congregants to consider moving children's & youth Faith Formation programming to Sunday mornings. On August 25, committee members discussed and approved this recommendation. Starting this fall, 5 – 6 Grade OWL, 7 – 8 Grade OWL, Coming of Age, and YRUU will meet on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. following the service. Be on the lookout for upcoming registration information.

Mask Policy Update

from the Board of Trustees

The board, at its regular meeting on August 18, voted to amend the mask policy. Masks are now optional everywhere in the building including the auditorium. Much research has proved the efficacy of single masking, so you are always free to mask if you prefer.

The only exception is in the staff office area, where staff has the option of modifying this policy to reflect their level of comfort. Please watch for signs on the office doors to see if they have modified this policy before you enter, and mask if required.

As always, if you believe you've had a recent Covid exposure, or if you're experiencing symptoms, please consider staying home until you feel better and test negative.

2022-23 Faith In Action Partners

from the Faith In Action Coordinating Team

Our partnerships for the next year run from September 2022 through August 2023. The partners are below.

Hawthorn Hill

Our Champion is Sally Boeckholt

Hawthorn Hill's mission is to establish and operate housing programs for homeless families with children that help them obtain permanent housing and to provide services to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency. Hawthorn Hill runs a short-term shelter and also a long-term housing program in single family and duplex homes in Des Moines. Caseworkers meet families where they are, working with them to secure transportation, daycare and education as well as housing. They are grateful to be selected to our Faith in Action partner for 2022-23 and look forward to working in partnership with us during the coming year

Let’s Talk

Our Champion is Ellen Taylor

Let’s Talk has been volunteering in Des Moines Middle schools since January 2014 to help students resolve conflicts in a peaceful and restorative way where each student has a chance to talk about what happened from their point of view, how it has impacted them, and what they will do going forward to make things work better. They help create a culture of respect and inclusion, and work to decrease the disproportionate number of students of color suspended and referred to the juvenile justice system.

Churchwide Coffeehouse!

Saturday, October 8, 6 – 8 p.m.

from Karen Kraemer

Do you like to sing, give a reading, lead a meditation, dance, play an instrument? Drop in and share your talent with us on this open-mic night, and enjoy the wall of art on display in Griffin Hall created by our members!  Do you enjoy music and art but try to avoid the limelight of the stage? Please plan to come and just be entertained! 

No advanced sign-up is required. A stage and microphone will be provided as well as snacks and munchies, but please BYOB. 

Come and let's spend a fun night celebrating music and the arts together! Because childcare is not available, this is a tween to adult low-key "chill" event. Inquiries or questions? Contact Karen Kraemer at choir@ucdsm.org.

Request: Food & Personal Care Items for Local Food Pantries

from Carolyn Spencer

I have been a volunteer at the Urbandale Food Pantry for over nine years. In this time I have seen the pantry grow from being in operation three days a week to now five days a week. The actual space of the pantry has also doubled in that time. I don't have the numbers of clients that used the pantry each month nine years ago but the numbers now are about 1200 families each month. The increase in the last few months has been almost double. The reasons for this increase are the lost of SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program), USDA has reduced distribution by 30 percent and increased gas prices.

No one should have to choose between going hungry and paying rent, gas for the car or utilities. Each month the local pantries give out groceries to families that include milk, eggs, cheese, meat items, fresh fruits and veggies and several canned and boxed items so they have enough food for a week. Some personal items such as toilet paper, laundry soap, body wash and diapers are also given out.

I am asking for help in filling our Red Barrel with non-parishable food items and personal care items to be distributed to local food pantries. Bidwell Riverside Food Pantry, located withing less than two miles from our church and Urbandale Food Pantry are the two largest and most utilized pantries in the Greater Des Moines area and will be among the pantries where our donations will go.

I am asking you to please remember the many folks in our community that rely on pantries to stretch their food budget each month and bring an item or two or three each week you come church and I will see that they go to a local pantry.

Thank you for caring and giving what you can.

Green Sanctuary Meeting

Ron Heideman

The congregation is invited to attend our next meeting on Wednesday, September 7, at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

We’ll plan future Forums and Classes. Send suggestions to Green@ucdsm.org

First Unitarian Community:

It’s Time for a KP Quiz! 

from the Kitchen Project Committee

Folks, The Kitchen Project Committee is making real progress, both strategically (i.e., making decisions) and materially (as in acquiring appliances). So let’s take a moment to review some information and see how well you’ve been paying attention to previous KP updates and how much you know or can deduce (or guess correctly) about items we’ve yet to report on here.

1. Which is NOT a reason the kitchen committee decided on the type of dish-washer they did?  

A) A high temp washer (180°) uses extremely hot water to sterilize dishes, whereas a low temp washer (130°) depends on harsh chemicals to do the job.

B) A high temp washer uses a booster to heat the water to 180° and is able to recycle water for the next load. A low temp washer, also known as a “fill and dump,’ requires each cycle to use fresh water because of the chemicals in each load e.g., chemicals plus detergent, plus rinsing soap.

C) The chemicals in low temp washer can damage some plastics, steel, silver, aluminum, pewter, and other alloys.

D) Environmental concerns – A high temp washer does require a bit more energy to get the water to 180°, but the low temp one uses a new dose of chemicals for every load.

E) Alchemic research indicates that high temp washers are more likely to convert trace elements into gold which can be sold, thus providing income for the annual budget and/or endowment fund.

2. Our new oven and cooktops were manufactured by which company?

A) Sub-Zero Group in Madison, Wisconsin

B) Amana Appliances in Amana, Iowa

C) B & L Industries, Largo, Florida

D) La Nordica, Montecchio Precalcino, Italy

E) Heisenberg/White Industries, Albuquerque, NM

3. The aesthetics committee is designing the kitchen with mid-century modern colors. Which color will you NOT likely see in the new kitchen?

A) Bright Orange  

B) Aqua Blue 

C) Scottish Plaid  

D) Teal Green

4. Which kitchen items can be viewed at the September 11th Forum? 

A) dishes

B) dishwasher

C) microwave

D) refrigerator

E) stovetops

F) double oven

G) silverware

H) all of the above

For the correct answers visit the KP webpage. And, be sure to put the September 11th Forum on your events calendar!

"Let's All Fall Together"

from the Ministry of Fun

What: A time to come together, eat, and play, and enjoy the best time of the year in Iowa!

When: Sunday, September 25th, 2022 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Where: Pete Crivaro Park

This event is brought to you by the Ministry of Fun, an invention of ours after our meetings with Reverend Pyle when we asked what leadership could do for our congregation and he said bring them together and help them have fun. Challenge accepted!

We want to picnic and party as a church! Expect a potluck of sides and desserts, and lots of great company.

mUUvie Night September 11

Sunday, September 11, 7:30 p.m.

First Unitarian Church - Griffin Hall/Gathering Space

Imitating Life - This film follows the unlikely but true story of photographer Suzanne Heintz, and an extraordinary act of defiance that catapults her life, and art, into the social media spotlight. She creates a mannequin family and embarks on a global crusade against societal pressure to conform, resulting in a raw, funny and intimate portrait of life through her lens. Part comedy, part drama, part real life – we witness it all.

Note: This film was not shown when it was scheduled in July - our apologies for the inconvenience.

RSVP to muuvie@ucdsm.org so we can gauge the number of attendees and send you a reminder message!

First Unitarian Humanist Update

from the First Unitarian Humanists

The Humanist book group will meet on Sunday, September 4, at 11:00 a.m. at the church. We are continuing to read Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari and will cover chapter 18 on the 4^th. We will be starting to read Cosmos by Carl Sagan in October. Everyone is invited, either in person or via Zoom.

Celebrating Roger Evans

Long-time member Roger Evans died peacefully Saturday morning, August 6th at Legacy Point Independent Living Skilled Care in Waukee. A service will be held at a later date. His wife, Jean, is currently at Mercy West dealing with her own health issues. Updates will follow.

Calling all writers!

from the UU Writers Group

Sally Boeckholt and Sarah Lauer will be facilitating a UU Writers Group on the 3rd Monday each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Stonewall Conference room at First Unitarian, from September 2022 through June 2023. 

UU Writers Group explores the monthly Soul Matters themes and engages in spiritual discernment through the art of creative writing. 

Format and Approach

Monthly packets contain options for a personal warm up and 3-4 writing projects/exercises centered around the month’s theme. 

Participants pick one of the writing exercises and work on it in advance of the group meeting. In the meeting, facilitators guide the group through a warm up exercise, sharing the pieces group members have written and a closing ritual. 

The Vision

Writing is a long-loved path to personal insight, spiritual discernment and self-expression. By bringing the practice of writing to the exploration of our monthly themes, we hope to provide participants not only with another channel of self-discovery, but also with the gift of being witnessed in a new and precious way. 

This packet provides a good example of what to expect each month. 

Sign up today to join us on our journey of creative writing and spiritual exploration

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

Rev. Victoria's Fall 2022 Calendar

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