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

P: 515-244-8603

Where Do We Come From?

with Rev. Victoria Safford

Celebrant: Barb Martin

Pianist: Bruce Martin

Song Leader: Sarah Guenther

Special Music: Violin soloist: Kris Shay

with quartet: Karen Kraemer, Deidre Fudge, Sarah Chang, Sarah Guenther

A/V Team: Bill Paxson

Pastoral Care: Susan Jellinger

Hospitality coordinated by 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 

Susan Jellinger is the Pastoral Care Associate available for this Sunday morning. Please email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance during the week.

Childcare not available this Sunday, October 2.

Celebrating Roger Evans

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 15, at 2:00 p.m. for longtime member Roger Evans, who died on August 6. 

Please email memorialreceptions@ucdsm.org for more information.

Rev. Victoria Safford Availability

September 29 – October 

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 when I’m here in Des Moines. If you’d like to meet in person during an upcoming visit, please reach out to schedule an appointment!

Available times:

Sat. Oct. 1 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Sun. Oct. 2 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Thurs. Oct. 13 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Thurs. Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 14 from 9:00 –11:00 a.m.

Sat. Oct. 15 5:00 p.m.

Sun. Oct. 16 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Mon. Oct. 17 9:00–11:00 a.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 schedule a personal meeting here.

Update from the Board of Trustees

The board met on Sunday, September 25, in retreat to discuss future plans for our transition and to complete the consolidation of our goals for the year. Our goals are to Build Community, Stewarding Resources and Engaging our Community. Each of these have a year one and year two component, however the year two aspect will be revisited when we look at what our congregation is looking forward to for the year 2023-2024.

Starting this fall and ending, hopefully, before the end of the year we will be hosting transitional conversations with small groups. These will be designed to discuss our collective history as well as our perceptions of what has happened to us both individually and as a congregation in terms of how we feel about all we have experienced in the last few years. Notice of these meetings with ways to sign up will be posted soon. Rev Victoria and I will be holding a forum this coming Sunday, October 2^nd regarding a Transitional Ministry Update. We will be available for questions at that time.

Reba Eagles, Board President

Grounds Work – Volunteers Welcome

Saturday, October 1 & 8

from the Grounds Council

Mark your calendar. Grounds works day Saturday, October 8, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (ish). Long sleeves & pants are strongly recommended. We will be focusing on the area between Bell Ave & the steps from the lower parking lot, as well as the woods.

To prepare, several of us will be spraying the poison ivy and other noxious weeds on Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. Help would be appreciated. 

October Griffin Gallery Artist:

Andrea Van Wyck

Andrea is a Pella artist and art educator. Her exhibit is a set of oil paintings depicting scenes from her travels in europe.

This exhibit captures her interest in architecture. She continues to study and photograph the architecture, nature, and culture wherever she goes. Her "paintings of architectural compositions highlight the rich culture that exists in the world and is begging to be explored."

Food Pantry Donations Update

from Carolyn Spencer

I took the donations in the Red Barrel to Bidwell Riverside Food Pantry on Monday, September 26th. There were 59 pounds of food, 8 personal care items, and $20.00 cash. Thank you to our generous UUs for this much appreciated donation. We will continue to collect as the need never ends.  

MOST NEEDED DONATIONS:

• Boxed Cereal
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Chicken and Tuna
• Canned Soup
• Canned Chili
• Pasta
• Pasta Sauce
• Canned and Dried Beans
• Rice
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables
• any non-perishable miscellaneous foods

Money is also needed. There will be a donation basket marked "Food Pantry" on the Hospitality Table.

Also, Food Pantries reuse paper and plastic grocery bags. Please bring any from home that you don't want. There will be boxes next to the DMARC Food Red Barrel to put the bags in.

Save The Dates!

from AMOS

What: Seminars on How Community Land Trusts (CLTs) Create Permanent Affordable Housing

When: Wednesday, November 16, & Thursday, November 17

Why: CLT’s are a way to create affordable housing that stays affordable forever and looks like other properties in the neighborhood so it's welcomed by the neighbors! Whether you are hearing about CLT’s for the first time and want to learn more or are a seasoned advocate for affordable housing, plan to attend one or more of these informative trainings on November 16 and 17.

Email amosevents@ucdsm.org for more information.

First Unitarian Humanist Update

The Humanist book group will meet this Sunday, October 2. We are still meeting on the first and third Sunday of each month, but at 12:00 noon, right after the forum. We will be starting to discuss Cosmos by Carl Sagan. Everyone is invited to participate, either in person or via Zoom.

Bread & Puppet:

Apocalypse Defiance Circus

from Morgan Dredge

The Circus is coming to town!

The Woodland Realm urban garden and Group Creative Services are thrilled to host world-renowned, Vermont-based Bread and Puppet Theater on their fall tour with their latest production, The Apocalypse Defiance Circus at the Lauridsen Ampitheater on Wednesday, October 5, at 6:00 p.m. 

After the show Bread and Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli and do a talk-back.

Admission is free, donations for the performers accepted. Suggested $10-$25. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating (chairs, blankets).

Click here for more information.

Welcome "Owlivia!"

from First Unitarian Staff

Please join us in welcoming our newest staff member, Owlivia! She is a state-of-the-art presentation system featuring a 360 camera, microphone, and advanced software that can zero in on multiple speakers at once. 

Owlivia's previous experience includes work with Just Voices. She was donated by generous member Harvey Harrison, and she will continue her communicative career at our Sunday Forums starting October 2.

Accessibility Team Meeting

Sunday, October 2, 10:45 a.m.

The Accessibility Team will be meeting on Sunday, October 2, at 10:45 a.m. in the Mary Safford Room (back of Auditorium).  

All are welcome. The agenda includes consideration of improvements made to date, status of those in-progress and identification of needs requiring further study and recommendations. The current team is made up of Leeann Back, Janice Hawkins, and Donald Shepherd. 

If you would like to join us or have comments, questions and/or suggestions, please let us know at accessibility@ucdsm.com. 

Thank you for considering your role in this vital work. 

Young Adults Spiritually Socializing (YASS)

The First Unitarian Young Adult group is relaunching! Join us for food, fellowship, and connection with other young adults. 

Our first gathering is Wednesday, October 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in room 114 (southeast corner of the lower level of the church). We'll be meeting on the first Wednesday of the month, same time and place. Then, adding other roving social, spiritual, and/or service activities into the mix as the group is interested – come share your ideas with us in October!

Contact Courtney Dufford at youngadults@ucdsm.org with questions.

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.

UU & You: A Two-Part Class

Are you interested in learning more about our Unitarian Universalist history? Do you want to know more about membership in this congregation, and how you can join? Bring your questions and attend one – or both! – of these classes this fall.

Intro to Unitarian Universalism: Saturday, October 29, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Who is this for?

• Visitors & friends of the congregation who want to know more about our tradition
• Members who want to know about our tradition’s history

What will we discuss?

• Unitarian & Universalist Histories
• Our Living Tradition
• Our Congregation’s History

Pathway to Membership: Saturday, November 5, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Who is this for?

• Visitors & friends of the congregation considering membership and who have taken the Intro to Unitarian Universalism class
• Visitors & friends who have been part of other Unitarian Universalist communities

What will we discuss?

• Our Congregation’s Life
• The Role of Membership

Sign up here!

Join a Soul Matters Sharing Circle

from the Adult RE Committee

You are invited to join a Soul Matters Sharing Circle for the 2022-2023 church year! Soul Matters participants cocreate safe, open space where to welcome one another and to connect with each other, with our deepest selves, and with the world. Engaging the themed curriculum and being fully present at the monthly 2-hour meeting will give your spirituality a boost and loneliness a warm salve.

There are four groups to choose from:

·        Third Monday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Judy Davis’s home (1537 44th St, Des Moines), facilitated by Elaine Imlau and Judy Davis

·        Third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., church, facilitated by Tracy Beck

·        Fourth Tuesday of the month, 10:00 am. Jo Fitz’s home (3825 127th St. Urbandale), facilitated by Jo Fitz and Susan Seitz

·        Fourth Saturday of the month, 10:00 a.m., church or TBD, facilitated by Hilary Hippen-Leek

Soul Matters Sharing Circle registration has begun! Join us for small group conversations and reflections on the monthly themes. Find more information here and register HERE. 

There’s a Soul Matters group especially for writers! Click here for more information.

IMT Des Moines Marathon

Sunday, October 16

The IMT Des Moines Marathon returns to our neighborhood on Sunday, October 16.

The Marathon course starts in the Court Avenue District at 8 am. The course will take athletes through the Western Gateway Park area before heading west on Grand Avenue. 

Miles 3 through 16 of the course will impact neighborhood communities along the Grand Avenue, Polk Boulevard, Kingman Boulevard, and Drake University corridors from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Please allow for extra time or alternate routes during your travels.

To view road closures and suggested traffic reroutes, visit the IMT Des Moines Marathon website, locate the Race Weekend tab, and click on Spectators. Course Maps can also be found with a turn-by-turn course description at desmoinesmarathon.com.

Please get in touch with the IMT Des Moines Marathon to discuss any concerns about the Marathon course and how it may impact traffic flow and reroutes in your area. We can also discuss ideas for your involvement with the race.  

Chris Burch, Race Director, at 515-288-2692 or cburch@desmoinesmarathon.com.

Opportunities to Provide Feedback to the Article 2 Study Commission, Revision of UU Principles

Principles, Purposes, Freedom of Belief Statements, and other and other foundational elements of Unitarian Universalism are being rewritten by UUA’s Article 2 Study Commission.The proposed revisions will be put to a vote at the 2023 General Assembly. Sessions to gather feedback on early drafts are being held now, and there is still time to sign up (and learn about the process) here. Although some of the sessions have already happened, there are more sessions planned, and it seems important that our local congregation become aware of the Article 2 Study Commission work so we can practice good democracy and provide our feeback. Two of the 10-person national Outreach Team are part of IUUWAN, Linda Lemons and Kirk Witzberger, and they are hosting an additional session just for Iowans on 9/25 at 6 p.m. CT.

This is big – please sign up and add your voice!

Sacred Bridges CUUPS will be teaching a Paganism 101 class this Fall. This class is an introduction to Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft, Heathenism, and many other forms of religious philosophy often described as "New Age". This is an 8-week course that will run every Monday night starting September 12th at 7pm through November 7th. We will be skipping the Monday October 31st class to celebrate Samhain. Class will be held in the Stonewall Conference Room. This class is open to anyone interested in learning about Paganism, and is provided FREE to the public. We ask all attendees to please register through the event page. This is so we can provide enough materials for the class. If you need childcare during class please email us at sacredbridgescuups@gmail.com There will also be a zoom option for those who can not attend in person, but would still like to participate. This class will be taught by Lee, and Pam. We will meet in the Stonewall Conference room the first, second, and fourth Mondays. The third Monday will be in Griffin hall for the 8 weeks. 

You can also join via Zoom!

IUUWAN Partnering with Iowans for Responsible Gun Laws to Defeat

Public Measure 1

IUUWAN is distributing Vote No Public Measure 1, Reckless Gun Amendment, to all Iowans across Iowa who join us in voting No. If you are willing to display a sign in your yard, please email iuuwan@ucdsm.org or pick up a sign and flyer from the table in the Gathering Area this Sunday.

More information

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