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A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA 50315
P: 515-244-8603
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This Sunday, August 21, 2022
9:30 a.m. in the Auditorium & via Zoom
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All Real Living is Meeting
with Courtney Dufford
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Jewish theologian Martin Buber wrote that “All Real Living is Meeting”. With so much to be done in these polarized times, why take time to encounter one another? Do we know how to? Join AMOS Lead Organizer Courtney Dufford to reflect on the power of relationship building as we work for social change.
Join the live service on Zoom!
Zoom Passcode: Safford
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
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No Forum
Forums are over for the 2021-2022 church year. Please join us this autumn when we resume our regularly scheduled programming!
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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
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Please note: the Caring Ministry phone number is now
- 515-244-8603 ext. 108
- Pastoral Care – for support through a difficult time
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Pastoral Care: August 21 – 27 | |
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Ellen Taylor 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.
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Bob Glass Memorial
from the Memorial Reception Committee
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Bob Glass's celebration of life will be held at our church on September, 11th at 2:00 p.m. with coffee and sweets to follow. Chocolate will be involved.
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.
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Nicky Keller Memorial Reception | |
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We are finally able to honor long-time member Nicky Keller after her death from Covid in December 2020. If you wish to help out with her memorial reception, please go to this SignUp Genius and sign up for bringing cookies and/or 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.
A service to celebrate the life of Nicole Keller will take place at church on September 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
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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. | |
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Meals for the Berardis
from Caring Ministry
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Yesterday morning, Laura's father, James Riordan, passed away, after a few years of health challenges.
We want to thank everyone for your outpouring of support and love.
-Gianfranco Berardi
Please sign up here if you are able to provide a meal to support Laura and Gianfranco during this difficult time.
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Calling All Youth in 8th and 9th Grade (And You Families)!
from Coming of Age
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Do you have a youth in your family who will be in 8th or 9th grade this fall? We would love to meet them, and enjoy a fun evening with your whole family.
Who are we?
We are the facilitators and mentors of our church’s Coming of Age Program.
What is Coming of Age?
Coming of Age (COA) is a Unitarian Universalist program designed specifically for young teens who are in the transition from childhood to youth. Our program is centered on opportunities for youth to explore their values, have fun, try new things, have fun, meet new friends, have fun, discover what it means to be a UU - and have fun!
Friday 8/26/2022
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Dinner at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Easter Lake Park Shelter #1
Potluck
Drinks provided
Please RSVP with the # in your family to COA@ucdsm.org.
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Sunday, August 21, at 4 p.m. we will be holding our monthly business meeting. We are meeting at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA. We will meet in the conference room on the first floor by the main offices. It is right by the Southern entrance. Masks are not required, but you are more than welcome to wear one for your comfort level. We will also have a Zoom option available if you can't make it in person, but would still like to participate.
Cuups business meeting agenda:
- CUUPS KIDS
- Upcoming classes
- MABON
- Samhain
- Any other agenda items?
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Humanist Update
from the First Unitarian Humanists
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Book Group
The Humanist book group will meet this Sunday, August 21, 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 17 on August 21. Everyone is invited, either in person or via Zoom.
Secular Student Alliance
The national Secular Student Alliance and our friends in the Atheist and Agnostic Society at Iowa State University will be hosting three webinars this fall. The first will be shown next Tuesday, August 23, starting at 6:00 p.m. central time. It will feature author Andrew Seidel talking about his latest book, American Crusade: How the Supreme Court Is Weaponizing Religious Freedom. You can find more information and can register for these webinars at the Secular Student Alliance web site https://secularstudents.org/webinars/
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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.
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For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar. | |
If you wish to add your meeting or event to our calendar, please contact: calendar@ucdsm.org
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Volunteers Needed!
Family Promise Hosting Week
August 28 – September 4
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Family Promise of Greater Des Moines (FPGD) assists families experiencing homelessness through a network of 14 area faith-based host congregations that provide clean, safe overnight shelter and nutritious meals for a period of one week every season. The host congregations provide each family with a private room for sleeping as well as dinner and food for breakfast and for packing a lunch.
Each time our church hosts, about 100 volunteer job slots are filled to assist with meals, kitchen clean-up, driving, and serving as evening and overnight hosts. Check out the available slots here!
Not able to volunteer, but want to support the program? Signup for donations in kind for our setup here.
Thanks for your involvement and support!
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Renewing Our Memorial
Reception Committee
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It is time to create a new list of volunteers willing to help with memorials and receptions. Hopefully, many of the 'old guard' re-up and many 'new guard' sign-up to try this out. For a scheduled memorial reception, First Unitarian offers to provide coffee, tea, water, and cookies. A family may choose to provide additional items.
Generally, First Unitarian has 3 shifts around a memorial: set-up, serving, and clean up with 3–4 people per shift. Plus, there are other tasks: multiple people making or buying 2–3 dozen cookies each, 1 or 2 people washing the tablecloths/towels, and sometimes we may need 2 people to usher and 1 or 2 people to do table decor/flowers.
"I know these are solemn occasions, yet we find ways to enjoy being together and doing the work," says Susan Jellinger.
If you have questions or if you're ready to become a part of this helpful crew providing this important service, please contact committee chair Susan Jellinger (she/her/hers) at memorialreceptions@ucdsm.org.
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Don't Forget!
Sign Up for Adult RE Programming
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Registration is still open for the following Adult RE Programs:
- Parker Palmer Book Groups
- Tai Chi
- Soul Matters
- Song-writing
- Inuit Art & Culture
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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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Urge Congress to Fix
the Electoral Count Act Now!
from Write Here, Write Now
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This month we’ll write our Senators to urge them to support legislation amending the Electoral Count Act to prevent actions such as Donald Trump and his minions attempted to prevent the last election from succeeding.
The Electoral Count Act must be amended to do the following, and more:
- Ensure the Vice President cannot reject Electoral College Electors certified by state
- increase the number of members of Congress required to raise an objection to a state's submission of electoral votes
At least two draft Senate bills are being discussed. They include Sen. Amy Klobuchar's extensive bill and a bipartisan bill filed by Senators Susan Collins and Joe Manchin. Either bill would be a significant improvement over current law and would effectively prevent the election abuses Trump attempted in 2020-21. Neither Senator Grassley nor Senator Ernst were among the bipartisan group of Senators working on the Collins-Manchin Bill.
Join in writing Senators Grassley and Ernst to urge them to ensure our government is not thrown into chaos by bad actors seeking to overthrow legitimate elections.
Letters have no specific deadline, but we urge you to write as soon as possible as Senate action on legislation could come soon. You can send your letters by US Mail, by e-mail, or by direct online submission. The details, including a model letter are available Via the link below or on request via e-mail to: writenow@ucdsm.org.
Link to model letter and information, including a link to send your letters online: UUSJ Model Letter.
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Green Sanctuary:
Upcoming Events & Meetings
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Forums and Classes
We’re planning future Forums and classes to help First Unitarian members think about climate change. We would like your help. What would you like us to offer? Below are some ideas to get you thinking. You may recommend another topic. Email us at green@ucdsm.org
- How will we use our new kitchen responsibly: Reusables vs. Disposables?
- What is Regenerative Farming and how can it help our climate?
- How can we inspire our youth to get involved in environmental work at our church?
- What are Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFOS) and why are they bad for our state?
- What life-style changes can my family make to help the environment?
- What are some environmental issues in the Des Moines area?
- What is Earth consciousness?
- What is our church doing to become more climate-friendly?
- How can we lower our use of fossil fuels through solar panels and geothermal?
- Are electric cars sustainable?
- Do you have suggestions of environmental documentaries?
- What is materialism and why should we avoid it?
- How should we care for our church grounds?
Statement of Conscience and Reusables
The Green Sanctuary Team of First Unitarian of Des Moines recognizes the UUA Statement of Conscience and proposes that the church follow sustainable practices by using washable, reusable tableware for serving and consuming food on site and at events sponsored by the church. We understand there may be rare instances when washable, reusable tableware cannot be used. In those cases, we recommend the use of compostable products that congregants will compost in local bins.
Statement of Conscience
In 2006, the Unitarian Universalist Association developed a Statement of Conscience addressing the threat of global warming/climate change. Portions of this document are quoted below.
“Earth is our home. We are part of this world and its destiny is our own. Life on this planet will be gravely affected unless we embrace new practices, ethics, and values to guide our lives on a warming planet. As Unitarian Universalists, how can our faith inform our actions to remedy and mitigate global warming/climate change? We declare by this Statement of Conscience that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren. We as Unitarian Universalists are called to join with others to halt practices that fuel global warming/climate change, to instigate sustainable alternatives, and to mitigate the impending effects of global warming/climate change with just and ethical responses. As a people of faith, we commit to a renewed reverence for life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence."
Congregational Actions:
- Treat environmentally responsible practices as a spiritual discipline;
- Educate ourselves, our children, and future generations on sustainable ways to live interdependently;
- Practice environmentally responsible consumption and encourage voluntary simplicity among members.
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Food Pantry Donations Needed | |
Let's drag the red barrel out of the coat closet and do some good! Non-perishable food items go a long way in our community, especially with kids out of school for the summer. Bring canned and dry goods to church with you on Sunday and deposit them in the red barrel in the main entry hallway.
Donations will be distributed to food pantries in the Des Moines metro area. Contact feds@ucdsm.org for more information and for volunteer opportunities.
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Faith in Action Partners
Knock and Drop | Just Voices
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Our current partnerships run from September 2021 through August 2022. They were selected by our members at our June 2021 annual meeting. The organizations are: | |
Our Champion is Gene McCracken
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Our Champion is Harvey Harrison
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Staff Office Hours & Contact Info | |
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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 on request
Emily Petty, Communications Coordinator
communications@ucdsm.org
515-244-8603 ext. 103
Off Mondays
Tuesday-Friday, Sunday: by appointment
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
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Intercom Weekly Submissions
Deadline: Wednesday @ 12 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 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 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.)
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Text "UCDSM APP" to 77977 or toll free (833) 816-9022
to download our app
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