A Unitarian Universalist Church | 1800 Bell Ave. Des Moines, IA 50315 | P: 515-244-8603 |
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This Sunday, August 14, 2022
9:30 a.m. in the Auditorium & via Zoom
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It's More Than Sitting:
Ethics in Buddhist Practice
with Awakening Heart Sangha
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Broader and deeper than philosophy or meditation alone, Buddhism is a rich, practical, and living tradition. Join the members of our Awakening Heart Sangha to explore Engaged Buddhist Ethics as practiced through the Five Mindfulness Trainings - Thich Nhat Hanh's version of the five basic ethical precepts of Buddhism.
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 14 – 20 |
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Susan Jellinger 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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Celebrating Bob Glass
from Barb Glass
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My dear husband, Bob Glass, died at home on July 26, 2022 with our family surrounding him with love. He was first diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 54, responsive to surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy until this March when it had become metastatic. His Parkinsons deteriorated at about the same time, unfortunately accompanied by an uncommon disease associated with it, trigeminal neuralgia, an extremely painful nerve condition in the face. Bob was Bob during his illness and facing death, quiet, humble, patient, gentle, and kind. I will miss him so and know that many of you will, too.
His 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. I am so grateful that Reverend Victoria will be conducting the service and wish Bob had been able to know her.
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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, and more information will be shared closer to the service date.
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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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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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Kitchen Announcements
from the Kitchen Project Committee
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Kitchen Grease Interceptor Installation Has Begun!!!
You probably noticed those utility locate flags outside the west church doors. Well, Monday, Waldinger Company began the dig to install the grease interceptor for our new kitchen. Hip, hip, hooray!
This is evidence that we are nearing the start of the inside remodel work!
NOTE: The west doors will be closed for the next couple of Sundays. The south entrance is an alternative handicapped entrance.
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Aesthetics Committee Reveals Design Choices
Karen Kraemer and her Aesthetics team have put together a design board to show off their choices for the interior elements of the new kitchen. You can see their selections in the photo: the blue is the proposed glass backsplash, the white is the Glacial quartz countertops with uniform tiny flecks, the Monticello Maple laminate is for the frameless Mid-century modern custom cabinets with stainless steel hardware pulls, and the multicolored floor tile blends beautifully with the hallway slate tile for a pleasing transition. You can check out these samples during our upcoming KP forum which is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 11th, following our regular service.
General Project Updates
We continue to work with the architect to get the contract into its final form. Yes, this is taking more time than anticipated but we want to get the details right (remember our previous mention that “patience is a virtue”). The Construction Oversight Committee will conduct a final review of the contract before it goes to our Board President and Finance Director for signatures. Our General Contractor Holcomb Construction has requested building permits; however, they will not start ordering materials until there is a signed contract. Once that happens we will have a meeting with Holcomb to spell out a projected construction calendar. As we wait, other pieces of the project are falling into place (see above re the grease interceptor install).
The Furnishings/Logistics Committees have merged and are about to sign the contract for countertops and installation. And (trumpet blast) our new dishes have arrived! The committee decided upon a Corelle white-on-white linen weave pattern; each place setting (120) includes two sizes of plates, one 18 oz bowl and a mug. The mugs are a good size and heavier than standard Corelleware so should hold up well over time. The Committee is now working on selecting flatware, serving dishes, Griffin Hall tables and kitchen nook shelving. Be sure and attend the September 11th forum to check out their choices!
100% of Kitchen Project Pledges Paid!!!
During the August 31st service Ann Mowery announced that ALL Kitchen Project pledges have been paid. The total raised is $435,000! This means we will most likely not need to dip into the $40,000 offered by the Endowment Committee to support the project. What an amazing testament to the value this congregation saw in the proposal to renovate our 64-year-old kitchen! Our gratitude is immense.
Gentle Reminder
Use of Griffin Hall is limited to church events until the kitchen renovation is completed. Event planners should expect that there will be materials stockpiled in the hall.
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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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Humanist Update
from the First Unitarian Humanists
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Book Group
The Humanist book group will meet on August 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the church. We are continuing to read Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari and 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. All webinars start at 6:00 p.m. central time on Tuesday evenings. You can register for these webinars at the Secular Student Alliance website.
August 23 - American Crusade: How the Supreme Court Is Weaponizing Religious Freedom with author Andrew Seidel
October 18 - Christian Nationalism and Gun Violence with Thomas Lecaque
November 1 - Theistnormativity: Developing Language for the Marginalization of Atheists with Kristina Lee
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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. |
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Mark Your Calendar Now For the Next mUUvie Night!
from the mUUvie Crew
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Sunday, August 14, at 7:30pm
First Unitarian Church - Griffin Hall/Gathering Space
RSVP to muuvie@ucdsm.org so we can gauge the number of attendees and send you a reminder message!
August 14 - Hunt for the Wilderpeople - This award-winning New Zealand comedy features Ricky, a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together.
These are films that include public performance rights on Kanopy (not all films do), so we can gather and watch them together at Church without infringing on copyright laws.
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If you wish to add your meeting or event to our calendar, please contact: calendar@ucdsm.org
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A Word from Rev. Victoria Safford |
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Dear Friends,
I am honored to be serving with you this year at First Unitarian Church in Des Moines!
Guided by good companions from the Unitarian Universalist Association, your church leaders have coined a new term, “Transitional Contract Minister,” to describe the unique role I’ll fill from now through June 30, 2023. My work with you will be full-time, and that time will be divided between in-person presence in Des Moines and ministry with you from my home in St. Paul, Mn. I’m grateful for the technology that we’ve all learned can help us work together, and even “be” together even when we’re physically apart (and I’ll look for your patience and good humor as I continue to learn to use that technology gracefully!). On the church website, under “Ministerial Transitions,” you’ll find the calendar showing when I’ll be here in Des Moines and when I’ll be working from St. Paul. Either way, I hope you’ll reach out and schedule a time to connect in person, by phone, or on Zoom, just to say “hello,” or for a more in-depth conversation about pastoral concerns that weigh on your heart right now, or spiritual needs, or congregational life. I’m only here for a year, but I really want to get to know you, and to help as I can.
As the fall opens, we’re planning to continue “multi-platform” Sunday services held in-person in the church building and simultaneously streamed on Zoom. Your Board and church staff will keep watching Covid trends to keep everyone as safe as possible and make changes as needed through the year. For now, I’ll be preaching and leading some services in person, and on other Sundays the sermon will Zoomed in to the live service. You’ll find the fall schedule on my ministry calendar.
This Transitional Ministry will be different from ministries both you and I have known before. Normally, a new minister is preparing deep soil for long-term relationships and programs that evolve over time and endure. My work this year is different: to help you and your elected leaders prepare for your church’s bright future, sometimes by telling the stories of your recent past – grieving losses, healing hurt, celebrating milestones and achievements – and also by dreaming together of what’s possible, and needed now, as you move forward. Where normally I’d be leading classes and groups, building strong ties with justice partners in the wider community, and working closely with committees, in this interim year I’ll be attending more to thresholds. I’ll work with your leaders to strengthen the best practices of good governance and healthy policy, and constantly be asking you all to imagine what’s next for your beloved church community. We’re learning as we go, you and I, and I’m excited to begin.
My work with UCDSM begins on August 17. I’ll be working at first from St. Paul, until my next Iowa visits (Sept. 1-5 and Sept. 8-12). Until August 17, please reach out to church president Reba Eagles with questions or concerns. In a future Intercom, we’ll list my email and phone number, both of which “go live” on August 17.
I’ve known for many years that UCDSM is known within the UUA and beyond as a strong, brave, steady beacon, shining the light of hope and the power of love, not only in our current, turbulent times but for more than a century. Amidst so many changes now, this is what will not change: your call as individuals and as a congregation to grow, not bigger necessarily, but deeper, in faith, in love, in hope. Together with your elected leaders and your amazing staff (Hannah, Emily, Alice, Bruce, Barb, Karen – a dream team, for sure), and with each of you, all of you, I’m ready to begin this year.
In gratitude,
Victoria
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Staffing Update
from Rev. Victoria Safford
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Together with your Human Resources Committee, I’m delighted to announce that two new half-time positions, posted in July, have been filled: Membership Coordinator and Faith Formation Coordinator. The positions were posted in July and we’re pleased to offer a combined, full-time position to Birch Spick, who applied for both. A graduate of Iowa State University, Birch has worked most recently as a housing counselor in Des Moines.
Many of you know Birch through their service here at UCDSM as a worship celebrant and leader, and Coming of Age Mentor. Birch will work closely with the Congregational Life (Membership) Committee and with UCDSM’s strong corps of RE volunteers. To join the staff team in this new role and serve effectively, Birch will relinquish formal membership in the congregation, carrying forward a deep commitment to the thriving of this vibrant, multi-age community. Birch will begin this work on August 22.
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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 |
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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: |
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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
Alice J. Stewart, Director of Finance and Administration
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
515-244-8603 ext. 103
Off Mondays
Tuesday-Friday, Sunday: by appointment
Hannah Notch, Social Media and Executive Support Specialist
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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