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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, May 14, 2023 | |
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We Are Young on Our Journey
with Rev. Victoria Safford
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Celebrant: Heidi Levine
Chalice Lighters: Jaida & Laia Evans
Pianist: Bruce Martin
Director of Choirs: Karen Kraemer
Music: UU Singers
Song Leader: Kellie Patterson
A/V volunteer: Bill Allen
Pastoral Care: Amanda Kruse
Hospitality Coordinator: Terry Meek
Join the live service on Zoom!
Zoom Passcode: Safford
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
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Forum: Family Promise
Elaine Imlau, our UU coordinator of FP, and FP board members will present a program about their work for this organization. It's an opportunity to find out what has been happening, where the program is headed and how you can become involved and supportive of homeless families.
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11:00 a.m. in Griffin Hall & via Zoom (Passcode: Griffin)
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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
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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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Amanda Kruse is the Pastoral Care Associate available for this service time. Please email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance during the week. | |
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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
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Stewardship Campaign Update | |
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THANK YOU to everyone who has made a pledge for the coming year, or responded to let us know you can’t. With 64.3% of households responding, we have raised $480,901.08, which is 78.2% of our goal of $615,000. This includes $16,020 from 21 households who have raised their pledge! However, as of today, we are not on track to meet our pledge goal. If you have already pledged, please consider increasing your gift. Just send an email to Alice Stewart in the church office to let her know the amount of your increase. If you’ve not pledged and you intend to give money in the coming year, please consider making a pledge so we may include your generosity in the expected revenue. Right now, almost every program, activity, justice partnership, staff position, and administrative expense is vulnerable to cuts that none of us want to make. To learn more about this, please speak with Reba Eagles, President, or Victoria Safford, Minister.
Friends, this is important. Our proposed budget is pragmatic, lean and hopeful. After some years of deficit budgeting, we hope to present a responsible and balanced budget at the Annual Meeting, with your generous pledges funding the programs and activities that you’ve all requested, as well as bottom-line expenses like utilities and personnel. Our programs define our church: community partnerships for justice; ministry, worship and faith formation; social gatherings for all ages. Let’s pull together to keep this community thriving!
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Thank you!
from Lynne George
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Thank you to Megan Klee & Alan Kniep for their kind donation of a leaf blower to the church. It will be used and appreciated by hospitality teams to clean the entryways as needed before Sunday services. Thanks for seeing a need & offering to help. | |
Don't miss out on the chance to learn how to use the new kitchen equipment! Sign up for training with the Kitchen Care Committee this Sunday in the Gathering Area. | |
Check out the updated list for FFF #23! There are still seats open for wonderful events organized and hosted by our community members! | |
Last Unity Circle of Church Year! | |
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Friends, it’s the last Unity Circle Alliance meeting of the church year. Please join us for a potluck and meeting. Among other things, we will be choosing officers— VP, Secretary, & Membership; what to do with our $2,800 plus dollars; and changing the calendar to completely omit January and February, and meeting in June instead.
The coffee pot is functional, so we can have COFFEE again! Kay Scott will be at our meeting to show us how to use the dishwasher and other features of the amazing kitchen.
Join us Thursday, May 18, at noon in Griffin Hall.
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Statement of Conscience & Reusables
from the Green Sanctuary Team
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In December, Green Sanctuary requested that our Board of Trustees support this Statement of Conscience and Reusables. They were very supportive. This is an idea supported by the UUA. The Kitchen Committee included the statement in their work. Now we ask groups at First Unitarian Church to follow this Statement when using cups, plates, and utensils at church gatherings. We have a new dishwasher to help us follow our conscience.
Statement of Conscience and Reusables
The Green Sanctuary Team of First Unitarian Church 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.
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Book Group
The Humanist book group meets at noon on the first and third Sunday of each month, both in person at the church (right after the forum) and via Zoom. The next meeting will be on May 21, when we will finish discussing Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution. We will begin The Big Picture by Sean Carroll on June 4.
Watch Party
The Watch Party format will resume on Sunday, May 28 Join us at 1:00 PM at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines to watch and discuss a lecture by J. Anderson Thomson called Why We Believe in Gods. Email humanistsocietyofiowa.org if you have any questions or suggestions for future programs.
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Iowa Secular Summit
Plan to join us on Saturday, June 10, when the Humanist Society of Iowa and the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers will host the Iowa Secular Summit. Doors open at noon with the first speaker starting at 1:00 PM. This will be an afternoon of discussion followed by a catered dinner. Community leaders will discuss the importance of human rights, separation of church and state, and education. Speakers will include Mary Jane Cobb, ISEA President; Iowa State Senators Claire Celsi and Sarah Trone-Garriott; and Hemet Mehta, the Friendly Atheist. Click on IowaSecularSummit.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
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Sacred Bridges CUUPS is looking for people to be a part of our Pagan Jubilee: Beltane May 4, 2024 committee. We are going to be planning a huge festival for next years Beltane Celebration. We are hoping to have vendors, food, speakers, drum makers, and lots of fun.
To join the committee, please send us an email at sacredbridgescuups@gmail.com.
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Wow, What a Celebration!
If you missed the Kitchen Dedication Service last Sunday, do try and catch the recording. So much gratitude and love abounded all morning as we acknowledged all the many donors and volunteers that made the day possible. The new kitchen is simply stunning; even without the backsplash glass yet in place. (And, no we don’t have a date yet for that to happen; keep checking back.) Kudos to Karen Kraemer and her Aesthetics team for the outstanding mid-century design choices. We also learned that we passed the city inspection last week, another big step to check off the project list!
Click here to see more details!
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Rev. Victoria's Spring Calendar | Friends, 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 or in your home when I’m here in Des Moines, or simply talk by phone. If you’d like to meet in person during an upcoming visit, please reach out to schedule an appointment! reach out to schedule an appointment. Weekends remaining for in-person visits: May 5-7, June 2-4, June 9-12. You can view my calendar here. | |
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Stamp Out Hunger Event
& DMARC Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 18, at DMARC Headquarters
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Please join us for a celebration of the previous year, and a look ahead to next, at DMARC’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 18.
All are welcome as we honor the contributions of our volunteers, donors, staff and community – all united together to meet the need. Program highlights will include an overview of the major milestones from 2022, board and volunteer recognition, and a preview of what remains in 2023. Refreshments will be provided.
Before the program, you can volunteer in our warehouse sorting food donations from the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
Together we’ll celebrate the achievements of the last year and share the ways we hope to make the biggest impact in the coming year.
Thursday, May 18th
DMARC Headquarters – 100 Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA 50315
- Stamp Out Hunger volunteer opportunity 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Refreshments provided starting at 5:30 p.m.
- Program from 6 to 8 p.m.
Please RSVP online at www.dmarcunited.org/annual-meeting/
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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.
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.
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mUUvie Discussion Group
Saturday, May 13, 7:00 pm
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Please join us for our next movie watch party and discussion.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) is a dark comedy about a man who abruptly ends a lifelong friendship and the spiral of consequences that ensues. We will meet in the downstairs gathering area to watch the film, then have a 30-minute guided discussion. Popcorn will be provided; bring your own beverage.
RSVP to muuvie@ucdsm.org with questions and to let us know you're coming.
Thanks to a REACH grant, we now have a video license that allows us to show movies at the church!
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Come one, come all to Big Tent II!
from the Ministry of Fun
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Join us at Pete Crivaro Park on Sunday, May 21, following church for food and fun.
What: Potluck picnic
Main course with meatless options and drinks provided. Please bring your own table service, a lawn chair perhaps, and a dish to share.
When: 11 am - 2 pm on May 21
Where: Pete Crivaro Park
Groups from our church community will be on hand so you can learn more about them AND there will be a drawing for a fun gift basket! You are also encouraged to bring your favorite lawn game. We are looking forward to a great time together!
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Progressive Voices:
Last Concert of 2023 Season!
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Saturday, May 20, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Church Auditorium
Tickets: $22 Advance /$27 Door, available after Sunday services in the gathering area, or online.
There’s just something about Ellis Delaney. At once funny and wise, thoughtful and uninhibited, with a captivating voice that is matched by tender, sometimes funny, uplifting lyrics. If you looked up the definition of open-hearted in the dictionary, you just might find a photo of Ellis there. Their performances are transformational; leaving audiences feeling better, with softened edges & opened hearts.
A limited number of complimentary tickets for this concert are available for those otherwise unable to afford to attend. Please speak confidentially with our minister, Victoria Safford, to obtain them.
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Women's Wednesdays – May 31 | |
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Topics chosen by women, about women, discussed by women.
Meets the last Wednesday of every month from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in the Peace Library.
1:30-2 p.m: General meet and greet, catch-up.
2 p.m. – 3 p.m: Discussion
This month's topic: "Fairy Tales"
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Ceremony of Dedication
for Older Children
& Those with New Names
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Our service on Sunday, June 4, will include a Child Dedication Ceremony. Most often we hold Dedications for families with infants and toddlers, but this time we’re extending the invitation to children of all ages, right up through high school. Some families arrive at the congregation long after their children are little; others, for lots of reasons, choose not to have a dedication when their kids are small, or didn’t get around to it in the bustle of those early years. For others, this can be a welcome opportunity to mark and celebrate a new name for their child (perhaps one the child has chosen for themself as they’ve come into new and truer identity). If you’d like your family to be included in this special dedication, or just want to know more, send me a note at vsafford@ucdsm.org. (And of course: if your child is an infant and you’d like to take part, we’ll welcome them too, with joy, on this day! | |
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Grounds Work
Saturday, June 10, 9 am — 12 pm
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Mark your calendar! Grounds Work Day is Saturday, June 10, from 9 am to 12 pm. Come help beautify the exterior of the church!
Contact grounds@ucdsm.org with any questions.
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General Assembly (GA) 2023
from Linda Lemons
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General Assembly (GA) 2023 "Faithfully Becoming" will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, from June 21-25, 2023 in-person or virtually as best meets your needs. Delegates will be voting on Article II, and deciding whether it is time to add values and new covenants. The UUA Board of Trustees is receiving feedback from all UUs, regarding Article II through the end of the month. Please click here to share your thoughts. A presentation of the Article II Study Commission submitting their Proposed Article II to the UUA Board can be found here.
Please click here to register to hear Sofice Betancourt, candidate for UUA President. I think you will be impressed.
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For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar. | |
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We wanted to give you a quick update on where we are in the Interim process. First and foremost, thank you to everyone that provided feedback during the forum or via email on two of the key questions in the interim packet. The portal opened on April 6th and our was submitted by the 8th (one of the first four to submit.) We have been in the waiting period the last couple weeks but things are about to heat up. In fact, May 1 is when the names of the interim ministers interested in our opening will be released to us. Then we will have a flurry of interviews with those interested. Our next deadline is May 15 that is when we have to let the UUA Transition office now for each candidate whether we consider them a ‘Yes’, ‘Maybe’, or ‘No’ regarding their perceived fit. Then based on those pairings offers are extended on May 17. So if all goes to plan we should be able to announce our new interim minister by May 19 or sooner.
If you have any questions let us know. Thanks for all you do!
Scott Emison Clair, Shelly Kaldenberg, Doug Aupperle, Crystal Loving, Steven Herwig, and Elliott Nassif
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Spring & Summer Programming:
Closer Than You Think!
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Warm weather is approaching, and the Adult Programming Committee has lined up some great classes for these Spring and Summer months! Some of these groups begin meeting this month, so sign up today!
May 15 – September 11
Facing Death with Life
This is a facilitated process of personal reflection, learning, and spiritual growth focused on death and dying, helping participants move from viewing death as an abstract concept to developing a personal recognition of its meaning in their lives.
This free course meets in person for 8 ninety-minute workshops. Meets from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm on the first and third Mondays of the month, starting May 15, and ending September 11.
Read more
Led by Hilary Hippen-Leek and Elliot Nassif.
Register here
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Mistakes and Miracles
"UU Common Read" book discusses the joy, disappointment, and growth of multiculturalism and anti-racism work in our congregations and movement. The UUA common read is titled Mistakes and Miracles by Palmer and Lin.
Please sign up for a free 90-minute Zoom session in late May. We will watch a 45-minute video overview of the book that includes the two authors and two UU ministers. Then, we will discuss next steps.
Wednesday, May 24 at 2:00 pm
or
Thursday, May 25 at 6:30 pm.
You can sign up for either; a Zoom link will be forthcoming.
Read more
Led by Gene McCracken
Register here
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Hindsight, Humor, and Hope: Who, Me, an Elder?
Helps participants design their later years through reflection, discernment, soul stretching, and exploration of new life possibilities.
This free course meets for 6 two-hour workshops on Tuesdays, starting August 22 and ending September 26. Meets 1:30–3:30 pm in-person at First Unitarian Church.
Read more
Led by Barbara Royal and Dagny Fidler.
Register here
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Griffin Gallery Artist May | |
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Luis Guzmán Montano captivates viewers with his use of colors and mastery of oil paint. Born in El Salvador, Guzmán Montano incorporates Salvadorian and American culture in his surrealist paintings. The work shares the artist's perspective on life using symbolic images like birds, barbed wire, trees, and figures. His signature blended lines and borders can be found in all of his pieces.
-Cindy Barahona Roth – Witter Gallery. Storm Lake, IA
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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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Next Family Promise Hosting Week
July 9 – 16
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Faith in Action Partners
Hawthorn Hill | Let's Talk
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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: | |
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
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
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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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