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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, July 16, 2023 | |
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The Road Home
with Elliott Nassif
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Lay-Leader Bio:
Elliott Nassif grew up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, then joined First Unitarian after a years-long search for an LGBTQ+ welcoming spiritual home. They are pursuing a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. On any given day, you can probably find them hanging out at a local coffee shop. Elliott lives in Beaverdale with their spouse, Alex, two cats, and a big goofy dog.
Join the live service on Zoom!
Zoom Passcode: Safford
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
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Forum: Belonging/Home
with Elliott Nassif + facilitator Heidi Lackmann
We will convene in Griffin Hall 30 minutes after the end of the Sunday service for a follow-up conversation. We'll introduce discussion questions and then break into small groups. Come prepared to share your thoughts and experiences in relation to the themes of the morning's service.
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~11:00 a.m. in Griffin Hall & separate discussion 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
- 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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New Year, New Committee Members | |
Calling all committees and teams... It's a new year and we have new members on our committees and teams. Please let the DFA know who is on your committee or team and whom you would like to be included on your email distribution list. Thank you! | |
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UU Board Game Night
Friday, July 14m 6–10 p.m. in the Gathering Area
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Whether you like casual games such as Scrabble or prefer complex strategy games, please join fellow UU friends in the Gathering Area for a night of tasty snacks, good food, and fun games. Bring your favorite game as well as any beverages or snacks you might want to share.
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** Book Group -July Schedule **
The Humanist book group has moved to 11:00 AM for the summer, right after coffee time. Our next meeting will be on July 23rd. You can join in person at the church or via Zoom here. We will continue with chapters 6 and 7 of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll.
** Watch Party **
Our watch party series will continue on Sunday, July 16; meeting at noon at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines. You are welcome to bring your lunch to eat while we watch and then discuss the program of the day. Send a note to this email for more information.
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RAGBRAI Fun at First Unitarian | |
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Help us feed and entertain Team Moore-On from St.Petersburg, FL who will be staying overnight at our church on "DM RAGBRAI Night" Wednesday, July 26.
Let’s show them our amazing culinary skills and prove that they’re eating at the best place in Des Moines with the best hospitality!
All members are welcome to come and contribute. Want to help? Contact Elaine Imlau via email.
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Don't forget to sign up for the classes offered by our Adult Programming Council this autumn!
The Wi$dom Path: Money, Spirit, & Life
Comprises twelve 90-minute workshops, arranged around three themes: Money and Self; Money and Society; and Money, Spirit, and Life. Participants build awareness of their own “money story” and explore their own attitudes and experiences with money.
This free course meets in-person at First Unitarian Church each Tuesday,
7:00 – 8:45 p.m. Starts September 12, ending December 12, 2023.
Read more
Led by Heidi Lackmann and Amanda Kruse.
Register here.
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Hindsight, Humor, & Hope: Who, Me, an Elder?
This free workshop series is designed to help participants plan their later years through reflection, discernment, soul stretching, and exploration of new life possibilities. The gift of extended years finds many people becoming elders with deep personal questions such as, Who am I now? and What will I do that is meaningful? We will think about What is ‘old?’ and What is an ‘elder?’
DATES: Tuesdays, August 22 through September 26 (6 sessions)
TIMES: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: First Unitarian Church (in person only)
FACILITATORS: Barbara Royal and Dagny Fidler
Max of 12 participants.
Sign up here!
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Shared by our own Ingrid Alg:
August 18th, 10 am - 3 pm at the Sheraton Hotel, 1800 50th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266.
Donate blood or volunteer to help run the Sheraton Blood Drive! One donation can save 3 lives.
You are eligible to donate if you are:
- 17 or older
- Over 110 lbs
- In good health and have NOT donated blood in the last eight weeks
See all requirements and information here.
If you would like to donate, please sign up here by clicking on the Sheraton event. For questions or other inquiries, please e-mail.
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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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For a full list of upcoming meetings and events, please visit our church calendar. | |
A Letter from Rev. Garmon | |
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Dear First Unitarian Church of Des Moines,
LoraKim and I are excited about coming to Des Moines. We haven't been there yet, but we've signed a lease on a house into which we expect to move in July. I'm so looking forward to meeting you all in person!
LoraKim and I are headed to Australia and New Zealand from Jul 24 to Aug 22– our first time venturing together outside the Americas. We are fans of women's soccer, and the Women's World Cup will be going on. We have tickets to five of the games -- and are also looking forward to seeing the parrots, penguins, and other sights. It's a trip we've been planning and looking forward to for a long time.
So our plans are:
- Drive with moving truck into Des Moines, about July 14 or so (that's Bastille Day, but I'm hoping we won't have to storm anything). For the week thereafter, I'll be unpacking and also available for church meetings.
- Fly to Australia on Jul 22.
- Arrive back in Des Moines on Aug 23.
While away in Aus-NZ, I'll have some limited availability to respond to emails, but probably not much. So, as Rev. Victoria's last day was Thu Jun 15, I'd like to get started today, Fri Jun 16, on hearing from UCDSM folks and planning for the year ahead. From here in NY, I can have Zoom meetings with people, and I invite any UCDSM member to email me with thoughts and questions. (Just be sure to identify yourself as connected with UCDSM.)
If you'd like to schedule a video meeting with me, please text me at 352-862-8492 to schedule that. Otherwise, email me at mgarmon@uuma.org.
Let the fun begin!
Yours in the faith we share,
Meredith
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Pastoral Care & Memorial Services
This Summer
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Between the end of Victoria’s time with us on June 15 and the start of Rev. Meredith Garmon’s ministry in August, we will be without a minister. Rev. Garmon’s contract with us begins on August 1. He will be on vacation (on a previously scheduled trip to Australia) and begin his full-time presence with us on August 23rd. With requests for Pastoral Care during the interval, please reach out to Ann Mowery, Pastoral Care Chair. (Ann will be away June 11-June 24; during that time, please contact Barb Glass using the same email address linked above).
Victoria has arranged for on-call officiants to be available for members’ memorial services between her departure date and Rev. Garmon’s contract date; memorial services may be arranged by calling the church office: 515.244.8603.
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Griffin Gallery Artist June
Sean Abramowitz
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Making Tree Soul Portraits is my way of saying, “I see you. I see all the jagged, incongruent, weird, uncategorizable parts. I see the parts that you don’t feel like you are allowed to show. I see the parts you find ugly and embarrassing. I see the parts you have forgotten.
Trees are a powerful symbol for me because they don’t have any consciousness around the directions they are growing. They don’t try to be this way or that way or fit themselves into some kind of a box or role. They just respond to their environment and grow in the most effective ways to survive. And they always turn out beautiful.
-Sean Abramowitz
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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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Family Promise Hosting Week
July 9 – 16
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Help us feed, entertain, transport, and house 3 families on-site in our church for one week as they work their way back into their own homes: July 9-16. A variety of positions are available, including providing meals, evening host, overnight host, van driver, setup, takedown, and laundry. First-time hosts and drivers must complete a background check process.
Sign up here! (New link 6/23)
Contact Elaine Imlau at familypromise@ucdsm.org.
Thank you for your consideration!
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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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Our Interim Minister, Rev. Garmon, will begin in August 2023. Contact information will be available soon.
Alice J. Stewart, Director of Finance & 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.
Hannah Notch, Office Manager & Childcare Coordinator
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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