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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 30, 2023 | |
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What We Dwell On Is Who We Become
with Kathryn Sutton
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Lay-Leader Bio:
Kathryn Sutton (pronouns she/her/hers) joined First Unitarian in 2015, where she has formed and strengthened strong friendships, spiritual growth and leadership. Over the course of 8 years she has been a facilitator for Coming of Age, led the Young Adults group and has participated in several small groups.
Joining the Board of Trustees this year, Kathryn is excited about the future of First Unitarian as a beacon of hope and healing in the community. Professionally, Kathryn is a digital designer creating websites for mission-driven nonprofits across the country.
Join the live service on Zoom!
Zoom Passcode: Safford
(Please mute your mic before the service begins!)
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Forum: What We Dwell On Is Who We Become
with Kathryn Sutton
Please join us 30 minutes after our Sunday Service for a follow-up discussion on Kathryn Sutton’s sermon What We Dwell On Is Who We Become. Come meet new people and share and hear reflections on the service. We will provide you with three discussion questions at the forum and then create small groups for attendees to share their thoughts. Zoom attendees will be invited to join their own breakout room for a discussion.
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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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Laura Berardi is the Pastoral Care Associate available for this service time. Please email pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org for assistance during the week. | |
Do You Support Our Congregation's Future... and Present? | |
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If you’ve found yourself saying “I wish there were more kids in our congregation!”, please consider supporting our Children & Youth Faith Formation programming this coming year by being a classroom co-facilitator.
We currently need a few more people to join our facilitators in the K-4 & 5-8 classrooms on Sunday mornings, and more hands make lighter work!
For more information please email our Faith Formation Coordinator, Birch Spick, at bspick@ucdsm.org.
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From the Board of Trustees | |
Kudos to all of the former members and officers of the Board. Thank you for your service, hard work, and dedication over the past three years! | |
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Summer Pride Social
Saturday, July 29 @ 2:00 p.m.
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Summer Pride Social
Saturday, July 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Church Patio
Come beat the heat with LGBTQ+ UU's of all ages, and straight/cis allies! We will offer a variety of frozen and non-frozen treats, including vegan and gluten-free options, delightful summery beverages, and lawn games for your enjoyment. Please contact the Queer/Trans Action Group at tag@ucdsm.org with questions.
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UU Coffeehouse
Music, Poetry, Storytelling
Saturday, July 29
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Join us on Saturday, July 29 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Griffin Hall. Learn more here. Feel free to bring a snack to share.
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.
No advanced sign-up is required. A stage and microphone will be provided.
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Do you want to be part of shaping Sunday services? Do you have a flair for the theatrical and enjoy public speaking? The Celebrant Team wants you!
Celebrants can expect to participate in services 5-6 times per year and attend monthly meetings. New celebrants will be trained at a retreat in early fall.
Please email celebrants@ucdsm.org or speak to Heidi Levine or Elliott Nassif to join or ask questions.
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** Book Group **
The Humanist book group has moved to 11:00 AM for the summer, right after coffee time. Our next meeting will be on August 6th. You can join in person at the church or via Zoom at https://humanistsocietyofiowa.org/bookclubzoom/. We will continue with chapters 8 and 9 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 Saturday, July 29th; starting at 2:00 PM at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines. Doors will open at 1:30. We are watching and discussing episodes of James Burke’s Connections series – a look at how various discoveries, scientific achievements, and world events are tied together. Send a note to bookclub@humanistsocietyofiowa.org for more information.
**Movie Afternoon**
The Humanists group will be attending the newly released movie Oppenheimer at the Palms theater in Waukee on Sunday, July 30, at 1:50 PM. Dinner and discussion will follow at the Shanghai Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant. Join us for the movie and dinner, or (if you have already seen it) just come for the discussion. Click HERE to purchase movie tickets. Please RSVP for dinner reservations at treasurer@humanistsocietyofiowa.org.
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Compassion and Choices Annual Meeting
Saturday, August 5
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Sacred Bridges CUUPS - Lammas Baking
Saturday, August 5
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Join Sacred Bridges CUUPS on Saturday, August 5th at 2:00 p.m. as we observe Lammas by rolling up our sleeves and baking together as a community!
Ritualist Gwen Hope will be leading everyone in baking her special sabbat/ritual bread in the newly-renovated kitchen space at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines. Bringing an apron or baking clothes is recommended!
Supplies to bring: large mixing bowl, small mixing bowl, large spatula (mixing kind, not a pancake turner), whisk, apron (optional), disposable food service gloves (optional, dough is sticky).
Baking supplies will be provided for everyone to participate so please contact us by August 3rd if you want to make the gluten-free or vegan recipe. The main recipe does contain wheat, eggs, and dairy. If you are willing to donate any baking supplies, please let us know.
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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,
Grow spiritually and ethically. Serve justly. Love radically. That’s our mission here at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines. It’s also our covenant because Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal tradition (meaning that the members of our congregations are bound together by covenant rather than by a shared creed or canonical set of scriptures), and our covenant with each other includes mutual support of the congregation’s mission. Here at First Unitarian of Des Moines, then, we are in covenant to grow spiritually and ethically; serve justly; and love radically.
This is not merely a promise that we will each individually grow, serve, and love. You could make such a promise – if only to yourself – without being in a congregation. For a congregation to adopt a mission implies also the promise that its members will help each other realize that mission, the promise to carry out that mission jointly, as a congregation, rather than merely as independent individuals.
Grow spiritually and ethically. How are we doing at that? How have you grown spiritually in, say, the last couple years? How have you grown ethically? How have we collectively, the members of this congregation, grown spiritually? Ethically? It’s our purpose, i.e., our mission -- and our promise, i.e., our covenant -- that we do so. It behooves us, then, to vigorously apply ourselves to that task.
Many years ago, when I was still new to the preaching life, it began to dawn on me, to my disappointment, that merely listening to my sermons week after week was not, after all, sufficient to cause very much in the way of a congregation’s transformation toward greater and deeper wisdom, compassion, or peace. I continue to hope that Sunday worship services can assist in growth and transformation – but it’s clear that all by themselves they won’t do all that might be hoped for. Something more is required.
If we are to apply ourselves seriously to the task of growing spiritually and ethically, we need to show up for each other to reflect on the central issues of life. We need to do that on Sunday mornings because that’s when the largest number of us is all together – but we also need to do that in small groups designed to explore together. In small groups you can engage with life cognitively and emotionally – you can think your way through and feel your way through: not to any final answers, but to a greater wisdom, a deeper understanding.
Having talked this over with your Adult Programming Committee, we have decided to launch a major initiative this year with the aim that every member be in a small group that meets monthly to explore the Theme of the Month. Themes of the month this year will include: Covenant, Justice, Interdependence, Transformation, Pluralism, Equity, Generosity, Love, Courage, and Hope. Every member? Well, shouldn’t it be every member? After all, every member of this congregation promises to grow spiritually and ethically. Deepening our understanding of this year’s themes – as well as deepening our understanding of how other members think and feel about this year’s themes – is the best way we know of for doing that.
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
Kyle Beargeon
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Kyle Beargeon is an Indianola artist who paints on canvas and also on glass (windows of various sizes and types). These two approaches to painting incorporate opposite approaches, one (canvas) starting with the background, the other (glass) starting with the foreground.
He is always learning and growing, using these antithetical methods and usually working on five or six paintings at a time.
Learn more here.
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From the Board of Directors of the AUUA | |
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Early on the morning of Sunday, July 23, 2023, Community Unitarian Universalist Church in Plano, Texas was the target of a firebomb attack. Luckily, no one was injured and damage to the building was contained to the front entrance area. We offer our praise to the local first responders, including police and fire personnel, for their work and to the CUUC staff and leadership for their quick response. A worship service was able to be held in the building on Sunday morning.
The incident has been difficult for the congregation and staff as it is being investigated as a potential hate crime. Being a liberal congregation in an atmosphere of mistrust and hate is difficult during these times. Things are also complicated since the congregation is in the midst of a ministerial transition and their new minister does not officially start until August 1. The North Texas Unitarian Universalist Congregations, the local cluster, is working with CUUC and has encouraged them to contact UU Trauma Ministries for additional support.
We encourage [you] to send messages of support and love to Community Unitarian Universalist Church. Let’s fill their walls with loving cards and other messages to show them they are not in this alone. The congregation will also be collecting donations to help offset the cost of repairs. The mailing address for the congregation is:
Community Unitarian Universalist Church
2875 East Parker Road
Plano, TX 75074
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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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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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