Events & Activities

Last Updated May 24, 2012

Click here to view Wednesday Evening Programming

For regular committee meetings and church rentals, please view the Calendar of Events

Bell Ringers Practice
Thursday, May 24, 5:15 pm, Auditorium

Connections Dinner
Thursday, May 24, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, off-site
New member families in the R.E. program are encouraged to join us for an opportunity for conversation and to make new friends. RSVP to Lori Emison Clair, dcl@ucdsm.org, 244-8603 ext. 103.

Finding Your Path: Young Adult Small Group Ministry
Sunday, May 27, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm, Peace Library
Are you interested in thoughtful discussions with other Young Adults (people in their 20s or 30s)? Join us May 27th! This is a great opportunity to get to know other young adults at the church in a confidential, intimate, relaxed setting. Please RSVP to the Facebook GenUU event or contact the Young Adult email if you have any question - youngadultsuudsm(at)gmail(dot)com. Hope to see you on the 27th!

Great Decisions
Sunday, May 27, 11:00 am, Minister's Office
This group enjoys a thought provoking discussion program produced by the Foreign Policy Association.

Scriptease: Or by Liz Duffy Adams
Tuesday, May 29, 7:00 pm, Auditorium
OR, takes place (mostly) during one night in the life of Aphra Behn, poet, spy, and soon to be the first professional female playwright. Sprung from debtors' prison after a disastrous overseas mission, Aphra is desperate to get out of the spy trade. She has a shot at a production at one of only two London companies, if she can only finish her play by morning despite interruptions from sudden new love, actress Nell Gwynne; complicated royal love, King Charles II; and very dodgy ex-love, double-agent William Scott—who may be in on a plot to murder the king in the morning. Can Aphra resist Nell's charms, save Charles' life, win William a pardon, and launch her career, all in one night? Against a background of a long drawn-out war and a counter-culture of free love, cross-dressing, and pastoral lyricism, the 1660s look a lot like the 1960s in this neo-Restoration comedy from the playwright The San Francisco Bay Guardian called "an artist of playful and highly literate imagination, radical instincts, and sardonic but generous humor."

"Luminaries of seventeenth-century England are resurrected and made to do the frug in OR, a playful, funny and inventive comedy… [Ms. Adams'] language has a natural period flavor and a formidable wit; her characters possess the spark of fully animated spirits; and she weaves into her story both biographical detail and cultural context with grace…Ms. Adams' smartly conceived unraveling of figures corseted in history honors the remarkable facts of Behn's groundbreaking career.” —NY Times

"Liz Duffy Adams' historical romp of a backstage sex farce about Restoration playwright Aphra Behn displays style, humor, and jaw-dropping wit." —BackStage

"Adams' historical play celebrates not only Behn's pioneering career, which Virginia Woolf famously memorialized…('All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn'), but also the side of the writer's tumultuous life that Woolf dismissed as 'shady and amorous'…[Adams] has written an Aphra-disiac valentine, not a stodgy bio-play." —Time Out NY

First Friday at 5 with Interweave
Friday, June 1, 5:00 pm, Gusto Pizza (1905 Ingersoll Ave, DM)
All church members and friends are welcome to enjoy some casual socializing at this Interweave-sponsored event starting at 5 p.m. (but you can arrive any time after that, too). This month’s host is Rob Stephens. Enjoy beverages of your choice, as well as pizza voted among the best in Des Moines. Then make some new plans for the rest of the evening with others there, or you can head off to your own evening plans. Contact Rob Stephens at rfstep2002(at)yahoo(dot)com or Doug Aupperle at aupperle.douglas(at)gmail(dot)com for more information. Interweave is a group at First Unitarian Church welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and straight allies to socialize and work for social justice.

Bridge
Friday, June 1, 7:00 pm, Mary Safford Room
Knowledge of the fundamentals of bridge is needed, but beyond that, skill levels range from novice to expert. Contact Wynell Kisner at 265-4442 or at mwk987(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Habitat for Humanity: Young Adult Social Action Project
Saturday, June 2, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, meet at church
Hard hats on, Young Adults! Let's gear up for a day of fun and construction (no prior construction experience required) as we work to help provide affordable housing opportunities in DSM. Meet/leave from the church by 8:00 am and carpool to the build site. For more information about Greater Des Moines Habitat or ReStore visit their website: www.gdmhabitat.org/ Please RSVP on the Facebook GenUU event page, or contact the Young Adult Gmail if interested or have questions (youngadultsuudsm(at)gmail(dot)com).

Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, June 3, 11:00 am, Auditorium
Members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting to vote on: 2012-13 Budget, Board of Trustees and Endowment Development Committee Nominees, and Second Basket Nominees. Plus: Report on the Congregational Survey, and the Unsung UU Award Announcement. Click here to preview meeting materials.

Human Rights Action Group
Sunday, June 3, 12:15 pm (or following the Annual Meeting), Conference Room
The Human Rights Action Group at First Unitarian Church is currently working to protect Marriage Equality and pass a Death with Dignity law in Iowa. If you are also interested in learning more about or working on either of these issues (you need not be interested in both), then please join us the first Sunday of the month in the church conference room. Contact Doug at aupperle.douglas(at)gmail.com or 515-277-1263 for more information.

Full Moon Ritual
Sunday, June 3, 5:00 pm, Patio (weather permitting)
This is family friendly, and weather permitting, outdoors. For inclement weather, we will move to Channing Hall. If you have questions or are interested in collaborating for either night, please contact Cynthia Lee: cynthialee71(at)gmail(dot)com.

All-Church Talent Show!
Wednesday, June 6, 6:30 pm, Auditorium
Young and old, obscure and quirky, we want to see YOUR talent. It's the Annual UU's Got Talent Show! Dinner served from 5:30 - 6:15 pm, show begins at 6:30 pm! Contact Moira Leu by May 30 to sign-up for the talent show at music@ucdsm.org or 244-8603 ext. 105. Please include the title of your act, your talent (music, dance, jokes, skit, juggling, etc...) and the sound equipment you will need. Come one, come all... Let's make this a grand event! If you don't feel like you have a talent to share, participate by being present and applauding your fellow UU's!

Windbreakers Annual I-Cubs Game Outing
Friday, June 8, 7:05 pm, Principal Park on Sec Taylor Field
Baseball season is here and the Windbreakers announce the annual "Jerry Karbeling Memorial Iowa Cubs outing." Mark your calendar for the game - Iowa Cubs vs Nashville Sounds - Fireworks follow the game! Tickets are $8 each for marvelous reserved grandstand seats on the first base side! Get your tickets from Mark Campbell: call 515-770-3159, or email wallynorton(at)yahoo(dot)com. Ticket sales end Sunday, June 3.

Carolyn Adler Memorial Service
Saturday, June 9, 10:00 am, Auditorium

Bowen Theory Group
Sunday, June 10, 9:30 - 10:30 am, Peace Library
Murray Bowen (1913 to 1990) who was a professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University, developed a theory regarding human behavior. Join us as we discuss how the theory applies to our own life. Meets the 2nd Sunday of each month. Click here for more information.

Energy & Justice Meeting
Sunday, June 10, 11:00 am, Conference Room

First Steps Class for Visitors
Sunday, June 10, 11:00 am, Gather at the Visitor Table
Introductory class for visitors meets the second Sunday of each month. Click here for more information.

Interweave LGBT & Straight Allies Pre-Pride Parade Tailgate Party!
Sunday, June 10, 12:00-12:30 p.m., East Side of State Capital
This month, we are having a potluck tailgate party just before the Capital City Pride Parade. Look for us in the parking lot just south of the parade staging area and on the EAST side of the State Capital. The purpose of Interweave is to provide social opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and straight allies, to increase awareness of this church in the greater Des Moines LGBT community and among all people seeking a liberal religious community, and to help advance social justice. Another purpose is to enjoy delicious meals together! So, bring your UU pride, commitment to social justice, good walking shoes, and something tasty to share. 'Hope to see you there! Contact Rob Stephens at rfstep2002(at)yahoo(dot)com or Doug Aupperle at aupperle.douglas(at)gmail(dot)com for more information.

First Unitarian Church at the Capital City Pride Parade!
Sunday, June 10, 12:30 p.m., East Side of the State Capital Building
Help First Unitarian Church keep up its long, proud tradition of support of the LGBT community with one of the largest church contingents in the parade each year! We invite all church members, both LGBT and straight, and including adults, teens, and children, to meet on the EAST side of the State Capital Building at 12:30 p.m. (There is also an optional tailgate party at noon. See the separate listing for details.) The parade starts promptly at 1:00 p.m., so give yourself ample time to get there and park. This year, we also invite everyone to again wear her/his “Standing on the Side of Love” T-shirt. Don’t have one yet? They will be for sale in the Gathering Area at church after services every Sunday from May 20 through June 3. And don’t forget to stop by our church booth at the PrideFest in the East Village after the parade, too. Sponsored by Interweave. Contact Rob Stephens at rfstep2002(at)yahoo(dot)com or Doug Aupperle at aupperle.douglas(at)gmail(dot)com for more information.

Women's Potluck
Tuesday, June 12, 6:30 pm, off-site
Host: Pat Winters. Open to all UU women to offer an opportunity to share food and conversation. Please bring a dish to share. RSVP to Pat: wintersIA(at)aol(dot)com, or 255-6229.

Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, June 14, 6:00 pm, Conference Room
Members are welcome to attend this monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Duplicate Bridge
Friday, June 15, 7:00 pm, Channing Hall
A good social and learning time within the general structure of Duplicate Bridge - you will need a partner. Contact Terry or Jane Swanson at 515-778-4312 or jswanson(at)website-center(dot)com.

Progressive Voices Concert Series presents: Cosy Sheridan
Friday, June 15, 7:30 pm, Auditorium
Click here for complete information.

Finding Your Path: Young Adult Small Group Ministry
Sunday, June 17, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm, Peace Library
Are you interested in thoughtful discussions with other Young Adults (people in their 20s or 30s)? Join us June 17 as we discuss how we aspire to live our faith -- how our values show in the things we do every day. This is a great opportunity to get to know other young adults at the church in a confidential, intimate, relaxed setting. Please RSVP to the Facebook GenUU event or contact the Young Adult email if you have any question - youngadultsuudsm(at)gmail(dot)com. Hope to see you on the 17th!

Young Adult (20s/30s) Social Outing
Sunday, June 17, 12:30 - 3:00 pm, North 40 Miniature Golf (2740 SE 14 St., DM)
Come enjoy a wonderful Sunday afternoon with your favorite GenUU group! Let's meet at the church at 12:30 (or stick around after YA Small Group Ministry that morning) and we will go for lunch (TBD) and head over to the mini golf course. Please RSVP to the Facebook GenUU event. Please contact the Young Adult email if your have any questions youngadultsuudsm(at)gmail(dot)com. Hope to see you there!

Betty Miller Memorial Service
Sunday, June 17, 2:00 pm, Auditorium

Women's Book Group
Wednesday, June 20, 5:30 pm, Tally’s Restaurant, 2712 Beaver Ave Des Moines
The June book is “Room” by Emma Donoghue. A five-year old narrates a story about his life growing up in a single room as his mother tries to protect him from the man who has held her captive since she was a teenager. There are 13 copies in the PLDM. July’s Book is “State of Fear” by Michael Crichton. RSVP to Jean: 267-0754.