Welcome

The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our minds on the young, but to stir up their own: not to make them see with our eyes , but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own.

--W. E. Channing

Welcome to First Unitarian of Des Moines.  We are glad you have chosen to visit our web page.  We would like to extend an invitation to attend one of our services and or programs.

This page and the links connected to it have been designed to answer many questions you may have as a visitor to our church.  It can also serve to guide you through the process if you decide that ours is the right spiritual or philosophical comunity for you.

If at any time you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Membership Coordinator, Lori Emison Clair at membership@ucdsm.org or via phone at 453-2999.

Services

During the church year (September through early June) we have TWO services each weekend.  Those services are on Sunday at 9:00 am and 10:30 am.  Both services are essentially the same.  You would hear the same sermon and readings; occasionally there may be some slight differences in the music.   Generally there are coffee and treats after both services.

During the summer months (mid June through August) there is one service on Sunday at 9:30 am with a social hour after where coffee and treats are shared.

What to Expect

Many of our services include:

• a responsive reading as a call to gather with a family lighting of the chalice
• a welcome to visitors where the visitor is given the option of introducing themselves
• voluntary sharing of Joys and Concerns
• readings
• singing of hymns by the congregation
• special music provided by our choir and/or professional musicians from the church or wider community
• an offering to support the church operating fund and the community organizations we have voted to support
• a sermon. 

We are an informal congregation.  While a few might put on a tie or dress, others come in clothes suitable for weekend activities.  Children are encouraged to dress casually as they may be engaged in arts and crafts or outdoors activities.

While we have around 500 members, we average 90-120 for each service on Sunday during the church year.  During the summer our attendance is lower due to the joys of summer travel, etc.

When you visit for the first time please take a moment and stop by the visitor table and let us welcome you.  If you are comfortable, we would love to have you complete a visitor form so that we may know that you have visited and invite you to other visitor programs that might interest you.

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Attending With Children

Children are always welcome and valued at First Unitarian of Des Moines.  It is the parent’s choice whether they would prefer to have their children with them in the services or attend the regularly scheduled children’s programming.

Sunday morning there is an infant room for 0-18 months, a toddler room for 18-36 month olds and a preschool class for 3 & 4 year-olds.  We begin Religious Education classes for children at age 5; however these children begin in the auditorium with their parents and are dismissed to RE classes after the first 15 minutes.  Children’s classes are dismissed 10 minutes after the service ends so that you have a few moments to visit before picking up your children.  We welcome the whole family to stay for coffee and treats.

We provide our children’s programming through volunteers.  As you become a regular in attending the children’s programming, please feel free to get involved and volunteer as you are able.  You may contact the Director of Religious Education at DRE@ucdsm.org if you have any questions about children’s programming.

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Directions

http://www.ucdsm.org/map.php

Public transportation is not available on Sundays in Des Moines.

Parking

You have four options when selecting parking:

1. Visitor parking lot is the small lot at the south of the building off Casady Drive - Handicapped Accessible
2. Main parking lot at the back (East) of the church.
3. Park on the street on Casady Drive.
4. Park in the Wells Fargo lot across Bell Avenue from the church.

Accessibility

We have recently had a lift installed so that all levels of our building are now handicap accessible.

We have handicap bathrooms available on both the upper and lower levels of our building.

We have hearing devices available with the Ushers upon entering the auditorium