Hello!

Welcome to the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines! We’re glad you’ve found us and hope you find a church home with us.

At First Unitarian, we’re brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers. We’re people of many beliefs and backgrounds – people with a religious background and people with none; people who believe in a God and people who don’t, and people who simply let the mystery be. And while we represent a diversity of faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, we agree that we want to do good work in the world.

So we welcome you – your whole self, with all your truths and your doubts, your worries and your hopes. Let us support you on your faith journey.

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Upcoming Service

The Theology of Play

What if play is not something we outgrow, but something that helps us grow? This sermon explores the theology of play—the role of imagination, wonder, and joy in developing faith, strengthening mental health, and building beloved community. Through humor, personal stories, and Unitarian Universalist values, we’ll consider how staying curious and a little silly can be a sacred practice.

Join us live on YouTube

 

Click here for the Order of Service

Forum: Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers

The president of the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers will discuss the basics of atheism, living in a society that emphasizes religion, and the impact and intertwining of religion and government from an atheist perspective.

Upcoming Services Previous Services

Church Calendar

  • Childcare

    August 2, 2026  9:15 am - 12:15 pm
    Little Sprouts Room on the Lower Level

    Childcare is always available during Sunday services for children aged 0-4 years-old

    See more details

  • Sunday Service (Hybrid)

    August 2, 2026  9:30 am - 10:45 am
    Griffin Hall

    Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/@firstucdsm/streams

    Marking It Up as We Go Along
    Join us for a fully improvised service! Give us a few prompts, and we'll give you a story for all ages, meditations, sermons, and music!

    See more details

  • Sunday Forum

    August 2, 2026  11:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Griffin Hall

    See more details

  • CUUPs Rising Phoenix Potluck

    August 2, 2026  12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
    10490 Maddox Pkwy, Clive, IA 50325, USA

    Join the Sacred Bridges CUUPs chapter as they host their Rising Phoenix potluck grill out. After our hiatus, it is time for us to gather again. The gathering will be held at the Clive Greenbelt Park Shelter, 10490 Maddox Parkway, in Clive.

    Please bring your own protein and a dish to share. You will also need your own plates and utensils. Lemonade will be available but if you desire something different, please bring it. No alcohol is permitted.

    We look forward to rising again!

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  • Humanism Book Discussion

    August 2, 2026  12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
    Stonewall Conference Room

    Send a note to HumanistBookGroup@ucdsm.org if you would like to participate.

    Contact: Brenda Trickler/Warren Stine

     Book Group, Stonewall Conference Room – We will continue reading Essays in Humanism by Albert Einstein.  You can join by Zoom at this link.  Click [Here] for more information on the book group and other Humanist activities.

    Zoom Meeting:

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87018584456?pwd=Mzl5REczWWRrSXl0QnFDZ3kwdlBTUT09

    See more details

View Calendar

I’m New Here

Ready to explore Unitarian Universalism and our church? We’re ready for you!

  1. Start by joining us for our Sunday service at 9:30 a.m. CT in-person or via livestream. You can also click here for directions to our building!
  2. In the front lobby of our church, you’ll be welcomed by a Congregational Life Team member, who will direct you to visitor information and UU information.
  3. Join us after the service for coffee hour! Enjoy a generous spread of delicious food and take the opportunity to connect, mingle, and meet new people in a welcoming atmosphere.
  4. Check out our Affinity Groups for adults. We also have programs for children, youth, and adults.
  5. And finally, explore our website! There’s a lot to see and we encourage you to reach out to the contact people listed throughout the site if you have questions or want to get involved.