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.

Learn More

 

Upcoming Service

The Problem with ‘Should’

As we deepen our exploration of resilience, what role do our expectations play in our ability to adapt and respond to life’s challenges? 

Join our Livestream!

Click here for the Order of Service (updates every Friday afternoon)

Forum: What’s Up with Our Woods

Prairie Fire Restoration is removing non-native and invasive plants in our woods. Owner Andy James will give an update on the progress so far, and the process for total removal in spring and continuing in summer.
Upcoming Services Previous Services

Church Calendar

  • Hospitality Open House

    February 7, 2026  9:30 am - 11:30 am
    Kitchen, Auditorium, Griffin, Gathering Area

    All new and returning hospitality team members are invited to a drop-in orientation to get familiar with our updated safety protocols and refresh practical skills on Saturday, February 7 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

    We’ll have stations set up so you can visit only the areas you want or need including:

    • New safety procedures
    • How to use the dishwasher
    • Operating the lift
    • Location of tools and supplies (shovels, etc.)
    • Overview of all hospitality duties

    if you have questions, send an email to hospitality@ucdsm.org.

    See more details

  • Private Reservation

    February 7, 2026  3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
    Auditorium

    BM

    See more details

  • Faith Formation Team Meeting

    February 7, 2026  4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    ZOOM ONLY

    UCDSM Communications is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

    Topic: Faith Formation Team
    Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
    Join Zoom Meeting
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83997946293?pwd=KyoEQCg4EXyrrNvNN9A6raiCSXGNpC.1

    Meeting ID: 839 9794 6293
    Passcode: FF

    See more details

  • (Set-Up and Take-Down) Progressive Voices Concerts - Flamy Grant

    February 7, 2026  4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
    Auditorium, Kitchen, Gathering Area, Griffin Hall, Room 105

    See more details

  • Progressive Voices Concerts - Flamy Grant

    February 7, 2026  7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
    Auditorium, Kitchen, Gathering Area, Griffin Hall, Room 105

    LISTEN: "Desire of Your Heart"

    Flamy Grant is a trailblazing drag queen and singer-songwriter from Asheville, North Carolina. She has earned numerous awards for both songwriting and stage performance, including winning the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Songwriting Competition, winning the Audience Favorite Award at the 2025 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, and being nominated for the 2026 International Folk Music Award for Best Album. She consistently sets stages ablaze with blistering vocals, bold looks, brilliant songwriting, and brave storytelling.

    Beautifully blending her Appalachian roots with drag artistry and eclectic musical excellence, Flamy has stormed stages from Los Angeles to London, and from New York to the Netherlands. She has racked up over 1.5 million streams on digital music platforms, with her first album reaching #1 and her second album reaching #8 on various iTunes music charts. This powerhouse vocalist, intrepid songwriter, and shame-slaying drag queen serves up a therapeutic, theatrical experience that is fearless, flamboyant, and full of hearts.

    Advance purchase discount tickets save you $5 off the door price and are available online at Humanitix through the day before the show or in person at the church after services on the four Sundays before each concert. Regular price tickets are also available at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. the day of the show. 6-show and 4-show season ticket packages save you even more and come with additional perks, like a reserved seating section for season ticket holders.

    Individual advance-purchase tickets: $24

    Individual tickets at the door: $29

    Season tickets: 4 shows for $86 & 6 shows for $129

    A limited number of complimentary tickets for this concert are available for those otherwise unable to afford to attend. Please speak confidentially with our minister, Steve Sieck, about how to obtain them. More information about the concert series is also available online at www.ucdsm.org/concerts. Email questions to concerts@ucdsm.org.

    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.