Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Come and explore faith and the wonderful world of Monty Python. A lighthearted look at the sacred cows of modern religion, the meaning of life, and the joy of the absurd.
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.
Upcoming Service
One This Journey Together
No matter who we are, making sense of our lives and seeking out direction is a profound commonality we share as human beings. It is a journey that many people make in each other’s company, often in religious or spiritual communities. But for a variety of reasons, many LGBTQ people struggle to feel welcome in joining and staying in these communities. Join us as we consider what it means to be LGBTQ and spiritual, religious, or seeking deeper meaning in our lives.
Mamma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys’ (Mother’s Day)
Mothers help to shape the lives of their children. For good and bad, it’s a role that never ends. We recognize today all those who share the responsibility for shaping another human life.
Happy (Volunteer Appreciation)
The Millennials have been called selfish, and self-centered, lazy, entitled, and Generation Me. They are also confident, tolerant, civic-minded, and in general more upbeat about the future despite massive student loan debt and often a need to live with parents or friends well into their 20s or 30s. What do we need to learn from this generation about living purposefully and refusing to be miserable?
Through Fields of Fire (Flower Communion)
A church is not a building. A church is a community of human hands and hearts. 2020 and 2021 have been a church year like no other, and today we will honor with joy our beloved community, and recognize that we have come through Fields of Fire to reach this day.
PANDEMIC UPDATE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our church is monitoring and responding to the conditions in our county and state. Following the closing of our building in March 2020, the Lens of the Future Team was established by the Board of Trustees to make recommendations regarding how and when we might return to any level of building use. Read their report for the latest recommendations and more about all opening levels.
While our church building is currently closed for in-person activities, our church community is open! Our Sunday services, Faith Formation programming, and many groups are meeting virtually.
Check out these options to get involved:
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- Affinity Groups for fun, self-exploration and learning
- Faith Formation Activities for children, youth, and adults
You can also access many of our regular and special events through our Popular Zoom Links.
Until we can be together again, please stay safe, and please wear a mask!
Church Calendar
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Monday Night Pagan Social
April 12, 2021 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Virtual Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83985178192?pwd=S0wxRGZOUkhuSjBXNEM0NkZFZmREUT09
Join us for a weekly chat with other Pagans as we talk about Sabbats, Full Moons, Tarot, Astrology, Mystic Dreams, book recommendations, articles we've read Pagan websites, and other Pagan-y stuff as we move through these weeks of Social Distancing. We want to meet you! Please join us and tell us about your Pagan path and your spiritual journey!
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Awakening Heart Sangha
April 12, 2021 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Awakening Heart Sangha is a mindfulness practice group in the Plum Village Tradition of Vietnamese Zen teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh, or ‘Thay’. All are welcome on a drop-in basis to this ongoing group. All levels of practice are welcome, regardless of whether you are a newcomer to meditation or have had a meditation practice for a while. Brief meditation instruction will be offered at each meeting as needed for any newcomers. Chairs will be provided. If you prefer a meditation cushion, you are free to bring your own. Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to help set up chairs.At each meeting, we will check-in, practice 20 minutes of sitting meditation and 10 minutes of walking meditation followed by a short reading and discussion.
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UU Women's Lunch Bunch
April 13, 2021 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Please join us the second Tuesday of each month via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82123901222?pwd=Y0htSTZUMml3aHY0M1N6NWtEVmZVUT09)). Feel free to eat ahead of time or while we chat. All UU women are welcome to join in the conversation.
Contact: Barb Royal womenslunch@ucdsm.org. -
Budget Roundtable (3 of 3)
April 13, 2021 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Announcements
- Board of Trustees Schedule Update
- Website Scavenger Hunt!
- Farewell to Charlotte and Bob
- Family Promise Week April 18
- Write Here, Write Now!
- Member Spotlight: Ysandril (Ysa) Morrigan
- Affinity and Activity Groups Information Survey
- Playground Renovation
- On Your Mark… Get Set…
- Help the Church Become More Welcoming
I’m New Here
Ready to explore Unitarian Universalism and our church? We’re ready for you, even during the pandemic!
- Start by joining us for our Sunday service at 10:00 a.m. CT via Zoom. Our Membership Coordinator, Lyra Halsten (she/her/hers), will be available after the service in a Zoom breakout room to answer questions about our church and how to get connected.
- The “Join Us on Sundays” tab at the top of this page has information about what else we’re doing virtually on Sundays right now while our building is closed. The Welcome page includes a video from our minister, Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw (they/them/theirs), and some basic information about our congregation.
- Even though we aren’t seeing each other in person right now, there are still activities for adults and children to engage in. Check out our Affinity Groups for adults and the Wednesday night activities for children. All groups that are meeting virtually are open to new participants.
- 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.
