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

To Be Seen and Heard

In this month of Paying Attention, this Sunday we honor the power of being seen and heard. We’ll begin with a 30-minute service focusing on Trans Day of Visibility, and then move into small groups for an hour to support AMOS’ work to listen to what’s on the minds of “we the people” in Iowa.

Join our Livestream!

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

No Forum this week

Embracing Possiblity

It takes courage to see which possibilities might emerge out of present challenges.  Join us for an Easter service that explores abundance as a mindset, the art of improv, and the power of radical acceptance.

Join our Livestream!

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

No Forum

The Risks of Possibility

Sometimes difficult experiences in life teach us to be cautious of embracing possibilities. Join us for a powerful service focusing on the work to nurture a trauma-informed community.  

Join our Livestream!

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

Forum: QTAG

Together we’ll increase our understanding and practices around being a more trauma-informed community.

It takes preparation, stamina, and patience to embrace possibility.  In a world that seems to measure possibility in quarterly earnings, how do we reclaim the perspective to plant trees whose shade we will not be here to enjoy?

Join our Livestream!

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

Forum: Review of the Budget

The board will propose a “realistic budget” at the annual meeting based on the pledges in hand. The board will set out the aspirations of the church should we receive additional pledges. What should those aspirations be?

Church Calendar

  • Griffin Hall Construction

    March 23, 2026 - May 1, 2026  

    (not usable during carpet installation beginning April 17th?)

    See more details

  • Set Up

    March 27, 2026  4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    Griffin Hall, Gathering Area, Kitchen

    See more details

  • Trans Day of Visibility Celebration

    March 27, 2026  6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
    Griffin Hall, Gathering Area, Kitchen

    The festival may be postponed, but we’re still celebrating Trans Day of Visibility! Enjoy a free evening of gender-affirming fellowship, refreshments, and self-expression through custom button-making and karaoke sprinkled with justice song singalongs! Come as you are, come when you can, open house. This event is supported by a REACH grant. Please email qtag@ucdsm.org with any questions.

    See more details

  • Clean Up

    March 27, 2026  9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
    Griffin Hall, Gathering Area, Kitchen

    See more details

  • Griffin Hall Construction

    March 23, 2026 - May 1, 2026  

    (not usable during carpet installation beginning April 17th?)

    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.