ucdsm.communications@gmail.com

Sunday, May 1st will be a special day for members of First Unitarian Church. Instead of going to a service, you have the opportunity to serve others. There will be no service at church on May 1! Instead you, have the option to work on service projects either at church or in the wider community.  

Stonewall Conference Room and Zoom

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

Contact: Brenda Trickler/Warren Stine

Zoom Meeting:

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82755180240?pwd=NCt3b2J5ekxIK0k4U29GUWZIL2VBZz09

Who: Grades 9-12

When:  Sundays at 6:00 p.m CT, September – May

Where: Room 107

Leaders: DFF and Youth advisors

Our Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) group allows teens to bond through exploration of personal and spiritual rituals, participation in engaging activities and empowering social action projects. Youth will plan events and projects, check in with each other, play games and enjoy some snacks.

Griffin

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.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85777386156?pwd=ZFFYQUFacTlHOXU4bFk4a0Y4TWxpdz09

Email sangha@ucdsm.org for more information.

Stonewall Conference Room

Join Cody for free technical consultation

Cody will be available to answer your questions about your computers, tablets, cell phones, bluetooth devices, password management, and many things in-between! Please bring your devices and all applicable cords, documentation, and manuals with you to First Unitarian Church. 

Cody is also available on a volunteer basis at the following locations and times:

Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. at the Des Moines Public Library Central Location | Find him in the Tech Central Room!

Saturdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Dining Room at Plymouth Place. 

Contact: Karen Kraemer choir@ucdsm.org

Registration OPEN (Closes on September 8)

Who: Grade 8 – 9

When: 6:00-7:30 p.m. CT, September 8 – May 18

Where:  Room 114- Parent Meeting

Leader(s): Katherine Sutton, Sally Boeckholt, Mark Metz

When we provide the time and opportunities for authentic relationships to develop, youth can gradually experience powerful transformation – they “come of age.” With the help of their families and their church community, they learn who they are, and can decide what they stand for. This is how each youth creates their own empowering story leading to the development of a faith statement. To help with this process, the “Big Questions” are tackled each week, including:

• What do you believe about God?
• What happens after we die?
• How do you live a moral life?
• Why do bad things happen?

Each youth is paired up with a carefully chosen adult mentor from the congregation. Youth and mentors meet about twice a month and also complete a service project together. The year begins with a parent/youth meeting to share information about the Coming of Age year, and concludes with a celebration dinner and Coming of Age Sunday morning service planned and lead by the youth to include presenting their own faith statements.

Registration OPEN (Closes on September 15)

Who: Grade 7 – 8

When: 6:00-7:30 p.m. CT, September 15 – May 25

Where: Outside, Room 107

Leader(s): Kim Gunnes, Chelsea Hayes, Ben Spadt, Holly Hanson

Specially trained volunteer facilitators help participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. The curriculum equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.

OWL for 7/8 Grade will be capped at 12 participants, with priority given to First Unitarian member families. If a substantially higher number of participants is expected, other options will be explored with the Director of Faith Formation.

Registration OPEN; new children may join at any time.

Who: Grades K – 6

When: 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.CT, March 23 – May 25

Where: Room 111- Outside as weather permits

Leader(s): Terry Meeks

Reflects on the qualities of our Unitarian Universalist faith, such as integrity, courage, and love, as tools we can use in living our lives and building our own faith.

Room 113

This 8-session program supports parents in educating children about birth, babies, bodies and families, and promotes dialog between parents and children. Following a Parent Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation, the sessions engage children with stories, songs and activities, and include a weekly HomeLink – a homework project for parents and children to do together.

 Room 105

Open to all! Spend a relaxing evening with fellow needleworkers and crafters. Enjoy crochet, cross-stitch, knitting, weaving, mending, quilting? From novice to experienced, all are welcome. We share tips, patterns, show off our work, and learn from each other. Whatever your handwork passion or interest , drop in for an evening of the joy of handwork!

Contact: membership@ucdsm.org

Griffin

Zoom
 

YASM; Room 107

Griffin
Zoom
 

Q&A with Rev. Amy
with Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw
Join us for a conversation with Rev. Amy! Get to know them better, and ask about past church year and plans for 2022-2023. 

Who: Grades 9-12

When:  Sundays at 6:00 p.m CT, September – May

Where: Room 107

Leaders: DFF and Youth advisors

Our Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) group allows teens to bond through exploration of personal and spiritual rituals, participation in engaging activities and empowering social action projects. Youth will plan events and projects, check in with each other, play games and enjoy some snacks.

Griffin

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.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85777386156?pwd=ZFFYQUFacTlHOXU4bFk4a0Y4TWxpdz09

Email sangha@ucdsm.org for more information.

Email dre@ucdsm.org for the link.

 FireCreek Grill - 800 S. 50th, WDM. 

All UU (and UU-interested) women are welcome to join the monthly gathering of the UU Women’s Lunch Bunch (2nd Tuesday of each month). 

RSVP required by the Saturday before the luncheon to: womenslunch@ucdsm.org 

Patti C-Finnegan; Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89877050208?pwd=czBEL3hZWTZKVzFSVmM2YkFBTEhlQT09

Stonewall Conference Room

Join Cody for free technical consultation

Cody will be available to answer your questions about your computers, tablets, cell phones, bluetooth devices, password management, and many things in-between! Please bring your devices and all applicable cords, documentation, and manuals with you to First Unitarian Church. 

Cody is also available on a volunteer basis at the following locations and times:

Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. at the Des Moines Public Library Central Location | Find him in the Tech Central Room!

Saturdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Dining Room at Plymouth Place. 

Contact: Karen Kraemer choir@ucdsm.org

Registration OPEN (Closes on September 8)

Who: Grade 8 – 9

When: 6:00-7:30 p.m. CT, September 8 – May 18

Where: Griffin

Leader(s): Katherine Sutton, Sally Boeckholt, Mark Metz

When we provide the time and opportunities for authentic relationships to develop, youth can gradually experience powerful transformation – they “come of age.” With the help of their families and their church community, they learn who they are, and can decide what they stand for. This is how each youth creates their own empowering story leading to the development of a faith statement. To help with this process, the “Big Questions” are tackled each week, including:

• What do you believe about God?
• What happens after we die?
• How do you live a moral life?
• Why do bad things happen?

Each youth is paired up with a carefully chosen adult mentor from the congregation. Youth and mentors meet about twice a month and also complete a service project together. The year begins with a parent/youth meeting to share information about the Coming of Age year, and concludes with a celebration dinner and Coming of Age Sunday morning service planned and lead by the youth to include presenting their own faith statements.

Registration OPEN (Closes on September 15)

Who: Grade 7 – 8

When: 6:00-7:30 p.m. CT, September 15 – May 25

Where: Outside, Room 107

Leader(s): Kim Gunnes, Chelsea Hayes, Ben Spadt, Holly Hanson

Specially trained volunteer facilitators help participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. The curriculum equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.

OWL for 7/8 Grade will be capped at 12 participants, with priority given to First Unitarian member families. If a substantially higher number of participants is expected, other options will be explored with the Director of Faith Formation.

Registration OPEN; new children may join at any time.

Who: Grades K – 6

When: 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.CT, March 23 – May 25

Where: Room 111- Outside as weather permits

Leader(s): Terry Meeks

Reflects on the qualities of our Unitarian Universalist faith, such as integrity, courage, and love, as tools we can use in living our lives and building our own faith.

Room 113

This 8-session program supports parents in educating children about birth, babies, bodies and families, and promotes dialog between parents and children. Following a Parent Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation, the sessions engage children with stories, songs and activities, and include a weekly HomeLink – a homework project for parents and children to do together.

Griffin

Zoom

Stonewall Conference Room and via Zoom

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

Contact: Brenda Trickler/Warren Stine

Griffin

Zoom

Who: Grades 9-12

When:  Sundays at 6:00 p.m CT, September – May

Where: Room 107

Leaders: DFF and Youth advisors

Our Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) group allows teens to bond through exploration of personal and spiritual rituals, participation in engaging activities and empowering social action projects. Youth will plan events and projects, check in with each other, play games and enjoy some snacks.

Griffin

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.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85777386156?pwd=ZFFYQUFacTlHOXU4bFk4a0Y4TWxpdz09

Email sangha@ucdsm.org for more information.

Hilary Hippen-Leek; Room 114