First U Think

Send us a textIs the glass half-full, half-empty, or twice the container for the volume required? Join us this Sunday as we explore how gratitude helps us see the world more clearly and shake us from habitual resentment. Support the show

Send us a textDonate to 26 For Her: https://thebeacondm.org/26forher/Volunteer: https://thebeacondm.org/volunteer/ Support the show

Send us a textIt was the best of times; it was the worst of times… Join us for a service that imagines what the world might look like if everyone made gratitude an integral part of our daily practice – and what it might look like if no one did. Support the show

Send us a textWhat is the difference between feeling gratitude and practicing gratitude? Join us on Sunday as we dive deeper into our theme of Gratitude, reflecting on how the active practice of gratitude helps both the giver and receiver. Support the show

Send us a textCISS donations: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/cissgeneralfunddonationsCISS upcoming events: https://centraliowashelter.org/events/Support the show

Send us a textThis November we explore the practice of Nurturing Gratitude. On this weekend traditionally associated with All Souls Day, we remember those we have lost, and we consider how to express our gratitude for those we love. Come for a heartfelt service of gratitude and remembrance and stay for the forum to learn more about putting together your end-of-life documents. Support the show

Send us a textWhat does it mean to cultivate compassion in a challenging world? As national figures debate whether empathy is a sinful weakness, how do we as Unitarian Universalists respond to challenges with compassion? Join us for a service that engages our hearts and minds to love radically, grow ethically and spiritually, and serve justly.Support the show

Send us a textLinks from the Show:Donate to DMARCDonate food to DMARCSupport the show

Send us a textWe would move out of defensiveness, see another's perspective; we would honor silence; be more curious; not keep score.Support the show

Send us a textWhat does it take to give the same compassion to ourselves as we do to others? What drives our resistance to self-compassion? How do we balance the need to care for ourselves with the need to care for the world? Join us for a powerful service of light and love. Support the show

Send us a textLinks from the show:https://www.aclu-ia.org/get-involved/https://onrealm.org/FirstUnitarian/give/ITMAFSupport the show

Send us a textWhat is compassion? What does it feel like to receive compassion? What does it look like to be compassionate? This Sunday we welcome in the October theme of Cultivating Compassion by exploring what it means to be fully present for one another.Support the show

Send us a textIt's Great to Meet You, Episode 3: Max Mowitz, OneIowaLinks from the show:Oneiowa.orghttps://onrealm.org/FirstUnitarian/give/ITMAFSupport the show

Send us a textFour Board of Trustee members will introduce themselves and tell you why they chose to belong to this church, and why they chose to take the leap and landed on the Board.Support the show

Send us a textIt's Great to Meet You, Episode 2: Wes Mullins, Executive Director, Capitol City Pride Links from the Show:   Capitol City Pride: Home - Capital City Pride   Pride Storyteller Event, Nov. 13: Apply to Be a Pride Storyteller - Capital City Pride   Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund fundraiser: Give Now Support the show

Send us a textIn order to build a sense of belonging, we need covenants to keep ourselves safe in community. Hear the stories of Jonah, Jonah, and Karl as we explore the limits of belonging.Support the show

Send us a textWhat does a college writing class, Doug, and the Platinum Rule have to say about building belonging? Join us this Sunday at 9:30 as we explore the commitments we make to one another to create a community of belonging. And then find your places of belonging at our Community Faire after the service!Support the show

Send us a textIt's Great to Meet You, Ep. 1 - Connie Ryan, Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa.Rev. Steve Sieck has a new podcast! Welcome to "It's Great to Meet You!" where he gets to know the good people of Des Moines doing the good work in our city. Enjoy Episode #1 today!Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Steve SieckThe Water Ritual, a tradition we share with UUs around the world, was created by leaders in the UU feminist movement more than four decades ago to help us all remember how deeply we are each connected to one another, and to all life. Support the show

Send us a textHighly selective account of the music in our church from its founding until today. What may it have been like, what have been its purposes, and who were the musicians?Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Steve Sieck and CompanyWhat is your vision for First Unitarian Church of Des Moines for 2040? In that future, what do you see? Who do you see? What is familiar, and what has changed? Join us as we look into the future together.Support the show

Send us a textIt is good to ask questions! Unitarian Universalism believes that wonder is an important spiritual practice, and so we continually support one another in learning and growing. Support the show

Send us a textWhy do church services have so much music? Why do people in spiritual communities sing? Join us for this summer service, led by Rev. Steve Sieck, where we explore the intersections of creating community and singing together.Support the show

Send us a textConnie Ryan, executive director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, highlights "who is our neighbor" in contrast with the message of Christian Nationalism.Support the show

Send us a textwith Louise Alcorn and friendsWhen you think of church potlucks, does your mouth water? Member Louise Alcorn and many hungry friends will explore food and community, reminisce about potlucks we have known, and discuss how food has been inextricably linked to community here and forever.Support the show

Send us a textwith Al Powers and Theresa Miller A look at our church home and garden through the lens of history.Support the show

Send us a textwith Faithyna LeonardIn a world marked by division and unconscious bias, how can we show up with courage, compassion, and love? This Sunday, join us for a powerful reflection on bystander intervention, the ongoing work of justice, and the transformative act of centering love—especially in moments of harm and healing.Support the show

Send us a text Member Elijah Evans will comment upon the intersection of mental health and spirituality with a service describing how we can nurture the internal communities of which we are all composed. Support the show

Send us a text David Yurnan and Urban Bicycle Food Ministry The Urban Bicycle Food Ministry motto is "Provide radical hospitality one burrito at a time." Every Thursday, all year long, members prepare and deliver hundreds of food and personal items by bike and car to people on the streets in metro Des Moines. They might be living under a bridge, in a tent next to the river or railroad tracks, in a hole dug in the side of a hill, or in temporary housing. Most importantly, the UBFM builds personal relationships with those who are overlooked and marginalized. Support the show

Send us a textRev. Meredith Garmon's last words in the pulpit at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines.  Transition: it's not the same as change. Change is always happening. But sometimes we change (externally, superficially) in order to not change (truly grow) – we make changes so we can avoid changing. To transition, rather than merely change, is to bring a bit of intentionality to the process. Support the show

Send us a text with Meredith GarmonWhat is yours to do? What is your calling — in life? Now? George Kaufman and Moss Hart won't answer that question, but their 1936 play does help frame the question. Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith Garmon ft. Church Choir Community is the gift always there — the challenge is to make ourselves able and ready to receive it. Support the show

Send us a text⚠️ Volume Warning:  The volume increases significantly around the 12 minute mark. with Rev. Meredith GarmonWar has been a significant part of human history — as conflicted as we may feel about that fact. It has shaped us into who we are. Perhaps we can build a world without war, though I'd like to hope we could still have a warrior's virtues (courage, determination, sacrifice) without actual war. In the meantime, let us remember the warriors who modeled those virtues.Support the show

Send us a textThis Sunday, our Coming of Age students (7th/8th Grade) share their statements of faith and values with the congregation. Join us to learn about our students' journeys of understanding themselves and their place in the world. Youth Faith Statements: Greta Hayes, Penny Guenther, Oliver Stamper, Simon Forman Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev Meredith GarmonVesak is the Buddhist holiday commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, as legend has it that Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha — was born, became enlightened, and died all on the full moon of the lunar month Vesakha. We'll be observing this Buddhist holiday while also having our annual Flower Communion.Support the show

Send us a text The work of building the Beloved Community always seems impossible... until it isn't. Join us for a service that affirms our call to Love.  Support the show

Send us a text What's the natural response, and what's the effective response? Why do we gather together as a church? How do we stay grounded in our values in these difficult times? Join us to explore the power of counterintuitive joy.  Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonWe pride ourselves on diversity of viewpoints — and that means we're going to see things differently, in ways that sometimes conflict. Through conflict we learn and grow, and, if handled well, bond more deeply.Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. LoraKim JoynerExperiencing nature can do wonders for ourselves, our relationships, our communities, other beings and the planet. With a dash of intentionality and practice we can grow our wonder, our resilience, and our impact in the world. Join us today to share joyous wonder and to practice connecting to all of life.Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith Garmon Our April theme is Caring. Everybody cares about something, but do we care for ourselves, others, and our world in the most effective ways? Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonThe book, Authentic Selves, is more than an introduction to gender identity. It will be useful to those seeking to promote our shared values: our places within an interdependent web of existence; the inherent worth and dignity of all people, whatever their identity or life experiences; and justice and compassion in how we treat one other and ourselves.Support the show

Send us a textElijah Evans, a member of our Celebrant Team, shares a reflection on Dignity.Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonWealth tends to have the effect of disconnecting us from others. Intentional generosity counteracts that effect.Support the show

Send us a textwith Meredith Garmon There's widespread agreement that it's vitally important. But ask us what exactly it is and we're often a bit stymied. Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonIt's our culture's central religious and spiritual text. And it does have some great stories. Even the parts we tend to like the least have some lessons for us.Support the show

Send us a textwith Meredith GarmonThe realm of Social Justice has many regions.Support the show

Send us a text with Rev. Meredith GarmonAs a new wave of cruelty toward immigrants unleashes harms and anxiety, what is ours to do? Perhaps some guidance be found in an ancient story. Zoom for the Service: Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonNegotiating the boundaries to respect and the borders to cross.Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonWe'll be exploring Desert Theory —which is pronounced like the sweet dish at the end of a meal and is spelled like an arid region. But desert theory is about neither of those. It's aboutdeservingness. What theory of deservingness do we follow?Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonThere's acceptance. Then there's resistance to acceptance. Then there's resistance with acceptance.Support the show

Send us a textwith Rev. Meredith GarmonEven if determinism is true, one of the determinants at work on us is a concept of freedom. But what is it?Support the show