Rev. Mark Stringer & Shelly Thompson
May 11 & 12, 2013
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A reflective, Mother’s Day-themed service in which we consider together the gifts of life that we have received from the “mothers” and the “children” in our lives. Our most common definitions of motherhood don’t capture all the complexity of the roles, so, in keeping with this month’s theme “What does it mean to live a life of imagination?” we’ll try to expand our understanding.

Rev. Charlotte Shivvers
May 9 & 10, 2013
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A celebration of our hymnbook, “Singing the Living Tradition,” this service just happens to occur on the book’s 20th anniversary and during our month of focus on “imagination.” So this will be appreciation for 733 works of imagination, with personal stories and a personal heresy, too. All ages can sing favorites together as it’s a multi-generational service.

Rev. Shivvers, a member of our church, lives with her husband Bob Baker (our bread pudding provider) on the farm where she was born near Knoxville. She’s a 1983 graduate of Starr King School, minister emerita of the Sepulveda UU Society in Los Angeles, and has served as interim minister in Omaha and Kansas City.

Rev. Mark Stringer
April 27 & 28, 2013
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As we may feel burdened with the bad news of the past few weeks, Mark draws upon the wisdom of Rumi, Mary Oliver, and the music of special guest David Wilcox, to reflect upon the guidance that can come from listening to our heart’s longing.

Jon McAlister, Shelly Thompson and Rev. Mark Stringer
April 20 & 21, 2013
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For this annual multi-generational Earth Day-themed service, we consider this planet we call home, our lives upon it, and the responsibility we share to protect and nurture it.

Rev. Mark Stringer
April 13 & 14, 2013
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When standing at a crossroads in our vocational pursuits or our relationships, when we feel out of balance and in need of direction, when we are faced with any decision of how we could best spend our days, how might we discern which path to follow? Is there anything upon which we can rely before we choose?

Rev. Dr. Brian Eslinger, affiliated community minister
April 6 & 7, 2013
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Wisdom comes with age, doesn't it? Or once a fool, always a fool. Brian Eslinger, former minister of the UU church in Ames, faces the reality of getting older and if he is wiser for the journey. Come to our sermon, right after April Fool's day, and find out.
Rev. Dr. Brian Eslinger is an affiliated Community Minister with First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, and currently on the Faculty of the Philosophy and Religious Studies department at Iowa State.

Rev. Mark Stringer
March 30 & 31, 2013
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An Easter weekend meditation in which Mark considers the ways death can lead us to life.

Rev. Mark Stringer
March 24, 2013
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What are the questions that have taken us down paths of meaning or surprise? When have timely questions encouraged us to see things differently? Has a question ever held us back? Mark will be joined by several members and friends for this patchwork service of personal reflections and stories of some of the questions that have shaped our lives.

Rev. Mark Stringer
March 9 & 10, 2013
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During this month when we are considering what it means to live a life of inquiry, this service will focus on the intersection of inquiry and faith. Are questioning and faith at odds? In our UU context, what might we mean by “faith” anyway?

High School Youth Group
March 2 & 3, 2013
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The high school group reflects on this time of transition and how they adapt to the ongoing changes.

Rev. Mark Stringer
February 23 & 24, 2013
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The exploration of the monthly theme of "Devotion" continues as Mark discusses his personal journey of devotion to the church through stewardship.

Rev. Mark Stringer
February 16 & 17, 2013
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Mark continues the message from Feb 9 and 10 this week, as he thinks more about how we reach for meaning and purpose in our lives when so much about ourselves and our world can feel so wrong.