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

The Idea of Normal

Healing often implies a ‘return to normal’. Who determines what is ‘normal’, and who is left out in those conversations? Join us for a courageous conversation on disability justice and the problem of the normal/abnormal binary.

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service: Join us in Griffin Hall for a more intimate, discussion-based service exploring the same themes and questions in a participatory way. MOSAIC stands for Meaning, Openness, Sharing, Authenticity, Inquiry, and Connection.

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-4 will be available during both services.

Abide With Me

We live in community, not isolation. How can a community best support one another in our ongoing journeys of healing?

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service: Join us in Griffin Hall for a more intimate, discussion-based service exploring the same themes and questions in a participatory way. MOSAIC stands for Meaning, Openness, Sharing, Authenticity, Inquiry, and Connection.

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-4 will be available during both services.

It’s Your Story
Person trying to lift themselves using a pull out of a wheelchair in a hospital setting

It’s Your Story with Rev. Steve Sieck

The healing professions offer support and intervention for healing, but the journey is the care-seeker’s to take. How can we claim our part in our stories? Join us for a celebrant-led service on the courage to heal.

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service: Join us in Griffin Hall for a more intimate, discussion-based service exploring the same themes and questions in a participatory way. MOSAIC stands for Meaning, Openness, Sharing, Authenticity, Inquiry, and Connection.

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-4 will be available during both services.

Beyond Words

How do we describe the feeling of awe? What is it that makes an experience awe-some? Join us for a deep look into our December theme of Awe.

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service: Join us in Griffin Hall for a more intimate, discussion-based service exploring the same themes and questions in a participatory way. MOSAIC stands for Meaning, Openness, Sharing, Authenticity, Inquiry, and Connection.

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-4 will be available during both services.

Holiday Music Service

Join Music Director Karen Kraemer for a morning full of music.

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

There will be no 11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service. Instead, join us after service for a special Forum with Dare to Dream.

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-9 will be available during both services.

Practice of Awe

How do we describe the feeling of awe? What is it that makes an experience awe-some? Join us for a deep look into our December theme of Awe.

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service: Join us in Griffin Hall for a more intimate, discussion-based service exploring the same themes and questions in a participatory way. MOSAIC stands for Meaning, Openness, Sharing, Authenticity, Inquiry, and Connection.

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-4 will be available during both services.

Martin Family Hymn Sing Along

You are warmly welcome to our annual Martin Family sing-along for an hour of joyous singing!

View the Order of Service (PDF)

Updates every Friday afternoon

9:15 a.m. Service: Gather in the Auditorium for a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. Come listen, reflect, sing, and connect.

Join us live on YouTube

(9:15 a.m. Service only)

There will be no 11:00 a.m. MOSAIC Service. 

For Children & Families: Faith Formation classes for children are offered during the 9:15 a.m. service ONLY. Childcare for children ages 0-9 will be available during both services.

Upcoming Services Previous Services

Church Calendar

  • All Leadership Gathering

    November 14, 2026  8:30 am - 11:00 am
    Griffin Hall and Kitchen

    Church is a BUSY place! Join with church leaders and others for a chance to share what’s going on in all our areas of church life!

    How are working together? Where could we build more by linking our activities?

    If you are part of team, bring your plans and be ready to share and learn! We’ll have snacks and excitement to share.

    Email leadership@ucdsm.org with any questions

    See more details

  • Centering Nature Walk at Walnut Woods OFFSITE

    November 14, 2026  9:00 am - 10:30 am
    Bird blind parking area, Walnut Woods State Park, 3155 Walnut Woods Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265

    Slow down and join us for a fall nature walk at Walnut Woods State Park!

    November’s theme is “healing,” inspired by Rachel Carson’s words: “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

    Time spent in nature supports both body and mind. Gather with us in the woods to soak up that healing energy as the seasons shift.

    When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

    Where: Bird blind parking area, Walnut Woods State Park, 3155 Walnut Woods Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265

    Distance: About a mile, more or less, on park trails

    Along the way, we’ll have time for conversation, reflection, and quiet. We’ll identify and learn more about plants, trees, and birds. And we’ll connect more fully to one another and to the ancient land in which we live, and explore the spiritual side of nature as a mindfulness practice.

    The Centering Nature Leadership Team from First Unitarian Church of Des Moines will co-lead this nature walk.

    Please let us know if you plan to attend! Email us at centeringnature@ucdsm.org.

    Bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and water and snacks as needed. Please do not attend if you’re feeling unwell.

    See more details

  • Set-Up/Clean Up: Progressive Voices

    November 14, 2026  4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
    Auditorium, Kitchen, Gathering Area, Griffin Hall, Rm. 210

    See more details

  • Progressive Voices Concert - Peter Mayer

    November 14, 2026  7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
    Auditorium, Kitchen, Gathering Area, Griffin Hall, Rm. 207

    See more details

  • Nursery (0-3)

    November 15, 2026  9:00 am - 12:15 pm
    210 // Pinecone Room

    Nursery care for little ones 0-3 takes place in the Pinecone Room on the Lower Level

    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 one of our Sunday services- 9:15 or 11:00 a.m.
    • Our 9:15 a.m. service is held in our Auditorium and is a full Sunday service featuring readings, hymns, reflections, musical ensembles, and a sermon. This service is also livestreamed and our Faith Formation classes are available during this time.
    • Our 11:00 a.m. Mosaic Service is held in Griffin Hall and is a more intimate, discussion-based service exploring the same themes and questions in a participatory way. MOSAIC stands for Meaning, Openness, Sharing, Authenticity, Inquiry, and Connection. Childcare for children ages 0-4 is available during both services.
  2. Click here for directions to our building!
  3. 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.
  4. Join us between services 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.
  5. Check out our Affinity Groups for adults. We also have programs for children, youth, and adults.
  6. 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.