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.

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Upcoming Service

Holding Your (Moral) Ground

As we begin our January theme of Practicing Resistance, we acknowledge that “resistance” is a term and set of practices used by many different people to justify many different actions.  What makes resistance good or bad? This service includes a special Turning of the Year ritual to release 2025 and welcome 2026. 

Join our Livestream!

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

Forum: Iowa Legislative Process Training

The presentation was developed by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice to ensure that as many people as possible understand the protections available to them.
Upcoming Services Previous Services

Church Calendar

  • Office Closed

    December 24, 2025 - January 1, 2026  

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  • DMARC Book Group

    December 29, 2025  8:30 am - 10:00 am
    Stonewall Conference Room

    Join Zoom Meeting
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89454166012?pwd=UVJGR2RlQzZqWExjd1o5VFFseXpBZz09


    Meeting ID: 894 5416 6012
    Passcode: 231074

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  • Awakening Heart Sangha

    December 29, 2025  7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
    Zoom Only

    Awakening Heart Sangha is a mindfulness practice group in the Plum Village Tradition of Vietnamese Zen teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh, or ‘Thay’.  We meet by Zoom on Monday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 pm Central Time.  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. 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 or to be added to the weekly Sangha meeting announcement email list.


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  • Office Closed

    December 24, 2025 - January 1, 2026  

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  • A Word With You

    December 30, 2025  10:30 am - 12:00 pm

    Stonewall April-November, Zoom December-March

    “A Word With You” meets once a month in person and discuss topics that interest members. We would like to invite new-comers (or old ones) to our church who could join us or just visit with us. We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 10:30 am. The topics vary from environment to personalities. 
     
    Zoom: 
    Join Zoom Meeting
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81344473833?pwd=MIgypg7hv1aV8BmMWNzdpOCam38k0S.1

    Meeting ID: 813 4447 3833
    Passcode: WORD

    Please contact Sachiko Murphy (wordwithyou@ucdsm.org) if you are interested.

    See more details

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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.