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

Making It Up as We Go Along

Join us for a fully improvised service! Give us a few prompts, and we’ll give you a story for all ages, meditations, sermons, and music!

Join us live on YouTube

 

No Order of Service This Week

Forum: Update from 2nd Service Team

Join Rev. Steve as we explore the draft proposal from the 2nd Services Team.

The Theology of Play

What if play is not something we outgrow, but something that helps us grow? This sermon explores the theology of play—the role of imagination, wonder, and joy in developing faith, strengthening mental health, and building beloved community. Through humor, personal stories, and Unitarian Universalist values, we’ll consider how staying curious and a little silly can be a sacred practice.

Join us live on YouTube

 

Click here for the Order of Service

Forum: Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers

The president of the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers will discuss the basics of atheism, living in a society that emphasizes religion, and the impact and intertwining of religion and government from an atheist perspective.

Upcoming Services Previous Services

Church Calendar

  • ALL CHURCH PICNIC

    August 1, 2026  12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
    Raccoon River Park, 2500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA

    Raccoon River Park - 2500 Grand Ave., WDM

    Coneflower Shelters A, B & C (Turn left when you enter the parking lot and follow the signs)

    Potluck picnic for all! Bring a side dish or dessert to share (with serving piece), and place settings/silver for your family.

    Congregational Life Team will provide the main dish and beverages.

    If you'd like a lawn chair, please bring yours, along with any yard games. We are adjacent to the playground and bathrooms, and the beach is nearby as well (please check with the City on 8/1 re: safety of water for swimming).

    Questions? Contact congregationallife@ucdsm.org

    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 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.