First U Think
First U Think is a podcast designed for you, just as you are. We're bringing you weekly talks about the topics that matter. Living with values. Caring about the world and the people in it. Making a difference. Learning about prophetic people and their work. Want to change the world? First you think. First U Think is brought to you by the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines IA.
Episodes
177 episodes
You Can't Take It With You
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.
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33:51
Community
with Rev. Meredith Garmon ft. Church Choir Community is the gift always there — the challenge is to make ourselves able and ready to receive it.
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24:56
War, Peace, and Remembrance
⚠️ 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 sh...
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24:54
Coming of Age 2025
This 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 ...
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16:13
Flowers and Vesak
with 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 luna...
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16:28
Bone-Deep Hope with Steve Sieck
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.
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20:37
Counterintuitive Joy with Steve Sieck
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.
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20:38
Conflict is a Good Thing
with 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.
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22:34
Nurturing Nature Through Wonder
with 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 ...
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26:07
Who Cares?
with 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?
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19:46
Common Read: Authentic Selves
with 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 inh...
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25:32
Standing Tall: Reflections on Dignity
Elijah Evans, a member of our Celebrant Team, shares a reflection on Dignity.
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3:47
Money, Money, Money
with Rev. Meredith GarmonWealth tends to have the effect of disconnecting us from others. Intentional generosity counteracts that effect.
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24:13
Dignity
with 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.
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22:16
UU Uses of the Bible
with 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.
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24:41
You, UU, and Social Justice
with Meredith GarmonThe realm of Social Justice has many regions.
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27:10
Borders and Belonging
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:
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23:30
Crossing the Line
with Rev. Meredith GarmonNegotiating the boundaries to respect and the borders to cross.
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24:09
Desert Theory
with 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 theor...
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25:09
Acceptance & Resistance
with Rev. Meredith GarmonThere's acceptance. Then there's resistance to acceptance. Then there's resistance with acceptance.
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20:42
Freedom?
with Rev. Meredith GarmonEven if determinism is true, one of the determinants at work on us is a concept of freedom. But what is it?
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22:54
The Vow-Powered Life
with Rev. Meredith GarmonNew Year's resolutions are famously short-lived. Still, it's helpful to reflect on what changes you want to make. It helps to put those changes in the context of the overall purpose of your life. Which begs the ...
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20:05
Christmas Eve Service 2024
Celebrate the season at our Christmas Eve Service, where we’ll share the story of Jesus’ birth through fun and unique perspectives—including the wise musings of a curious camel! Come experience the wonder and magic of Christmas Eve!<...
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24:57
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