Recovery Cafe Des Moines

09/29/2026

What if the enemy we are fighting is sometimes carrying something we have not yet learned how to hold ourselves?

In “The Enemy We Need,” we explore the connection between co-dependency, fear, anger, and our tendency to place difficult emotions somewhere outside of ourselves. Sometimes another person becomes the place where we put our fear, pain, or sense of powerlessness because it feels easier to fight something outside of us than to sit with what is happening within us.

This does not mean that injustice is not real or that anger has no place. It means we can pause long enough to ask a different question: Is this mine?

Recovery asks us to take back what belongs to us without making someone else responsible for our peace.

Read “The Enemy We Need” at Recovery Café Des Moines.
https://recoverycafedm.org/the-enemy-we-need/

08/22/2026

Recovery Cafe is pleased to announce a new weekly meeting at Ember Recovery Center in Cambridge, Iowa.

Beginning October 1, the Young Men’s Group will meet every Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. The gathering will include a book study, a Recovery Cafe meeting at 6:30 PM, and followed by homemade dessert.

Thursdays | 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Ember Recovery Center | Cambridge, Iowa
Beginning October 1

We look forward to building community and creating a welcoming space for recovery in Cambridge.

08/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Recovery Café BBQ & Play!

We are grateful for everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and helped make the event a success. It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy good food, connect with one another, and celebrate the strength of our community.

Recovery happens in community, and we're thankful to share that journey with all of you. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at future Recovery Café events.

07/21/2026

There's still time to RSVP for our Recovery Cafe BBQ & Play! Join us on Saturday, July 25 at Big Creek State Park Beach Shelter #3 for a day of good food, fun, and connection. Enjoy pontoon boat rides, kite flying, great conversation, and a BBQ lunch featuring hamburgers and hot dogs. You're also welcome to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

This is a free event, but we'd love for you to RSVP so we can plan enough food and activities for everyone.

Reserve your spot today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recovery-cafe-bbq-and-play-tickets-1989176326941

We can't wait to spend the afternoon with you!

Join us at Big Creek State Park Beach on Saturday, July 25 for Pontoon Boat Rides, Kite Flying on the Beach, and a BBQ Luncheon

07/17/2026

Many of the patterns we carry today were not mistakes. They were ways we learned to survive difficult experiences. What once kept us safe may have helped us endure, but over time those same patterns can leave us feeling disconnected, isolated, or stuck.

Our new blog, What Once Kept Us Safe, explores how these protective strategies are formed, why they are so difficult to let go of, and how healing begins with understanding rather than self-judgment. When we can see our survival patterns with compassion, we create space for something new: greater freedom, deeper connection, and a life that is no longer defined by the past.

If you've ever wondered why certain reactions seem automatic or why change can feel so difficult, we invite you to read this thoughtful reflection.

Read the full article here: https://recoverycafedm.org/what-once-kept-us-safe/

07/08/2026

Summer is better when it's shared. Join Recovery Cafe for an afternoon of fresh air, great food, and meaningful connection at our event BBQ and Play at Big Creek State Park Beach Shelter #3.

Whether you'd like to relax by the water, enjoy a pontoon boat ride, fly a kite on the beach, or simply spend time with friends, there's something for everyone. We'll serve hamburgers and hot dogs at 1pm, with tableware provided, and you're welcome to bring a favorite side dish or dessert to share.

Come as you are on Saturday, July 25, from 11am to 3pm, and enjoy a fun, family-friendly day celebrating community, belonging, and summer together.

Reserve a free spot today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recovery-cafe-bbq-and-play-tickets-1989176326941?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/22/2026

Recovery Café Des Moines offers welcoming Recovery Circles where you can share openly, set meaningful goals, celebrate progress, and connect with others who understand the challenges of everyday life. Recovery is not just about addiction. It is about healing, growth, and learning to live with greater purpose and awareness.

Join us this week:

Tuesday | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Grace Lutheran Church
5201 Urbandale Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310

Wednesday | 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Lutheran Church of Hope + Elim
2500 University Ave., Room 305, Des Moines

Friday | Noon – 1:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
5201 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines

No matter where you are on your journey, you are welcome here. Come as you are and discover the power of community, healing, and hope.

Learn more at Recovery Cafe Des Moines: https://recoverycafedm.org

06/09/2026

We all have patterns that shape our lives. They influence the way we think, react, and relate to others, often without our awareness. The challenge is that what remains unseen can continue to influence us long after it stops serving us.

In this new blog, "The Patterns We Cannot See", we explore how greater awareness can help us recognize the stories, habits, and assumptions that quietly guide our lives. When we begin to see these patterns more clearly, we create space for healing, growth, and new possibilities.

Read the full article here: https://recoverycafedm.org/the-patterns-we-cannot-see/

05/29/2026

Love is more than a feeling. It is something we actively practice through compassion, presence, forgiveness, boundaries, and connection.

Our newest blog explores how love shows up through honesty, accountability, and belonging. These small acts can transform how we see ourselves and others.

Take a moment to read and reflect:
https://recoverycafedm.org/the-art-of-love/

05/21/2026

Spend a summer afternoon connecting with community at the Recovery Cafe BBQ and Play at Big Creek State Park Beach Shelter #3 on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 11 am to 3 pm. From pontoon boat rides to kite flying on the beach, this gathering is all about enjoying the outdoors, sharing a meal, and spending time together in a welcoming, alcohol-free environment.

A BBQ luncheon will be served at 1 pm featuring hamburgers and hot dogs, with tableware provided. Guests are welcome to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

This event is free and open to all. Please RSVP so we can prepare enough food and seating for everyone. We look forward to spending a day of food, fun, laughter, and connection at the lake with our community!

RSVP here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recovery-cafe-bbq-and-play-tickets-1989176326941?aff=oddtdtcreator