This Way ForwardAs I prepare to help lead us through the next several weeks leading up to the Special General Conference on The Way Forward, I have been using our Way Forward prayer each day in my meditation and prayer. We will be having our two informational meetings on February 4, with Rev. Mark Holland, and February 10th with Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede, each sharing an over-view of the plans to be presented at the General Conference on a Way Forward regarding full inclusion of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gender, and Queer sisters and brothers, with an

emphasis on the One Church Plan. Along with these informative meetings we are implementing a letter-writing campaign for our community of faith to participate in to make our voice known to our voting delegates representing us at the General Conference.As our Lead Pastor, it is important to me to be in prayer for our community of faith and for our denomination as I lead alongside you approaching this crucial con-ference and vote. It is important that we continue as a community to live into our vision and mission of Compassion for All, a vision the embraces the whole of God’s creation and all God’s children, all of them. As a key Reconciling Congregation in Omaha, and the Great Plains Annual Confer-ence, we strive to not only live out our vision but also journey within the vision of the Reconciling Ministries Network whose mission statement we have embraced; “Living into our shared baptismal covenant, Reconciling Ministries Network equips and mobilizes United Methodists to resist evil, injustice, and oppression as we seek justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.”As I have studied the three plans there is only one with the potential to pass with the least amount of complication that fits our storied history, passion, and mission. That plan is the One Church Plan. While we may wish it would go further, it allows room for continued conversation at the table, is inclusive of differing opinions, and yet gives freedom for local control at the clergy, local church, and conference levels.I will be attending this Special General Conference in February in order to bring back an informed report of the final decision. Please check out our website at www.fumcomaha.org/thewayforward for more information, take time to write letters to the delegates encouraging them to vote for the One Church Plan, and keep our church, both local and global in your prayers.These next few weeks will be filled with possibility, anxiety, struggle, hope, fear, and, I pray, love. Fear Not. Love One Another. Every. Single. Other. Until there are no others. Only one beloved community of all.Peace and Light for this Journey, Rev. Kent, Lead Pastor

Connect

7020 Cass Street • Omaha, Nebraska 68132 • 402.556.6262

February 2019

Worship ScheduleSundays

8:30 & 10:50 am, Sanctuary

Taizé Worship Saturday, February 2

5:00 pm, Mead Chapel

Pastors: Kent Little

Cynthia Lindenmeyer

Church Office Hours:Sunday 8:30 am - noon

Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Friday and Saturday Closed

www.fumcomaha.org

“We are a United Methodist congre-gation of all sexual orientations and gender identities making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We stand in solidarity with Reconciling Ministry Network working against injustice and discrimination through peace and justice.”

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Receive “Connect” by E-MailE-mail Candice Nielsen in the church office,

Candice.Nielsen@fumcomaha.org with your e-mail address and you will begin

receiving the newsletter by e-mail.

Rev. Kent H. Little

FUMC Way Forward Task GroupIn preparation for the special called 2019 Way Forward General Conference in Saint Louis, our FUMC Way Forward Task Group has scheduled two informational meetings. These two meetings will be to present the plans coming before the Gen-eral Conference with a way forward for our United Methodist Church in regards to the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ person in the ministry of the denomination. The two informational gatherings will be Monday, February 4th at 6:00 pm and Sun-day, February 10th at 2:00 pm. Both meetings will be in the Sanctuary. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend one of the two important gatherings. More information will be available in the near future. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call, e-mail or stop by Pastor Kent’s office.

Oscar MomentThree years ago, the Academy (the one in Hollywood, not Starfleet) asked Oscar winners to remove saying gratitudes during acceptance speeches. Instead, names of devoted people to be thanked were written on submitted index cards, then scroll across the screen if the nominee won. Leaving out a significant partner while in the moment of glory definitely hurts feelings, and I risk blundering in the same manner. I confess my thank-you card writing during the months of December and January was egregious. Usually, it’s during contemplative prayer when I remember all the thank-you’s to write. However, attempting to honor Thomas Keating’s method of centering prayer (letting go of thoughts), I do not follow up very well on the simple loving act of taking three seconds to write, Thank You.

This morning during meditation, I remembered George, whose dedication to changing our stunning sanctuary banners is a gift I truly treasure. I thought about Ron, who week after week, delivers our collections in the Gathering Place to their destinations. I thought of Dave, who steadfastly recycles to limit waste. I thought of Judy, who organizes our committed cooks. I thought of Miriam who has a giving heart.

I thought of Ruth, who organizes the totally awesome books in our phenomenal library. I thought of Jamie, who arrives early every Sunday to video worship services. I thought of Kay, who equips those who have been evicted. I thought of Steve, who consistently prepares coffee and snacks in the Commons. I thought of Teri, who nurtures our garden. I thought of Jack and Ken, who clean our baptismal font. I thought of Marj, giving of her time every week to help count offerings. I thought of Sheri, organizing the Alternative Christmas Mall. I thought of Tim, who oversees our composts bins. I thought of Walt and Nancy, who prepare our Communion meal faithfully. I thought of Barry, trimming our expansive forestry. I thought of Emo’s smile. I thought of Howard, Lorraine and Jan who input our visitor’s info. I thought of Denise, who puts together this newsletter. I thought of Donna, who inspires our youth. I thought of Greg, who every year wrestles our twelve-foot Advent trees. I thought of Paul, who meticulously prepares his goulash. I thought of Bob, who ensures we have oil to light our candles. I thought of Bud playing gui-tar and Henry playing drums. I thought of Ranita, who prepares our Communion bags. I thought of Ric, being a foundation for our youth. I thought of Jan, who checks our blood pressure. I thought of Russ, Dot, Kenneth and Randy, who all ensure our sound works in the sanctuary. I thought of Rosemary and Jean, bringing up the offering. I thought of Kelly organizing our devoted children’s teachers. I thought of Mary, for her outstanding Church Council leadership. I thought of Dene, who proofreads our bulletins. I thought of Christina, who tends our candles. I thought of Karlene, who delivers fresh food weekly to those in need.

I thought of Mary, who trotted all over getting signatures for Initiative 427. I thought of Dale, who gives of time overseeing finances. I thought of Rhonda, who keeps track of our Faith Studies attendance. I thought of Patrick and the roller coaster year. I thought of Mike’s dedication to our youth. I thought of Bruce, who helps wherever needed. I thought of Dave, who gathers our greeters and Jean, who coordinates and trains our ushers. I thought of the five-star meals Darlene and Annette make for our youth. I thought of both Carols who energize mercy and justice outreach. I thought of Larry’s passion for the voiceless. I thought of Marylin who just does everything. I thought of Deborah’s strength. I thought of children’s smiling faces because Joan prepares weekly bags of love. I thought of Ruthie’s wisdom. I thought of moms and dads and grandparents who bring their little and big ones to church despite the grumbling. I thought of those who hang up the great bathroom stall posters. I thought of our awesome children and youth. I thought of all those who wash dishes. Who mow the grass. Who sing and ring bells. Who teach our children. Who fold bulletins. Who volunteer at the front desk. Who transport people to church. Who chair committees. Who love the church. Who give of their time and finances. Who make the church what we know it to be. And our staff. Seriously – they are awesome. There are so many more to thank. Like the actor who forgets to thank the most obvious, I know I have been remiss in thanking many of you. Know that you have most likely been on my heart during prayer…..

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Dr. Cynthia Lindenmeyer

Cell Phone RecyclingDrop off your old cell phones at the recycling bin located by the Commons entrance.

Proceeds help our Youth and Eco-Team!!

Mercy &

Justice

Continued Race RelationsTuesdays 6:00-8:30 pm focusing on:

February 19 – Book Study – White Fragility by Robin DiAngeloMarch 12 – Native AmericansApril 9 – Color of Fear

April 30 – The Lynchings of Omaha

EQUALITY

Tuesday, February 19, 6:00-8:30 pm Join us for dinner and discussion on the New York Times best-seller book, White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo, who writes: 

worked powerfully in service of the racial manipulation of white people, diverting blame away from the white elite and to-wards various people of color…”

Legislative Briefing Day – February 9, 2019In these days of debate and political posturing, Ecumenical Briefing Day creeps onto the agenda for people such as United Methodists. For over 40 years, on the Saturday of Valentine’s week-end

a group of loyal citizens of the Church have selected about10 topics to be covered in a briefing style. FUMC has been well represented with just under 30 attending in each of the last few years. Workshop leaders include state senators, experts in the sleeved field with our own Carol Windrum and Tim Fickenscher picking up the pieces in a workshop enti-tled “Breaking News” (considerations not in view when the other 9 topics were selected). Register from brochures available in the church office or Ron Roemmich, Carol Windrum or Tim Fickenscher. For carpooling availability, please contact Ron Roemmich.

OTOCTenth Annual Spring Fundraiser

 Celebrating Community Kaneko

1111 Jones Street, OmahaTickets:  $25 per person in advance

For Tickets call: (402) 344-4401 

Silent Auction ✧ Cash Bar ✧ Appetizers ✧ Live Music

 Saturday, April 13th, 20196:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Your thoughts? Recommend you read the book to discuss!Copies available at front desk.

“The call to...

Movie Group – Join us to discuss the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. Golden Globe best drama picture. Food and lively conversa-tion at a local restaurant in the Old Market to follow. All are welcome to one or both events! Tuesday, February 12, 6:00 pm, W. Dale Clark Library (215 S. 15 St, lower level room B)

Please remember in prayer these members of Our Church FamilyFor Continued Healing: Dean Barnett, Walter Bircher, Barry Burt, Theresa Davidson, Milton Davison, Lisa Ellis, Ella Gerber, Dorothyann Haar, Charlie Harper, Debra Mabry-Strong, Hazel McGill, Mike Nie-mants, Jeremy Richart, Eleanor Ruge, Ed Schwenk, Grace Webner, Barb Winfield.Baptisms: Baptized January 13- Alice Kathryn, daughter of Michael and Lauren Helgerson.

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ngSubmit your prayer requests to:Marylin Stewart at MarylinS@aol.com or call the church office at 402-556-6262 x1001.Please follow these brief guidelines when submitting a request for the Prayer Chain: • For yourself: Give a brief statement of the need - illness, grief, crisis.• For others: Use names without describing the need. Give the first or full name and relationship -

friend, brother/sister, spouse/partner, parent, child, etc.• Get permission from the person to be listed on the Prayer Chain before contacting Marylin or the church.

Attendance for Dec/Jan Total Attendance 1st Time Visitors

12/23/18 ......................296 ................................212/24/18 ......................736 ..............................4812/30/18 ......................292 ................................91/6/19 ..........................280 ................................6 1/13/19 .........................273 .................................. 8

Exciting news from our Syrian refugee family – the Basboses!In July, they moved into a larger home with a big yard for their five active children and a large playroom in their basement. They have all made giant strides since their arrival two years ago from a refugee camp in Jordan. Father, Zead, has full-time employment with Embassy Suites and Sahar recently started working part-time for an international daycare. She worked hard to get her driver’s license and can now transport their children to and from school and other activities Tareq (4th grade), Hamzah (3rd grade), Omar (1st grade) and Yasmeen (kindergarten) are settling into their new school, Edison Elementary, which is within walking distance from their home. They are busy making new friends and continue to improve their English, reading and writing skills. Three-year old Ahmad stays at home with his mom.The family continues to face challenges, but has a dedicated FUMC team willing to assist them.

I am praying that by the time you read this, the government shutdown is history. Food pantries in our area are experiencing the highest demand on record.

Your giving in the Gathering Place supports the Living Hope Food Pantry and the Clair Memorial UMC Food Pantry, which is open the third Saturday of the month.

If you are interested in helping at either pantry, let Pastor Cynthia know.  Please keep bringing your food donations in – ANYTHING that you would eat is most welcome!

Tuna, peanut butter and Hamburger Helper meals are the most in demand items.

Donation Box

Shelves are empty!!

Faith Studies@ First

Sunday February 3 after church until 1 pm-ish. Omaha Against Hunger is part of the Larger Group known as Kid’s Against Hunger. This group sets up food packing events to create meal bags that can feed up to 12 people per bag. The ingredients in each bag are designed to be nutritious and easy to make. All you need is a big cooking pot, hot water and an appetite. These meals are kept local or shipped nationally or internationally. We will spend an hour on two long tables mixing and packing all the ingredients that we can from the money raised at the Fellowship Meal on January 20, 2019. We only need 20 people for this event. If we have extra help, that’s ok. The Tween Scene youth will be respectfully in charge. Here’s hoping they don’t boss around the high schoolers too much! This is the culmination of a GREAT food drive for our supporting pantries and a good excuse to do something fun while wear-ing a football jersey on the day of the BIG GAME. Go Huskers!

Fellowship Meal for Camp FontanelleSunday, February 17, 2019 The Confirmation age youth will host a meal to raise scholarship money so we can go to Camp Fontanelle this summer. Taco Salad will be the menu item for all to enjoy. Stop by after church around noontime and enjoy a great meal for a great cause. The “official” week of camp for our youth will be ROAD RULES-SEND ME. This is the last week of camp, July 29-August 2, 2019. This is the week Youth Guy Bogart will be leading our youth on a service project week of fun and community building. Any week of Camp is available to our youth and the money raised at this Fellowship meal. Sign up for your week at https://www.campfontanelle.com/summer-camp.html

Souper Bowl Sunday Food Packing Event

Our Health and Healing Ministries present our annual Celebration of Soulful Healing on Sunday, March 24, starting at 1:30 pm. Keynote speaker, Ryan Evans, will speak on the Mind/Body Connection. There will be different workshops from 2:45 to 3:30, and 3:45 to 4:30 pm. Keep an eye out for more information soon! Please come and learn to honor the energy in all of us, and discover a more holistic approach to connect your mind and body. For more infor-mation, please contact our Health and Healing Ministries Chairs, Jan Dixon and Ranita Lilyhorn, by e-mailing Jan at 2dixons@cox.net or Ranita at RL3frog@cox.net.

Celebration of Soulful Healing

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Mirabai Starr - Sunday, July 21FUMC will be hosting mythical author and speaker Mirabai Starr on Sun-day, July 21, who teaches nationally and internationally on the teachings of the mystics and contemplative practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss. Known for her revolutionary translations of John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Julian of Norwich, Mirabai renders mystical masterpieces accessible, beautiful, and relevant to a contempo-rary circle of seekers. Her commentaries on the interconnected wisdom of all traditions are lyrical and evocative. Mirabai builds bridges not only between religious traditions, but also between contemplative life and

compassionate service, between cultivating an inner relationship with the Beloved and expressing that intimacy in community, between the transformational power of loss and longing for the sacred.

May 5th – Special guest, Phileena Heuertz, author and founder of Omaha’s spiritual activism center, Gravity, will preach at both worship services. Phileena has spent her life in social justice work among the world’s poor. A member of the New Friar movement for nearly 20 years, she and her hus-band Chris served with Word Made Flesh in more than 70 countries building community among victims of human trafficking, survivors of HIV and AIDS, abandoned children and child soldiers and war brides.

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gAdministrative Council MeetingMark your calendars – Tuesday, February 12 – 6:00 pmWe will be having a special called Administrative Council meeting to begin looking ahead to the future. We will spend some time looking at and evaluating our current ministries, talking about ways we can strengthen or add to those important elements of who we are. We will also be doing some visioning taking into account our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats we have and are facing as we move into the next few years. Join us for this time of conversation, hope, and dreaming of the bright future of FUMC! Peace and Light for Our Continued Journey, Rev. Kent

A message from our Health & Healing Ministry Team: Protect YourselfWe have been blessed with tremendous resources we can access to help us take care of ourselves and all those around us. One of those is keeping your vaccinations up to date. The two illnesses that are making the rounds in our area are flu and Pneumonia, and are especially dangerous for those over 65 and anyone with a chronic illness. Also, consider those around you; do they have a chronic illness that requires they be vigilant to exposure to communicable diseases? Follow your healthcare provider’s guidelines if you receive a vaccination outside their office; be sure it is added to update your healthcare record. For more information, please use the CDC website.In addition, if you become ill with influenza or another respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, and the symptoms do not improve, call or go see your provider again. Not sure if you should go back to your provider? Call and ask and let them know your symptoms have not improved. Your provider will work with you to decide the best course of action for your health. The basics always apply when you are ill and to prevent illness: hand-washing, adequate rest, fluids, and good nutrition. These tools, along with exercise and a positive attitude, are a gift from God we can use to care for ourselves and our kingdom with compassion.

Camp Fontanelle Needs Your Help! We need volunteers with tiling skills to volunteer to help replace carpet squares with tile the week of February 19th. If you are able to volun-teer, please contact Trent Meyer, Site Director at Camp Fontanelle, tmeyer@greatplainsumc.org or call 402-459-0686. We have 2240 square feet of floor to cover.  We plan to have all the old flooring removed and the floor ground smooth so it is ready for flooring before volunteers would arrive.

Help us GrowDo you believe in the Missions and Ministries of this church? If so, please consider helping us grow by investing in our membership development! We need passionate participants to help jump-start our Membership Committee and plan for exciting and upcoming events for 2019. This committee will help brainstorm ways we can promote and better represent our faith family to the Omaha Community and be-yond! Want to know more? Please contact Candice Nielsen, Director of Membership and Communication, at Candice.Nielsen@fumcomaha.org or call 402-556-6262 x1001.

Our first Membership Committee Meeting will be Wednesday, February 6, at 6:00 pm, in the Conference Room.

SpiritualitySpiritual Practices @ First UMC-OmahaAll activities are held in Mead Chapel unless otherwise noted

• Yoga Foundations – Mondays, 9:30 am, Thursdays, 6:15 pm

• Tai Chi for Balance – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 pm

• Meditation – Wednesdays, noon

• Taizé Worship – First Saturday monthly, 5:00 pm

• Centering Prayer – Sundays, 9:35 am

• Labyrinth, Garden & Gazebo – front lawn 24/7

• Zumba – Wednesdays, 6:30 pm, the Commons

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Ten to Twelve Year Window Representatives from eight congregations in the metro area gathered at FUMC January 16 for a bowl of soup and conversation. What brought these 30 folks together was a sense of urgency regarding planet earth. Conversation centered around what we are doing and need to do to step up our efforts in light of the ten to twelve year window we’ve been given by climate scientists before there is likely catastrophic global consequences.

We are stronger together! Each congregation shared what they are doing. Recycling, composting and participating in community gardens were on many congregations’ achievements. And then there were unique efforts such as a church rental policy that bans the use of Styrofoam, light bulb exchange, hosting zero waste coffee hour, working on the Ban the Bag campaign, and a church pre-school that has a worm farm to help the children learn about vermaculture.

This event was hosted by our FUMC Eco-Team. We shared about our congregational composting project, letter-writing campaigns to deci-sion-makers, divestment from fossil fu-els, pollinator and vegetable gardens, installation of bike racks and ongoing educational venues. With a renewed sense of urgency, the Church Council gave approval at their January meet-ing for the Eco-Team to explore more intentional sustainability plan with the Verdis Group. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, February 19, 10:00 am, the Parlor

We invite all women in the 60+ age group to join us for our Feb. 19th meeting in the Parlor. We welcome Connie Johnk back to facilitate,

“Loving Yourself: How Do You Do It?”. This is also the topic we will be discussing

this second month of 2019. Questions: contact Ruthie Lees at 402 991-3168.

Honor Thy Self

FUMC tree dedication

Book Review Thursday, February 21, 10:00 am, ParlorPlease join us on February 21 as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Book Review! We will meet in the Parlor at 10:00 am for refreshments. Shirley Carpenter will review the same book that was reviewed 35 years ago, When God Says “No”: Faith’s Starting Point by Margaret Blair Johnstone. This is an inspiring autobiography of a young woman which begins in 1913 when she is born and tells how she came to be a minister when that was an unusual occupation for a wom-an. Her story is a vital and warm one.

All are welcome.

7020 Cass StreetOmaha, NE 68132-2601

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage Paid

Permit #105Omaha, NebraskaReturn Service Requested

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0845a5ae22abf58-mardi

Friday, March 1, 2019The youth invite you to enjoy a meal of pancakes to cele-brate Mardi Gras. This FUMC tradition will also include a Variety Show afterwards in The Commons. You won’t even have to leave your dinner table! We will start the evening at 5:00 pm with the meal. The show will begin around 6:30 and go until 8:00 pm. The Nursery will be open! Bring

the kids and enjoy an evening out. Free Will Offering will go to boosting the Youth  Mission Trip Budget for 2020. Clean up after will be lead by the UMYF crew who will then stay up all night at a Lock-In. Please pray for the adults. Sign up your act at the link below.

with a Variety Show (and a Lock-In afterwards for grades 7-12)

Show us your talent!!