The Newsletter of First Unitarian Church of Omaha
The Flame February 2013
REV. ELATIONS In recent Sunday school classes the children dreamt about what the ideal First Unitarian Church would look like. We encouraged them to dream big, and they did. Roller coasters, water slides, pools, fountains, a church dog, other church animals, and, of course, electronic gadgets were included in their drawings, which will be exhibited in the Common Room gallery. It’s also time for us to dream big, to imagine the church we want to be five or even ten years from now. We might be tempted to begin by thinking about our building, which we love and which might indeed limit our dreams. Or we might begin by thinking about numbers, about wanting more people―especially more children. But I suggest that we would do well to begin with the most fundamental questions: What is our mission? (Is our current mission statement adequate?) Who do we want to be for one another? For our children? Who do we want to be in the broader community?
Sunday Services
At 9:30 am and 11:15 am
February 3 | Rev. Frank Rivas | Trust Trusting life and trusting ourselves is part of a religious heritage that reaches back to ancient Scripture. February 10 | Rev. Frank Rivas | Love Days before Valentine’s Day, we reflect on the transformative power of love. February 17 | Rev. Frank Rivas | Shul Jews sometimes refer to their synagogue as a “shul,” Yiddish for “school.” We might want to take a fresh look at how this school should look. February 24 | Shelton Hendricks | Soul Made Flesh: Joy of Materialism
Rev.
elations
(Continued from first page) As we address these foundational questions, our building and population goals will become clear. We need not address our mission in isolation. Our liberal faith has a long tradition of both welcoming diverse opinions and challenging one another. In addition, our faith tradition has emphasized the importance of education. Finally, we Unitarian Universalists have a long tradition of community involvement, and this church is located in an ideal place to make a difference in our community. Over a century and a half ago, Unitarian Theodore Parker wrote, “The Church which did for the fifth century, or the fifteenth, will not do for this. It must have our ideas, the smell of our ground, and have grown out of the religion of our souls.” At a time when a new generation of electronics emerges every18 months, even the church of ten years ago might not do. We need a church that grows out of the religion of our souls. Blessings and love, Frank
Women’s Alliance The Women’s Alliance will hold its next meeting on February 11 at 6:30pm in the Common Room. Our speaker for the meeting is Elizabeth (Beth) Furlong. Beth is a faculty member at the Center for Health Policy and Ethics at Creighton University. Beth’s education is in public health nursing, an area in which she practiced and taught for several years. She will present a one-woman drama of Miss Lavinia Dock, public health nurse and suffragist of the early 1900s. Our dinner ($12) will be baked spiral ham with elegant potatoes, an Alliance favorite. The vegetarian entrée will be cornbread topped with southwestern frijoles prepared by our own excellent chefs: Barb Dewell and Lois Norris. If this is your first time, please be our guest. Reservations must be made no later than Friday, February 8 to Janet West at 402-553-3162 or jmasonwest77@yahoo.com. We hope to see you at the meeting!
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You are Invited to A COFFEE HOUSE CELEBRATION of Ron Knapp’s new memoir MOMENTS In a Life Sunday Evening, February 24 7 to 9pm in the Common Room Ron will read from his book Kyle Knapp will entertain with his guitar and songs Books will be for sale (signed by the author) Refreshments: coffee, tea, punch, sweets, chips and dips ($3 from each book will go the church building preservation fund)
Valentine’s Day Bash The First Unitarian Young Adult group has taken over party planning duties for this year's Valentine's Day Bash. Our theme this year is "Back Off, Hallmark." At our church common room, the event will begin at 6pm on Saturday, February 16. Karaoke, dinner, a photo booth, an anti-love song serenade, cash bar, and a date auction (as a fundraiser for the church) will be on the agenda. We hope everyone can join! All black entire is encouraged! P.S. Abby Cape is making yummy sweets...who can pass that up?
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The “Preserve Our Building” Fund Drive is Underway.
Preserve Our Building by Jaime Alexander Our eighth annual Preserve Our Building fund drive is now underway. For our newcomers and others who may not be familiar with the POB campaign, a short review of POB history may be appropriate. After our sanctuary was refurbished in October 2004, made possible by gift of the “Erickson Bond,” I found myself just in awe of its newly resplendent beauty. Thinking that our ability to fulfill our future building preservation needs should not be completely dependent on hoping for a major gift, I wondered if we could build a fund to lead the way towards funding a needed refurbishment in the future. Thoughts of “Wells we did not dig” and leaving something for those yet to come led to the creation the Preserve Our Building Fund Drive. The POB fund has grown with contributions and interest to over $32,000. Your generosity is wonderful! The concept of many of us giving what we can from year to year is proving to be successful. Approval from the congregation is necessary to spend from this account. Please join in this year’s effort.
Your check should be made payable to First Unitarian Church of Omaha with “POB” on the memo line. A solicitation letter recently sent to home addresses included a return addressed envelope for your convenience. The envelopes and blue cards in the pews at church may also be used for your POB donation during Sunday offering, just annotate the memo line, POB. Thank you for supporting Preserve Our Building.
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President’s Letter February I believe I still retain a florist's mixed excitement and dread regarding February. This is a month filled: social events, my eldest child’s birthday, Valentine's Day, President's Day, etc. For a short month, there is sure a lot to do (hence the dread). What has happened to the church year? Suddenly I have reached the home stretch: Vision of Ministry, Budget, plan the Annual Meeting, and BOOM, I'm done. In early January, the Board of Trustees met with the Senior Ministry Team to evaluate how our governance has been working. What did we find? Just like February: mixed. We agreed that many areas are going well: The revitalized Membership Team is going gangbusters. Our church's energy is more directed towards our goals and Mission. We are blossoming under the leadership of our minister, Frank Rivas. Projects are being accomplished (check out the fab new Merritt Lounge!), and we are in good shape financially. Getting to this level of stability is the result of a great deal of hard work by staff and volunteer alike. Kudos to us all! At the same time, we are aware of the challenges of our present system: communication takes extra steps; we have a top-heavy administrative branch which burdens some of our volunteers extremely; and roles are not always well-defined. We need a bit of change. Not a great deal, as luck would have it. Presently, members of the Board, SMT, and Governance Committee are exploring methods to simplify our system. One of our primary concerns is empowerment. Our great volunteers are creative, capable, and dedicated. We need to trust them. More on this as new developments occur. Yours, Kate Godfrey
Partner Church Fundraising Luncheon Sunday, February 24 after the second service
Hungarian Menu! Donation to the Partner Church Fund Adults: $6, Kids: $3, Family: $12 Soup, veggies, salad, bread! 5
At Church This Month Check out our calendar at our website: www.firstuuomaha.org
UU & You UU & You classes provide an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and our church, along with an opportunity to share our religious journeys. Visitors, newcomers, and the just curious are cordially invited to attend on Sunday, March 3. The class will convene in the Whitney Young Room 15 minutes after the ending of the 11:15 service. That usually works out to a 12:30 starting time. A light lunch will be served to bolster the always interesting conversation. Ending time will be 2pm. If you need childcare, please let us know by the Friday before. RSVPs or questions can be addressed to uuclass@firstuuomaha.org or call the church office at 402-3453039.
The Book Club The Book Club will meet on Monday, February 25 at 7pm. Our selection is The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes. Please contact Dave Richardson for more info at drichardson@westside66.org.
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Share the Plate We are sharing the plate with Community Alliance, an Omaha Organization that helps individuals with mental illness to achieve their unique potential, and to live, work, learn and contribute in a community of mutual support. Community Alliance provides day and residential rehabilitation, family educational and community support services at 19 locations in the Omaha area.
Witches’ Tea This year, Witches’ Tea will be taking a journey through the Wheel of the Year. This is an exploration of the major holidays that most Pagan or Wiccan traditions follow. February 3 marks our celebration of Imbolc as we begin our “spring cleaning.” There will be a full ritual at 7pm in the Common Room, with potluck to follow. If you can't make it this month, be sure to come out on March 3 for our discussion on Moon Phases.
Circle Suppers UU Circle Suppers are a gathering of 6– 8 people who meet for an organized dinner. The host/hostess provides the home or place firms up the date with assigned guests and provides the main dish. The host/hostess then calls each guest to confirm attendance, give directions and assigns the part of dinner the guest would like to bring: appetizer, bread, vegetable, and/ or salad, dessert or beverage. You do not need to be a host/ hostess to participate. Our next Circle Suppers date is Saturday, February 23. Sign up today online by going to: http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10C0D44A9AE29A02-circle2
Joseph Campbell Mythological RoundTable The Omaha Mythological RoundTable is an “emerging” chapter of the Joseph Campbell Foundation's (JCF.org) program to promote the study of mythology and the works of Joseph Campbell. We gather on the fourth Sunday of every month at First Unitarian Church of Omaha from 5 to 7pm for a one-hour video plus a one-hour discussion. Topics include the structure of myth, sacred stories, Jungian psychology, dream interpretation, comparative religion, and more. Contact OmahaMRT@gmail.com for details. This month we meet on Sunday, February 24.
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YRUU Overnight by Naomi Solomon If Wednesday nights just aren’t your thing, join us for a YRUU overnight on Friday, February 8 through Saturday, February 9—8pm to 8am at First Unitarian Church. We will watch a movie, play tried and true games, try new team-building exercises, snack all night, and clean it all up quick as a wink before we have to leave at 8am. This event will give us a chance to visit a variety of topics and activities that we generally don’t have time for. I hope each and every Omaha UU teen can make it! Parents, we are also looking for volunteer chaperones if you are willing to give up at least a few hours of your sleep that night. Please contact Naomi Solomon (nsolomyn@gmail.com) if you are willing to help out in any way.
RE News by Meka Tate, DRE Starting in February the religious education program will be using a curriculum titled "UU Super Heroes." This is a values-based Unitarian Universalist identity curriculum that will introduce the children to stories of courage and wisdom. The curriculum shows the lives of various Unitarians while helping to confirm UU principles. In a sense it promotes theology through biographies and helps children learn traditions in order to lead their own lives spiritually and ethically. Most of the stories begin with the Super Hero’s childhood so that our kids will be able to connect with the person and realize that people who do heroic deeds generally come from humble beginnings. Great things can be accomplished by imperfect people and this curriculum shows this using games, songs dramatizations and projects. Please join us every Sunday to learn about a new exciting UU Super Hero! If you are interested in volunteering to teach or assist in teaching please contact Meka Tate at dre@firstuuomaha.org. We are also still looking for volunteers to be part of our "feature member" each month so if you have a special skill that you would like to teach the kids, or if you just want to get to know the children better please sign up!
New Year—New Resolution—New Name: Child/Youth Religious Education Team by Donna Neff With the start of 2013, the Child/Youth Religious Education Team (CY-RE Team) is determined to meet regularly on the last Sunday of each month. This month, that would be Feb 24. (Note: Easter is the last Sunday in March, so we’ll meet March 24 next month instead, then April 28 & May 26). We will meet at 12:30pm in the 2nd-floor, middle classroom. There will be childcare and a light lunch. Meetings will last no longer than 1 hour. Often called “RE Council” out of habits from the past, our new name better reflects our focus: supporting our DRE Meka Tate, excellence in Sunday programming and fun family activities for children and youth. Please join us in person if you can for the meetings—or get on our email list to be “in the loop” for CY-RE activities and projects. We need your ideas and energy! The email address for the team is: CY-RE@firstuuomaha.org or contact Donna Neff or Kate Wiig.
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CommUUnity Night is Back! We are eager to announce that we are planning our first CommUUnity night in … awhile! This event will be hosted by the Youth/Child RE Team. We will meet in the Common Room on Friday, February 1st at 5:30pm. If you haven’t participated before, CommUUnity Nights are a fun, laid-back all-church event. We gather together for a potluck of side items (the main dish is provided by RE) and we don’t worry about who is bringing what; we may get KFC chicken nuggets, sushi, and guacamole, but we’ll have fun. We eat together as a group and then just chill. Kids are free to roam, play, run and take ownership of their church. We give the teens the Merritt Lounge as a fortress of solitude against the chaos of family life. The adults chill, talk, play games, and just enjoy each other’s company. If you can’t bring anything or you are feeling too rushed to grab or make something last minute, COME ANYWAY! There’s always plenty of food and what we really want is YOU!
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The Merritt Scholarship The Women’s Alliance Merritt Scholarship is accepting applications for its scholarship until March 31. To be eligible to receive the scholarship, the applicant must be a member of 1st or 2nd Unitarian Church or a dependent of a member. The applicant may be planning to attend a two-year college, a four-year college, graduate school, or professional school Fall 2013. The application is available from the church office: admin@firstuuomaha.org.
Send completed applications to: First Unitarian Church of Omaha Attn: Merritt Scholarship Committee 3114 Harney St. Omaha, NE 68131
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TADG Seeks Variety of Opinions
is Thursday, February 21 and starts at 7pm. However the fun starts earlier. Come at 6pm for “Bring Your Own Dinner” and conversation. The coffee will be on for you. RSVPs are appreciated, and questions welcomed, to Jaime Alexander, jaimealexander@cox.net. If you are reading this, you are invited to attend.
The Tolerant Atheist Discussion Group topic for the Thursday, February 21 meeting is “Scripture and God Language in Sermons.” As always all members, friends, visitors and just curious are cordially invited, especially if your view on the topic differs from what you presume the opinion might be of someone attending a TADG meeting. Here is the background: In his December Flame column, Rev. Elations, Rev. Frank broached the subject that he had “heard from a couple of members who were uncomfortable with the use of religious language and passages from the Bible.” Frank further commented that “These are authentic concerns that need to be addressed” and that the time he intended to do so at two sermons in early January. But second thoughts prevailed in that Frank, although he enjoys a good argument, “Doesn’t want argument to be the paradigm of the congregational communication” (see January Flame). However he eagerly accepted an invitation to come and say a few words at the TADG meeting where courteous argument can reign supreme.
If chaos and acrimony come to mind, assurance of peace in the Common Room can probably be presumed from the facts that the leading word in the group’s name is “Tolerant.” The discussions take place in small groups, and the prevailing recognizable emotion from previous meetings has been laughter. Again, the meeting 11
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The sketches of Alice Blackstone and Natalie Fisher by Eddith Buis which appear here are actually of Women’s Alliance members of a later period than the one discussed below. But Eddith thought the sense of purpose and determination their faces reflect is evidence that the spirit is still there. Sincere thanks to the Alliance for their role in the life of this church.
“It was decided to keep together and do whatever the Alliance could do to hold the scattered remnants of the church together. There were 19 names on the membership roll, but even so small a beginning might prove the nucleus of the church of the future. If we could do nothing more, we could set ourselves the task of seeking out Unitarians and asking them to join us in the search for others.” -from Women’s Alliance Report of1913
How the Women’s Alliance Saved the Church One of the most endearing stories of the history of our church is the legend of how the Women’s Alliance saved this church when it fell on hard times in the years just preceding WW I.
Within a few months Mrs. Holdredge was able to report that the growth in membership to 57 was “most gratifying.”
The halcyon days of the ministry of the renowned Reverend Newton Mann had ended in 1910. Membership soon dwindled, and the minister, Dr. Lillefors, resigned in 1912 to take a pulpit in Fitchburg, MA. The following year, under a heavy debt burden, the church was forced to sell its original building on 17th and Cass to the German Music Society (Musik Verein). Our longtime archivist Marie Helms described it this way: “The building was sold, but the Women’s Alliance managed to hold the congregation together with vespers, church school classes, and meetings which were held in various available halls with visiting ministers from other parts of the area.”
The next few years saw steady growth until in 1915 the Board of Trustees accepted a proposal made by the Alliance to purchase a “Parish House” which would serve the church until in 1918 the construction of the church we now occupy began.
2019: Two
Important Events
2019 may seem a long way off; however, that year is the convergence of two important dates: the 150th anniversary of the Founding of the First Unitarian Church of Omaha and the 100th birthday of our building, which was completed in 1919.
However, it appeared for a time that the church could not be sustained. At an informal gathering of members of the Women’s Alliance after the memorial service for longtime member Mrs. H.D. Reed, a pivotal moment in our church’s history took place. It was one of those times that show us how courage and determination can win the day. The words of Mrs. G.W. Holdredge, secretary of the Women’s Alliance, tells it best: 12
Energized Membership Team By Jackie Anderegg, Membership Team Leader
We have organized an effort in keeping with the revitalized spirit of this congregation, to expand and enhance our membership. You may have noticed some of the changes occurring in our vestibule to spruce up our welcoming effort for visitors. We are busy organizing a welcoming process, a path to membership plan, new member recognition, an assimilation plan for new members, and efforts directed toward retaining members we have. We will also be reviewing ways we can recognize long-term members. We have recruited some of you to help us and will be asking for more volunteers as we form our overview and define procedures for each step we take. We welcome all suggestions and feedback on how we are doing (and what we are doing). We want to make this a congregation-wide effort and we hope you agree that we have a lot to offer and a large potential for growth. An exciting time for all of us! We will be periodically handing out more of our Points to Promote sheets that are suggestions about what members can do to build community in our church, to expand our presence within Omaha, to encourage visitors to return, and to promote new membership. The members of our team are Jaime Alexander, Lana Hammel, Carolyn McNamara, Stephen Meister, Ben Wallace, Janet West, Ron Withem, Barbara Ross, Bill Ross, and Judith Wright.
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Board President
Thank You from the Partner Church Team
Kate Godfrey President-Elect Tony Host Board Members Dean Christensen, Lana Hammel, Barb Herring, Louise Jeffrey, John Wagner, Ron Withem
Trustees of the Capital Trust Tim Duggan (2013), Steve Hutchinson (2014), Sandy Host (2015) Senior Ministry Team Jack Perry, Walt Jesteadt, Carolyn McNamara, Ben Wallace, Rev. Frank Rivas
Submit items for publication to admin@firstuuomaha.org Word limit is 200; deadline is the 15th of the month. Board meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month and are open to all members.
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Thank you to all in the First Unitarian Church community for giving to the Partner Church Fund. This money is sent to our Partner Church in Firtosmartonos, Transylvania, Romania, for preapproved projects such as scholarships for the village teens to attend the Unitarian high school and area colleges. Firtosmartonos is an agricultural village of 250 Unitarians. The Partner Church Team encourages those who have not sent a check to support the Partner Church projects to send a check to the office with “Partner Church Fund� on the memo line. The money donated to the Partner Church Fund is not used to support any member of First Unitarian Church to visit our Partner Church. Be sure to join us for the Partner Church Fundraiser Luncheon happening after the second service on Sunday, February 24.
Ministry Team Leaders Adult R.E. Crystal DiGiorgi Archives Dave Richardson Building (short-term) Dave Rosser Caring Douglas Lee-Regier Chalice Guild Kay Lynn Goldner Community Meals Louise Jeffery Fellowship Nadine Keith & Judith Wright Finance Walt Jesteadt Fundraising Donna Neff Garden Sharon Conlon Governance Alex Nather Membership Jackie Anderegg Office Carolyn McNamara Partner Church Council Janet West CY-RE Team Donna Neff & Kate Wiig Religious Services Megan Gustafson UU Class Yvonne Price & Jaime Alexander Women’s Alliance Vanessa Timberlake Young Adult Group Maria Wilson YRUU Ben Wallace & Shawne Coonfare
Contact Phone: (402) 345-3039 Fax: (402) 346-2662 Staff Minister Rev. Frank Rivas minister@firstuuomaha.org Director of Religious Education Meka Tate dre@firstuuomaha.org Office Administrator Catharine Dixon admin@firstuuomaha.org Organist Pat Will Choir Director Bob McMeen Choir Accompanist Patricia Allender Nursery Aide Justin Deffenbacher Custodian Bobby Medrano Minister Emeritus Ronald Knapp The Flame Editor Catharine Dixon Proofreaders Scott Kemper, Lana Hammel, Cyndi Nather The Flame Mailing Team Anne Massoud, Evelyn Whitehill, Howard Bolton, Shelton Hendricks
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The Flame 3114 Harney Street Omaha NE 68131
Partner Church Fundraising Luncheon Sunday, February 24 after the second service Donation to the Partner Church Fund Adults: $6 Kids: $3 Family: $12
All members and friends of First Unitarian Church are WELCOME!