The Flame
The Sister Church Potluck on May 29 featured our Early Morning Risers !
JULY 2013 THE NEWSLETTER OF FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF OMAHA
REV. Elations
time of reflection. Already I look forward to the next year.
Things don’t always go as I plan them. Instead of flying to Louisville for General Assembly, I spent the week recovering from a summer cold. It was not fun. The good news is that Anne appears to have escaped my fate. During July, I plan to reflect on how we’re doing and on where we should be heading… as well as on how I’m doing and where I should be heading. As upsetting as the cold was, it kick-started this
Sunday Service at 10:30 am
Articles, phone and email conversations with colleagues whom I missed at GA, organizing my own random thoughts… all of these helped. But I was also inspired by the energized, freewheeling discussion that followed the recent video lecture from Rev. Christine Robinson. We can consider not only changing our theology, but also changing how we do church. While a shift in theology addressed the needs of
many of us who grew up in the middle of the last century, an even more fundamental shift may be necessary today. The whole point of religion is to keep us open to the ever-changing
In This Issue: Soul Full Thursday President’s Letter History New Members
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July 7—Visioning Omaha’s Belt Line Anne Trumble, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Emerging Terrain, will share an update on Emerging Terrain's latest endeavor: a new Belt Line light rail project. This is the 20-mile industrial corridor running north and south through Omaha. July 14—TBA July 21— TBA July 28—Left Right Out of Things—Rev. Sarah Voss Rev. Voss offers some reflections on “the Other.” Sarah first offered a sermon by this name in 1990 at the Friday Vespers at the Meadville Lombard School of Theology in Chicago, where she was a seminary student. Over the intervening years, she’s periodically picked the sermon back up, reworking it to match her everevolving spiritual vision. Today she offers her freshest thoughts about being a UU in a world of “others.”
Our District Attendees! More info in our Cone Booth President’s May LetterSno on Page 4.
at Heartland Pride June 2013. Thank you everyone who helped!
Return Your Church Key Please The church has switched to a key fob system to allow for hands-free entry. If you were assigned a metal key, come in and get your replacement key fob for hands-free entry convenience! For more information, contact Catharine in the church office at admin@firstuuomaha.org.
REV. Elations (continued from page 1) life within and among us. It will take a deeply religious life to keep up with this accelerating rate of change. May your summer be a blessing, and may our second year together also be a blessing, We have work to do, and it will be fun. Blessings and love, Frank
Mark Your Calendars! Saturday, September 7 is our Annual Together Again Gathering. The fun starts at 2pm at Halleck Park in Papillion. Dinner will be at 6pm in the pavilion. This is a potluck event and groups are free to organize what they would like to do such as play Frisbee, volleyball, baseball, or try some fishing. Kids will enjoy the playground and the little fish and of course they will need to return the fish to the lake. Sunday, September 8 we go back to our two service schedule. More details coming next month!
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Pride Parade 2012
Something !
Our Choir rehearsing. Led by Bob McMeen.
Attention Singers! Choir starts again in August
Reminder:
Choir rehearsals will begin again on Wednesday, August 21 from 7 to 8:30pm. This is the best time for those who have contemplated joining the choir to do so. There is no audition. Those who wish to join can attend this rehearsal and decide if the choir is something they can commit to. Please give it a try! We really are nice people. If you have questions call Bob McMeen at 402-572-0434.
Please be sure that if you are the last person to leave the church you check to make sure the front door and west side doors are locked. Any questions? Call the church during office hours or call Dave Rosser at 402-5414393.
UU & You Offered Sunday, July 21 Unitarian Universalism and 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. The class will convene in the Whitney Young Room 15 minutes after the ending of the 10:30 service. That usually works out to be about an 11:45 starting time. A light lunch will be served to bolster the always interesting conversation. The class lasts about an hour and 30 minutes, so ending time will be about 1:15, although those interested in a brief tour of the church may be a little later. If you need child care please let us know by the Friday before. RSVP or questions can be addressed to uuclass@firstuuomaha.org or call the church office, 402-345-3039.
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Thank you! The Women’s Alliance does not meet in the summer. See you in the Fall!
Soul Full Thursday Summer Session July 18 August 22 Brown bag dinner at 6pm. Lectures start at 7pm in the Common Room.
Summer Soul Full Thursdays! Ju l y 1 8 — Le ct u re s 1 & 2 Science & Religion and The Warfare Thesis Ju l y 2 5 — Le ct u re s 3 & 4 Faith & Reason and God & Nature A u g u s t 1 — Le ct u re s 5 & 6 Church, Copernicus, and Galileo and Galileo’s Trial A u g u s t 8 — Le ct u re s 7 & 8 God the Watchmaker and Nature Theology & Arguments from Design A u g u s t 1 5 — L e ct u re s 9 & 1 0 Geology, Cosmology, & Biblical Chronology and Darwin and Responses to Evolution A u g u s t 2 2 — Le ct u re s 1 1 & 1 2 Fundamentalism & Creationism and Past, Present, Future
Our summer Soul Full Thursday session will consist of a Great Courses Lecture Series called Science and Religion. This excellent DVD series is presented by Lawrence M. Principle who is a professor of both history of science and of chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. Every Thursday two 30 -minute lectures will be presented with discussion afterward. Please contact Crystal at adultre@firstuuomaha.org to sign-up or if you have any questions. Childcare is available —please reserve your spot! RSVPs are needed for the class and for childcare.
Share the Plate Our Share the Plate recipient this month is OTOC (Omaha Together One Community). In May we collected $480 for NAMI. Help us make this month even more successful!
The Pages of
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Our Member-
President’s Letter — July “Spirituality is honoring the depth dimension of life” - Rev. Christine Robinson. Have you ever tried to answer the question, ”Who are you?” Sounds like a simple question. It might be asked of you at a party, at an interview, on a date, or in a credo group. Yet what are our answers? Do you talk about where you work? What you do? If you are a husband/wife, father/ mother, brother/sister? Are you trying to figure out what answer the person is looking for and providing that answer to them? Are you trying to be safe/feel safe? Church for me has always been a place where I can learn and try new things that I would never have been able to do in the other areas of my life. I remember being in “About Your Sexuality” training in the early 80’s with fellow members of my church; some of whom I knew fairly well and some I didn’t. We drove up from San Diego to Pasadena for a 24-hour training session over a weekend. Late the first night after going through the initial sessions with our leader as if we were teenagers, one of our members, a respected practicing urologist, told us “I can’t believe I drove 120 miles and ended up talking about sex with people I barely knew before today! I never talked about this with anyone ever!”
just listening to each other. This is going to be a primary focus of the credo groups we are forming. An opportunity for us to truly listen to each other and be heard. We are all deepening our understanding of life and the interconnected web of life. One of my favorite ministers, Ric Masten, a UU poet and troubadour always told me his ministry was based on the theme “We are alone, together.” His poem, “Free Choice” speaks to me right now when I am thinking of our church community and how if affects us: “for you and I may chance to meet and having met become a part of one another if I alone cannot change I’m changed by my sister and my brother and in this larger way I change myself for aren’t we all each other?” The more we get to know each other and allow others to know us, the more we get closer to the true answer of who we are. In faith, Tony
Church communities where you feel safe have that effect on you. It is a chance to be yourself, without the facade we present to the outside world. We are accepted for who we are. We are respected for what we do. Sometimes that is 5
Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to participate in the summer music!
Events Sunday Service is at 10:30am followed by a coffee hour
Every Thursday at 1pm the Women’s Religious Studies Group meets
july
events
calendar
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Church office closed
Board Meeting, 7pm
YoU Retreat, 10am
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Flame newsletter deadline, 12pm
Summer Soul Full Thursdays begins
Private Wedding Rehearsal, 5pm
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UU & You Class, 11:45am
Religious Services Meeting, 6:30pm
Soul Full Thursdays Continue
Every Sunday at 11:45am the Spirit and Mindfulness Group meets in the Merritt Lounge
More events at our website.
www.firstuuomaha.org
Spirit and Mindfulness Group Sundays, 11:45am
Spirit Circle
Meeting in the Merritt Lounge, this group is open to those who wish to gather in community in prayer, intentional thought, and to be mindful of those who need support. This support can heal us as a community; by naming our concerns for one another and knowing we are named by others. Royal Bush is available for more information. His email address is: chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org.
Our Midsummer Ritual will be on June 30 at 1pm on the east lawn. Because we are holding a ritual on June 30, we will not be meeting July 7. This is so we can try to celebrate Solstice a little closer to the actual date.
There is a box in the foyer for anyone to share a concern, a care or a prayer request. Thank you!
A potluck will follow the June 30 event in the Common Room.
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General Assembly 2013 Photo from GA by Shawna Foster
General Assembly is the annual revival, conference, and celebration of Unitarian Universalism. This year it was in Louisville, Kentucky and began June 19 and ended June 23. This meeting features voting on many important issues, including on the selection of the next Moderator. The Moderator convenes the national board meetings and General Assembly every year. There are also fabulous worship services with thousands of people and a vast exhibit hall catering to Unitarian Universalists, selling chalice swag, debuting new books on spirituality, and introducing new social justice projects.
Sunday School Teachers Needed The K-5th Sunday morning class needs teachers and assistants for July and August. Of immediate note: if you are in town July 7th we need coverage this holiday weekend. Please share your teaching skills. Curriculum packets will be provided to you in advance and you may propose your own topic related to care for our earth. Sign up online or contact Donna at cy-re@firstuuomaha.org.
Next year's General Assembly will be in Providence, Rhode Island. Talk to Shawna Foster, who went to GA this year, to learn more about this exciting event!
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history
ROMAN HRUSKA, MEMBER OF FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF OMAHA
Senator Roman Hruska August 16, 1906April 25, 1999
The Noblest Roman of Them All A search of the membership rolls of First Unitarian Church reveals the names of several local and national figures. One of the most prominent is United States Senator Roman Hruska. As we approach the anniversary of his birth it is a good time to take a look at his long and distinguished career in public service. Church records show he and his wife Victoria joined First Unitarian in 1935. Roman served on the Board of Trustees for several terms. He held the offices of secretary and treasurer during those years. The board minutes from that era reveal a man who was very active in church affairs. He was particularly interested in church finance and religious education.
Knowing the Senator’s conservative views and his long affiliation with the Republican party, it may seem odd to some that he chose a liberal faith, long associated with progressive causes. However, it is really not that odd when one looks at his often independent stances on issues. He was certainly a fiscal conservative and proud of being a “watchdog of the taxpayers’ dollars.” But on many social issues he was often a bit of a maverick. For example, he was one of only 27 Republicans who voted for the 1964 Civil Rights Act despite Party Leader Barry Goldwater’s opposition to the Act. He entered the national arena when he successfully won the 2nd Congressional District seat in 8
1954, succeeding Howard Buffett, father of Warren Buffett. In 1956 he successfully ran for the senate seat vacated by the death of Hugh Butler and held that office until 1976. Hruska became an influential member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Though Congress was controlled by Democrats for his entire time in the Senate, he was known as a skillful legislator and was said to have influenced much of the federal criminal justice system's changes during his era. Unfortunately, part of his legacy is his penchant for malaprops and gaffes. Hruska is best remembered in American political history for a 1970 speech he made to the Senate urging them to confirm the nomination of
By Dave Richardson 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.
G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. Responding to criticism that Carswell had been a mediocre judge, Hruska claimed that: "Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos." The highlight of the annual Omaha Press Club Balls in the late 60s and early 70s was World Herald columnist Robert McMorris’ “spot-on” impression of the ipsum Senator. One lorem dolor metparticular set quam “show-stopper” skit was an nunc parum imagined conversation/ confrontation between the then young radical state senator Ernie Chambers and Senator Hruska. Unlike some, Hruska was reputed
to be a “good sport” about the satirical jibes. Hruska moved back to Omaha in 1976 and lived there until his death. He spent many of his retirement years at his second home on the Platte River at Sokol Camp near Valley, Nebraska. He died on April 25, 1999. Reverend Dick Benner of First Unitarian officiated at the Senator’s memorial service. The Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse in Omaha is named in his honor.
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SENATOR ROMAN HRUSKA
Know Any Good Babysitters? The church office is building a list of potential childcare providers for church events. Pay is $10/hour. Teens must have completed a Red Cross course on childcare (or equivalent). Adults must be well known to the RE Team and/or complete an interview and background check. Parents willing to occasionally serve as paid childcare workers are especially welcomed. Please contact the church office to register or for more information.
The Judy Lecture Follow-up
The Judy Lecture by Rev. Christine Robinson was shown as a video on June 9 after church in the Common Room to an enthusiastic group of our members and it provoked lively discussion about the future of this church and
ideas for radical change as well as more practical, immediate changes to bring First Unitarian Church into this century. We will be showing it again in the fall, so if you haven’t seen it, or would like to see it again, you will have an opportunity. Rev. Robinson does a remarkable job of weaving cultural changes that have affected how we view religion and spirituality, and what we need to do to stay within our values without getting stuck in older, unsuccessful models. It is good stuff! Tony Host, our church president, was the moderator of the discussion and the Membership Team hosted the video and the light lunch. Stay tuned for the next viewing. — Jackie Anderegg
Join the Sarah Joslyn Society—No Lawyer Needed By Megan Gustafson
Most of the information that goes out about the Sarah Joslyn Society for planned giving to the church mentions seeing your lawyer to have the church written into your will. Even early in my association with the Church, I wanted to make a commitment to its future. At the time, I thought I was far too young and too poor to need a lawyer. So, when I joined the SJS, my “will” was one of those quickie internet fill-in-the-blank things. It was filed with no one but my parents, who would get the onerous task of cleaning out my apartment if I got hit by the proverbial beer truck (much more fun than the bus!). Well, my life has gotten quite a bit more complicated since then, and my spouse and I are shopping for a lawyer to do some official estate planning. We’re dragging our feet a little because it’s a big step. But in the mean time, I have found ways to make my final gift to the Church a little more formal without the advice of counsel.
of life insurance at no cost to the employee. You can designate the Church as a beneficiary for that policy. If some portion of that policy benefit is paid directly to the Church, your loved ones don’t have to pay taxes on that money before they turn around to make a donation to the Church in your memory.
Young Adult Group News
What about your 401k plan? You can designate the Church as a beneficiary on that, too. It’s as simple as calling the Church office to get the Tax ID number, and filling out a form.
Please meet in the church
First Unitarian has given so much to my life (if you’ve never heard the story, ask me some time how I met my husband!) that I want to be sure I do my part to make sure the Church is there for others in the future. No amount is too small to make a significant difference. Please consider joining the members of the Sarah Joslyn Society who have already committed to making a final gift to the Church.
Does your company provide life insurance for you? Many work places do carry a limited amount 10
The Young Adult Game Night will not take place in July. Instead we will have informal Jazz on the Green social gatherings. All ages welcome. parking lot at 6:45pm if you want to head over and scope out a spot as a group. Every Thursday July 11 through August 15. Bring chairs, blankets, snacks, dogs. This information is subject to change so please check the church Facebook group close to the date for updates.
Leadership—the Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men… by Barb Herring In 2010, I accepted a three-year leadership position at my church—I know, some of you are saying, “Silly person!” I was at a place in my life where I had more “free” time available. I wanted to give back to my congregation a fraction of what I had received from them over the years. It was an exciting time in our congregation—we were implementing a new governance system designed to clarify and streamline the duties of the church leadership and empower our lay-leadership. As a congregation we seemed to be on the cusp of great things. I was filed with excitement and anticipation for the next few years. We were laying a foundation for a more vibrant and growing congregation. The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men… During my board tenure, chaos seemed to reign. A long-time staff member, two presidents, an additional three board members, our settled minister, many long-time volunteers (who were instrumental in keeping the day-to-day church operation), and several congregants all resigned. I witnessed good and poor behavior—behavior that ran the gauntlet of confusion, hurt, anger, sadness, frustration, hope, bridge-building, and cautious happiness. Through all turmoil and pain, church leadership (volunteers and elected officials) plugged on. They reached across dividing lines to those who were hurting. They kept their eyes on the ball. Even while being under attack from various groups in the church, they saw a future when the church would be whole again. These leaders, even the ones who themselves had been hurt or disillusioned, stepped up to the plate. Over and over again, with little or no recognition, they carried the church on their shoulders. The leaders have brought the congregation through the turmoil to a place of hopefulness and caring. Renewed vibrancy abounds in our congregation—one that I haven’t felt for many years. Today there is a palpable feeling of excitement for our church’s future. To all the leaders who worked beside me along the way—what a difference you have made. Our best laid plans did not go as we had anticipated. But you have built a strong foundation for a more vibrant and growing congregation. Thank you. 11
The Horns after they signed the membership book.
Interested in becoming a member of First Unitarian Church? Our UU & You Class which is an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and to the church is meeting on Sunday, July 21 and is a good starting point for anyone considering membership. Contact uuclass@firstuuomaha.org for details or call the church office at 402-345-3039.
Our District Attendees! More info in our President’s May Letter on Page 4.
New Member News—Part 1 When Anita and Brian Horn first visited our church, they were already familiar with Unitarian Universalism and knew that it welcomes people with diverse beliefs. It was a good fit. Anita is a theist and Brian is an atheist. They found First Unitarian to be a warm, welcoming and friendly community and they became members on March 31, 2013. Anita is an Omaha native and Brian grew up in the semi-rural hills of Council Bluffs. They have been married for 31 years and say that family, both nuclear and extended, are very important to them. They have a son, Justin, a two-year-old granddaughter, Penelope, and they share their home with two cats. While the majority of her experience has been in human relations, Anita currently works as a clinical trainer for the Electronic Health Record at Alegent Creighton Health. Brian is employed as a systems administrator although he is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. Anita describes herself as an eternal optimist who loves all types of music and enjoys crafting, quilting and photography when she has the time. She likes sports of all types, especially Husker football and Creighton soccer. Brian includes bacon among his hobbies, enjoys French/Italian/ espresso roast coffee, likes his music loud, and firmly believes that Costco rules! (Hey, I just report this stuff!) Both Anita and Brian love cruising the open road on their Suzuki C50T motorcycle.
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Women’s Religious Studies Group
Peggy Pidgeon at a New Member Dinner in April with church member, Jaime Alexander.
New Member News—Part 2 Peggy Pidgeon became a member on April 7, 2013. She found First Unitarian to be “an assembly of loving persons” not “a church of laws and rules based upon an antiquated book of literature.” She joined because she wanted to do more than attend. She wanted to contribute and be involved. Peggy enjoys being a part of our earthcentered Spirit Circle, looks forward to joining the Tolerant Atheists Discussion Group, and plans to volunteer for the Heartland Pride event. Peggy was born in Tyler, Texas, but lived in St. Louis for 15 years before arriving in the Omaha area in 1983. She is employed as a fitness instructor at the Council Bluffs Senior Center. She and her husband Jim have three sons: David (26), Nick (24), and Daniel (21). Peggy is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, a non-profit organization dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. She attends the Society’s book clubs and annual general meeting and loves English Country Dance. Peggy tells me that she is passionate about the erosion of women’s rights in the United States and the mistreatment of women and girls in other cultures. Please welcome Brian, Anita and Peggy to membership.
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The Women’s Religious Studies Group is an Adult R.E. Program Group. We are a closely connected women’s group exploring world religions through scriptural writing, prophets, myths and mysteries. We hope that our spiritual growth will incorporate the best ideas presented in the different religions of the world. We are currently reading the Gospel of Thomas. This is an early Christian writing left out of the Bible. Come join us! We meet every Thursday at 1pm in the Merritt Lounge.
FAQ: Do I have to attend each month? No, you do not. Is there a cost? No, there is not. Is there childcare? If you need child care, please contact Royal.
YoU RETREAT
What should I wear? Comfortable clothing. What are the dates? Check the First UU Calendar; dates are posted there. What time? Classes will most always be 10am-12pm. For more information please call Royal at 402-575-7006 or email him at chaplainroyal@inclusivelife.org.
July 13 10am to 12pm Common Room July’s presenter is art teacher, mother, and artist Weenoah Miller. We will have a welcoming ritual and greeting. Then group practice of being in quiet. This will be followed by a therapeutic group activity and group practice of meditation. Each person will have the opportunity to share five words about the time spent. Then we will have a closing ritual and a goodbye. Sorry, but there is no room for computers, pagers, cell phones, ipads or other similar devices.
Peace and quiet seem out of place in our current culture and society. We will mute noises to hear. Close eyes to see. Still minds to be nourished. We will share time and space to be present with each other.
The retreat is free! You can attend as needed— there is no commitment to come each month.
Scholarships Awarded! The Women’s Alliance is pleased to award this year’s Merritt Scholarships to Emily Burnside and Jay Haskins. Both recipients are active participants at Second Unitarian Church. Emily and Jay are graduates of Millard North High School. Emily is planning to attend UNO, and although she hasn’t decided on a major, she is interested in international studies, marketing, graphic design, and linguistics. Jay plans to attend UNO, also, and wants to major in civil or mechanical engineering, enjoying both math and physics because they challenge him. Congratulations to Emily and Jay, and we wish them every success in their college careers! 14
First Unitarian Leaders
Tony Host Board President
Frank Rivas Minister
Pat Allender Choir Accompanist
Dean Christensen, Lana Hammel, Louise Jeffrey, Stephen Meister, Lynette Ryder, John Wagner, Ron Withem Board Members
Catharine Dixon Office Administrator
Mary Marion Nursery Aide
Pat Will Organist
Bobby Medrano Custodian
Tim Duggan (2013) Steve Hutchinson (2014) Sandy Host (2015) Trustees of the Capital Trust
Bob McMeen Choir Director
Ronald Knapp Minister Emeritus
Facebook and First Unitarian Church of Omaha Have you joined our church Facebook group? If not, you should. Receive up-to-date church news, find out what is being planned, and how to get involved. Start conversations, join in discussions, share photos and post your favorite UU articles and information. Learn more about the church! Go to: https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/77808136080/ and then ask to join the group. Or search First Unitarian Church of Omaha and ask to join our group. Questions? Contact the church office.
MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS Crystal DiGiorgi Adult RE
The Flame Submissions Deadline is the 15th of every month. Word limit 200. Editor: Catharine Dixon Proofreaders: Scott Kemper, Lana Hammel, Cyndi Nather Mailing Team: Anne Massoud, Evelyn Whitehill, Howard Bolton, Shelton Hendricks Board Meetings Held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month and are open to all members. Contact FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF OMAHA 3114 HARNEY STREET OMAHA 68131 TEL: 402.345.3039 FAX: 402.346.2662 www.firstuuomaha.org
Louise Jeffrey Community Meals
Alex Nather Governance
Jaime Alexander New UUs Class
Nadine Keith, Judith Wright Fellowship
Jackie Anderegg Membership
Mary Bort Women’s Alliance
Walt Jesteadt Finance
Janet West Partner Church
Maria Wilson Young Adult Group
Douglas Lee-Regier Caring
Donna Neff, Kathi Oliver Fundraising
Donna Neff, Kate Wiig Religious Education
Ben Wallace Shawne Coonfare YRUU (Youth Group)
Kay Lynn Goldner Chalice Guild
Sharon Conlon Garden
Megan Gustafson Religious Services
Dave Richardson Archives Dave Rosser Facilities
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Summer Soul Full Thursdays Start July 18
July 18 - August 22 Soul Full Thursday Join us for a brown bag dinner at 6pm in the Common Room and then a video lecture beginning at 7pm every Thursday from July 18 until August 22. RSVPs are required. Childcare is available upon request. Contact Crystal at adultre@firstuuomaha.org today. See page 4 for more details.
The Flame
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF OMAHA 3114 HARNEY STREET OMAHA NE 68131