PRAISE & WORSHIP DIRECTORY

ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E. Rev. Jacqueline Ford, Pastor 2842 Monroe Street Omaha, NE 68107 Off: (402) 734-3399

Email: admin@allenchapelomaha.org

Sunday School...........................9:00 a.m.

Sunday Praise & Worship.....10:00 a.m.

Thursday Bible Study..............8:00 p.m. via teleconference, dial-in number 563-999-2090 and access code 576989

Pastor Albert Jonathan Wagstaff

CLAIR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“Come Get Your Hilltop Experience” Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor 5544 Ames Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104 Telephone: 402-451-8322 Website: www.cmumc.net

Email: clairumc@cumc.omhcoxmail.com

Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor Sunday School………………………8:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship Experience………...10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study….…….…….6:00 p.m.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Rev.

Rev. Morita Truman, Lead Pastor Services on Sundays at 8:30 am & 10:50 am 7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132 402.556.6262 www.fumcomaha.org

First United Methodist Church is a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired to grow with and in God.

Rev. Morita Truman

Charles Galloway - President, Rev John Deang - Pastor, Dr John Beasley - Elder

Charles Galloway - President, Rev John Deang - Pastor, Dr John Beasley - Elder

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod 2721 N. 30th Street 402-453-1583

Sunday School................................10:00 a.m. Church Service...............................11:00 a.m.

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

JOY OF LIFE MINISTRIES COGIC

Pastors Eric and Cynthia Butler

6401 N. 56th Street Omaha, NE 68104

Ph: 402-399-9628

E-Mail: Jolpastor@aol.com

Sunday Morning Worship.....10:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship.......5:00 p.m.

Wednesday Academy .............7:00 p.m.

Bible Study and Youth Ministries

Pastor Eric Butler and Co-Pastor Cynthia Butler

KING

MISSIONARY

KING SOLOMON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 3202 Evans Street Omaha, NE 68111

Ph: 402-455-0358 Fax: 402-455-0801 kingsolomonbaptist@yahoo.com kingsolomonomaha.org

Sunday School......8:45 a.m. Sunday Morning......10:00 a.m. Bible Study, Tuesdays......6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service, Wednesdays......12 noon

Journey to Tomorrow, Our Next Step Judges 18:4-6

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 2423 Grant St. Omaha, NE 68111 Ph: 402-348-0631 • Fax 402-342-4451

Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.

Reconciliation: Sunday

Rev. Michael Voithofer ABLAZE HOUSE OF PRAYER 11501 Fairview Road, Springfield, NE 68059 Ph: 402-451-6622 • Fax 402-457-6901

Contact Ablaze: email: ablazeworshipministry@gmail.com

Pastor: Rev. Michael Voithofer

Pastor Barbara Mitchell 2404 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1800 Church 402-455-3390 Fax

Pastor Barbara Mitchell

“Transformed People Everywhere” 2602 N. 24th St. - PO Box 11593 www.mtmoriahomaha.net Off: (402) 451-8800

MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Sunday Worship ..........................................10:45 a.m. Live Stream: Facebook.com/mtmoriahomaha

“Transformed People Everywhere” 2602 N. 24th St. - PO Box 11593 www.mtmoriahomaha.net

Off: (402) 451-8800 Sunday Worship ..........................................10:45 a.m. Live Stream: Facebook.com/mtmoriahomaha

Please call for Prayer and Transformation Group Bible Study Schedule

Please call for Prayer and Transformation Group Bible Study Schedule

PLEASANT GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH

“Where CHRIST is Preeminent and the Word Prevails!”

PLEASANT GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH

“Where CHRIST is Preeminent and the Word Prevails!”

Pastor Brian Page 5555 Larimore Avenue Church: 402-346-8427 www.pleasantgreenomaha.org

Pastor Brian Page 5555 Larimore Avenue Church: 402-346-8427 www.pleasantgreenomaha.org Pastor

ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

Rev. Kenneth A. Allen, Pastor 2215 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-346-1502 Fax: 402-344-2720

Rev. Kenneth A. Allen, Pastor 2215 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-346-1502 Fax: 402-344-2720 SUNDAY

Pastor Kenneth A. Allen

“Jesus is the only way to heaven because he is the only Messiah and the only true king,” says Claribel, 10.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman world. He was considered divine during his lifetime and was called the Son of God.

Before Rome ruled the world, a Greek named Alexander conquered much of the known world. On ancient coins that display Alexander the Great’s image, a ram’s horn protrudes from his head. The horns symbolize the Egyptian god Amun from whom Alexander claimed descent.

Many coins from the ancient world contain the word “soter,” which means savior. Ancient rulers proclaimed themselves as saviors of their people.

From this soup of deity claims comes Jesus, who lived in a small, backwater town where he toiled as a carpenter. His claim of deity stands in stark contrast to the power, glitz and glamour of mighty Roman emperors and Greek conquerors.

Kids Talk About God

BY CAREY KINSOLVING AND FRIENDS

With So Many Religions, How Can Jesus Be The Only Way To Heaven?

“Most if not all religions are religions of works like do this and you can go to heaven or be a good person and you can get to heaven,” says Enoch, 11.

“Christianity is different because the Bible says, ‘There is none righteous, not even one,’” (Romans 3:10).

“So God sent his son Jesus Christ to die for us (because we are sinful people) and was raised to life so that if we believe in him, we can go to heaven and be with God forever. This is why Jesus is the only way to heaven.”

Notice the contrast between Jesus and other self-proclaimed saviors. Can you imagine an ancient Roman emperor offering to die for his people? They usually asked others to die by joining the Roman legions to fight their wars to amass more riches.

Jesus’ mission and claims are unique. He didn’t come to offer a path to heaven through religious rules. Jesus said that our condition is too far gone for that. Religious efforts actually drive us further from God. We become proud of our improvements, real or imagined.

Jesus came to take the punishment we deserve by dying on the cross. The issue is life and death, not improvement.

“God’s grace always, always, always comes as a contradiction to what makes natural sense to us,” writes author Tullian Tchividjian. “When God crosses the great divide from heaven to earth, from righteousness to sinfulness, He turns the spiritual economy of our business as usual upside down—which is to say, right side up.”

Yes, the idea that eternal life is a gift to be received by faith alone in Christ alone contradicts all of our natural instincts. In this world, we usually earn our way. We impose earning upon God. We don’t realize that the gap between us and God is much greater than we imagine. We think we can reach heaven by our own efforts.

“Jesus is the only way to heaven because he is righteous and true,” says Kaira, 10. “He is not fake. He is real. You can only go through Jesus to get to God.”

Think about this: Author C.S. Lewis said that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or God. He can’t be only a good person because a good man wouldn’t falsely claim to be God.

Memorize this truth: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,’” (John 14:6).

Ask this question: Have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your only way to heaven?

Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God three times a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email

COPYRIGHT 2023 CAREY KINSOLVING

Appreciating every day and every hour

I have a good friend that is seriously ill with latestage cancer. When he was diagnosed about 2 years ago, he began to write and send a daily text thread to friends about his treatments, how he is doing, the weather, anything associated with astronomy, and a generous amount of philosophical thoughts. His personality is that of a thinker who appreciates the beauty of simple things. As I have read his thoughts and was allowed to see into his soul, it has been such a blessing and encouragement to see the good work that God has been doing in his life. He has gone through a lot more discomfort and challenges than we know. He has always been an optimistic person and now even in his difficult moments, his light of love and hope cannot be hindered. The Bible mentions in Psalm 91:1-2 about finding a secret place with God where nothing or no one can penetrate, disturb, or threaten. It is a refuge where even though the storms may be intense and the violence of spiritual warfare rages all around us; we are safe and at peace in His presence.

When he writes about sitting next to the window in his recliner covered with several layers of blankets, those

Pleasant, Russell D.

June 6, 1959 - January 27, 2023

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, February 6, 2023 at 10:30am at Salem Baptist Church, Omaha, NE INTERMENT at Omaha National Cemetery. Memorials directed to the family at GOOD SHEPHERD FUNERAL HOME-L STREET CHAPEL 4712 S. 82nd St. (402) 505-9260 www.gsfuneral.com God has the last Word

By Billy Holland

of us who are constantly on the go can hardly grasp the beauty of being still before God. When he allows us to enter into his world of simplicity with things such as watching the rabbits and squirrels running around the yard doing what they need to do to survive, we see the quiet analogy of how he is doing the same thing. He talks about the neighbor’s dogs and cats and how he imagines their daily routines or things like watching the snowflakes falling and how as a child he loved to try to catch them on his tongue. He often mentions the importance of community and how we need to care about each other and not be consumed with the fast pace of life that we forget to live. Humility, meekness, and an attitude of gratitude help prevent haughtiness from gaining control. And there is the frequent mention of the trinity as this is a reference to the awareness of God’s Spirit and the passionate desire to be in His will. To me, he is more than a survivor; he is a lighthouse. His lifestyle of sensitivity and compassionate lifestyle has always been a contrast from how the fast-paced world operates, and now that he has opened the door for us to get to know him on a more personal level, it’s the Lord that is reminding us what walking in His Spirit actually means.

It’s fascinating to realize that when we are not feeling any pain and have the energy to do whatever we want, we do not think about what it would be like to be sick. When we hear about those who discover they have a terminal disease, we are sad and say a prayer, then off we go back to our busy lives and the carousel of what we believe is important. It’s when WE receive a negative report that our merry-go-round comes to a stop. If there was ever a time in our lives to take the lantern of self-examination down the path into our soul, it would be then. When the distractions and clutter are removed we can make things right with everyone, especially God. Our perspective changes as our world is now different. Beyond the reality that God is the ultimate authority, this does not mean that we do not have the opportunity to make critical choices. We can allow the feelings of hopelessness and fear to dictate our minds and hold us in depression, or we can see the glass half full and be humble and thankful for all the blessings and good things that God has given to us throughout our lives. Instead of becoming bitter, we could invest our time into interceding for others.

My friend has always loved kayaking and admiring the beauty of God’s nature. He looks forward to going this spring and always includes at the end of his posts that he will see us creek-side. He closes the thread the same way every day by encouraging everyone to find the stillness within God’s grace. His heart sings, he is grateful, and he is always wearing his sunglasses because God’s love and mercy is shining on him so brightly.

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

Celebration of Life For Marvel Marie Welch

Marvel Marie Welch, age 80, of Goodyear, Arizona passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2022.

Marvel was born to Robert Ashby and Kerneater Thompson on May 1, 1942, i.n Des Moines, Iowa, and attended public schools there, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1960. On August 18, 1960, Marvel married Granville Welch. Eventually they became parents of two boys, Cameron E. Welch and Grant E. Welch. The family moved to Minnesota in 1973, then to Omaha for 44 years, prior to settling in Arizona in 2019.

Marvel was baptized into the Christian faith in 1967 at Union Baptist Church, Des Moines, and worshipped there as well as at Salem Baptist Church in Omaha.

After years of part-time attendance, Marvel graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree from Bellevue University, Omaha, Nebraska. She was an exceptional typist and was employed by several firms as an executive secretary. These included International Harvester Company, the State of Iowa, Pillsbury Company, Creighton University and Union Pacific Railroad. After serving five years as Affirmative Action Manager at Union Pacific, she retired in 2001.

During her retirement years, Marvel was active in civic activities in Omaha and served as president of the National Council of Negro Women-Omaha Chapter for three years. Marvel had an enduring interest in family activities and in cooking, as well as in traveling; she visited over forty of the states and especially loved Arizona, California and Florida. Day in and day out, Marvel loved listening to and dancing to Motown music. Diana Ross was her queen.

Marvel is survived by her husband, Granville E. Welch; two sons, Cameron E. Welch of Omaha and Grant E. Welch (Elaine Sallis) of Goodyear. She was blessed to have five siblings: Marvin Ashby of

Des Moines, deceased; Kevin D. Sanders of Des Moines; Kerneater R. Scott (Blake) of Des Moines; Alex Kennedy Zavier Tuigong (Shaina) of West Des Moines; and Willard Sanders Ill of Des Moines. Marvel had two granddaughters, Marleeia Welch of Tempe, AZ, and Precious Mills of Omaha; a greatgrandson, Ace Sneed; and many lovely extended family members and friends.

Marvel is predeceased by her mother, Kerneater R. Ashby of Des Moines and her father, Robert Ashby of Des Moines.

Funeral Service

January 03, 2023

Visitation: 11 :00 a.m.

Funeral Service: 12:00 p.m. Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary Rev. Cleveland Mitchell, Eulogist