Imagine a religion where people with different beliefs worship as one faith.

ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the First Unitarian Church of Omaha will convene immediately following the regular Sunday worship service on May 18, 2008.  The business to be conducted includes the approval of the budget for the 2008-2009 church year, the election of members to serve as President Elect, on the Board of Trustees, the Nominating Committee, and the Capital Trust, and presentations of annual reports.  A highlight of this meeting is the presentation of the Unitarian of the Year award.

Congregational meetings are called and conducted based on the provisions of the church bylaws.  The bylaws and our other governing documents are available on the church website at http://www.firstuuomaha.org/files/board_of_trustees.html or by contacting the church office.


SECOND SERVICE SURVEY

The Second Service Committee would like to have your input.  Adding a service will give us an opportunity to offer more choices to all those who want to worship with us.  A survey about our services was mailed out this week.  This survey is to ascertain from you the extent to which you would like some other choices.  Even if you are totally happy with things as they are, please fill out the survey to let us know.

If you are able, please take the survey online.  This will help us sort through the responses.  This survey is available at http://www.firstuuomaha.org/survey.html.


WAYS YOU CAN HELP

• The SPLIT THE PLATE BENEFICIARY during the month of May is the UUSC-UUA CYCLONE NARGIS RELIEF FUND.  The dollar bills in the offering plate are split each month between First Unitarian's general fund and an organization picked by the Social Justice Committee.  This program is called "Split the Plate".  (Undesignated checks go to the general fund, pledges and designated money goes where it's supposed to go, and change goes to Social Justice projects for the youth).  During the month of May, Social Justice is responding to the crisis caused by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar by donating to the UUSC-UUA Cyclone Nargis Relief Fund. Find out more information on UUSC's website: http://www.uusc.org/info/support_cyclonenargis.html.

• The APRIL SPLIT THE PLATE total was $182 dollars, and was donated to the HIKE TO HELP THE REFUGEES. Learn more about them at http://www.hiketohelprefugees.org/.

• Join a Walk Team for the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
On June 21st, “NAMIWalks for the Mind of America” will hold a Walk in Elmwood Park.  Please visit the table in the Common Room for the next few Sundays to learn more and to join a Walk team.  In the next few weeks, we will have a meeting to come up with a team logo for our t-shirts.  NAMIWalks is a nationwide fundraising and mental health awareness program that is being held this year in more than 70 communities around the country, including Omaha.  It is expected that these walks will raise approximately 8 million dollars in 2008 for NAMI and the mental health services it provides to thousands of families across the country.  Find out more: http://www.nami.org/namiwalks, then click on the State of Nebraska.

• Habitat Volunteers!
Ready to work on a house this summer for the multi-faith coalition?  Want to help with the Habitat effort at 4519 Nebraska, but unsure how you could help?  There are many ways you could help this year - not just building on the house.  Contact Shawna Thompson and find out what the plans are for the house and how you can help build a home for a single mother of three.  Get in the know and get ready to build! 

• Unitarian HabiTour!
Interested in Habitat?  Let's go on a HabitTour!  June 18, 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.  Come join us in an interactive fun way.  HabiTours are on Wednesdays, June 18, July 16, August 20, and September 17th, from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.  Lunch is included.  I'm organizing a group from our church to go on June 18th, so contact me by May 30th if you want to go!  To sign up, contact Shawna Thompson.

• Annual Paint-A-Thon
It's not too early to start thinking about the annual Paint-A-Thon coming up this summer.  Is anyone willing and able to be the coordinator of this event?  It's a rewarding experience to help those who, because of age, illness or disability, cannot paint their homes and do not have the money to pay someone.  In spite of heat, rain, and minor repairs, it's always a fun time!  In addition to painters, volunteers are needed to provide food and drinks.  It's usually held the third weekend in August.  We usually scrape and prime on Friday and paint on Saturday.  You can work just part of the time if you cannot commit to both days.  If you can coordinate this worthwhile event, call or e-mail Melissa Konecky.

• Nebraska Brass Concert Volunteers
The next Nebraska Brass concert in Omaha will be at the First Unitarian Church on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.  The Nebraska Brass, a nonprofit performing arts group, relies on the generosity of its volunteers to make the concerts a success.  We typically need 2-4 people to help with selling tickets and handing out programs.  Also, the Nebraska Brass likes to have a reception during intermission, and we are hoping to get volunteers to keep the goodies table full during this break.  We would welcome any individuals or groups who would be willing to volunteer at this concert.  All volunteers will receive free admission to the concert, and can be acknowledged in the program.  Please contact the Nebraska Brass for more information at nb@artsincorporated.org or (402) 477-7899. 

• Your Help Needed at the Camp Star Trail Meeting
From Nancy Heege: I hope you will consider attending the planning weekend for Camp StarTrail, August 8–10, at Carol Joy Holling camp in Ashland, Nebraska.  We have the camp reserved for 2009, a preliminary schedule and budget outlined, and a small group of hardy, committed people.  Now we need you!
        •    With your good ideas
        •    With your commitment to encouraging members of your congregation to attend the camp in 2009
        •    With your thoughts about people we could engage for programming for music, for the arts, for children, youth, and adults
        •    With your energy and enthusiasm
        •    Did I mention your good ideas??
Registration form here: http://www.psduua.org/Camps/CampStarTrail.  Registration ends July 1.  If you can't be at the weekend but would like to share your ideas with me before then, please email or call.
Nancy Heege, nheege@psduua.org, 612-230-3273.


SUNDAY – May 18

• 11:00 A.M. — Service — New Member Recognition, Religious Education Recognition

• 12:00 P.M. — 139th ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING — Sanctuary
Please plan on attending the congregational meeting after this Sunday's Service.  We need a quorum of 20% to pass our budget and elect officers for 2008-2009.  At the meeting you will also receive a copy of our 2007-08 Annual Report which will include financial, historical, Presidential, Ministerial, and committee reports.  The meeting will likely not be lengthy. 

• 7:00 P.M. — Creative/Art Night — Lower Level Classroom
Need a little quiet time to feed your creative impulse?  Bring your passion — writing, painting, journaling, quilting, drawing, etc., and simply work without interruption.  Questions? Contact Kate Godfrey.


NEXT WEEK

• May 20 — Gathering at Goldbergs – Third Tuesday — 8:00 PM
On the third Tuesday of each month, many of your fellow UUs meet at Goldberg's bar & grill (50th & Dodge) for dinner, dessert, or just conversation.  It's fun and all are welcome.  We hope you will join us.  No reservations are needed, just show up.

• May 21 — Choir Practice — 7:00 P.M. — Sanctuary
Can you spend 1 1/2 hours on Wednesday evenings with a great group of people?  If yes, please join the choir.  There is no audition, just speak with the choir director, Bob McMeen.

• May 22 — Women's Bible Study — 1:00 P.M. — Merritt Lounge
Contact Cheryll Wallace for more information.

• May 22 — Last Soul-Full Thursday Session — 4:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.
Our six-week program consisting of classes, a meal, and meditation concludes tonight.  Activities for children from birth through 6th grade will also be offered during the entire program.  Youth in 7th-12th grades are encouraged and heartily welcome to participate in the scheduled classes with the adults.  For information on the individual classes please visit http://www.firstuuomaha.org/files/Soul-FullThursdays.html  
Reservations are required for meal and class attendance.  If you did not make a reservation and find that you will be able to attend one of the six scheduled nights, please call the church office to see if a meal and/or space in the classes of your choice is available. 

• May 24 — Craft Closet Cleaning
Many mysterious and delightful things await you in the craft closet, and due to the explosive nature of the closet, no children under five can attend this delightful, fun, and wee bit dangerous craft closet cleaning. Are you brave enough to sift through years of crafts and be rewarded with rare treasure? Contact Shawna Thompson and volunteer for either 9:00-12:00 shift on Saturday or 12:00-3:00. Breakfast and lunch provided.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

• May 25 — 11:00 A.M. — Sunday Service

• May 30 – June 1 — UU Consultant to Visit First Unitarian Church
We have hired the services of consultant Dan Hotchkiss of the Alban Institute.  His visit is a key element in our attempt to assess our governance and our program and leadership structure.  We hope that everyone will get an opportunity to meet him.  On Friday, May 30th, he will meet with staff and committee heads, and on Saturday, he will meet with the Board of Trustees in the Common Room.  Dan will be at the Sunday Service on June 1st to meet the congregation.  Please try to attend to give input.  His main task during this visit is to gather information from which he will make a report for us.

• June 1 — Annual Flower Ceremony
This year instead of bringing a cut flower, as we have in the past, PLEASE BRING A SMALL PLANT OR PLANT CUTTING of some kind.  Bring your plant in a pot you don't want back or with the root ball in a plastic baggie secured with a fastener so that the dirt and roots will be protected until it can be re-planted.  For those of you not familiar with this ceremony, you are asked to bring a plant cutting to the service.  The cuttings will be placed on a table in the front of the sanctuary at the beginning of the service.  At the end, participants will have the opportunity to choose a cutting to take home with them to re-plant.  This service is a symbol of the ways in which we grow together as a congregation and as members of the world community involved in the growth of peace and justice for all.

• June 2 — UU Book Club to Read HLS Speaker's Book — 7:00 P.M. — Merritt Lounge
Our May selection is STATECRAFT and How to Restore America's Standing in the World, by Dennis Ross.  Ambassador Ross served as Middle East envoy and chief Peace Negotiator for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.  We will meet on Monday, June 2nd, to discuss the book.  This should serve as good preparation for Ambassador Ross' Holland Lecture on Wednesday, June 4th, at the UNO Scott Center.   

• June 4 — Holland Lecture Series — 7:30 P.M. — UNO Scott Conference Center
This season's lecture will be given by Ambassador Dennis Ross.

• June 18 — Habitat for Humanity Habitour — 11:30-1:00 P.M.

• June 24–28 — COMING THIS SUMMER: 1st Annual Web Trekkers UU Church Camp

Children, grades K-6^th, will explore the natural world in a new way!

Activities Include: Natural Art Projects, Hiking Trails, Gardening, Natural Cooking, & Stargazing.

Fieldtrips to: Desoto National Wildlife Refuge (Wednesday) and Fontenelle Forest (Thursday)

 

We will end the week with a sleep-over at First Unitarian Church on Friday night and a program followed by a brunch reception for parents on Saturday morning!

Camp will be located at First Unitarian Church at 3114 Harney St.  This camp is for children entering K-6 grade in the Fall of 2008.  Camp hours will be Tues-Thurs, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.; and Fri. Noon – Sat. Noon.  Saturday’s program will begin at 10:00 A.M.  Children will need to bring a sack lunch Tuesday-Friday.  Snacks, Friday dinner, and Saturday breakfast will be provided.  Questions?  Contact Cheryll Wallace.

Sponsored by:  First & Second Unitarian Churches of Omaha

 

GREEN SANCTUARY / ENVIRONMENT

 

● Please visit the Social Justice/Green Sanctuary web page.