First Unitarian Weekly News
    February 4, 2010

Imagine a religion where all are welcome

ANNOUNCMENTS

• February 7th is Bring a Friend to Church Sunday
Do you have a friend or relative that you just know would enjoy all that our church has to offer?  Someone who would enjoy our community and find merit in our principles?  Most of us do.  Let’s all make a special effort on February 7th to introduce someone new to First Unitarian.  The sermon is planned, the choir will sing, and the cake has been ordered.  Now you just have to issue the invitation.

•  JOB OPENING FOR CUSTODIAN — We are in the process of finding a new custodian.  The job is nearly half-time, has a good deal of flexibility as to when the work is put in, and gives additional opportunities for income as an event host.  We are looking for someone reliable, diligent, and able to work alone.  It would fit in well for someone looking for a second job, or a part-time job for those with home or academic responsibilities.  Here is a more complete Job Description or look for the posting in the Common Room on the Help Wanted bulletin board.  We prefer to hire someone with institutional cleaning experience, free to work weekend hours, who is not a church member.  Work References required. Email resume and references to firstunitarianomahasearch@gmail.com.

• The First UU Morning Risers are in need of a drummer/percussionist and a guitar player.
Want to share your talent or know someone who does? Contact Donovan Johnson.

• The Creative Art Night will now be held once a month on the second Sunday of the month at 7:00 P.M. in the Common Room. The next Creative Art Night is Sunday, February 14.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

•   Bring a Friend to Church. Share your church with a friend this Sunday, February 7.  Take a tip from Jeff Foxworthy (“You might be a redneck”) and invite someone you think may have what it takes to be a happy Unitarian.  For example, “If you have trouble singing hymns because you are too busy reading ahead to see if you agree with the words, YOU MIGHT BE A UNITARIAN!”  For more Foxworthy-like information about who might fit our Unitarian profile, take a look at A Unitarian Universalist Joke.

•   Valentine Cards. Be sure to stop in the Common Room this Sunday during coffee hour and add a personal greeting to a Valentine card for some of our long-time or distant church members. We have many members who are unable to join us on Sunday mornings and would enjoy hearing from other First Unitarians. Cards and addresses will be provided.

•  Try out free garage parking THIS Sunday!  Here’s the drill:  Use any entrance to get in.  Punch the button and take the ticket.  Use only one exit to get out—on Farnam St. (north-side, middle-level, only one with an attendant.)  Give him/her your ticket.  3 hours are free.  If you’re at church more than 3 hours, run your ticket through the machine in the Merritt Lounge for free parking or pay $1/hour    

• Keep Informed About the Upcoming Changes in Church Organization
Your Board of Trustees has been working on important changes in the way that the church goes about getting its work done.  You can learn more by reviewing information on our web site.

Governance Task Force Web Page:  Basic Information about the project

Congregational Reports:  Historical Compilation of the monthly Flame articles

Affirmed Policies:  The policies that the Board has affirmed so far.

• HAITI RELIEF. First Unitarian Church raised over $3,000 dollars for the UUSC/UUA Joint Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. The fund has raised almost $450,000! From UUSC.org: Thank you to all of you who have already given to help UUSC respond to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Your donation is restricted to the UUSC/UUA Joint Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. UUSC sends $0.92 of every dollar you donate to support relief and recovery efforts on the ground. Contributions towards Haiti relief are deductible for 2009 taxes. Also, AMEX will be waiving transaction fees for credit card donations until February 28, 2010 to UUSC and other InterAction members that are participating in the Haiti earthquake relief effort. Thank you. For more information.

•   Share-the-plate.  This month’s Share-the-Plate collection goes to Kiva, a microfinancing aid organization. Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Visit their website www.kiva.org for more information. In the 19th Century, the paramount moral challenge was slavery. In the 20th century, it was totalitarianism. In this century, it is the brutality inflicted on so many women and girls around the globe: sex trafficking, acid attacks, bride burnings and mass rape." - Half the Sky by Kristof and WuDunn. This book was the selection for January's book club and this month's share-the-plate recipient, Kiva.org, was inspired by this book. Want to know how First Unitarian Church is working with women here and around the globe? Contact socialjustice@firstuuomaha.org.

SUNDAY – February 7

•   February 7 —Sunday Services: 9:30 A.M.:  Eclectic Service;  11:15 A.M.:  Traditional Service
Spiritual but Not Religious? - Rev.  Kate Rohde

•  Bring a Friend to Church Sunday.
Do you have a friend or relative that you just know would enjoy all that our church has to offer?  Someone who would enjoy our community and find merit in our principles?  Most of us do.  Let’s all make a special effort on February 7th to introduce someone new to First Unitarian.  The sermon is planned, the choir will sing, and the cake has been ordered.  Now you just have to issue the invitation.

• Sundays in February.  It’s a class for ALL ages. 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
Experienced through stories and activity centers
Let’s Learn About Judaism
What are the basic beliefs of Judaism?
What are the different ways to practice Judaism on a daily basis?
What are the holidays of Judaism?
What do Jews and UUs have in common?
NOTE: Children and adults in the All Ages class begin the morning at 9:30 in the Common Room. There is NO Story for All Ages during the early service.

•  Green Sanctuary Committee Meeting — 12:30 P.M.  —  Whitney Young Room
 
•  Nominating Committee Meeting — 12:45 P.M. — Merritt Lounge

NEXT WEEK

•  February 8 —  Women’s Alliance — 6:30 P.M. — Common Room
Neal Ratzlaff and Roland Barth will share stories about their experiences identifying/photographing plants within Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods and their new book, "A Field Guide to Trees, Shrubs, Woody Vines, Grasses, Sedges and Rushes."   Enjoy a catered Italian dinner ($10) including vegetarian fare.  Make a reservation with Janet West.  Newcomers are guests.

•  February 9  — Board Meeting  — 7:00 P.M. — Common Room

•   February 10 — Choir Rehearsal — 7:00 P.M. — Sanctuary

•   February 10 — YRUU Meeting — 7:00 P.M.

•   February 11 — GTF Meeting — 12:00 P.M. — Whitney Young Room

•   February 11— Women’s Religious Studies Group — 1:00 P.M. — Merritt Lounge

•   February 11 — Soul Full Thursday Continues

•  February 13  —  “Not Just for Couples” Valentine Party — 6:30-9:30 P.M.  — Common Room
Gourmet Popcorn, Elegant Desserts, Champagne, non-alcoholic libations.  Musical Entertainment provided by Tom and Beverly Fleckten and Laura Wilwerding performing “Songs of Love: Lost, Found, Endearing, Enduring.”   Individual tickets $5 (waived if you register in advance to bring a dessert). Family Max $15.  Dessert registration and advance tickets at Coffee Hour after church or contact Dixie Lemon.  You must make childcare reservations in advance. Deadline for childcare registration is February 10.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

•   February 14 —Sunday Services: 9:30 A.M.:  Eclectic Service;  11:15 A.M.:  Traditional Service
Standing on the Side of Love - Rev. Kate Rohde

•   February 14 — Lover’s Lunch & Skit — 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. — Common Room
Enjoy endless love and soup for only $5. There will two kinds of soup, bread and desserts (vegetarian options). Catered by Alex Nather and Michael Jones. Drinks will be available for purchase. Your parents, friends, kids – all welcome!  This is a fundraiser for the Teen Youth Group to go to GA and 10% of the funds raised will go to First Unitarian’s Financial Aid Account.

•   February 14 — UU & You — 12:30 P.M. — Whitney Young Room
New to First Unitarian Church? Wondering how things work? Want to know how to find information on programs, services and activities? Interested in joining the choir, book club or Women’s Alliance?  We’ll provide a light lunch and information about the church and our programs and activities. Please RSVP by calling the church office at 345-3039. Childcare is available upon request.

•   February 14 — Creative/Art Night —7:00 P.M — Whitney Young Room
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. The Creative/Art Night is held once a month, on the second Sunday of the month.

•   February 14 —7:00 P.M. — Omaha Unitarian Universalists for Tolerance (OUUT) Movie — 7:00 P.M. — Common Room

•  February 15 — The Flame Deadline

• February 16 — Membership Meeting — 6:30 P.M. — Merritt Lounge

• February 22 — First Unitarian Book Club — 7:00 P.M. — Merritt Lounge
The Book Club selection for February is Jay Parini's Promised Land. The book discusses what Parini feels are the thirteen most significant and influential books about America.
 

FIRST UNITARIAN BLOGS & RELATED WEB SITES

You're invited to read or join in our online conversations:

Social Justice Committee Blog
Omaha Unitarian Universalists for Tolerance (OUUT) Blog
Omaha Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (OCUUPs) Web Site
 

GENERAL INFORMATION AND DEADLINES

Office Hours:  Mondays-Fridays,  9 a.m. - 12 noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 

For information on parking, please visit our Parking Information page.

For information on our various publications deadlines, please visit our General Information page.

Updated Feb 5, 2010 gae