• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

• The right of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition we share draws from many sources:

 

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life

• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront the powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love

• Wisdom from the world's religion which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life

• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves

• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us again idolatries of the mind and spirit

• Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. 

 

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Mission 

 

  Fostering the Whole Person, Compassion, and Justice

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Vision

 

  An inclusive Community that Listens, Engages, Inspires, and Acts

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Covenant

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  We covenant to:

• Listen to understand and grow

• Seek and value all voices

• Model respect and kindness

• Assume good intentions

• Resolve conflicts directly and compassionately

• Contribute time, talent, treasure

• Respect people’s time

• Celebrate, support, appreciate

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First Unitarian Church of Omaha Annual Vision of Ministry for 2023:

 

1 - A People of Purpose:  We undertake mutual listening in the congregation, and ground ourselves in the enduring qualities of Unitarian Universalism. In the process, we gain greater clarity of purpose and identity, define a lane that is uniquely relevant, and develop a shared vision for the church’s future. Along with establishing this foundation for a thriving church, we attend to meeting the needs of families and young adults, intentionally build our multicultural skills, undertake concrete efforts for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and experiment with new ways of reaching out. The result:  new members are attracted to our vibrant, relevant, mission-driven community; lapsed members may be inspired to re-engage too; and all in our community whole-heartedly share their time, talent and treasure in support of our life-transforming work.

 

2 - A Living Building:  The church is a vibrant place where participants old and new can connect with each other and with the pulse of life.  Art and music enrich our shared life here, with diverse offerings – from the organ and choir, to guest musicians and diverse, contemporary repertoire – guided by an overall music director. Building maintenance, including steeple restoration, continue apace. We move toward the future with consideration for flexible use of our building, appropriate technology, and ways to green our church home. Community activities resurge, with opportunities to meet a variety of social and safety needs. As roles and teams shift to meet the lives of today’s participants, people are enriched through their volunteering.

 

3 - Spiritual Deepening:  Drawing upon diverse Sources of inspiration in our free and pluralistic faith, the church offers a variety of opportunities for spiritual deepening. Both on our campus and beyond, classes, spiritual practice groups, retreats and more help people to learn, grow, mature and lead. We are grounded by connections to UUs beyond our church, and by roots in the historic soil of Unitarian Universalism. We strengthen our wings and soar toward our personal potentials, as well as toward our tradition’s evolving future.

 

4 – Ideals in Action:  We embody our values not only through the caring ministry within our congregation, but also through purposeful action for a better world, both within and beyond our church. Longstanding efforts including our Neighborhood Care program, Youth Emergency Services meal team, participation in Omaha Together One Community, our share-the-plate program, our sister church relationship with Clair Memorial, and support for local indigenous communities. We further focus on areas on which the congregation has taken a stand – including the inherent worth and rights of GLBTQ people, Green Sanctuary, Black Lives Matter, and Reproductive Health and Justice – as well as any concerns or projects that specific teams choose to undertake.

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See what's coming up on Sunday mornings here.