New Budget Proposal
Fill out the form below. It will be sent to the church office. If you have questions or need help please email the office at admin@firstuuomaha.org. If you would like to download a PDF of this form, click here.
Outreach
Community Meals
Our church is part of Neighbors United. The main task of this organization is to provide a weekly meal on Saturdays, 11am, at First Baptist Church. In addition to regularly volunteering at this meal, three or four times a year our church cooks the meal for about 250 of our neighbors. Team Leader: Diane Withem
Midtown Helping Hands (Formerly Neighborhood Ministry)
People often come to our church needing immediate short-term assistance: groceries, gas, and transportation. Our neighborhood ministry team responds to these needs by purchasing gift cards and referring them to agencies who can help. In these times, this ministry is vital to our neighborhood. Contact the church office.
Omaha Together One Community (OTOC)-- For more info, click here.
First Unitarian participates in community organizing through OTOC. OTOC is a coalition of churches across Omaha organized by the Industrial Areas Foundation. The group democratically elects three advocacy issues to work on. Members on this team attend OTOC meetings and advocate our Unitarian Universalist faith in action. For more information, visit OTOC.org
Partner Church
Our partner church is in Firstmartanos, Transylvania. Our church raises funds to send Transylvanian children to high school. We also take trips there to deepen our faith. These team members meet bi-annually to plan these events and correspond with our partner church. Click here to see the Partner church webpage.
Social Justice Team
This team organizes our Pride Parade participation and booth at Pride events. This team is in transition and plans to become more active. Leader: Peg Pidgeon at sjconnect@firstuuomaha.org
Wakonda Elementary School Tutoring
First Unitarian is looking for volunteers to tutor at Wakonda Elementary School. The time slot is 2:00-3:05pm, Monday-Friday. If you are interested in participating for one or more days a week, please contact Mark Loscutoff (mark.loscutoff@gmail.com).
Youth Emergency Services (YES) Meals
Youth Emergency Services (YES) program has several components. Street Outreach, Maternity Home, and Transitional Housing. Our efforts are focused on the Street Outreach. Omaha has approximately 300 youth, aged 12-22, who are homeless each night. The Street Outreach program has physical and mental health services, food and clothing pantries available. They (and this is where we come in) provide a warm meal for 50-75 kids each weeknight. The Outreach center has no facilities for cooking, so meals must be prepared offsite and delivered. It requires 2-3 people to prepare and deliver the meal. Unlike Community Meals, we do request donations of various items from time to time to help as many kids as possible and keep the cost to the church low. Contact: Kim Callaghan (kjcallaghan@hotmail.com).
Ways to Get Involved
There are many opportunities to volunteer at First Unitarian. Studies show that volunteering for at least two hours a week increases your overall happiness. Volunteer, meet new people, have fun, and be happy!
Archives Team
This team maintains historical records pertaining to our building and our congregation and keeps scrapbooks of members who appear in the news.
Contact Linda Parker at lparkerlib@gmail.com.
Baby Welcoming Team
This is a subgroup of the Caring Team to make sure families have a few meals when the baby first comes by setting up a meal train. We also make sure everyone expecting has a baby shower, which is typically a simple get-together at a restaurant for those expecting their second or third child.
Contact Sara Switzer at smswitzer15@gmail.com.
Black Lives Matter Team
The First Unitarian Black Lives Matter Team is committed to providing classes, workshops, speakers, discussion forums and education to help our predominantly white congregation do the uncomfortable work we need to do to be the best co-conspirators we can be. We typically meet once a month when we are not having pre scheduled workshops. We are still a new group and finding our way and need more people to donate and volunteer their time. We are in the process of building our Little Free Library. Contact Rene' Harper at sweetnlow@cox.net
Caring Team
The Caring team maintains contact with and expresses concerns for ill, homebound, and bereaved members of the church. Contact Louise Jeffrey at louisejeffrey@hotmail.com.
Chalice Guild
A small group who maintains some hidden, but necessary parts of the church. Bi-annually the Guild does a deep-cleaning of the kitchen: stove, refrigerator, etc. Regularly, linens are laundered. The candles in the front of the sanctuary are changed quarterly, and the brass tops are cleaned/polished. The chair of the team orders the new candles. Annual members of the guild vacuum the pews and pew racks. Contact: Kay Lynn Goldner at klgoldner@cox.net.
Finance Team
The Finance Team has a major responsibility conducting a pledge campaign each spring. They also help supervise church finances and help develop the budget to be approved at the Annual Membership Meeting each May. Contact Walt Jesteadt at
Fellowship Team
This team provides opportunities for people of all ages in the church community to interact socially and build community. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: the Holiday Dinner, Circle Suppers, the Fall Picnic/Social, Chili Cook-off and multi-generational events. Team Leaders: Judith Wright and Nadine Keith and Nellie Chenoweth
This group welcomes everyone ages 18-35 from all over the Omaha Metro. We’ll begin our new series: "Becoming: A Spiritual Guide for Navigating Adulthood." We also hot a Young Adult Game Night which is usually held the 3rd Friday of the month. Contact Taylor and Jessica Eman at youngadults@firstuuomaha.org.
Fundraising Team
FUNdraising Team is responsible for raising a specific amount of money each year, as specified in the annual church budget approved each May. Usually this is $15-17,000, most of which comes from the annual big Heart & Hand Auction in October. The auction has its own co-chairs and team, but is part of Fundraising. Other activities in recent years have involved selling scrip (gift) cards, running a UUnique Boutique, selling snow cones at public events, and hosting smaller parties to raise funds for the church. All requests for fundraising events go to this Team for approval and scheduling, with church groups having priority over outside causes. Contact: Donna Neff or Katrina Schmidt (neffd@cox.net) (katrina.schmidt@gmail.com)
Heritage Task Force
We’re looking forward to celebrating in 2018-19, the Centennial of our church building and the Sesquicentennial (150 years) of the signing of the articles of incorporation of our church. We need people with a variety of skills and interests: event planners, publications and public relations types, techies, writers, editors, archivists, architects, artistic types and of course people who love this place and its history. Contact Dave Richardson (drichardson821@gmail.com)
Hospitality Teams
We help greet visitors, prep cookies and coffee, and make things run smoothly on Sunday mornings. Each team only works 6 Sundays a year. For more information, please click here. Contact: Carolyn McNamara
House and Grounds Team
House and Grounds Team: Taking care of our historic building and our award-winning garden is a real joy. We need a new team leader. Please contact the church office if interested.
The Membership Team
The membership team helps arrange for orientation sessions and helps guide new members into channels of church activity where their talents can flourish and grow. They also supervise the membership book, the name tags, and the regular recognition of new and longtime members. Team Leader: Mike McAtee
Office Team
The Office Team helps with office tasks from envelope stuffing and word processing, to computer and procedural consultations, assessing office needs and budgeting office funds. Team Leader: Carolyn McNamara
Parents of Preschoolers – POPS
This is a group comprised of parents of littles (infants through primary grades) from both First and Second Unitarian church communities. We meet approximately 6 times per year for a potluck dinner, conversation and games, and childcare is provided! Contact: Sara Switzer (smswitzer15@gmail.com).
Worship Arts Team
This team provides many avenues for lay people to be involved in the church services, including serving as ushers, chalice lighters, church criers, readers, and chancel decorators. They also arrange for occasional lay-led services and for an exciting array of summer services when the minister is on vacation. Team Leader: Denise Allain (denise.allain@yahoo.com)
Youth and Children Religious Education Team
The Religious Education Team oversees our lively Religious Education offerings including Sunday School and youth activities. Contact Jan at dre@firstuuomaha.org.