The church building is now closed for Sunday services. Please join us on Zoom. Click here for more information. 

First Steps: Get to Know Unitarian Universalism & Our Church 

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2022 Sundays: February 27, April 10, and May 1 at noon online via Zoom. 

You are invited to join us as we gather together to get acquainted with the basics of Unitarian Universalism and our vibrant community. There are many ways to  connect with the church and we look forward to discussing the unique opportunities offered by First Unitarian Church of Omaha.

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Please RSVP for the First Steps class with Carrie Helmberger at coordinator@firstuuomaha.org. Carrie will send you the Zoom link when you email her. 

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Pathways to Membership Class Online 

This 4-week online class is for those individuals wanting to:
* to learn more about membership and the Unitarian Universalist church. 
*bring new life to UU theology and history through experiencing small group ministry.
*take part in an easy-to-remember and easy-to-share understandings of UU theology and history.
*understand the process of journey versus beliefs.

​YES! You can take part in this class event even if you're already a member or friend of First Unitarian Church! This class is open for members who would like to renew your love of the UU faith all over again, consider this your "re-starting" point. 

This class explores who we are and what we believe, and it provides opportunities for members of our congregation to share with new comers what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Pathways gives newcomers a chance to   examine their own personal stories in light of our Unitarian Universalist tradition and heritage. Whether you are new to the church, or have been coming for awhile, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the community.

Come join us no matter where you are on your journey! 

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NEXT SESSION IN MARCH 2022

Four consecutive Wednesday evenings: March 2, March 9, March 16, and March 23 online via Zoom at 6:30pm.

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Please RSVP for the Pathways Classes with Carrie Helmberger at coordinator@firstuuomaha.org.

Book Club 

Our next meeting is Monday,  January 31st  at 7pm online via Zoom. We will discuss  The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis.  

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Questions? Need the Zoom meeting link? Email Dave at drichardson821@gmail.com.

3F Book Bonanza Group

This group meets monthly at 7pm in the Merritt Lounge on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

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3F Book Bonanza will not meet in the month of February. We instead encourage our members to participate in the Heart and Hand auction item: Book Discussion Group, Pulitzer Prize Winner for 2021, The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.

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Please email questions to Sheri Conner at ksvortex@msn.com.

Future reading list:
 

March - Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore

April - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

May - The Last Gift by Abdulrazak Gurnah

June - The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante

July - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

August - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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Side With Love Social Action Team

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TAKE ACTION NOW! 
With the Nebraska Unicameral in session, now is the time to contact Nebraska state senators!
Click here for the Side With Love Social Action Team webpage for information and specific ways to take action on these issues:

Stop the New Prison Campaign: When the Unicameral convenes in January, our state senators will decide whether to spend $230 million to construct a new prison. The Side With Love Team supports criminal justice reform as an alternative to more incarceration. 

Felony Disenfranchisement: Nebraskans otherwise eligible to vote are disenfranchised for two years after completing a felony sentence. It’s a racist policy and one of the most extreme disenfranchisement laws in the country. We are committed to work alongside many other groups to end Felony Voter Disenfranchisement in Nebraska.

Lifetime Ban on Snap Benefits: Individuals convicted of certain felony drug convictions are singled out to suffer a lifetime ban on eligibility for SNAP benefits. Eliminating this ban removes a major barrier to their successful reintegration, while reducing hunger for their families. No other conviction, for assault, robbery, even child trafficking, has a similar ban on SNAP eligibility.

LR 14 A proposal calling for a Constitutional Convention: LR 14 would express Nebraska’s support for a “Convention of the States” which is allowed by Article V of the U.S. Constitution. Most experts in Constitutional Law oppose this measure on the grounds that a Con-Con would turn into a “runaway event’ which could lead to the loss of many liberties and cherished democratic principles. The measure has passed on first reading and will ne discussed next on ‘Select File.”  There is still time to express your opinion to your Senator.
 
Next Side With Love Social Action Team Meeting: Sunday, February, 20, 4:30pm on Zoom
Zoom link:  https://zoom.us/j/93009580832
 
Comments? Questions? Email sidewithlove@firstuuomaha.org

AHA (Atheists, Humanists, Agnostics) Invites You:

AHA’s first quarter meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 3 online via Zoom at 7pm. The Zoom link is TBA. 

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This meeting will explore interesting comments and concepts.  Discussion questions will include:  What does AHA mean for the church?  What does the church do for AHA?  What does AHA mean to you?  What do you mean for AHA?  How could AHA attract new church members?  Is that an appropriate goal for AHA?  What defines Agnosticism?  What is Atheism? What is Humanism? 

Humanism will be a topic of further discussion.  The book Good without God provides a wealth of insight into Humanism.  The author, Greg Epstein, is a Humanist chaplain with expertise in far-east and Judaic studies. He often includes Unitarian Universalism in his comments.  

Click here to read the Amazon description of his book, Good With God, published in 2009:

The book is moderate in size, 250 pages, and priced around $10 paperback or Kindle.  Beware it can draw you in so you probably won’t skim it.  Of course if you have not read the book you are still welcome!  

If you have questions or don’t regularly get AHA emails please email AHA@firstuuomaha.org to be sure to get the link or any new information.    

Widening the Circle Discussion Group

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The Widening the Circle of Concern Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change was mentioned as recommended reading by Paula Cole Jones at her recent 8th Principle workshop. She recommends that all congregations devote resources and intentional effort to understanding the information contained in the report, with the hope that it might redeem the essential ideals and promises of Unitarian Universalism as a sustaining faith for all. Through this report, the Commission has done all the gathering and analyzing for us to be presented with the hard truth around our collective patterns of white supremacy culture within our churches. Our discussion group, led by Mary Kay Peters and Della Bynum, will be loosely following a Study Guide published by the UUA, which is broken up into 11 sections. We've already covered Theology, Governance and Living Our Values In The World.

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We are meeting via Zoom every other Sunday from 3-4:30pm for 5 weeks starting Jan 23, Feb 6 and 20, March 6 and 20.  To reserve your place in the group, email Mary Kay at mkpnet11@gmail.com

Morning Reflections

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Happening online, Tuesdays & Thursdays,  8:15am to 8:45am.  

Join church members Kim Dunovan and Sharon Conlon  for a period of reflection and silent meditation/prayer on Zoom. Whether you’re seeking a regular spiritual practice, or just wake-up some mornings needing a little extra support and connection to our church community. This is an informal drop-in and all are welcome! Each gathering will open with a short reading, followed by shared reflections and time for silent meditation/prayer. 

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Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81630843110?pwd=R0xpM2JTaGpxVDBpWDZ0S1JmdU5qdz09

Meeting ID: 816 3084 3110

Passcode: 371480

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Questions? Email Kim at kimberly.dunovan@gmail.com.

Compassionate Communication Group

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This group meets online using Zoom on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7pm. Everyone is welcome.  Using Compassionate Communication developed by Marshall Rosenberg, PhD, we learn to connect with ourselves and others with empathy and to act in greater harmony with our values. Learning to communicate more compassionately, like speaking a new language, takes practice.

If you want to attend this class via Zoom, please contact Suzanne: at nvcsuz@gmail.com for details.

The Women's Religious Studies Group

This group meets online weekly at 1pm on Thursdays via Zoom.  ​

The WRSG will be starting a new book the first week of February: The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams.

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For more information, contact Marcia at mkleise@cox.net.