Omaha Serves

Want to know more about our community? Are you looking for ways to plug in, either by volunteering or just stay on top of what is going on in our wonderful city?

Well, join Omaha Serves- the city's community service initiative, in helping craft Omaha's service plan and identify community needs.

Omaha Serves is hosting an open community meeting on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 2:00pm at the Benson Park Pavilion (7002 Military Avenue). Please join us in helping our community today!

For more details contact Kirsten Case-Penrod, Chief Service Officer at (402) 444-5034 or email kcase-penrod@ci.omaha.ne.

Posted by the blog administrator.

First Central is in the News!

Omaha World-Herald
Proposal Would Expand Rights Law by staff writer, Ross Boettcher

City Councilman Ben Gray has proposed changing Omaha’s ordinances against discrimination to include sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.

The proposed changes will be the subject of a public hearing Tuesday before the City Council. Gray said he asked for the changes because they are “currently not part of the ordinance, and there have been instances of people being discriminated against.” They would be the first changes to the city’s human rights ordinances in more than 10 years, said Assistant City Attorney Bernard in den Bosch.

The changes would affect employers, employment agencies and labor organizations and apply to every contract the city agrees to, in den Bosch said.

According to draft language, the ordinance would not require employers to provide employment benefits to same-sex partners. If passed by the council, these categories would be included in the city’s anti-discrimination ordinances:

• Gender expression, “the non-physical, outward projection of masculinity or femininity to others.’’

• Gender identity, “the inward manifestation or self-perception a person has of his or her gender.”

• Sexual orientation, “an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to men, women, or both sexes.”

These would join race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age and disability in the city’s anti-discrimination prohibitions, Gray said.

Omaha’s First Central Congregational Church sent a letter of support for the changes to council members.

In den Bosch said he expects the proposal to draw criticism. “It wouldn’t surprise me if there were people concerned about it,” he said. “I suspect there will be questions about the definitions as much as about what it means.” There have been “four or five” complaints filed with the city over the past couple of years that would fall under the categories in Gray’s proposal, he said.

The council will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the legislative chambers of the City-County Building, 1819 Farnam Street.

Source: Omaha World-Herald
Contact the writer:
444-1414, ross.boettcher@owh.com

Stewardship Message: Catch Fire

"Rekindle the gift of God that is within you…" ~ 2 Timothy 1:6

The second week of September in our church is “Rally Sunday.” It’s meant to be the day we get all revved up for the new program year of the church. The energy level in the congregation rises that day, as people who have been away for the summer return and greet friends and visitors. As September begins again in the church, everything seems possible!

The start of a new program year is a good time to take Paul’s advice and “rekindle” all the gifts of God within not just individual Christians, but the church as a whole. Stoke the fire, is what the word means, take the small flames and find ways to add a little tinder here or a little air there and bring warmth and light. To make a fire strong usually requires adding small things regularly, and sometimes large pieces of wood as other large pieces burn away.

What does your church need to really catch fire this September? What gifts, small or large, do you have to contribute to that fire? Are there people around you who have gifts to give that need your encouragement to step up to the fire? Sometimes, as the old church camp song says, it really does “only take a spark.” Is that spark you?


Source: UCC Stewardship Message by Rochelle A. Stackhouse. Rev. Stackhouse is the Senior Minister of The Church of the Redeemer, United Church of Christ, New Haven Connecticut.
http://www.ucc.org/stewardship/stewardship-messages/

First Central and UCC help Pakistan

You have seen the news coverage of the catastrophic floods in Pakistan. The United Church of Christ has put out a special call for relief funds. Last week, with no advance notice, the people of First Central raised almost $500 in worship. First Central will also be contributing funds from our Brock Fund endowment for foreign mission to further the cause. This Sunday we will again invite the congregation to give above their normal tithes and offerings to support this on-going and extremely important relief effort. Please pray and consider how you can help.

Sincerely,
Nancy Northcutt, Chair of the Board of Mission and Outreach
Scott Jones, Senior Minister

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Pens, Pencils, Notebooks and the Smell of Books

Nothing quite makes me happy like the start of the school year. This special time of the year has always struck a chord with me. I can remember when I was in grade school that I loved the thrill of hunting for the perfect back-to-school outfit and finding the neatest school supplies. Now that I am much, much older and am going back to school for my graduate degree, I find that I still enjoy this special time. I love that buzz of energy that sits in the air, the sound of the marching band practicing in the morning and the nervous anticipation I feel as I begin this new chapter in my life.

What makes this new school year even more special is that I have a better understanding and appreciation for all the work that goes into making the academic year happen. My experience as an employee at various institutions of higher education and the stories that my teacher friends share, have given me a unique insight into the world of teaching and learning. I now know how much time, thought, energy and money goes into planning programs for each student’s success. Those who choose to teach and work for K-12 schools and colleges are truly wonderful people. They teach, build up, inspire, support, and create future leaders. What an amazing, yet overwhelming job!

Can you remember a teacher or academic experience that helped form who you are today? What do you enjoy about this special time of the year?

No matter if you are taking classes (and even if you are not) or even dropping little ones off at school, please take a moment to thank the staff members and educators in your life- they do so much more than just oversee programs, decorate classrooms and grade papers.

Posted by Hanna W.

Thought for the Day

Poverty is…10 people in a third floor two-bedroom apartment with no air conditioning.

Be thankful for what you have, folks and remember to help those who need your assistance.

Posted by the Blog Administrator.

A Blog to Read: Inside the Invisible World of the Homeless

As an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) Member, my job is to fight poverty through service and capacity building. For those of you who don’t know, the AmeriCorps program is the domestic version of the Peace Corps; volunteers serve our country for one year and take the same oath as military personnel.

My year of service has been very eye opening and humbling. But, I still find myself wanting to learn more about what I can do for those in poverty, those who are homelessness and those who find themselves in difficult situations. What I think helps with this process the most is to experience homelessness or poverty for one’s self (a VISTA earns less than $25 per day). So, to take advantage of the technology of the day and to help our blog readers increase their understanding too, I’ve included a link to a wonderful blog story which takes the reader through an urban minister’s perspective on homelessness as she spends one season living as a homeless woman. I find her story inspiring and helpful as First Central strives to serve our local community.

Arloa Sutter’s Blog: Reflections on faith and justice from an urban minister’s perspective
http://arloasutter.blogspot.com/2010/07/inside-invisible-world-of-homeless.html

Posted by Hanna W.