GratefulI spent most of last week in the Blue Ridge Moun-tains of North Carolina. I was visiting a friend of mine who moved there a little over a year ago. Robert and I went to seminary together and became fast friends. Both of us love talking theol-ogy, politics, all the while solving the problems of the world and the church. Mostly we enjoy fishing together.

We spent the biggest part of Tuesday Striper fishing, though we managed to catch enough fish

for a nice fish fry Thursday, there was not a Striper among them. My fishing philoso-phy has long been, “Going fishing is the point, catching is a bonus.” We spent the remaining days hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of the many beautiful waterfalls in the area where he lives. Other than that, we sat at his home in the mountain forest, drank beverages, and talked theology, philosophy, family, and solved a lot of problems. At least that is our story and I am sticking to it!

With all the struggles in our world and country today I was grateful for the opportunity to get away for a time to rest and relax. We all need that, most-ly more often than less. Those four days reminded me again how grateful I am and how sometimes I let the problems of the world keep me from acknowledging that gratitude. I am grateful for my friend Robert and what he brings to my life. I am grateful for TruDee my partner and best friend. I am grateful for family, children, and my granddaughters. I am grateful for this FUMC community of faith and the support and love that emanates from the warm hearts who are a part of this incredible place!

Beginning the first Sunday of November Cynthia and I will begin a sermon series based on the book by Diana Butler Bass, Grateful. We will be speaking about the gifts of gratitude, being aware and practicing, joy and celebration, and what a grateful society might look like. If you would like to read the book in preparation for the sermon series, we have purchased a few and they are available at the front office.

In the meantime, take some time and consider that for which you may be grateful. Let someone know how grateful you are for them. Or sit in in the beauty of nature, a favorite place or surrounding, a familiar crowd, or sit down to a favorite meal. Be Grateful. I am grateful for you, each and every one of you.

Peace and Light for Our Journey, Rev. Kent

Connect

7020 Cass Street • Omaha, Nebraska 68132 • 402.556.6262

October 2019

Worship ScheduleSundays

8:30 & 10:50 am, Sanctuary

Taizé Worship Saturday, October 5

5:00 pm, Mead Chapel

Pastors: Kent H. Little

Cynthia Lindenmeyer

Church Office Hours:Sunday 8:30 am - noon

Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Friday and Saturday Closed

www.fumcomaha.org

“We are a United Methodist congre-gation of all sexual orientations and gender identities making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We stand in solidarity with Reconciling Ministry Network working against injustice and discrimination through peace and justice.”

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Receive “Connect” by E-MailE-mail Candice Nielsen in the church office,

Candice.Nielsen@fumcomaha.org with your e-mail address and you will begin

receiving the newsletter by e-mail.

Rev. Kent H. Little

Just a reminder we will be having an all-church informational meeting Tuesday, October 1, 2019, 6:00 pm in the Commons. The purpose of this meeting will be to disseminate information regarding our House Meetings around the future of our church in regard to the UMC decisions this past February. We will also share additional information that has come to light over the past several months, as well as a report from the September meeting at Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City. Please plan on attending this important meeting as we continue to discern what the future holds for FUMC. ~ Rev. Kent

FUMC Way Forward

Encountering Walgreens, CVS, CBD stores, urgent care and hospitals is unexceptional – I wonder what was commonplace to first century spiritual seekers that’s lost in oral teachings? What if spiritual-ity (before pharmaceuticals and institutionalized hierarchal religion) encompassed an understanding of realms of energy not just in the universe, but in our body, mind and spir-it? If you come to worship to explore faith, then you are already open to a new dimension of healing that goes beyond endless doctor appointments and hospital stays. Personally, I am inclined to grasp that we all have energy fields in our bod-ies that are the key to physical health, emotional stability and mental clarity. You’ve heard of these energy fields – chakras. The colors of the rainbow are the same colors in our bodies, and that realization connects our human body to the universal cosmos. As news of climate change adds to our younger generation’s stress, we are in urgent need of understanding ancient knowledge about earth energy and how we are symbiotically connected to the Earth and to one another. Understanding energy fields can be very important for emotional and also physical healing. If you’ve ever wondered if there were hidden forces within, I encourage you to check out the Spiritual Study beginning on Thursday, October 3, from 10:00-11:30 am in the Parlor. Ruthie Lees will lead a book study on The Book of Chakras by Ambika Wauters. Connecting to cosmology, to a Cosmic Christ, will also be explored as the Sunday Spiritual group begins The Univer-sal Christ, by Richard Rohr (begins October 6th in room 109 in between services).When we explore wisdom from various sources and perspectives, we go deeper into the mystery that truly is our faith. I hope you can check out one of these new October-December studies!

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Dr. Cynthia Lindenmeyer

Race Relations Discussions

We honor the sacred bond between human and our furry, feathery, and scaly friends! On Sunday, November 10, join us at the 10:50 am service with your animal (on a leash or in a pet carrier) as we bless our pets. Our 8:30 am service will be pet-free to be mindful for those with allergies or in need of a non-animal area. We hope to see you there!

Pet Blessing, Sunday, November 10

Energy of the Soul

November 12, 6:00-8:00 pm

ANTI-RACIST: One who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing an antiracist idea.

The only way to undo racism is to TALK ABOUT IT – constantly! And then once one understands the horror of racism, be part of the massive dismantling needed. Join us for a discussion on this powerful New York Times best-selling book.

Dinner and Discussion

Event held at: FUMC7020 Cass • 402.556.6262

Mercy &

Justice

Please begin saving coats for our

C♥at Drive!!!

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Elders for the Earth: a Retreat in the Spirit of Chautauqua

Bringing Forth The Kingdom:

Public Transportation in OmahaSaturday,

November 2, 20198:00 am - 12:30 pm

FUMC, the Commons

Sixth Annual Forum

COMING SOON!!! Register at Eventbrite.com and look for Public Transportation Forum.

Save the Date! What? Elders4theEarth Retreat (In the spirit of Chautauqua)Where? Platte River State ParkWhen? October 13, 2 pm - October 15, 2 pmWhy? Because climate change is an urgent issue!How? Go to Elders4theEarth.com for more information and to register

Public lecture begins at 2:30“What Can Little Ol’ Me Do About Climate Change?” By Dr. Ramesh Laungani

Retreat runs from 5:00 pm Sunday night -2 pm Tuesday afternoon, and will include discussions about The Green New Deal, the impacts of climate change on immigra-tion, and recent flooding in Nebraska.

Let’s Talk About Gun ViolenceOctober 29th

6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Please remember in prayer these members of Our Church FamilyFor Continued Healing: Dean Barnett, Roger Burns, Milton Davison, Joyce Ellis, Ella Gerber, Doro-thyann Haar, Charlie Harper, Randy King, Marvin and Suzanne Morgan, Mike Niemants, Marlys and Ivan Richardson, Eleanor Ruge, Barb Winfield.Baptisms: Cora and Desmond McLean, Parents, Courtney and Scott McLean, Baptized on 9/22/19 by Rev. Kent H. Little and Rev. Dr. Cynthia Lindenmeyer

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ngSubmit your prayer requests to:Marylin Stewart at MarylinS@aol.com or call the church office at 402-556-6262 x1001.Please follow these brief guidelines when submitting a request for the Prayer Chain: • For yourself: Give a brief statement of the need - illness, grief, crisis.• For others: Use names without describing the need. Give the first or full name and relationship -

friend, brother/sister, spouse/partner, parent, child, etc.• Get permission from the person to be listed on the Prayer Chain before contacting Marylin or the church.

Attendance for August/September

Total Attendance 1st Time Visitors8/18/19 ............... 261 .................................98/25/19 .............. 289 ...............................139/1/19 ................. 297 .................................3 9/8/19 ................. 308 .................................6 9/15/19 ................. 295 .....................................39/22/& 9/29/19 will be in November’s Connect.

Movie GroupAll are welcome to join the Movie Group as we discuss The Goldfinch at the W. Dale Clark Library, 15th and Douglas on Tuesday, October 8, 6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to join us for the discussion and for dinner in a nearby restau-rant following the discussion.

Donation BoxBlack Dry Erase markers (Expo), hand sanitizer, Pull-Ups for 2-3 year olds, underwear for 3-6 year olds for Lothrop Elementary School.

Pondering Our Community FUMCIt is that time of year again in the life of the community of faith. Fall is upon us and things are ramping up and there is much to keep us busy. However, around here, as you know, with all we have going on at First Church there is always plenty to keep up us busy.Watching the youth and children at the picnic there is a new sense of energy and enthusiasm at the church. Our mercy and justice teams are coming up with activity and ideas to help us engage social justice, deep racial conversations, and reducing our carbon footprint here at the church. Thirty something new small group ideas! Wow! The choir continues to help our spirits soar during worship and our social outings feed our hearts and souls. There is so much happening here at FUMC!As you know all of this would not be possible without the dedication of our phenomenal staff and vol-unteers! Each day we have so many committed to make sure we offer depth in spirituality, action, and worship experiences. It takes all of us to do what we do and I am so grateful for every staff member and member of our community of faith.As we move into October, we will begin our annual budget campaign. I hope you will be thinking about what level of support you will be able to offer for 2020 and beyond. It is our hope and goal we will all consider giving at a level that meets our budget goals and we will not need another close the gap ef-fort. Each amount is important whether small or large. It takes all of us to give as we are able to under-write the important work we do here at First Church.I believe this is a special time in the life of our church as we move into the future. Let’s move into 2020 with the best of who we are, financially, spiritually, and action oriented! We are a beloved community of Christ, committed to the Way of justice, kindness, and humility. May we continue the work of loving one another. Every. Single. Other. Until there are no others. Only, one beloved community of all.Peace and Light for our Continued Journey, Rev. Kent

compassion.

Faith Studies@ First

The FUMC Foundation Board is initiating an extended campaign to provide opportunities to learn details of our Foundation and its impor-tance to the current and future operation of our church. Throughout the remainder of this year and into 2020, there will be a series of newsletters, announcements, Q&A sessions and briefings/interactions with financial and legal professionals to help us all become more aware of our Foun-dation and how we can sustain and grow this important resource to meet the needs and aspirations of the future of our church.

– Building Our Future Together –

Trunk or Treat & Kostume Karaoke will be a big all-ages event on Sunday eve October 27 from 5 pm until 7 pm. Bring your car and decorate your trunk for Parking Lot trick or treaters. We will meet in the Commons parking lot by door #4, the east side of the building along 69th st. Dress up and enjoy Kostume Ka-raoke in the

Commons. Wear your favorite costume and sing your favor-ite song. They don’t have to match! Get Creative! Ever hear Elvis sing a Taylor Swift song? That’s Kostume Karaoke! We will also have snack food in the Commons and Hot Chocolate if its chilly outside! Any questions or song requests shall be referred to Bogart in the office.

Trunk or Treat & Kostume Karaoke

Book Review – Nurse and Spy in the Union ArmyJoin us on Thursday, October 17 at 10:00 am in the Parlor to hear about Sarah in Nurse and Spy in the Union Army by S. Emma E. Edmonds. Our guest reviewer, Jo Larsen, will share Sarah’s escapades as a woman of many talents, serving as a nurse, soldier and spy during the Civil War. Everyone is welcome. Please bring a friend.

Red Cross Blood DrivePlease mark your calendars for

our annual Blood Drive

Sunday, October 27in the Commons.

Questions? Contact Denise Rogondino 402.981.1030 or drogondino@gmail.com

Author and speaker, Margaret Wheatley, will be at Countryside UCC Saturday Nov. 16th from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm leading a workshop, Warriors for the Human Spirit, based on her recent book Who Do We Choose To Be, to help train leaders, activists, and citizens who want to make a meaningful contribution in this time of increasing assaults on the human spirit and all life.

To serve well, to be effective with their energy and influence, they train with discipline and devotion to refrain from fear and aggression and to embody the best human qualities of generosity, insight, and compassion. 

WHO DO WE CHOOSE TO BE?

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gOctober being stewardship month does not just mean line items in the church budget and our call to pledge our money.

God calls us to be stewards of all God’s creation that includes your responsibility to yourself.

We are given the knowledge, tools and resources along with health care providers to help us. We are called to utilize them to our best ability. Also, by doing this we can help to teach and mentor our families and other children with improved eating habits. We can be a supportive help to our fellow FUMC family as we all face the daily challenge of maintaining good health.

In one response to that call, the Health Healing and Spiritual Formation committee is appreciative that the Eco-team reached out and offered to take a Sunday morning every quarter to provide an alternative to doughnuts for Coffee hour. We have the support of the Pastoral team in working towards a doughnut free Coffee time.

Taking this one step we can help families to teach their children improved eating habits. We can also be a supportive help to our fellow FUMC family as we all face the daily challenge of maintaining good health.

If you are a part of a class, small group or committee, or a few friends with a shared interest, please consider taking just one Sunday or a regular Sunday on the hospitality calendar to help.

The committee has ideas to help you get started and would be glad to help.

Please consider helping FUMC to be better stewards of our bodies by help-ing to be a doughnut free zone on Sunday mornings.

Contact Jan Dixon. RN. FUMC Faith Community Nurse 2dixons@cox.net or 402-571-4072, Ranita Lilyhorn, LPN, rl3frog@cox.net or 402-215-5641

We Thank you, your body Thanks you and God Blesses as stewards all.

Stewardship Call to Better Health ♥ ♥ ♥

In participation with our Reconciling Ministry Network United Methodist Churches of Omaha, join us as we celebrate all God’s Beloved Children and give thanks for the rainbow of folks within our faith community and beyond. In honor of October being LGBT Histo-ry Month, we celebrate our Compassion and honor our mantra, “All Are Welcome!” We welcome our LGBTQIA+ siblings and give thanks for the sacred worth.

National Coming Out, Sunday, October 13

Healthy for a Lifetime is a one-day informa-tional event at the CHI Health Center Oma-ha located at 455 N. 10th Street in Omaha, Nebraska. The event will begin at 9am and end at 5pm. It will feature internationally recognized physicians and researchers in the area of chronic disease reversal and nu-trition based, lifestyle medicine and actual former patients who will describe how they used food as medicine to reverse serious health conditions. The event will also pro-vide practical information and a demonstration of how to incorporate plant-based foods into daily life. A delicious whole food plant-based buffet lunch for all attendees is also included. The event is open to everyone and no prior knowledge of the topic is required. Registration is available now at:https://healthyforalifetime.org/register-now.html

We hope all will join us at our 8:30 or 10:50 am service!

October 19 – 9:00 am - 5:00pm

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SpiritualitySpiritual Practices @FUMCAll Spiritual Practices meet in the Mead Chapel unless otherwise noted.

• Yoga Foundations – Mondays, 9:30 am, Thursdays, 6:15 pm• Tai Chi for Balance – Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30 pm • Meditation – Wednesdays, noon• Taizé Worship – First Saturday monthly, 5:00 pm• Centering Prayer – Sundays, 9:35 am• Labyrinth, Garden & Gazebo – front lawn 24/7• Zumba – Wednesdays, 6:30 pm, the Commons

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Please join Jan Dixon, Parish Nurse, on Tues-days and/or Thursdays at 3:30 pm in the newly renovated Mead Chapel for Tai Chi. This free class invites you to open your spirit, center your chi, and stretch out your soul. Tai Chi may help improve balance and is a great way to retain flexibility! New-comers are always welcome. Please contact Jan Dixon for more information at 2dixons@cox.net.

October

SpiritualSpiritual Study on The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr (led by Jim and Vicki Buras) beginning Sun-day, October 6th during the Faith Studies Hour in Room 109.

Books available at the front desk.

Spiritual Study on Thurs-days, 10 am (except third Thursday of the month) beginning October 3rd in the Parlor.

Ruthie Lees will lead an exploration on energy centers based on The Book of Chakras by Ambika Wauters.

Studies

Centering Prayer; Praying with the MysticsCommon among the Christian mystics is the experience of Di-vine Presence and a regular con-templative practice to maintain an open heart to that presence. Centering Prayer is a simple method of prayer that is deeply rooted in the Christian mystical/contemplative tradition. One’s intention in this silent meditation practice is to consent to the Divine Mystery at the heart of all creation. A sacred word is often used to gently sustain that intention. Over time, the experience of God’s love deepens and changes one’s relationship

with self and with others. You are invited to explore this practice with a trained facilitator. Don Bredthauer (402-496-3211) will be happy to visit with any-one about Centering Prayer and can prepare you for the practice either by yourself or in our Cen-tering Prayer group that meets

in the Chapel on Sundays at 9:40 a.m. If you would like more formal training, Don will be leading a 3-hour workshop at All Saints Episcopal Church on Saturday morning, November 2. Please check with Don for more details.

“Thank you to ALL the volunteers and participants for our

Picnic on the Front Lawn and our

Ministry Fair”

7020 Cass StreetOmaha, NE 68132-2601

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage Paid

Permit #105Omaha, NebraskaReturn Service Requested

♥ We are a Community of Faith, Fellowship, and Action! ♥