Alex Wolf, Pastor

Jim Skrobo, Associate Pastor

Suzy Parsons, Director of Christian Education

Cheryl Morehouse, Office Administrator

Barb Renicker, Choir Director

Ruth Negus, Organist and Accompanist

Sarah Baird, Nursery Attendant

Nate & Rita Merriam, Custodians

Vol. 47 No. 6

May 24, 2019

June 2

9:30 a.m. Worship with Communion

Sunday School - 19A

10:30 Bible Study - L

10:30 Fellowship Time - C

June 9 Newsletter Deadline

Set Up for VBS!!

9:30 a.m. Worship

Sunday School - 19A

10:30 Bible Study - L

10:30 Fellowship Time - C

June 16 9:30 a.m. Worship

Sunday School - 19A

10:30 Bible Study - L

10:30 Fellowship Time (Lemonade Stand VBS Kids) - C

June 23 9:30 a.m. Worship

Sunday School - 19A

10:30 Bible Study - L

10:30 Fellowship Time - C

June 30 9:30 a.m. Worship

Sunday School—19A

10:30 Bible Study - L

10:30 Fellowship Time - C

All Church Picnic! Wear Red/White/Blue!

June 2019

Northwest Hills Church

9334 Fort Street, Omaha NE 68134

Phone: 402 572-8392

Fax: 402 572-8394

www.northwesthills.com newsletter

Vacation Bible School: “Mega Sports Camp!” June 10th-14th, 5:30-8:00 PM

At Northwest Hills Church, 9334 Fort Street (Held jointly with Lord of Love Church)

Family meals 5:30-6:00 PM Choose your sport!!

Basketball * Soccer * Cheer * Spirit (arts/crafts) Call 402-572-8392 or 402-493-2946

to register

Deadline for articles/information for the monthly newsletter is usually the second Sunday for the next month’s newsletter. Thank you in advance for your contributions!

EPIC Youth Car Wash Fundraisers for Missions Trip!

Saturdays June 1st and 22nd 9:00 AM—2:00 PM

We thank and honor our music providers for their

many hours of practice to give us anthems, music of

praise, special music, vocal and instrumental solos.

We also thank those who operate the sound and video system and all volunteers who make worship run smoothly:

Bev Ambrosius, Darwin Barker, Jean Barker, Carol Beaty, Wayne Bennett, George Bilger, Linda Burnham, Dennis Burright, Annette Carlin, Joe Carlin, Gerry Conry, Les Faulkenberry, Pauline Hughes, Bernie Hurt, Judy Intlekofer, Jan Jacobsen, Glenda Kalina, Paula Markuson, Barb May, Ginger Morelock, Ruth Negus, Janet Nitsick, Barb Renicker, Susan Ryan, Duane Salonen, Laurie Salonen, Margaret Scofield, Rick Scofield, Shirley Spencer, Alex Wolf

A special thank you to our Sunday School Teachers: Wayne Bennett, Mark Cupps, Dianna Cupps, Sarah Jewell, Inga Mehlenbacher, Angie Meyer, Margaret Scofield, Rick Scofield, Coleen Vincent, Paloma Vincent, Weylon White, Alex Wolf

And our Nursery Attendant Sarah Baird,

And our Preschool Teachers Diane Frizzell and Cheryl Way

Your great servant hearts and investment of time and talents are all greatly appreciated!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING

The Church Council meeting will be held on Thursday,

June 27, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 128.

MEN’S MINISTRY

All men of the church are invited for breakfast on

Saturday, June 1st at the Church in the Fellowship Hall.

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION PICNIC LUNCH!

The Women’s Association meeting will be held

Thursday, June 6th at noon in the Fellowship Hall.

Picnic lunch will be provided by Women’s

Association.

The Canasta Club will meet on Thursday, June 20th in Room 128 at 10 AM. Bring your own sack lunch and Team #9 (Deb Shafer and Carol Beaty) will provide dessert. Please arrive early so you can start playing promptly at 10:00. If you have any questions, please call Judy Intlekofer at 402-292-1060.

CIRCLES

Hannah Circle: There will be a meeting Tuesday, June 18th at 1:15 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Devotions by Lois Gapen and refreshments by Kathy Coppler. Our mission project for April was canned fruit for 126 cans of fruit and 44 miscellaneous food items. Our project for June will be breakfast cereal (the sugar-frosted kinds for kids). Also, any donations of unused cosmetics from your trips would be appreciated. Contact Lois Gapen at (402) 572-6792 with any questions..

Ruth Circle will be carpooling from Church to Ollie & Hobbes restaurant, Papillion, Mon., June 17th at 6:30 PM! Questions? Call Ginger Morelock, 402-312-5126.

Sarah Circle meeting TBD. Please call Terri Burright at (402) 659-6913 if you have questions. ____________________________________________

CRAFT NIGHT! Craft night will be held in Room 128 at Northwest Hills Church at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Annie Kuti will bring treats. Are you looking for a fun evening out of the house? We always wel-come new crafters, so please come and share the fun in designing new and creative craft items. Should have any questions, please feel free to call Sherry Mitchell at 402-498-3597. ____________________________________________

SINGLES & FRIENDS!

June Outing! Miniature Golf and Dinner

Saturday, June 15th

Golf at 2:00 PM

Dinner at 4:30 PM

Where: Putting Plus, 9216 Maple Street

Dinner: Romeo’s, 2395 N. 90th Street

Golf will be at 2:00 p.m. NO CARPOOL. We hope to play two games. Dinner at 4:30 p.m. at Romeo’s. If you can’t or don’t want to golf, join us for dinner. Hope to see you there. Should you have questions, please contact Babe McDaniel, Linda Nelsen, or Sherry Mitchell.

Melanie Brusnahan—will be attending the University of Oklahoma and majoring in International Business and

Finance and minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Her hobbies include cooking, trying new coffee shops

around Omaha, and engaging in service projects. With her degree, Melanie hopes to work with women of the

developing world and help them open/run their own businesses; also saving the planet one reusable straw at a

time! Melanie was a recipient of the Dr. Werner P. Jensen Scholarship for the academic year 2019-2020.

Kelsie Henkel—will be graduating from Millard North on May 25th. She will be going to Rolla Technical

Institute in Missouri for medical assisting and plans to become a nurse.

Jon Jewell—is a graduate from Burke High School this year. He recently acquired the rank of Eagle Scout.

His Eagle Scout project was building two large vegetable stands and a large chalkboard for the non-profit

organization TogetherOmaha. He previously worked at Menard’s and is currently working at Sierra Trading

Post. He has attended Northwest Hills UCC his whole life. He has been an active member of the Northwest

Hills youth group, assisting with holiday presentations and fund raisers, transforming from an attendee to a

leader in VBS and participating in the yearly mission trip to Shannondale, Missouri. He enjoys fishing and

hunting. He has an interest in reptiles and amphibians and in creating Lego sculptures. Jon enjoyed his CAD

classes in school and had thoughts of becoming an architect or engineer. He was exposed to welding at a

family member’s farm during spring break last year. This year he attended a welding class at the Omaha

Public School Career Center, earning the “Outstanding Welding Student of the Year” award. He will attend

Lincoln Tech in Denver, Colorado this fall to pursue a degree and career in welding.

Will Jewell—has graduated from Burke High School recognized as an honor student. This summer he will

travel with a group from Burke High School to Costa Rica. This is a combined trip for his Environmental

Science class and a Spanish class to study the culture and environment in that country. He obtained a part

time job and paid for this trip himself. He worked part time previously at Auntie Anne’s in the Westroads and

currently works at Target. He attended Northwest Hills UCC his whole life. He has been an active member of

the Northwest Hills youth group, assisting with holiday presentations and fund raisers, transforming from an

attendee to a leader in VBS and participating in the yearly mission trip to Shannondale, Missouri. He has a

lifelong interest and passion for reptiles and amphibians. He and his brother, Jon, raised a leopard gecko from

the time they were young teens. Until recently he also had a beautiful corn snake and a gargoyle gecko. He

hopes to pursue an education in biology/zoology that will incorporate this interest. In the fall he will attend

Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, which is a liberal arts and science education institute.

Andrew Key—Andrew will graduate from Omaha Burke High School where he was involved with NHS,

marching band, concert band, jazz band, and musical pit for four years. He plans to attend UNO and major in

Cybersecurity. Andrew was a recipient of the Dr. Werner P. Jensen Scholarship for the academic year 2019-

2020.

David Taylor—graduated from Peru State College on May 4, 2019 with a degree in Music Marketing. While

attending Peru State, David was a member of the Campus Activities Board and performed as a member of the

Hoyt Street Jazz Band, pep band, concert band, and Concert Chorale. David has accepted an internship at the

Omaha Conservatory of Music.

On Sunday, May 19th, we recognized the following 2019 graduates. Congratulations to each of you for all of your amazing accomplishments!

Everyone at Northwest Hills Church is extremely proud of each and every one of you!

FAMILY FARE RECEIPTS Every time you shop at your local

Family Fare store, save your receipts.

Bring your complete receipt to church

and place in the box in the Commons.

We will collect them and send them

on to Project Hope. When Project

Hope has collected and submitted

$150,000 in receipts, Family Fare will

send Project Hope $1,000! This is a Share Omaha

Project.

EVENING BIBLE STUDY

On Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Library, Pastor

Alex is leading an evening Bible study. The theme of

this Bible study revolves around books of the Bible

that tend to be “neglected” and not often studied. We

will be studying the history of Israel, from Abraham to

Jesus’ birth. Please join us for a time filled with study,

prayer and fellowship!

————————————————————————

Suzy’s Corner

This time of year we celebrate the youth who have

graduated from high school and the young adults who

have graduated from college. Remember the feeling

of completing your long education journey? The

feeling of freedom...getting on with your adult life? The

feeling of “having the world by the tail?” You could do

anything you wanted...all the dreams and hopes of

different directions you had available to you.

Each one of us can have that feeling at any

time...through God: He gives us the privilege of

starting over each new day. God gives us that gift

each day. Through prayer we can ask God to direct us

in the way HE wants us to go. WE may have plans of

our own, but ultimately God has His plans for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the Bible verses typically

used for graduates. But all of us can benefit from it:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the

Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans

to give you hope and a future.”

But if you continue reading verses 12-13, we can be assured that God will guide all of us through our future: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Looking forward to the future, In His Service, Suzy

Prayer chain requests can be called to Lois Gapen at

(402) 572-6792 or the church office at (402) 572-8392.

Thank you for your kind responses regarding updating

our prayer list. We were pleased to hear several that

were much improved. Please continue to let us know of

any changes so that we can update our list and assure

that the prayers going out weekly are the most current

and urgent needs expressed. Thank you in advance.

The list is below:

Prayer Requests: Dirk Huston (Janet Delehoy’s

nephew), Karen Vrtiska (friend of Janet Delehoy),

Nancy Norton (friend of Carol Scott), Bob Gardner

(Janet Delehoy’s daughter’s, friend), Michael Guilliams

(Bev Ambrosius’ nephew), Sandy Christopherson, Pearl

Christopherson, Ivan Vrtiska, Al Cummings (Janet

Delehoy’s brother), Sharon Marchese (Kathleen

Hammond’s sister), SuEllyn Negus, Carol Scott, Lynn

Hammond, Ed Lippincott, Drew Botsakos, Jim Taylor,

Kathleen Hammond, Marla Wilson (Sue Miller’s sister-in

-law’s sister), Mary LaHood, Dianne Hasch (Dianna

Cupps’ friend), Al Hagemeyer (Jean Barker’s brother),

Kathy Caito, Barb Karstens, Connie Klaumann

On-Going Cancer Treatment: Ena Nolan, Mike Lambert,

Mary Larson, Patricia Gename (Mary Hinman’s

daughter), Sharon Kirby (Janet Delehoy’s sister-in-law),

Dick McCoy, Gail Schroeder, Pam Dutton, Dave

Merriam, Anita Sohm, Sue Day, Robert Baker, Sharon

Cook (cousin of Carol Scott), Evelyn Walton, Sharon

McNutt (Ruth Negus’ friend’s sister), Betty Benskin,

Ingrid Kerfoot (friend of Sherry Mitchell), Edie Skrobo,

Kathy Stow (friend of Bev Ambrosius)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since Easter Sunday, we’ve been learning in worship about the activities of the early church through Luke’s

record in the book the Acts of the Apostles. Through the early chapters in Acts, we see how the early church

passionately spread the good news about Jesus to their fellow Jewish men and women. Then in chapter 10, the

apostle Peter encounters a non-Jewish man and his family who received God’s grace through the Holy Spirit. There

were some in the church who didn’t agree with this movement. Debates raged within the church. Eventually, a

church council was called to discuss the issue whether people must become Jewish before becoming Christian.

Acts 15 outlines how the leaders of the early church came together and determined that any person who wants to

follow Jesus is welcomed to do so without further requirements.

In the month of June, I will attend the first annual gathering of the Tri-Conference (the united Iowa,

Nebraska, and South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ) here in Omaha and I have been asked to

be a representative of the Nebraska Conference at the 32nd General Synod of the United Church of Christ, our

congregation’s denomination, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both events are the gathering of representatives from local

churches across our conferences and denomination. Both the Tri-Conference and the General Synod continue in

the spirit of the early church to gather together in one location to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on the mission of

our churches. They help to accomplish our denomination’s motto from John 17:21, “that they may all be one.”

When the early church met in Jerusalem, they were far from being unified, but as the leaders engaged in

dialogue, some felt led to change their positions, so that unity emerged. Unity is often hard to reach in today’s

world. Even through the General Synod, churches and leaders across the United Church of Christ don’t always

agree on everything theological and practical. Despite this reality, we still seek to be unified and work together on

each level of our denomination. One of the first steps of unity comes in our own congregation. Often, when a

problem or issue arises, we take a quick vote and the majority vote wins. But this way can leave people who comply

yet whose hearts do not agree. It is often difficult to arrive at a situation where the people of the church are in total

agreement. Even though it may take a longer time to reach a decision, if agreement can be reached by sitting down

and entering a discussion, I believe best in the church can be accomplished.

The question is, then, can unity be accomplished in the church? I think it’s difficult but certainly possible. May we learn from the early church and our denominational leaders and be led by the Holy Spirit to discern what God asks us to do. May we seek and pray what Jesus prayed for so long ago, “that they may all be one.”

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Alex

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Join us on Wednesdays at 10 AM as Pastor Alex leads a Bible study on the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Please join us for a lively time filled with study, prayer and fellowship!

From Pastor Alex Wolf

From left to right: Lois Gapen, Kathy Coppler, Ardell Reuter, Ginger Morelock (standing), Isobel Taylor, Babe McDaniel, Pat Mollak

Who is the amazing crew of “newsletter angels” that get together month after month to be sure the newsletter gets out to our eager readers on a timely basis? Our very own ladies below! You are valued and appreciated!

We couldn’t do it without you! Thanks for your faithfulness!

“Dr. Alex” (the preschoolers gave him that title!) and teachers serving the parents, preschoolers and guests at

the May 17th Graduation.

100% parent/ family

attendance! Wow!

Sunday School is held for elementary-age children.

Kids exit with Suzy after the Children’s Moment.

Children are encouraged to join us as we discover

“Mission Possible!”

Sunday School Offering: The Sunday School classes

take an offering each Sunday. The kids will decide what

annual mission they want their offering to go to.

Sprout, Bloom, Grow

We had 14 children “graduate” from preschool and 8 others receive a Certificate of Completion (3-year-old class). Many of our 3-year-olds are coming back in September. We have space available in all our classes. If you know of a family looking for a good preschool, please send them our way. Suzy would love to give them a tour.

We will begin our Summer Wednesday Playdates on June 5th! We have 8 kids enrolled and it should be a fun time for the little ones.

Mark your calendar for June 10-14; light dinner from

5:30-6:00 PM then VBS from 6-8 PM. We are excited to

partner with Lord of Love Church! We will host the VBS

here at Northwest Hills. This is a great outreach to the

community. Want to help out? Contact Suzy!

EPIC YOUTH: No Youth Bible Study June-August.

We will resume on September 8th.

CONGRATULATIONS! The Scholarship Committee

is pleased to announce the recipients of the Dr.

Werner P. Jensen Scholarship for the Academic

Year 2019-2020:

Melanie Brusnahan:

University of Oklahoma or Iowa State University

Andrew Key:

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Sunday School

(Children Ages 4-11)

Northwest Hills Preschool

Help support the K-5th youth by

buying cookies and lemonade

at their Lemonade Stand on

Sunday, June 16th during

Fellowship Time. The funds raised

will help purchase animals through

Heifer International. They have

been saving their Sunday School

offering and VBS money to help end hunger. All “capped and gowned”

and eagerly awaiting their

graduation ceremony!

Lining up! Getting ready for the big moment! We can hardly Stand still!

The teachers

will miss the

students and

the special joy

and energy the

children

brought every

day!

June 1 Car Wash! Front of Church! 9—2

June 10-14 Vacation Bible School—Mega Sports Camp

5:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m.

June 22nd Car Wash! Front of Church! 9-2

July 7-13

July 14 July 21

Upcoming Events:

Shannondale Mission Trip Youth Service Lake Manawa Outing

Kids K-5th Grade Happenings

EPIC 6th-12th Grade

June 2 Summer Sunday School: Mission Possible 9:45 a.m.

June 9 Summer Sunday School: Mission Possible 9:45 a.m.

June 10-14 Vacation Bible School—Mega Sports Camp 5:30 pm- 8:00 pm

June 16 Summer Sunday School: Mission Possible Lemonade Stand Fundraiser for Heifer Int’l

9:45 a.m. 10:30 a.m.

June 23 Summer Sunday School: Mission Possible 9:45 a.m.

June 30 Summer Sunday School: Mission Possible We can serve the USA

9:45 a.m.

June Summer Sunday School will consist of several missions in which the children can get involved. We will begin with a mission to God’s creatures. This will entail hands-on activities, such as making dog treats, Bible verse memory, and learning a song. We want our children to know that they, too, can serve God’s Kingdom!

No Youth Bible Study June-August: we will resume on September 8th.

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NORTHWEST HILLS CHURCH

9334 FORT STREET

OMAHA NE 68134

Address service requested

NON PROFIT ORG

U S POSTAGE

PAID

OMAHA NE

PERMIT NO 369

BIRTHDAYS

ANNIVERSARIES

1 Olivia Hultman 1 Barbara Karstens 1 KC Pullen 1 Laurie Salonen 2 SuEllyn Negus 3 Tyler Stricker 5 Adam Markuson 6 Austin Infante 6 Hunter Pierce 8 Jordan Pullen 9 Ernest Summers 11 LaNita Wood 12 Christina Beal 14 David Perez 14 Ashley Tracy 14 Lauren Tracy

16 Madeline Carlin 16 Chloe Baudendistel 17 Heather Antoniak 19 Steve Shafer 20 Jon Jewell 20 Will Jewell 20 Kenneth Johnson 24 Wyatt Stricker 25 Stephanie Henkel 26 Jason Coufal 26 Nancy Resset 27 Jennifer Hunter 29 Andrew Key 30 Judith Intlekofer 30 James Pullen

2 Mark & Dianna Cupps 3 Weldon & Judy Stockfleth 7 Frederick & Virginia Moore 10 Mark & Martha Allen 10 Larry & Glenda Kalina 12 Steve & Barbi Beberniss 12 Corwin & Nancy Miller 12 Kenneth & Ruby Peterson 12 Keith & Angle Shaffer

14 Jim & Edie Skrobo 17 Emerson & Barb Renicker 23 Kevin & Lisa Hall 26 Bob & Tiffanie Bergamine 29 Keith & Rebeca Browne 29 Charles & Catherine McIntosh 30 Brian & Amy Hindley

JUNE