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News

Here you will find information on some of the exciting things going on at FCC. Visit this page often to review featured events, ongoing opportunities, and various updates from the congregation.
Scott’s Column: State of the Church 2023

Scott’s Column: State of the Church 2023

Yet again last week I saw another article on one of the major national news websites detailing how difficult times are for churches.  That longtime trends of decline...

A Letter from Rev. Katie Miller

A Letter from Rev. Katie Miller

  To First Central: Around 6.5 years ago, I arrived at First Central to be your Associate Minister for Student and Family Life.  I wasn’t fully sure what to expect...

Scott’s Column: Clergy on the Beach

Scott’s Column: Clergy on the Beach

  Last Monday morning I exited my hotel room and was greeted with the sunrise over the bay.  I then walked around the corner and there were the calm waters of the...

Scott’s Column: Yet Another Vigil

Scott’s Column: Yet Another Vigil

Sunday afternoon I attended a vigil at the Gene Leahy Mall for the victims of Club Q—the recent mass murder at a gay bar in Colorado Springs.  A vibrant group of folks...

Scott’s Column: JAM Report

Scott’s Column: JAM Report

It was so good to see people, to talk, to laugh, to hug.  Last week Katie Miller and I attended the Joint Annual Meeting of the Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota...

Scott’s Column: Our Medicine

Scott’s Column: Our Medicine

"These communities — islands of biological and cultural diversity in the ever-rising deluge of development and urbanization — are humankind's "Archipelago of Hope," for...

Scott’s Column: Watershed

Scott’s Column: Watershed

Sebastian and I left for our big summer trip to Yellowstone one Sunday evening in early July.  We stopped in Kearney the first night and enjoyed the hotel swimming...

Scott’s Column: On Consolation

Scott’s Column: On Consolation

My sabbatical began in June with a focus on clearing my mind and destressing.  The first day of the sabbatical, June 1, I went to Fontanelle Forest and walked for half...

Scott’s Column: Arrange for Change

Scott’s Column: Arrange for Change

  "Arrange for change" is one of the catchphrases in the National Park Service brochure on "Climate Change in National Parks."  Given that studying resilience in...

Scott’s Column: My Sabbatical

Scott’s Column: My Sabbatical

“What are you doing for your sabbatical?” people are asking.  Well, the simple answer is that after two years of managing the church through the pandemic and my family...

Lent Forums 2022

Lent Forums 2022

Join us on Sundays throughout Lent for a series of informative forums related to our Lenten theme of "A Long Walk." We'll hear from experts in our congregation and do...

Scott’s Column: 2022 State of the Church

Scott’s Column: 2022 State of the Church

In recent months there have been a number of articles in major national publications about the effects of the pandemic on churches.  Particularly how difficult this...

Scott’s Column: Kentucky Tornado Response

Scott’s Column: Kentucky Tornado Response

Dawson Springs, Kentucky is a town I know.  You’ve heard of Dawson Springs in the news lately because it was one of the towns that took a direct hit from the Kentucky...

The Reza Family

A Note on the Reza Family by Melanie Naughtin After the announcement in church Sunday, November 28, regarding the decision to offer assistance to an Afghan family who...

Scott’s Column: Thanksgiving

Scott’s Column: Thanksgiving

This autumn marks the 400th anniversary of the meal between the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the indigenous Wampanoags.  Often our current annual Thanksgiving events...

Scott’s Column: Neighborliness

Scott’s Column: Neighborliness

All through the summer, as Sebastian would walk from my house to my Mom's apartment, he would get annoyed at the trash he'd see on the ground.  "We need to come pick...

Scott’s Column – Exciting Neighborhood

Scott’s Column – Exciting Neighborhood

Eleven years ago, the week we moved into our new home here in Omaha, Midtown Crossing also opened.  One reason I came to First Central was it seemed possible that this...

Scott’s Column: Gratitude

Scott’s Column: Gratitude

My sister ordered Sebastian an Advent calendar.  He knows it has arrived but hasn't seen it yet.  The other day he asked what day he could open it up and begin opening...

Scott’s Column: Mayflower Compact

On November 11, 1620 the Mayflower floated in Provincetown Harbor (the landing at Plymouth was a month away).  The crew was grumbling.  The voyage had been delayed,...

Katie’s Musings – But/And

Katie’s Musings – But/And

I’ve been thinking a lot about language and the way we use it to talk about life and each other and about God, particularly in the present covid/election/world-on-fire...

Tug, My “AA” Buddy

Tug, My “AA” Buddy

Thank you Kathy Hoyt sharing this story of her faithful Tug at this year's Pet Blessing! Unlike the rest of us, Tug is getting older.  He’s not the same one or...

Gospel Encounters: Fall Worship Theme

Gospel Encounters: Fall Worship Theme

"The encounter with people who are different from others, in whose lives you can see a new intelligence about reality, a fully awakened desire, a tireless initiative, a...

Pandemic Stress Relief – The Labyrinth

Pandemic Stress Relief – The Labyrinth

In the midst of a pandemic, any activity that relieves a little stress is a welcome distraction.   First Central Congregational United Church of Christ offers the...

Katie’s Musings – COVID Consent

Katie’s Musings – COVID Consent

To mask or not to mask… that is the question. …. no actually, it really isn’t a question.  #WearAMask and #ListenToTheScientists Realistically, unless there are...

Pandemic Spirituality

Pandemic Spirituality

This spring Senior Minister Scott Jones wrote a series of five essays connecting our pandemic and quarantine experiences with the spiritual wisdom of the church.  Here...

Katie’s Musings:  COVID Time

Katie’s Musings: COVID Time

I think the weirdest thing about COVID life is the passage of time.   June is almost gone.  But May was only yesterday. Remember the Australian wildfires? No? Don’t...

From the Health Team

Submitted by Bonnie Harmon, First Central Health Team   In preparation for this week’s Adult Forum on Mental and Spiritual Well Being, I’ve tried to do more...

From The Refugee Team

From The Refugee Team

We received word last month that our (current) refugee family was struggling during this time of pandemic. The bread-winner of the Khamis family had been having...

From The Health Team – Mask Mastery

Your mask protects me, and my mask protects you. I hope you have heard this many times by now. It is the crux of why everyone who goes out of their home should be...

State of the Church 2020

State of the Church 2020

At yesterday's Annual Meeting, Senior Minister Scott Jones delivered his annual "State of the Church" address. This being my tenth Annual Meeting as your Senior...

From the Health Team: Cold & Flu Season

Here we are again, right at the onset of cold and flu season. We are all interested in things we can do to keep ourselves and others healthy. Of course, we always start...

Scott’s Column: Resolution 8

Scott’s Column: Resolution 8

“The covenant communion of the congregations with each other gives each the responsibility of engaging in a common conversation,” writes historian Randi Jones Walker in...

First Central Library

First Central Library

Ever wondered what books are available in the church library? The First Central Library catalog is now online. You can access it from home or office or wherever you...

Katie’s Musings:  Church/Theater

Katie’s Musings: Church/Theater

One of the first theatrical productions I was a part of took place in a decommissioned Episcopalian church.  In retrospect, it was a bit of an odd setting for a musical...

Scott’s TED Talk

Scott’s TED Talk

In February Scott was an invited speaker to this year's TEDxUNO where the theme was Resilience.  His talk, "Living Open" has now been published.  Watch it here.

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