JUNE 2016 VOLUME 17 NUMBER 6 JUNE Heartland Pride 2015 HEARTLAND PRIDE JUNE 25 As we approach another Heartland Pride event, family; the family that is Countryside I remain grateful to be part of a community Community Church. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: that welcomes LGBTQ members and supports Each year, Countryside volunteers hand out me personally in my passion to reach out to flyers, buttons and stickers from our booth. Welcome - Page 2 that community every year. Many assume that We are also given a unique opportunity to talk my interest is fueled by my love of my precious with attendees about our church, what we Pastoral Care - Page 3 youngest daughter, Hannah, who is a lesbian, believe and what we have to offer. Every year, Center For Faith Studies - Page 4 but they are wrong. My daughter came out in I have had the privilege to listen to those who middle school to welcoming, supportive are struggling. Why Heartland Pride? I asked Journey Groups- Page 5 parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. a friend, some time ago, why she felt Pride was Youth Ministries - Page 6 Her experience has, mostly, been very much important and she said, “For Lelah, for Harvey Children’s Education - Page 7 like that. She does not need me to do this. In Milk, for the queens on the streets of New many ways, she feels she supports my effort! York. To be heard. To be known and live without Music Ministries - Page 8 I do this because of other young people who of fear. To be free.” I do this for my friends, Christian Outreach - Page 9 cannot find love, acceptance or support and those who I hope will become my friends, anywhere. Family and friends turn away and who want to be heard, to be known, to be free Relocation Update - Page 9 they are told than even a loving God is not and to live without fear. Life Ministries - Page 10 available to them. We need to do what we can to let them know that this is not true. They can –Diane Scott, Countryside member and Pride Get Connected - Page 11 find a place to be received warmly into a loving Volunteer Coordinator. WELCOME TO COUNTRYSIDE PASTORAL CARE WELCOME SPOTLIGHT We would like to take this opportunity to offer you a warm Countryside welcome. We are a community that places great value on welcoming ALL to an open and affirming community Countryside’s Stephen Ministry Program where we celebrate and rest in a God who loves us beyond our wildest imaginations. We invite Congratulations to our nine new Stephen Countryside is a caring congregation that offers you to journey with us as we work together with the guidance of the Spirit, seeking those Ministers at Countryside! We congratulate support to its members in numerous ways. Along places where we are called to participate with God toward the fullest expression of who we and welcome Jerry Brown, Doug Dushan, with our pastors, who are always willing to Church Office are created to be. As a congregation of the United Church of Christ we believe the greatest Carlos Figueroa, Jane Frey, Margaret provide you with compassionate direction, care expression of the Body of Christ is found in the local congregation, and each person in our Gilmore, Betsy Lay, Christy Palmer, Carol and advice when called upon to do so, we have 8787 Pacific Street, Omaha NE 68114 Rogers and Mary Watke as they begin a wonderful support system with our Care Team community has a unique conversation with God that serves the whole. Countryside is a place Phone - 402-391-0350 serving our faith community. Thank you and Stephen Ministers. Email - [email protected] where God is still speaking to us and to our community. Each of us is called to discern that again to their dedicated leaders, Donna Website - www.countrysideucc.org voice and act on that discovery. We welcome you and invite you to participate with us in this Care Team Facebook - www.facebook.com/ Knutson and Molly Anderson! Molly calling. The Care Team consists of thoughtful, generous CountrysideOmaha/ hosted a Stephen Ministry social at her OUR MISSION home on May 16 to help us all get to know members of the congregation who provide various Program Staff those who are newly trained. If you or types of comfort or assistance to those in our We are an inclusive, open and affirming family of faith, welcoming all to God’s table of love church family experiencing times of hardship. Contact information for program staff can and acceptance. We are diverse, yet united by Christ’s example. We care for one another, anyone you know would benefit from a be found on individual ministry pages. little extra support which is confidential support one another and challenge one another to become all that God creates us to be. We Stephen Ministry and arranged at your convenience, contact Ministers work together to nurture our community and to promote peace and justice in our conflicted Our New Stephen Ministers Stephen Ministry is an active lay ministry program Jan Brown, Pastoral Care Coordinator. Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. world. within our church that provides confidential Senior Minister, ext. 113 Two upcoming Stephen Ministry Dates: Christian support and hope to those who are facing difficulties in their lives. [email protected] I AM NEW TO COUNTRYSIDE Tuesday, June 7, 6:00 PM - the last Peer Support meeting before our summer break. Rev. Chris Alexander Sunday Services - 9 AM Classical Service and 11 AM Jazz Service AGAPE Associate Minister, ext. 130 Saturday, August 23, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM - Stephen Ministry Retreat (for all those who have Nursery – childcare (ages 0-2) is available at both Sunday services and for Wednesday evening The AGAPE group has been a ministry of love and [email protected] been trained recently or in the past). programs. The Nursery is located on the upper level along the main hallway towards the church’s support for many decades, providing a warm and Assistant To The Ministers northwest entrance. IN LOVING MEMORY loving fellowship opportunity following memorial Robyn Hubbard Common Grounds Coffeehouse – Between services from 10 AM to 11 AM we invite you to A.H. “Buzz” Burling passed away on May 9. He’s survived by his wife Dee, daughter Amy or funeral services. Executive Admin. Asst., ext. 103 the Commons directly off the Foyer for coffee, donuts and fellowship. Baker, son Dave Burling and two grandchildren. The graveside service was held recently at [email protected] Information Station is located in the Foyer. If you have any questions or would like to sign up Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Dunlap, Iowa. We offer our prayerful support to the Burling family. QUESTIONS? Business Office for any church activities, please stop by the Information Station. Amplified Hearing Devices are available at the Information Station in the Foyer. FAME For more information about Pastoral Care Dan Loven Sunday School/Children’s Church – see Children’s Ministries, page 7. contact Jan Brown. Dir. of Admin & Communication, ext. 102 The Friday Art and Music Experience (FAME) members have broadened their horizons and [email protected] Free Gift - If you are a first time visitor at Countryside, we invite you to introduce yourself to are now graffiti artists! Kelly Keller came up with the idea of having FAME members painting Office Phone: (402) 391-0350 ext. 117 one of the pastors in the foyer after the services so we might offer you a gift of our gratitude a beautiful floral mural which is now on display in the church. Please take a minute to view Shari Garder Email: [email protected] Financial Secretary, ext. 123 for visiting with us. our newest piece of art. [email protected] Box, Basket and List - The Box, Basket and List, are three ways that Countryside shares our Steve Gomez gifts with one another and our community: The Box is a way to share our material possessions Administrative Assistant, ext. 101 with one another and is located in the Foyer; the Basket is Countryside’s way of sharing financial [email protected] offerings with our community for the support of our ongoing program ministries. The baskets Debbie Vihstadt are located at the back of the Sanctuary. And the List is the way we share of our time and talent Administrative Assistant, ext . 100 with one another and is printed in the Order of Worship. [email protected] Restrooms – Restrooms are available on the main level by the offices and on the lower level Jerry Gray by the elevator and by the gym. Church Clerk Countryside Email list – If you would like to be on Countryside’s weekly email list, please contact [email protected] the church office at [email protected] or call 402-391-0350. Brian Palmer Building/Property Coordinator NEW EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Robyn Hubbard, our new Executive Administrative [email protected] Assistant, comes to us from a retail, legal and nonprofit Audio/Visual background. Born and raised in Omaha, she and husband Nicholas O’Bradovich David practiced law before going into the family business, AV Tech Leader Ginn Oil Company and goodies Mini Marts, where they [email protected] worked together for over 20 years until the company Ben Semisch was sold. Robyn then opened a yarn shop at Countryside Videographer Village called String of Purls which she operated for [email protected] almost eight years until starting at the Central High School Minister of Spiritual Direction Foundation. As a new member of the congregation Rita Otis (August, 2015), “I am thrilled to be part of such a great Minister of Spiritual Direction, ext.