September 20, 2023

Church potluck picnic is this Friday

~ ReVision Team

Join us for a fun Friday evening picnic on September 22nd at 6 p.m. at the Chalco Hills Recreational Area. The entrance to Chalco Hills is on Giles Road between 144th and 156th streets. Come to the "Group Shelter" on this map or simply follow the 2U signs.

Electricity, grill, play area available and the site is accessible. Bring a dish to share if you are able, but most importantly bring yourself. Plates, flatware, and drinks provided. There will be plenty of activities for the young and young at heart!

*** In case of inclement weather, the picnic will be moved to the church ***

Caring for each other

~ the Caring Team

• Mike Thomas, husband of Lolly Thomas passed away on Monday, September 17th. Please keep Lolly in your thoughts. 
• The Caring Committee volunteers have been busy caring for our friends at Second Unitarian church. What a wonderful group of volunteers we have! Many thinks to Anita Jeck, Julie Kirn, Cheri Cody, Ruth Corwin for their recent donations of food to help one of our community. And another big thank you to everyone who donated grocery cards, meals, money and moral support to a member who was in need. Second Unitarian church is truly a second family to us all.  

The Caring Committee decided we would like to include events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other happy events in this column, as well as anyone hospitalized, injured or ill. WE NEED YOUR BIRTHDATES, ANNIVERSARIES etc. if you want them included in this column! 

Please send the information you would like posted in the ENews to: [email protected].

Gather with Nebraska UUs this weekend

~ Cheri Cody

Nebraska UU congregations will meet September 23rd 1 - 3 p.m. at Unitarian Church of Lincoln or via Zoom. We'll continue our exploration of beloved community and, also, how we might structure gatherings in the future.

Afterwards, if you attend in person, stay for more fun with ice cream and conversation.

Here is the zoom link.

Food collection continues

~ Rev. Juniper Meadows

When the winter comes we inevitably have folks outside our community who come requesting aid and these amenities help to provide at least some comfort during a hard time.

All are invited to bring a non-perishable food item that can be opened without a can opener, travel toiletries, feminine hygiene products, grocery/gas gift cards, and other essential items we can store in our pantry.

Second Chance items for sale

~ Jaime Short

Here are some items for sale from folks in our 2U community. The money is then donated to our beloved church. See what's for sale this week!

Second Chance sale guidelines

1. In this column you may sell items (furniture, household goods, electronics, etc.) with all money donated to Second Unitarian.
2. Please email your ad (item description, price and your contact info) to Jaime: [email protected]
3. If the item has sold or is no longer available, the seller will need to notify Jaime.
4. The ad will run for 2 weeks.

Book Sale ends this weekend

~ the Library Committee

The last day of our annual book sale is this Sunday, September 24th. The sale will be open before church from 10 a.m. until after church until 12:30 p.m. (Rain date: October 1st.)

Conflict: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, Where We’re Going

~ Committee on Ministry

October 13th - 15th, Rev. Lisa Presley, our Congregational Life Consultant from the MidAmerica Region, will be with us to explore our history with congregational conflict and better ways to make decisions when the going gets hard. 

Every congregation has hard times, every congregation has disagreements, and sometimes the disagreements turn into fights. But we can learn approaches to fighting well - ways that are more helpful than some of our immediate instincts. This workshop is designed to help us explore together how we can best handle these situations. 

• On Friday evening, October 13th, Lisa will host a listening circle for those who were touched by the congregational disruptions of the past several years. From ministerial transitions, to COVID-19 changes, and back to in-person services, we have weathered a lot. Friday evening will be a time to share and process what remains for you from previous hard times.
• On Saturday, October 14th, we will look at conflict, who we are, and who we want to become as a congregation. We will examine the ways in which we’ve been challenged in the past while looking to a brighter future for 2nd Unitarian. Together, we will explore tools and techniques to nurture this congregation and ourselves through inevitable periods of conflict while staying true to our covenant.
• On Sunday, Rev. Presley will join us in the pulpit.

Registration is required for Friday and Saturday and is limited to 25 people on Friday. Signup Genius registration links below.

Friday night: 6:30 to 8:30 pm; beverages and light snacks will be provided.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E48A8AF22A5FE3-oct1

Saturday: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; lunch and snacks will be provided.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E48A8AF22A5FE3-oct

Community Happenings

~ Jaime Short

Here you can find information on community offerings that align with our UU values.



• Thinking about getting an electric vehicle? Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Several of us at Second Unitarian are assisting the Eco Team at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) and other local environmental groups put on the Omaha Drive Electric Event at FUMC, 7020 Cass St. on Saturday, Sept. 23 from Noon to 4 PM. Come meet the many enthusiastic EV owners who will be displaying their vehicles including Rick Bell and his new Kia EV6. Rev. Juniper has been invited to bring her new electric bike. Learn from their personal experiences both pro and con! Click here for more details.



• Tree planting in the Prairie Lane neighborhood. Our dear little church is located in the Prairie Lane Neighborhood. Join Prairie Lane residents for a tree planting event at 9 am. They will gather at the small, covered picnic area just east of the pickleball courts. The event is expected to conclude around 10 am. No tools required!

Have you registered for RE?

~ Ashleigh Fuson

Registering your family helps us to stay in contact about more than just religious education!

• All-ages events
• Our Whole Lives classes
• Seasonal celebrations
• Family engagement
• And more!

Follow this link to register: https://form.jotform.com/232314704992053. 

Stewardship Moments wanted!

~ Chris Peters

Do you find inspiration and community connection in Second Unitarian Church? Are you looking for a new way to show your appreciation?

Stewardship Committee wants to hear from you! We are looking for people interested in giving Stewardship Moments during upcoming services over the next several months, as we build up to the next annual Stewardship Campaign. These are only about 3-5 minutes, about why you choose to contribute in many different ways to what makes this church so special for all of us.

If you are interested in reserving your spot in an upcoming service, please reach out to Chris Peters at [email protected], or by phone at 531-365-1125. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

September Share the Plate - Malcolm X Foundation

The Malcolm X Foundation was created to educate through the teachings of Malcolm X’s legacy on a local, national and international scale. They own 17 acres of land including the former home site of Malcolm X who was born here in Omaha, Ne. Their work includes:

• ​Annual Malcolm X Birthday Celebration
• Betty Shabazz Community Garden & 4MX Greenhouse
• Birth site memorial & grounds maintenance
• Civic Engagement Trainings
• Community Center & and Neighborhood Association
• Educational Tours

Please give generously to the Malcolm X Foundation. Mail checks to 2U at 3012 S. 119th Street, 68144. Put “Share the Plate” in the memo line. OR try our online giving by clicking here.