Clean out the closets! It's time to sort through the "not so special" Christmas gifts and "regift" them!

It's White Elephant BINGO time at MCC Omaha. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26. Doors open at 6 PM for the most fabulous junk food around. BINGO starts promptly at 7 PM.

There'll be the most fabulous prizes you have ever seen, after all, you and your friends will be providing them. Cards are only $3 each, 2 for $5 or 5 for $10 and they are good for all evening!

Mr. Royal Bush will be calling BINGO Numbers for this edition of White Elephant BINGO!

Yes, we'll have a raffle or two! Eeveryone will go home with a prize! Guaranteed!

The Heartland Gay Rodeo Association is hosting a benefit for the MCC Food Pantry on Sunday, April 27 at DC's Saloon.

Beginning at 7 pm, you can purchase a Spaghetti Dinner for $4.50 a plate (which includes garlic bread and chocolate torte) to benefit the pantry and then at 8 pm watch an entertaining benefit show!

Help HGRA "Fill the Fridge & Pantry" by showing your support to Pete Canfield, Aretha Spanklin', Miss Trina Tabloid, Aphelia Butts-Feinstein, Sharon Van Butsel, Cupid and others who will be gracing the stage!

MCC Omaha's Food Pantry, primarily serves the clients of the Nebraska AIDS Project and members of MCC Omaha who are need of food assistance on a weekly basis.

Special thanks to the Heartland Gay Rodeo Association for their continued support of MCC Omaha!

Growth is an amazing thing!

Because of the sustained growth that MCC Omaha has been experiencing, we will be adding a 2nd service on Sunday mornings!

Beginning Sunday, May 4, there will be a 9 am AND 11 am Worship Celebration each week. Both services will be the same format of worship.

Fellowship time will now move to 10 am instead of 10:15 am on Sunday to allow time for individuals from both services to mingle, and enjoy each others fellowship.

The worship teams (including praise band, praise singers, liturgists and hospitality) all need increased members to help accomodate this added service. If you feel called to help your church continue to experience the good will of God's love, please see the related article below in regards to the many different areas of ministry that you can join at MCC Omaha!

Remember - beginning Sunday, May 4 - you will now have a choice of worship time...... 9 am or 11 am!

The Connections Newsletter Team will meet next Saturday, May 3.

If you would like to help fold, address and mail the next issue of Connections, then this team is for you!

Coffee, juice and donuts are provided to all who come to help with the newsletter!

One of the most Christ-like things we can do is to show love, friendship and hospitality to others.

Without the Hospitality Ministry, the church can't grow. In the past few weeks, the Hospitality Team has lost several of its members.

Now, it could be your turn to make a difference. MCC Omaha is looking for outgoing people who know how to commuicate well and effectively with others. Duties of Hospitality Team members could include: opening the front door for folks as they arrive, working at the greeter's table, handing out bullitions and whatever else is needed.

It means enaging our guests with more than just the obligatory "good morning." Can you, will you do that? If you want to learn more please contact Kris & Bobbi via Email or by talking to them after Service on Sunday.

Here at MCC-Omaha we are together building a culture of LOVE, APPRECIATION, & TRUST

We are led to address Opportunities/ Conflicts/Challenges/Problems immediately and in a healthy manner. In doing this we . . .

• Recognize that dealing with opportunities/conflicts may mean compromise
• Accept that dealing with a challenge/problem does not mean that we will get our way
• Are faithful to our shared commitments
• Do not let challenges/conflicts separate us from our community of faith
• Take the time to talk and listen to each other
• Give and accept forgiveness
• And . . .

Let us become together a living example of Christ's all-inclusive love as we grow into a Culture of LOVE, APPRECIATION, & TRUST.

As Christians, we believe in our duty to serve God. Below are several different ways to serve God:

Liturgists: We need more people to help with worship in the areas of scripture reading, taking the offering, prayer and with communion. We have a training to help you feel comfortable in serving God as a liturgist during worship. Questions? Please contact Joy Burgdorf.

Holy C.O.W.: Yes, we know, it sounds strange. C.O.W. stands for "Caring for Others Wisely." This seminar helps all of us to better understand how to take care of ourselves and others. The benefits of this experience include: helping us to better manage our boundaries and conflict, better express our feelings and how to care for others without ignoring our own needs. Contact Karla Oliver.

Worship Team: If you have a passion for how worship is put together at MCC Omaha you may join the Worship Team. This group works with Pastor Tom to produce high quality worship that is meaningful. Contact Pastor Tom.

Prayer & Devotion: This ministry role is perfect for the person who is fascinated with the quiet inner places, who is passionate about seeking God through prayer and worship. If you feel called to learn more, please contact Pastor Tom.

Accessibility Team: It looks like 2008 will be the year that our Sanctuary will become accessible. We need many different kinds of people to make this happen: Fund raisers, visionaries, detail people, and more. If you believe in this cause you can join us. Contact: Kevin Marik.

BUTCH: Here at MCC we believe that it is important to be BUTCH (Building Up The Church Home). If you like to fix things (or would like to learn), have a passion about making our church reflect the dignity of our community, then this team is for you. Contact Cindy Klenda.

Board of Directors: The Board handles issues of money, polity, policy and property. If you would like to learn more about being on this team let us know. We have an open position on the Board. Contact Scott Hayes.

Hospitality Team: This team is so very important. When a new person comes to our church, these are the first people they experience. The Hospitality Team represents the church. If you are an outgoing, social person who enjoys meeting others this team may be for you. Contact Karla Oliver.

PowerPoint: The PowerPoint is a central component of our Sunday and Wednesday worship experience. If you are interested in this ministry, contact Ray Page.

Beginning in June 2008, the Rose of Dedication will have some changes:

• The Rose will now be a beautiful, living rose!
• The Rose will have a new place in the front lobby (outside of the current pastor's office) in a special vase!
• A new placard announcing each week's special honor, person or event
• The Rose will be brought forward during the offering portion of the service and placed on a special shelf at the front of the Sanctuary!
• Following worship, you will be able to take your rose home with you!

If you have something or someone important that you wish to honor, celebrate or remember, you can sponsor a Rose of Dedication by getting a donation and your dedication to the Church Office a week or more in advance. But get your dedications in early, as there will be a limit or no more than 3 roses per Sunday!

We are in need of outgoing & commited individuals to represent MCC at the monthly Columbus Park Neighborhood Association meetings.

Association meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month at Grace Lutheran Church located at 1326 South 26th Street. Meetings start at 7:00 pm and last about an hour.

ABOUT COLUMBUS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD

The Columbus Park neighborhood is located in the near south side of the city. Columbus Park's boundaries are between 28th Street and 20th Street and Martha Street to Leavenworth Street. Rich with history and diversity, Columbus Park boasts many older homes with long family ties going back several generations and an ever growing ethnic texture of many cultures.

The neighborhood is within minutes of great restaurants, museums, and downtown attractions. Churches in the area include St Ann's Catholic Church, St Peter's Catholic Church, Faith Bible Church, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Omaha Baptist Center and the Metropolitan Community Church. The two elementary schools in the vicinity are Liberty Elementary School and Field Club Elementary School along with South High and Central High.

The Columbus Park Neighborhood Association or CPNA has a long history of serving our community. Because of our organization, we have representation at City Hall. We believe this is a great neighborhood to raise a family. Working together, we can make this neighborhood one of the best spots in town.

MCC Education Series 2008 presents:

A Study of the Book of JOB

We all experience grief and suffering. Job has often been lifted up as the quinessential sufferer in ways which may be both helpful and harmful in our own moments of suffering.

Together we will ask some critical questions:

• Where is God when we hurt?
• Why do we suffer?
• Is there purpose in our pain?

Through this, the book of Job (perhaps one of the oldest in the Bible) will be our guide. Join Pastor Tom for this Study of the Book of Job beginning on Monday, May 5 (for 3 weeks) at 7 pm in the Social Hall.

Take time to ReCharge
on Wednesdays at MCC Omaha 7 pm!

ReCharge is a short 25 minute service that will get you back on track each week. This quiet candlelight worship is largely in the Taize style of meditative worship.

Together we will experience the beauty of dozens of candles, gentle meditative singing, and the regenerative power of silence.

We invite you to join us for one of our services which best suits your schedule. All services are held at 819 S. 22nd Street in Omaha.

• Sunday Worship Celebration 9:00 A.M.
• Fellowship 10 A.M.
• Sunday Worship Celebration 11:00 A.M.
• Children's Sunday School after the Children's Time during Worship Celebration

***Remember, beginning Sunday, May 4 - there will be 2 Worship Services......9 AM and 11 AM

We would like to be able to recognize you on your birthday and also during your birthday week. In order for this to happen, MCC Omaha is asking for its members to provide the day and month.

If each person would take a moment to respond via email to the church office or by phone at 402.345.2563, we will add you to the birthday list! We would like to be able to recognize you on your important day.....you don't have to provide the year - just the month and day!

Upcoming Team Meetings at MCC include:

• Sanctuary Renewal ~ Team 3 - Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 pm
• Accessibility Team - Thursday, May 1 at 7 pm
• Newsletter Team - Folding & Mailing - Saturday, May 3 at 10 am
• Sanctuary Renewal ~ Team 3 - Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 pm
• Accessibility Team - Thursday, May 8 at 7 pm
• Worship Team - Monday, May 12 at 6 pm

Join a Team and make a difference at MCC Omaha!

1) MCC Omaha needs individuals to help pick up bread from Panera on the fourth Thursday of every month If interested, please contact Alan Barcus.

2) Clothing / Toiletry Drive - Only one more weeks left to donate clothes or toiletry items for Youth Emergency Services. May 1st will be the last day items are accepted. Items can be left in the blue totes in the social hall lobby area. Contact Kevin Marik for details.

3) MCC Omaha is pleased to welcome a new NA Group to our building. The Miracle NA Group will meet at 10 pm everyday (7 days a week)! This is in addition to the One Promise NA Group which meets on Sundays at 6 pm in the Social Hall. If you know someone who could benefit from these group meetings, you can contact the church office more details.

Did you know that MCC Omaha has a MySpace.com social networking site? We are connected to many of the other MCC's across the United States via our MySpace site!

If you have a MySpace site on the web, you can visit our page and request that MCC Omaha become one of your friends. Once the request is received and approved, you can then move MCC Omaha into your top friends spaces and thus, help promote and make more people throughout Nebraska aware of our great church ministries!

Our MySpace site is in the infant stages of creation, but it will soon grow to join our new website to help keep MCC Omaha at the forefront of the LGBT Community of Nebraska and western Iowa.

Check us out!