MISSION: OUR PRIORITY

My Faith, Our Church, Christ’s Mission

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Learn more about our Mission Committee and the missions we support. Volunteers are always needed!

 

Questions?

Contact any member of the Mission Committee

 

Mission Committee Members

  • Keith Allen
  • Rob Bailey
  • John Bennett
  • Matt Darling
  • Paul Holubeck
  • Gayle Kerr-McFadden
  • Karen Metzger
  • Kathy Moore
  • Karen Morey
  • Tina Morgan
  • Patti Sparks
  • Sandi Stuckey
  • Darrell Stuedemann
  • Clarence Waters
  • Anne Wattles (moderator)
  • Marshall Zieman (Pastor)

The Mission Committee mission statement is “To glorify God by identifying and facilitating opportunities to effectively engage us, the congregation, to share our gifts of time, talent and money with those in need in our community and the world.  We will accomplish this by following Christ’s example of caring and demonstrating faith and love through action using the Scripture as our guide.”

PCOC’s mission focus is “Children and Youth at Risk” and members volunteer between 4,000 and 5,000 hours of service each year to our mission partners.

Each year for the last 29 years, we have committed 20% of Congregational Giving to the Mission Budget of the Church. This has meant that every time you increased your pledge, 20 cents of every dollar went to Mission. Every time the Congregation grew the budget to underwrite some new ministry or program, the Mission Budget also grew. This budget is supplemented by Special Offerings for specific needs like One Great Hour of Sharing, the Thanksgiving Offering, the Joy/Christmas Offering, the Deacon’s Offering, or special collections in response to natural disasters.

As the parable of the Good Samaritan guides us, our call is to love our neighbors through actively helping them in the difficult experiences of life. Jesus went on to tell us that whenever we help the least among us—it is like helping God.

It is clear that our Lord intended helping those in need to be a visible sign of our faith—so this area of our churches ministry is of crucial importance. 

Mission Is More than Money

Through our mission ministries we seek to follow Christ’s example of demonstrating faith and love through action. Volunteers are at the heart of our efforts and all are welcome to participate. Our shift towards ‘hands-on’ involvement has affected all areas of our mission. Junior High Fellowship, Senior High Fellowship and College groups all actively participate in various mission trips. Our adults also have a strong partnership with our sister church in Gnozdovo, Russia.

Locally, we serve dinner at Siena Francis House once a month. We also serve a monthly meal at the Omaha Street School for students and staff, and we have several adults serving in their mentoring program.

In OPS schools where no PTA and little teacher support exists, we sponsor teacher appreciation lunches. At the Integrated Learning Program, we help to make graduation special.

We have drivers for Home Delivered Meals, workers with our Habitat for Humanity Coalition, volunteers at Heartland Hope Mission, and laborers for a Calvin Crest Work Day. In the summer and fall, we have many members volunteering with AllPlay baseball, a league geared towards giving kids with special needs an opportunity to play baseball.

We assist with Thanksgiving food assistance with Completely Kids, and we are exploring other areas for more personal involvement with local mission.

In 2019, we served as a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance hosting site where volunteers from outside of Omaha stayed at our church while helping community members affected by the devastating floods that year.

From Bible School in Gnezdovo to repairing flood ravaged homes in Cedar Rapids, we reach out and serve.

Denominational Involvement

Together we join with Presbyterians across the nation and support our church’s structure (through our per capita assessment) and mission in our region, nation and the world (through our General Mission Pledges).

We also offer specific support for Ellen Smith, our Missionary in Russia; support for the Camp Calvin Crest; HELP Adult Services (formerly Presbyterian Outreach); the Theological Education Fund; and support for the Medical Benevolence Fund which helps with medical needs around the world.

For more information contact any member of the Mission Committee.

Key Mission Partners

We have major involvement with a few key mission partners. This major involvement combines the opportunity for regular hands-on service with a substantial donation of approximately $10,000 dollars. The following organizations/efforts are key mission partners.

Support the Pantry on the 3rd Sunday Every Month

Bring your food and hygiene items to Sunday worship on the 3rd Sunday of the month, or drop them inside the circle drive doors at church anytime. The most needed items are listed below.

Food Items:
Peanut Butter
Canned Fruit
Canned Corn
Mac & Cheese
Cereal
Pasta
Pasta Sauce

Hygiene Items:
Baby Diapers (all sizes but biggest need is sizes 4-6)
Baby Wipes
Full-Size Shampoo and Body Wash
Toilet Paper
Toothpaste

Questions? Contact John Bennett — coordinator

Learn more about HHM . . .

 

OSS Needs Back-to-School Supplies

Omaha Street School (OSS) is an altrenative high school. They have a list of needed supplies available through an Amazon Wish List. You can also make a donation online, so OSS can purchase supplies.

We also serve lunch once a month at the school. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact Tina Morgan.

Questions?  Contact Tina Morgan — coordinator

Learn more about OSS . . .

 

School Support

Supporting staff and teachers for their work with at-risk children

Rob Bailey — coordinator

Learn more . . .

Dinner Servers Needed on the 2nd Sunday of the Month

Did you know that Siena Francis House provides nearly 400,000 meals each year? PCOC serves meals on the 2nd Sunday of each month, and we are looking for volunteers. Our serving shifts runs 4:15 to 6:15 p.m.

Questions? Contact Keith Allen — coordinator

Learn more about Siena Francis House & Sign Up for a Serving Spot . . .

Voices for Children in Nebraska

Advocating for children at-risk

Kathy Moore – coordinator

Learn more . . .

International Mission

Partnership with Grace Baptist Church in Gnozdovo, Russia
Karen Morey — coordinator

Learn more . . .

 

More Local Mission Partners

We are involved with several other local missions on a modest scale ($1,000 to $2,000 support). Among these are Home Delivered Meals, Together, Inc., CASA, Completely Kids, Habitat for Humanity, and others.

Completely Kids

Educating and empowering KIDS and families to create a safe, healthy, successful and connected community. PCOC will provide Thanksgiving baskets in November to families in need through this mission partner.

Gayle Kerr-McFadden – coordinator

Learn more about Completely Kids. . .

Helping the refugee community in Omaha

Jeanne Smay & Paula Allen — coordinators

Learn more . . .

Home Delivered Meals

Lunch delivery to those in need

Patti & John Sparks — coordinator

Learn more . . .

Family Mission Project at the Zoo on November 11

The group crafted 6 very large paper-mache balloons that will enhance our large animals Christmas and 17 smaller ones. It was a fun morning. After the Enrichment Center project, the families were able to spend time exploring the zoo. We will have more family outreach projects in the future. Questions? Contact Sandi Stuckey.

CASA

Advocate for abused or neglected children while under Juvenile Court jurisdiction in Douglas and Sarpy Counties

Sandi Stuckey – coordinator

Learn more . . .

 

camp calvin crest logo

Camp Calvin Crest

Work days for camp repairs and upkeep

Jon Boomgarden — coordinator

Learn more . . .

 

ROC

Creating a safe place for 6th-12th grade students (11-18-year-old home schoolers) to build community. Contact Rob Bailey for upcoming volunteer nights!

Rob Bailey – coordinator

Learn more about ROC . . .

 

Habitat for Humanity

We participate in a Faith House Build Day yearly. Look for details coming in spring of 2024!

Rob Bailey — coordinator

Learn more . . .

Thank You Volunteers!

AllPlay concluded their fall season on September 16. Over 300 players participated in the 6-week session. Presbyterian Church of the. Cross sponsored the family picnic for all the players and their families. Members of the church were servers, worked in the concession stand, greeted, and brought a group to be buddies . Thanks to all who volunteered and to the congregation for its mission funding.

Questions? Contact Sandi Stuckey — coordinator

Learn more about AllPlay. . .

Together, Inc.

Preventing and Ending Homelessness in Omaha

Matt Darling — coordinator

Learn more . . .

 

PDA Disaster Hosting in Omaha

Hosting mission teams from across the country when doing local mission work in the Omaha metro area

Karen Metzger — coordinator

Learn more . . .

 

More Mission Beyond Omaha

From regional to international, disaster relief efforts and mission trips give PCOC members a chance to spread Christ’s message and love to our neighbors beyond Omaha.

Adult Mission Trips

Local and regional trips to provide assistance to those in need
Clarence Waters— coordinator

Learn more . . .

 

Young Adult Fellowship Mission Trip

Annual summer weekend mission trip for young adults/college students

Learn more . . .

 

Junior High Fellowship Mission Trip

Junior high youth group weekend mission trip

Learn more . . .

 

Senior High Fellowship Mission Trip

Senior high youth group annual week-long mission trip

Learn more . . .

 

Disaster Relief Around the World

When disaster strikes, Church of the Cross often collects funds to aid in relief efforts. All funds collected are administered through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).

Humanitarian Aid for Israel and Palestine Now Through January 2024: The Mission Committee will send $5000 from their current budget to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for humanitarian aid in Israel and Palestine. Working through partners on the ground and ACT Alliance, PDA’s response efforts will encompass an array of vital humanitarian interventions, including medical supplies, shelter, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), food and non-food items, and delivering crucial psycho-social support to individuals. If you would like to join in supporting relief efforts, the church will collect donations through the end of January. Write PDA Israel/Palestine on the memo of your check, or you may give online by choosing Disaster Relief as the fund.

Other recent fund drives were held following:

  • Maui fires in August 2023
  • Syria/Turkey earthquake in February 2023

 

Agape for All

Agape for All is a place for everyone to listen and learn about social justice issues in our community. Events are planned throughout the year.

Learn more . . .

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