NEWS & EVENTS
What’s Happening at PCOC
Worship, music, fellowship, education, and mission are filling the halls at Church of the Cross! Keep reading to learn about our news and events. Be sure to sign up for our education and activity programs. As you will read, church life is picking up. We’re excited for a full calendar of activities.
Worship Schedule
We are on our fall/winter/spring schedule.
- Worship is held on Sundays at 9:00 in the Sanctuary and 11:10 in the Sanctuary and on livestream
- Sunday School is at 10:00 a.m.
- Church office hours are 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.
We will livestream the 11:10 service each week. A recording is available after the service is over. Services are available for a full year, so please explore our sermon library for all available sermons and services.
Church Calendar
The church is active every day of the week!
Power of Prayer
Submit a prayer request to our church’s prayer team using our new online form. Prayer requests are confidential and shared only with members of the prayer team.
Cross Care Connections Support
The last several years during the pandemic have been challenging on both our physical well-being and our spiritual lives. Sometimes, we just need a friend or companion to walk with us. Church of the Cross has a wonderful care giving team known as Cross Care Connections. Learn more about this program and how our deeply caring providers can assist you.
Cornerstone will resume January 15.
- Bible Study for children in Preschool – 7th Grade and two classes for adults
- Confirmation Class for 8th Graders.
- Choir for children in 1st Grade – 7th Grade and Adults
- Dinner for all
Winter Classes
- Theologians, Philosophers, Composers, and the Persuit of Beauty
- More Than Words – 10 Values for the Modern Family
- Blessed Are You, The Beatitudes of Jesus in Scripture and in Life
Tuesday Bible Studies
Join us on Tuesdays this winter starting January 14 as we study Paul’s New Testament letter to the church in Rome. Both groups will look at the same passage each week. We’ll read these and discuss how these themes still apply to our lives today. Newcomers are always welcome; just bring your favorite Bible and join us in the classroom in the Welcome Center!
- Men’s Bible Study from 7:00-8:00 a.m. in the Courtyard Room (Note this is a men’s study only. If you are interested in a women’s only Bible study, check out the Presbyterian Women’s Morning Circle).
- Afternoon Bible Study from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. in the Courtyard Room and on Zoom
PCOC Updates for The Week
Joys and Concerns
Thank you to everyone who provided Easter flowers for our Sanctuary this year! Donors/dedications are listed on last page.
Join us in Fellowship Hall between services for hot cross buns and coffee. Stop by and learn more about this Easter weekend treat!
PCOC Birthdays for This Month
Each month, we list upcoming birthdays, so you can extend your good wishes to one another. You can find member contact information in the online directory
4/2 – Betsy Conway, Will Morris, Scott Stalnaker, Ardith Clary
4/3 – Max Darling, Charlotte Kerr
4/4 – Jeff Friesen, Tim Goodman
4/7 – Sue Allen, Jim Chapin, Matt Darling, Jeff Schiessler, Nancy Utman
4/8 – Sophia Buda, Charles Knight
4/9 – Evalyn Mathia, Frank McMullen
4/10 – Marilyn Fitch, Penny Morgan, Rita Seiler
4/11 – Joan Carnaby, Jim Miller, Craig Moore
4/12 – Sunny Karges
4/14 – Everly Lorentzen, Lucien Kebeh
4/15 – Logan Voss
4/16 – Erika Cornett, Jacquie Kluck
4/17 – Diane Hammang, Jackson Morris
4/18 – Jamie Bougger, Sue Kiel
4/19 – Adalyn Spielman
4/20 – Kerri Davelaar, Zachary Metzger
4/21 – Matt Karges
4/22 – Lily Haas
4/23 – Michael Kussman, Marsha Marron, Darrell Stuedemann, Judy Sundberg
4/24 – Brynn Stalnaker
4/25 – Sue Meusey
4/26 – Moira Hopp, Meghan McClain
4/27 – Paul Holubeck, Laura Linder, A. J. Sundberg , Mike Hall
4/28 – Pauline Lundgren
4/29 – Paul Thomas
4/30 – Timothy Harrison, Daniel Hinz, Garrett Moore, Emily Murray
Best wishes from your church!
There is no Youth Group on Easter Sunday
Final Vesper Concert of the Season on May 2
Join us on Friday evening, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. for The Bach Aria Soloists and their program titled “Spectrum.” Their repertoire explores the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries, and those he has inspired throughout history. Ensemble members are Elizabeth Suh Lane, violin; Sarah Tannehill Anderson, soprano; and Elisa Williams Bickers, harpsichordist/organist/pianist. The concert is FREE and all are welcome to attend.
Learn more
Heartland Hope Mission May 3
Please consider volunteering on the first Saturday of each month to work at the HHM West pantry at 15555 Industrial Road from 9:30am – 12:30pm. Several members of our church will be there with you and it is a great way to meet the staff, other volunteers and help local clients for a short period of time on one Saturday each month. Please contact John Bennett if interested in volunteering at (402) 618-6991 or mljbennett85@gmail.com. Thank you for continuing to support Heartland Hope Mission.
Confirmation Sunday
Our Confirmation Class has been working hard all year learning all about our faith, and now is the time for them to officially join the church. Come support them in worship on Sunday, April 27 as they take their vows of membership. A reception in their honor is planned for 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. All are invited to attend!
Children and Youth Ministry Volunteers Needed
If you love working with children and building relationships with youth, this is the job for you! Contact Heather for ways you can make a difference in the lives of our children and youth.
Tables for Eight Spring/Summer Session 2025
The deadline for new registrations or making a change for the spring/summer session (May, June, July, and August) is April 10. If you are currently in Tables for Eight as a “Regular” or a “Sub”, you will automatically be reassigned to a new group or stay a “Sub. However, if you choose not to participate or want to change your current status,” contact Pam Otto 402 830-6375 or pottomt@cox.net. New “Regular” participants or “Substitutes” (couples or singles) are always welcome to join this fellowship opportunity. “Tables for Eight Registration Form” is on the Website (www.churchofthecrossomaha.org.
Tuesday Bible Studies
Our Tuesday gatherings continue to study the Old Testament book of Joshua. Newcomers are always welcome; just bring your favorite Bible and join us in the classroom in the Welcome Center at 7:00 a.m. (men’s only) or 1:00 p.m. (everyone).
Stay Active with Tai Chi and Music & Movement
Tai Chi meets at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. No class on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. Drop in anytime if you’d like to attend a class. Questions? Contact Paula Allen.
Music and Movement exercise classes meet 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. every Monday and Thursday to encourage and support each other while staying active and healthy. New people are welcome to join our Music and Movement ensemble any time! This group will take a holiday break from Dec. 18 through January 1, resuming on January 4. Questions? Contact Betty Baddley.
Summer Fun for Children and Youth
Registration for summer camps and activities in our community has begun, and we don’t want you to miss out on our activities here at Church of the Cross.
Put these dates on your calendar now:
Senior High Mission Trip – June 1 – 7
Junior High Mission Trip – June 27 – 29
Vacation Bible School – July 15 – 17, 9 a.m. to Noon
Senior High Youth Triennium – July 28 – 31
Art & Music Camp – August 5 – 8, 9 – 3 p.m.
Registration information to come!
Active Minds in April
Canasta will be the game for April at the Active Minds Fellowship Group. Join us when your schedule allows: Tuesdays, 1:30-4:00pm. Lower level Great Room.
New players and friends welcome. We have very patient teachers. Feel free to stop by after Tuesday Bible Study.
Questions? Contact Earlene Uhrig, 402-650-5077
April 13 is a Caring & Sharing Day!
Stop by Don & Millie’s at 108th & Center to grab lunch from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Tell them you’re with PCOC, and 20% of your bill comes back to us to support next year’s JHF Mission Trip.
Bible Explorers Sunday
School Classes
Our Sunday School for children in kindergarten through 5th grade is called Bible Explorers. They use the curriculum, Deep Blue – A Weekly Adventure Through the Bible. The children enjoy rotating through different workshops, like Art, Games, Science, Cooking, Drama, Spiritual Practices, and Mission, learning about the same Bible story in many ways.
Our first unit was Abraham and Sarah, where we learned that God promises to be with us. Our current unit, Moses and His Sister, reminds us that we are all a part of God’s family. The last unit of the year is Celebrate the Birth of Jesus, where we will celebrate the birth of God’s only son.
Sunday School begins at 10:00 a.m. We meet in the Gathering Space for a short introductory activity with Sue Thomas, and then we split up into our groups and attend class. Class ends at 10:50 a.m. and parents can pick up their children in the Gathering Space. We would love to see your children on Sunday mornings! If you have any questions, please contact Heather.
Gifts and Memorials
Presbyterian Church of the Cross is fortunate to have a long-standing and functional Gift & Memorial program that allows for memorial funds or individual gifts to be designated for specific items, portions of items, or ‘Ongoing Giving Opportunities’ from the Session approved “Gift and Memorial Items List.” The items or missions selected are then recognized in worship, the bulletin, and the Memorial Book, where records have been kept since 1957. Please see this May 28 bulletin for memorial designations and gifts that occurred during the past year. These selections are all appreciated, and each will enhance the life of our congregation in a special way.
May Baskets Silent Auction
Do you have a special woman in your life that deserves to be pampered? Of course you do! Not sure what to get her? Well look no further, because SHF is assembling baskets just in time for Mother’s Day. The silent auction begins April 13 and bidding ends on May 4. Come by the Lobby to find the perfect gift for the woman in your life. You’ll be notified right after late church on May 4 if you win. As always, thanks for your support!
The Calvin Crest Experience
Most of you are familiar with the little gem we call Calvin Crest just down the road in Fremont. Calvin Crest offers opportunities for fun, community, adventure, and growth during the summer through their summer camp experience. Calvin Crest is purposely low-tech, which means that they focus on building relationships without the big toys and high adventure that other camps offer. Campers spend their days in Bible Study, games, activities, and recreation that builds each other up and makes those meaningful connections between campers and staff.
Summer camp registration is now open, so go online and sign up now: www.calvincrest.org
If finances are preventing your child from attending, PCOC offers scholarships to Calvin Crest, and Calvin Crest has a fund to offer need-based financial aid as well. Contact Heather for more information.
Camp Scholarships
Our Scholarships are available for children and youth that attend Camp Calvin Crest. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out the form located on our church website before paying for camp. Also let Calvin Crest know that you have applied for a camp scholarship. Calvin Crest will contact Heather to verify the scholarship amount. The CE Committee determines the amount and frequency of scholarships per camper.
Heather will notify parents of the amount of the awarded scholarship. PCOC will send payment directly to Calvin Crest. The scholarship amount will be deducted from the total cost of the camp. Parents are responsible for paying the remaining balance.
Dinner Servers Needed on April 13
Did you know that Siena Francis House provides nearly 400,000 meals each year? PCOC serves meals on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Our serving time is 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. We need 4 to 6 volunteers.
On the Sunday serving date, please sign in when you arrive for your signing shift. If you have questions, call or email Keith Allen.
Sometimes we run short on needed volunteers for our serving dates. If you are willing to be contacted by Keith Allen (Coordinator) when we need volunteers, please add your name to our list.
Easter Egg Hunt April 19
Easter is just around the corner! Hop on over to church on Saturday, April 19 for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. We’ll start our time with crafts in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m., then we’ll move outside to the East Lawn for the hunt at 10:30 a.m. Be sure to bring your own basket to collect eggs. Keep an eye out – maybe you’ll spot Peter Cottontail!
We’re accepting donations of individually wrapped candy to fill the eggs.
Please place candy donations in the plastic bin by the Information Desk in the Welcome Center by April 13.
Garage Sale News
SHF will not be sponsoring a church garage sale this summer. Please save your treasures for the 2026 sale
Spring Clean up, April 26
9 a.m. to Noon
Bring your work gloves, rakes, or your trash can to help haul the debris. Bring your smile, your enthusiasm and non-stop energy! Help spruce up our church’s lawn and landscaping by lending a hand. Juice, coffee and snacks will be available.
April 20 is Pantry Sunday!
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
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing is the single largest way Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world. This special offering enables us to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world by providing relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed.
Our Sunday School children were given their Gracie fish banks a few weeks ago. During the season of Lent, children are encouraged to fill their banks and bring them back to church on Easter Sunday, April 20. Look for the baskets outside the doors to the sanctuary to drop off your fish bank.
PCOC Book Group on April 16
5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Courtyard Room
PCOC Book Group will meet April 16 in The Courtyard Room from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. to review The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and V.C. Murray. All readers are welcome!
Questions? Contact Charlotte Hubbard.
AGAPE For All Spring
Speaker Series
It is hard to believe Spring is just around the corner. We are planning two more speakers this spring to continue expanding our knowledge of the various corners of our Omaha Community. Immigration and refugee resettlement is front page news most days. Our church hosted a Syrian family over a year and a half ago and some of our members remain in contact with that family. But only some of us were involved with that family and many of us still don’t fully understand how immigration and refugee resettlement work in our country. We will have one speaker from a formal resettlement agency and another from a smaller, more volunteer-driven organization that serves asylum seekers. We believe it will be another rich opportunity for us all, so bring your questions and imaginations and plan to open your hearts and minds with the rest of us.
Embracing Community Connections
Sunday mornings, in the Welcome Center
April 27th and May 4th, 10:10 -11:00AM.
In the Courtyard Classroom
Please arrive before 10:10
April 27 – Connecting with Omaha Welcomes the Stranger (OWS)
Tom & Margaret Hoarty, founders
Omaha Welcomes the Stranger, formed in 2022, strives to serve migrants fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries by providing safety, hospitality, hope and assistance with establishing new lives in the United States.Increasing numbers of families have been arriving in Omaha who have no friends or relatives in the U.S. OWS provides shelter, food, and healthcare, and facilitates referrals to legal assistance for these asylum seekers. Because these families have no sponsors in other cities, OWS assists with resettling them in permanent housing in Omaha, and supports them monetarily while they await work permits. They initially house them in a shelter that is located on the same campus as the Omaha Street School. The are currently supporting 21 families, 12 in the shelter and 9 in rental housing, totaling 78 people.OWS collaborates with local churches and service providers, as well as many volunteers, in order to fulfill its mission of providing compassionate care to immigrants. Tom and Margaret Hoarty started this organization after volunteering in El Paso, Texas at Annunciation House for a couple of years. This compelled them to begin filling a need in our community and create this new nonprofit organization. We have much to learn from them and may find new opportunities for service.
May 4 – Connecting with the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA), formerly known as the Immigrant Legal Center
Erik Omar, Executive Director of CIRA
CIRA’s history is embedded in the 1997 founding of the Southern Sudan Community Association, which became the Refugee Empowerment Center, and the 1999 establishment of Justice for Our Neighbors, which was later renamed the Immigrant Legal Center. A 2022 merger between the two organizations created a powerful force for empowering immigrants and refugees in our community. As the newly named CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ADVANCEMENT (CIRA) they now provide legal, resettlement and social services in a growing number of locations spanning from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff. CIRA now has close to 100 employees in ten locations. Many or most of those employees were refugees themselves, easing the language and cultural challenges faced by new arriving families. They are just completing renovation on their building space at 42nd and Center and will have all Omaha employees under one roof. The building itself, which is wrapped in a beautiful, diverse mural, throws out a brilliant welcome mat before the newcomers even walk in the front door. Erik Omar is an attorney who has served the refugee community for the last ten years, first as a volunteer and ultimately as the leader who took the agencies through this important merger in 2022. He has important information to share with us about the changes underway in our country and within their agency.
Sign Up HERE
Cross Currents Deadline is Friday, April 18
Please send your content for the May 2025 issue to communications@pcoc.us.
Good Friday Service on April 18 at 7:00
This year, the Alleluia and Chamber Singers, along with guest soloists Gretchen Crane, Jesse Wohlman, Sebastian Sorensen, and Joe Mendick, and professional instrumentalists, will present “St. John Passion” by British composer Bob Chilcott.
This hour-long work uses the text from St. John’s gospel to tell the story of Christ’s trial and crucifixion. The soloists and choir bring the drama to life. A brass quintet, solo viola, cello, timpani, and organ provide the instrumentation. The piece also includes five Passiontide hymn texts, which will be sung by the choir and congregation together.
We hope you will find this service immensely moving and meaningful.
2025 Art Camp/Music Camp
Art Camp
August 5 – 8, from 9:00 to 12:00 noon
For Children who have finished Kindergarten through 5th grade
$25 for materials Gathering Room in the lower level Presbyterian Church of the Cross Instructed by Sue Thomas
Discover water color techniques
Tie Dye t-shirts
Sculpt with clay
Print making across mediums
Understanding Origami folds
Creating Monet like art
Creating optical illusions
Painting stepping stone
Sign up to participate or volunteer to help will be on the PCOC Web Site.
Music Camp
August 5 – 8 , following Art Camp
Lunch 12:00 – 12:30
Music Camp – 12:30 to 3:00
Sign up HERE
49ers on May 6
Our program for Tuesday, will be Echohawk Lefthand. Echohawk Lefthand is a respected member of the Dine (Navajo) Nation and has demonstrated for over 15 years a strong commitment to public health advocacy. Leveraging his wealth of life and professional experiences, he is dedicated to the advancement of health promotion and overall quality of life for all individuals. Echohawk was a recent recipient of UNMC’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Prior to DHHS, Echohawk served as the director, manager and speciaist of the Title V Indian Education Program with Omaha Public Schools, Veteran Affairs and Indian Heralth Services. The lunch location is Wheatfields, One Pacific Place, at 11:30 a.m. Every one is welcome, whether or not you are 49, younger or older, come join us! We will order from a special menu. For reservations or questions, please contact Mary Ott, 402-201-4103, or Judy Sundberg, 402-333-6981. We also have a sign-up sheet at the Information Center.
Vacation Bible School
Road Trip – On the Go with God
Tuesday – Thursday, July 15 – 17
9 a.m. to Noon
4 yrs – 5th Grade (completed)
Join us in a fun-filled adventure on the open road, taking all the kids (Travelers) on thrilling journeys to exciting destinations. Led by the Navigator and an adventurous pup Scout, kids will learn that God is always with them. Through engaging stories from the Navigators’ Guide (the Bible), Travelers will delve into timeless tales of faith from the Old and New Testaments. Get ready for twists, turns, and excitement as they face new challenges and find strength in God’s presence on this unforgettable trip! Register online by May 1.
Adults and teens, we need YOU! We are forming our leadership team now. Contact Heather to serve our children.
Pinwheels for Prevention
April is child abuse awareness month, and we’re helping our mission partner Project Harmony bring attention to the issue by participating in the annual Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. You’ll notice a multitude of blue pinwheels spinning in our front flowerbeds. You’re invited after the service to the circle drive entrance to plant a pinwheel to show your support.
Breast Cancer Support Group
For anyone currently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Stay tuned for our next meeting date.
Questions? Contact Karen Morey or Heather Berry.
Using Our New Welcome Center Spaces
With our new Welcome Center finished, we are now actively using the new rooms. You will see these locations mentioned for some of our activities.
- Courtyard Room – This is the new official name for the large classroom in the Welcome Center.
- Hearth Room – This room has a fireplace, couch/chair seating, and a piano.
- Quiet Room – This room is just off the Hearth Room and features rocking chairs. This room is attached to the family restroom.
- Kitchenette – This is the small kitchen area in the Welcome Center.
Ushers Needed
Looking for a way to serve the church? Join an usher team, or sign up to usher on a Sunday that works for you this fall! Questions? Contact Mary Ott or Mary Lynn Bennett.
Greeters Needed
Your smiling face is needed to greet on Sunday mornings. We’ve made it easy to sign up online! Just choose your preferred service and door (north door by Fellowship Hall or south Welcome Center door).
Adult Education in the New Year – Register Online Now
There are opportunities for learning and growing together on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, beginning January 12. Start the year off right by joining one (or more!) of these groups:
Theologians, Composers, Spirituality and Icons of Sacred Music – Part Two led by Cindy Sloan on Sundays at 10 a.m.
Ten Values for the Modern Family (a parenting class) led by Josh and Emily Murray on Sundays at 10 a.m.
Tuesday Bible Study led by Pastor Marshall on Tuesdays at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Cornerstone Adult Ed Class led by Kirk Ryckman on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Agape for All opportunities offered on various days and at various times
Register Here
Home-Delivered Meal Volunteers
– a message from Deacon, Kathy Moore –
One of the many caring ministries at Church of the Cross is the Deacons’ Home Delivered Meals program. We try to provide a meal or two to church members who have been hospitalized, are facing a surgery, had an accident, or have lost a family member. This is a small token of our care and concern, and many have expressed how much this meant to them during what was otherwise a very challenging time.
When one of our ministers or I learn of a household in need, I send out a group email to our Home Meal List and ask for volunteers to take a meal, indicating approximately when the meal would be helpful. I provide the number of people in the household and any dietary restrictions and preferences that I can. There is often somewhat short notice of this need, and we may be soliciting a meal to be provided within the next few days or weeks. On average we deliver 6 – 10 meals per month and have almost 40 volunteers on the list so you don’t have to provide a meal very often.
If you like to cook and could fix an extra meal or two occasionally, this Home Meal Committee is for you. If you don’t like to cook, you could volunteer to pick up a To-Go meal from a grocery store or restaurant. Either way, if you’d like me to add you to the Home Meal Volunteer List, please sign up at the Information Desk or email Kathy Moore. Feel free to call me with any questions.
PCOC Library Spotlight
In 2025 so far, we have added 18 additional books to the library. We would like to highlight a few of these and invite you to stop by the library and “check them out”.
STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT by Mitch Albom “In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.” – Amazon 75% five-star rating
THE OMAHA STREET SCHOOL by John R. Parsons Why would a successful, young Denver lawyer move to Omaha and create a school for at-risk teens? The story behind the birth of Omaha Street School, one of PCOC’s mission partners.
OUR HIDDEN CONVERSATIONS by Michele Norris “In just six words, describe your feelings about racism.” A journalist collected thousands of heart-felt responses and turned them into this eye-opening book. Examples: “You’re pretty for a Black Girl” or “Grandma feared Blacks. Grandson IS Black.” or “Pay no attention to my packaging.” – 83% Amazon five-star rating
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME by Pope Francis God trusts us to care for the wonderful world he has created….and our fellow inhabitants.
BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates “The author’s attempt to answer hard questions about race in a letter to his adolescent son. Coates shares with his son the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of experiences.” – 76% Amazon five-star rating.
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