Rockbrook United Methodist Church

9855 W. Center Rd

Omaha, NE 68124

Phone: 402-393-1015

Fax: 402-955-1434

churchoffice@rockbrookumc.com

Find us on Facebook: Rumc Omaha

“To make disciples for Jesus Christ by

proclaiming God’s Good News

and by providing a community

for spiritual growth”

1/1 Mary Ann McCreedy 1/12 John Waner

1/1 Vance Allred 1/12 Mary Rezac

1/1 Joseph Tombi 1/12 Spencer Salem

1/2 Ann Bond 1/17 Stella Shabram

1/2 Jody Holdcroft 1/18 Benjamine Tombi

1/4 Abigail Drabek 1/19 Jeff Sterner

1/4 Bill Lynch 1/23 Kylee Susan McLaughlin

1/6 Rose Johnson 1/23 Emmy Laing

1/6 Gordon Wellensiek 1/24 Kathy Tyser

1/6 Scott McHatton 1/26 Carl Johnson

1/7 Genia Ripley 1/27 Nicholas Deluca

1/9 Phyllis Rist 1/28 Linley Zahm

1/10 Jon Reilly 1/30 Bev Tomasek

1/11 Donovan Schuler 1/31 Kaylin Schamber

Greetings friends,

First I would like to thank everyone for your outpouring of prayers, well-wishes, and support for my family and me following my heart attack. I know that you have certainly had a positive impact on my recovery.

Regarding my recovery, things are going well. I am scheduled to return to work part-time on December 29th. From there my caregivers will continue to monitor my progress as I return to a "normal," full schedule.

While that is going on, I will be working to develop new healthier habits as I embrace my new goal, which is never to ride in the back of an ambulance again.

God is good! I have felt God's presence especially over this last month, and I have felt God's presence through the prayers you have offered on my behalf. Thank you, and God bless you!

Blessed New Year to you,

Pastor Jim

JAIL MINISTRY NEEDS YOU!

We are looking for additional RUMC members to support our Jail ministry on a monthly basis. Currently Rockbrook United Methodist church is providing a church service once a month at the Douglas County Department of Corrections. The 40 plus men we serve are in jail for a year or less or are awaiting sentencing. They do Bible study and lessons that Lynn Ashby, Carolyn and Jerry Adcock, Barb Riley, Darlene Hicks and Regina Schulze check for them. Tom Ashby visits weekly with the cell block men. Our church service consists of faith based fellowship. We are allowed to serve communion. The men are active participants in the service and many express their gratitude each time we come. I feel this is an important outreach mission for our church. We provide support and give hope in a difficult time for these men. Who among you are without sin? We have all made mistakes in our lives. The consequence of these men's mistakes has been great. It has resulted in their loss of freedom. Please consider joining the RUMC jail service team. You will be given training at the jail and support from the current team: Pastor Corson, Lynn and Tom Ashby, Linda Bramblett, Linda Stroud, Pat Sward and Karen Stimbert-Guck. Perhaps this could be your New Years resolution to serve the Lord in this opportunity. Thank you for your prayerful consideration. If interested please contact Lynn Ashby at 390-0661 or tloashby@gmail.com.

News from THE QUARRY – January 2017

ROCKBROOK CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL Julie Vidlak, children’s ministry director

******IMPORTANT JANUARY DATES FOR CHILDREN****** Sunday, January 1st: No Sunday school. One worship service at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, January 15th: Kids for Christ Choir sings at 10:45 a.m. service

Sunday, January 22nd: Library Sunday during Sunday school.

Sunday school lessons for January: UNIT 2: - Jesus, God’s Son

Jan 8—Talk With the Teachers

Jan 15— Come to the River

Jan 22— Change the Water

Jan 29— Born Anew

******ROCKBROOK CHILDREN REACHING OUT TO HELP OTHERS***** The children of Rockbrook UMC donated children’s Christian Christmas books during Advent.

Thank you to all who participated. These books will help spread the true story of Christmas!

****************CHRISTMAS APPRECIATION************** Our children at Rockbrook UMC experienced Christmas 2016 with the theme of ”Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Thank you to

the following for helping with the Christmas craft party and Christmas program. Your help and dedication to our children’s

ministry are so appreciated!

Craft Party Helpers:

Becca Humphus, Cheri Humphus, Joyce Solheim, Justin Solheim, Anna Vidlak

Christmas Program:

ACCOMPANIST: Laurie Rathbun AUDIO: Jim Phillips

Sunday School Teachers: Juliana Keller, Sara Jorgensen, Emily Quigley, Nana Tombi

*********************************************************************************

*Can You Believe It? Vacation Bible School 2017 is only 5 months away!*

At “HERO CENTRAL” VBS, kids will discover their strength in God!

Coming to Rockbrook UMC

in early June!

Want to help?

Let Julie know now and have first pick! It’s never too early to volunteer!

Do good! Seek peace and go after it! – Psalm 31:14b

********************************************************************************* It is with a grateful heart that I wish you a Happy New Year! Thank you, Rockbrook UMC family, for your ever-present

support of our children’s ministry. Thank you to RUMC parents for making church a priority in your lives. And, of course,

thank you to the children for being such willing participants and for sharing your enthusiasm for God!

I look forward to another year together in the Lord. Julie Vidlak

Blessings to the UMC Morning JOY circle for the beautiful generous plate of Christmas goodies. It was

greatly appreciated. Eunice and Al Gloor

Thank you to the secret helpers who gave me help with gas for many many months!

It helped out tremendously! I want to give a special thanks to everyone who has

stopped in my office and said “hi,” or have asked for my help getting something

together, or was able to present me with great information.

We are all made for so much more - and I am thankful to be able to have each and

everyone of you on this journey! I want to thank all of you who have called to check in

and/or pray for me!

I want to give a HUGE thank you to Jerry for coming in and proofing my Newsletters

(except for this from me was written after he proof read the Newsletter.)

I love working with Radical Hospitality, Heart Warming Worship and Gracious

Generosity Committee over the last year on a few occasions they are great!

I want to thank you to all the United Methodist Women and their team work and

coming together for the sake others! I have been able to enjoy a few groups, and I

am excited for UMW! Especially thank you for the tray of Christmas goodies!

I want to thank all the Ministry Staff who have walked with me through this last year

with direction and support! I praise God that I get to work with so many talented

individuals who have a heart to walk for the Lord! Thank you Rev. Williams, Rev.

Corson, Rev. Phillips (and her husband at times with Media questions,) Dr. Japp,

Tom Ashby, Mark Heinz, Julie Vidlak, Laurie Rathbun, Jarron Taylor, Paul Susemihl

and Barb Reilly.

I thank the volunteers who have served through communion serving, reading

scriptures, as well as helping Lead Worship! You all are so sweet! Also thank you to

the sound booth technicians, you really make service and enjoyable time! Thank you

to the ushers, greeters and counters for showing up and serving!

Thank you to the office volunteers who covers the desk for me especially last month

with little to no notice. . . Sherry Parcel, Linda Stroud, Kathryn Hauswald and Jenny

Stilwell! Thank you Deann Sterner for being my person to contact while Pastor

Corson was out for a few weeks and for being patient and supportive of me!

Thank you everyone for all the prayers support and for the opportunity to be with

Rockbrook. I look forward to continuing to serve here as the Office Manager!

Also I would like to publicly say thank you to the whole congregation also Linda

Stroud, Darlene Hicks, Laurie Rathbun, Sherry Parcel, Lynn Ashby and Carolyn &

Gerald Adcock for the gifts over holiday seasons!

Happy New Year!

Sharray Freeman

FUSION YOUTH Super Bowl Sub Sale is coming up February 5th, you will be able to order a Sub that Sunday for the big game later in the day.

FUSION Youth will be taking a Free will offering which will go toward helping support the Mission Trip at the Youthworks

site at the Crow Reservation in Montana.

From the Church Council…

We have journeyed through Advent and celebrated the birth of our Savior. And while the odd poinsettia may be a

bit droopier than a week or so ago, our church remains bright with Christmas colors and the hope for the New

Year.

For those of you not able to join us you missed a wonderful Christmas morning service. While our

numbers were small, the stories and memories shared were powerful and moving. Let there be no question

Christ is with us and within us…Immanuel!

While a common thread was memories shared with our families, several of those gathered told of the importance

of their church family. For any number of reasons we often draw upon our church family for strength and assis-

tance, not only in times of crisis, but in our everyday lives. We lean on one another as Christ’s family. When one

among us has health or other concerns in their lives, our natural reaction is to want to be informed so we can try

to help as best we can.

A number of people have inquired about the possibility of receiving a weekly “report” much as our

beloved Jody Holdcroft used to provide in her TLC emails. While Jody’s health precludes her from taking the lead

in doing so, I agree that it would be beneficial to know how our Rockbrook family members are doing. We all

would like to pray for them and provide other assistance as appropriate.

I would welcome further suggestions as to how we can accomplish this.

A goal for 2017 is to improve communication within our church, such as engaging or collaborating with the

appropriate committees when planning an event or program. In addition we hope to be able to improve upon how

we let the community know about Rockbrook’s ministries and activities.

With blessings and thanks,

Mark Heinz, Chair

RUMC Church Council

Robert Whitbeck joins the Rockbrook UMC staff as

Youth Ministry Coordinator

After a long search for a youth program leader, we are pleased to welcome Robert Whitbeck to our Rockbrook family! He comes to us

with a great deal of experience working with children and youth, most recently at Christ Community Church here in Omaha. He has a

Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education from Grace University. Robert is also a musician and teaches guitar.

Robert is married, and has a daughter in sixth-grade. His wife and daughter will continue attending Christ Community Church as Robert

makes the transition to Rockbrook.

You may have already met Robert, as he has been attending worship here for several weeks. But if you have not, please take time to

welcome and get to know him.

And, as always, keep Robert and our Youth in your prayers!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 8:30a Yoga (FH)

7:30p Heartland Singles

Square Dance (FH)

4 5 7:00p Men’s Group (FO)

7:00p Cub Scout Den

Meeting (LL)

7:00p Square Dance Lesson

(FH)

7:30p Praise Band (S)

6 7

8 8:00a Traditional Lite Service (S)

8:45a Contemporary Worship (S)

9:35a Faith Development

(LL,FR)

10:45a Traditional Worship (S)

2:00p Cub Scouts Meeting (LL)

9 5:50p Aerobics (FH)

10 8:30a Yoga (FH)

7:30p Crossfire Square

Dance (FH)

11

5:50p Aerobics (FH)

6:45p Handbells (CR)

7:30p Chancel Choir (S)

12 1:30p Happy Friends (FR)

6:30p Prayer Group (FO) 7:00p Square Dance

Lesson (FH) 7:00p Cub Scout Den

Meeting (LL)

7:30p Praise Band

Rehearsal (S)

13 1:30p Prayer Shawl

(FR)

14 7:00p Amazing

8’s (FH)

15 8:00a Traditional Lite Service (S)

8:45a Contemporary Worship (S)

9:35a Faith Development (LL,FR)

10:45a Traditional Worship (S)

12:30 Douglas County Jail

Human Relations Day (offering)

16 5:50p Aerobics (FH)

7:00p Finance

Meeting (FO)

7:00p Trustee

Meeting (FO)

17 8:30a Yoga (FH)

7:30p Heartland Singles

Square Dance (FH)

18 9:30a Morning Joys (FR)

5:50p Aerobics (FH)

6:45p Handbells (CR)

7:30p Chancel Choir (S)

19 7:00p Men’s Group (FO)

7:00p Cub Scout Den

Meeting (LL)

7:00p Square Dance

Lesson (FH) 7:30p Praise Band

Rehearsal (S)

20 21

22 8:00a Traditional Lite Service (S)

8:45a Contemporary Worship (S)

9:30a Library (S)

9:35a Faith Development (LL,FR)

10:45a Traditional Worship (S)

Guest Speaker Chaplain Morris

Jackson from DCCS at all

services

23 5:50p Aerobics (FH)

24 8:30a Yoga (FH)

7:30p Crossfire Square

Dance (FH)

25 5:50p Aerobics (FH)

6:45p Handbells (CR)

7:30p Chancel Choir (S)

26 6:30p Prayer Group (FO) 7:00p Square Dance

Lesson (FH)

7:00p Cub Scout Den

Meeting (LL) 7:30p Praise Band

Rehearsal (S)

27

28 7:00p Amazing

8’s (FH)

29 8:00a Traditional Lite Service (S)

8:45a Contemporary Worship (S)

9:35a Faith Development (LL,FR)

10:45a Traditional Worship (S)

30 5:50p Aerobics (FH)

31 8:30a Yoga (FH)

7:30p Heartland Singles

Square Dance (FH)

Please call, email or come in and talk to the Office Manager Sharray if there is anything at all

that needs to be scheduled at Rockbrook United Methodist Church. Sharray would like to

make sure she has all the details and makes sure your event goes as well if not better then you

have planned! NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS the 15th!