Dear Countryside Community,
What a wonderful year it has been!
As we approach the close of this year and prepare to celebrate the joy of Christmas together, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we have experienced and accomplished as a church community over the past year. December 1, 2024, marked my first anniversary as your Senior Minister, and I am filled with gratitude as I look back on a year of incredible growth, connection, and transformation at Countryside.
When my family moved to Omaha just over a year ago, I was struck immediately by the warmth and vibrancy of this community. Countryside has always been a place where people come together to find connection, belonging, and purpose. Over the past year, we have deepened those bonds and created new opportunities for spiritual growth and care.
One of the most exciting new initiatives has been the launch of The Village at Countryside, inspired by David Brooks’ book How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others and Being Deeply Seen. This small group ministry has been a transformative way for us to foster deeper relationships. We know by the sheer volume of members and friends, over 125 people, who joined our Village Houses in the first week, that there is a hunger for building deeper connections with one another. And the enthusiasm for this ministry continues to grow. This initiative inspired me to launch the podcast, It Takes a Village, which highlights the importance of building connections and creating spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.
Another highlight this year was the relaunch of the Center for Faith Studies, centered on the theme Faith & Democracy: What’s at Stake? We were honored to host thought leaders like Jim Wallis and Jacqui Lewis and to engage with challenging topics like White Christian nationalism, reflecting on the trends through critical analyses with Dr. Samuel L. Perry. I am so grateful for the visionary leadership of members such as Cindy Kugler and others who have shaped this vital ministry that continues to strengthen our community today. As we look ahead, I’m excited about the opportunities to continue this important work, including the possibility of attending Middle Church’s Freedom Rising Justice Conference in April with Rev. Jacqui Lewis, Ph.D.
This year, we also took significant steps toward realizing our Imagine More campaign, rooted in Countryside’s mission to be an inclusive, open, and affirming family of faith, welcoming all to God’s table of love and acceptance. This campaign has brought focus to several strategic objectives that will guide our work in 2024 and 2025. One major goal is creating a solid financial base to prepare for growth and capacity building. Our Stewardship Committee has developed a year-round giving campaign to ensure we can meet our operational needs and align resources with our mission. We are getting so close, and with your help, we can achieve our goal! Additionally, we are diversifying funding sources through grants, year-round giving, growing the Countryside Foundation and other opportunities. These efforts will set a strong foundation for our future.
Part of our goals to grow our Christian Education department not only included the relaunch of the Center for Faith Studies but also the hiring of a full-time Director for Spiritual Formation. I am thrilled to share that we achieved both of these goals! Heather Moran joined us in August 2024 as our full-time Director of Spiritual Formation, bringing her remarkable energy and organization to our children’s ministry and adult education programs. These are achievements we can all celebrate together.
Our church’s restructuring of boards has also strengthened our leadership and programming. By merging boards with shared goals and responsibilities, we’ve enhanced collaboration and focus. The Board of Christian Education and Spiritual Growth has done phenomenal work offering opportunities for adults to deepen their faith, from Denny Clark’s insights on the Gospel of Mark to Sue Calef’s exploration of hope and even a series with Joe Roy and RIch Mannel on faith & baseball – and so much more! These rich learning experiences for adults have been complemented Heather Moran’s work with children and families. We are really looking forward to our upcoming Children & Families Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. with costumes and carols!
Reflecting on the joy of our shared worship, I am so thankful for the gifted musicians who lead us in worship each week. Our Designated Director of Arts & Worship, Adam Witte; our Organist-in-Residence, Alex Ritter; and the Jazz Band, Julia, Matt, Steve, Rick, Tyler and Carlos; our wonderful C4 choir and bell choir, and our newly formed Children’s Choir under the direction of my dear wife, Shannon Shultz-Thomas— for the gifts of music and praise, I give God thanks!
I am also thankful for the ways our care for one another continues to flourish at Countryside. The ministry of Congregational Care, led by Rev. Sarah Rentzel Jones, is one great example of this. One of the most impactful new programs is the Web of Care, a network of trained volunteers who provide support during life’s challenges and transitions. The Web of Care co-coordinators are busy setting the stage for a roll-out of this dynamic ministry in the new year. This program ensures that no one in our church feels unseen or isolated, and I am so proud of the leadership and heart that has gone into this work.
Our relationship with the Tri-Faith Initiative (TFI) has also deepened this year. We continue to build connections with our faith partners, Temple Israel and the American Muslim Institute, through shared programming and educational opportunities. The Tri-Faith clergy meet to break bread together, monthly, deepening our relationships and joy in our shared ministry on the Tri-Faith Commons. It was my privilege to serve on the Executive Committee of the Tri-Faith Board under the leadership of Board Chair and Interim Executive Director, and Countryside member, Rick MacInnes along with wonderful colleagues from across the community. The USDA Summit, the Race Religion and Social Justice Conference and TFI faith partner joint events like the Racial Justice Faith Partners Work Group have been important steps in strengthening our shared mission to promote peace, equity, and justice for all.
In the spirit of peace, during this Advent season, as we prepare to gather for Christmas, I am filled with anticipation for the traditions that bind us together as a church family. From the joy of children dressing as angels and shepherds in our living nativity to the sacred candlelight service where we sing Silent Night by twilight, these moments remind us of the awe and wonder of the Christmas story. In addition, last night, we gathered for a “The Longest Night” service for communal lament. As there have been moments of great celebration and joy, there have also been significant losses for us as individuals and as a community. In all of these experiences, we come together, and call out to the God whose light shines in the darkness, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
For me, our Christian traditions, communal worship opportunities, and Advent scriptures are powerful expressions of the love and light that we strive to embody all year long. But what really makes this season meaningful is knowing that we, God’s people, belong to each other and we are on this journey together. We are a community that grieves and grows together, a church that seeks to deepen our understanding of our mission and is compelled by the prophet’s call, “to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”
I am deeply grateful for each of you and for the ways you contribute to making Countryside a place of connection, growth, and love for all of God’s people. As we move into the new year, let us continue to find ways to grow in our faith, care for one another, and shine as a beacon of hope for a world in need of God’s peace.
With joy and gratitude,
Rev. Dr. Jenny Shultz-Thomas Senior Minister, Countryside Community Church