On a tree-lined block of South 36th Street in the Blackstone neighborhood of midtown Omaha, First Central Congregational Church has been gathering for worship since 1856. Its members call it "More Than Welcome," and the sign fits: First Central is Omaha's oldest continuously worshipping Protestant congregation, an Open and Affirming United Church of Christ community that fills a grand English Gothic sanctuary with progressive theology, vintage-style liturgy, and a generationally mixed congregation that stretches from five-year-olds to ninety-five-year-olds. The building, designed in the early twentieth century by architect George Prinz, holds stained glass, a 61-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ, and the steady hum of programming that runs from Sunday morning well into the week.
A Pioneer Beginning in 1856
First Central's story starts in the winter of 1855, when Reuben Gaylord braved wolves and bitter cold to bring his family to the territorial capital of Omaha. On May 4, 1856, he gathered nine members to establish First Congregational Church. Those early members were city builders, and their bold, civic-minded spirit still shapes the congregation today.
Throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the church's history reads like a record of conscience:
- In 1879, when Ponca Chief Standing Bear argued in federal court that Native Americans are "persons" under U.S. law, First Central helped fund his defense. Pastor Alvin F. Sherrill served as treasurer of the defense fund and led the fundraising.
- In 1895, German immigrants founded St. John's Evangelical Church. After facing discrimination during World War I, they joined First Reformed Church in 1935 and later merged with First Central in 1971.
- In 1919, Lina McGilton, president of the church's Women's Fellowship and wife of Nebraska's Lieutenant Governor, was present when Nebraska ratified the 19th Amendment.
- In 1925, the congregation commissioned Dr. Walter Judd as a medical missionary to China; he later served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Through the 1960s and 1970s, Rev. Mert Rymph led the church through cultural and demographic change, preaching renewal through "faith, imagination, hope, determination, love and reconciliation."
Still Expanding the Welcome
First Central has continued that work of widening the circle. As women's leadership grew, the congregation adopted gender-inclusive worship. When children's curricula failed to reflect progressive values, members wrote their own. In 2004, the church became Open and Affirming, fully welcoming LGBTQ+ persons into the life and leadership of the congregation. In the past decade, First Central has also committed to being:
- Accessible to All (A2A) for people with disabilities
- WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) for mental health
- An anti-racist church, a commitment made after the racial justice protests of 2020
For more than 165 years, this congregation has kept telling itself: we continue to grow, we continue to listen, we continue to act.
Sunday Morning at 10:30
Sunday is the heart of the week. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. The setting is traditional - "vintage-style" worship, in the church's own words - with choir, organ, and the long aisle framed by stained glass. The theology is progressive, and the language is intentionally inclusive, with broad imagery for God. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, and all are welcome at the table, including children.
Children start in the sanctuary with the whole congregation. During the Conversation with the Children, kids in PreK through sixth grade are invited forward to the chancel steps for a brief moment with Lizzie, the Director of Education, before heading up to the third-floor classrooms for age-appropriate learning that mixes stories, music, drama, videos, and games. A Children's Choir for fluent readers rehearses after Sunday school on most Sundays.
For the youngest visitors, the nursery is open from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. and is free for members, visitors, and first-time guests. Parents are equally welcome to keep little ones in worship with them.
Before worship, the learning day starts at 9:00 a.m. with Adult Education, and First Forum gathers at 9:15 a.m. in Memorial Hall for conversation on everything from theology and history to dementia resources, the Nebraska cancer landscape, and the changing nature of photography. Coffee and pastries are part of the routine.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
Midweek life at First Central revolves around Wednesday Night Fellowship. The evening opens at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck supper, and at 6:00 the group splits: youth gather on the third floor while adults meet in the Parlor. It is intergenerational, relaxed, and a steady rhythm through the school year, with breaks around the holidays.
FIRSTYouth, for sixth through twelfth graders, meets almost weekly during the school year from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for dinner and activities. Teens also take part in Confirmation, which the church describes as inclusive and open to all beliefs: a time to reflect, ask questions, affirm baptismal promises, and take ownership of faith within a supportive Christian community.
Adults on Wednesdays dig into a rotating slate of book studies and discussion series. Limited-series book studies with childcare, summer yoga, and grief-support gatherings all cycle through the calendar, and the church's Adult Education programming runs through the warmer months as well, with field trips such as the Pumpkin Patch outing at Mert's Market and Farm.
Progressive Theology, Traditional Setting
First Central's statement of belief begins with the UCC motto God is still speaking. The congregation gathers in a traditional worship setting while engaging in progressive theology with thoughtfulness and care. Inclusive language and images for God are used, honoring both the richness of the UCC tradition and the breadth of human experience. Doubt, curiosity, and diverse perspectives are welcomed, and growth is understood to come from listening deeply to one another.
The church is also direct about its commitments: God's love is for everyone, with no exceptions. Every person is created in the image of God and worthy of belonging and love. The congregation describes itself as a community of "seekers, believers, doubters, and questioners," united not by uniform belief but by shared commitment to love, justice, and the common good. Faith here, the church says, is less about having the right answers and more about living with integrity, compassion, and courage.
A Network of Identity
First Central is rooted in the United Church of Christ, with ties to the Nebraska Conference and to the Living Waters Association. Its congregation walks with several wider coalitions that shape its public witness:
- The Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC
- The UCC's Mental Health Network (WISE designation)
- An anti-racist church designation through the UCC's Transformational Justice program
- The Accessible to All (A2A) network
That network identity shows up in the church's rhythms. Members march in the Omaha Pride Parade, the church participates in the Sharing Our Losses grief series, hosts NARCAN training in partnership with Douglas Cares, and gathers for both a Pet Blessing and Disability Pride reflections. Accessibility work is visible in the building itself, where an elevator project is underway to make the historic structure fully ADA accessible.
Evergreen Thrift Shop
Tucked along the Harney Street side of the building, Evergreen Thrift Shop is one of First Central's most distinctive community ministries. From clothing to household goods, everything is priced to delight, and every purchase supports a ministry that helps people in the Omaha community. The shop is more than a store; coffee is always on, and donuts often appear. Donations of gently used items are welcome. Hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Weddings, Concerts, and a Gothic Sanctuary
First Central hosts weddings for members and non-members alike, with no requirement to belong to the church, and all couples, including LGBTQ+ couples, are welcomed. The sanctuary is grand and light-filled, with stained glass, a long aisle that accommodates any train, and seating for up to 600 guests. Music is provided by the church's organist and pianist, with a stunning 61-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ available alongside piano and harpsichord. Couples receive a planning meeting with the minister and another with the musician, a dedicated church liaison for rehearsal and ceremony, custodial services, and full building use. Members pay $1,000 and non-members $2,000, with a $500 non-refundable deposit securing the date.
The building is also rented out for community events. Memorial Hall, the Parlor, the Sanctuary, the Kitchen, the Conference Room, the Third Floor Parlor, and the Reuben Gaylord Room are all available, with accessible entrances, free Wi-Fi, and modern presentation technology. The church sits steps from Blackstone's restaurants, shops, and hotels.
Planning a Visit
First Central welcomes first-time guests warmly, and the practical details are simple. The main entrance is on the west side of the building on 36th Street, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance on the south side, just around the corner. Parking is plentiful: the public lot at the southwest corner of 36th and Harney is free on Sundays, the small lot behind the church is available, and street parking on 36th Street is designated accessible on Sundays. There is no dress code - "come as you are," the church says. Ushers and greeters are easy to spot, and any staff member can answer questions, point out the restrooms, or help with the worship bulletin.
Leadership
The pastoral team is led by Rev. Sarah Rentzel Jones, Senior Minister. A graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, she has served UCC churches, worked as a hospital chaplain, served as Associate Conference Minister in the Hawaii UCC Conference and the Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Tri-Conference, and is trained in interim ministry. She and her husband Don and their three children, Jack, Irene, and Maggie, have lived in Omaha since June 2021.
Liz Patterson is the Director of Christian Education, working with the congregation to make intergenerational education engaging, purposeful, and fun. She grew up in the church, was a kindergarten teacher for nine years, and holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Doane University. She is also serving as Minister of Visitation following the recent passing of Rev. Dr. Jim Harmon, who had served the congregation in pastoral care for over thirty years.
Stephen Bouma is the Minister of Music and Organist, a published composer and active performer throughout the Omaha area who regularly premieres his music at First Central for choir, solo organ, and bells. He and his wife, Lyn, have worked as a musical team for nearly forty years, and he holds degrees from the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Ways to Get Involved
Members and newcomers can plug into First Central through five ministry teams: Congregational Care, which visits the poor, the sick, and the sorrowing; Congregational Outreach, which coordinates missions, community services, benevolence, justice work, and advocacy; Education Ministry, which works with the Director of Education to shape programs for all ages; Ministry Support, which oversees church property, finances, IT, and facility use; and Worship Ministry, which supports the Senior Minister and Minister of Music in all aspects of congregational worship. A Matching Members to Ministry team helps newcomers find the right fit.
An Invitation That Has Lasted
First Central still describes itself with the same phrase its founders might recognize: thankful for life, for Jesus, and for the courage and vision of those who came before. The covenant at the heart of the congregation is to seek, as a church and as individuals, to be faithful to God's will, praying for hearts that open, minds that understand, and lives that serve. In a Blackstone sanctuary that has hosted worship, weddings, funerals, marches, fundraisers, grief circles, and Pride parades for more than a century and a half, that covenant keeps being renewed.