Presbyterian Church of the Master sits on a hilltop along Corby Circle in northwest Omaha, near the busy intersection of 108th Street and West Maple Road. The congregation carries a simple motto that frames everything it does: "Seeking Christ, everywhere, every day, in everyone." As Nebraska's only More Light Presbyterian congregation and a designated Earth Care church, it has built a reputation for inclusive welcome, hands-on mission, and a steady rhythm of weekly worship.
Two Churches, One Family
The story of the present congregation runs back more than a century. In 1906, Benson Presbyterian Church was organized in the small town of Benson, Nebraska, which became part of Omaha when the city annexed it in 1917. In 1964, a second congregation, Presbyterian Church of the Master (PCM), was organized, and the original wing of the present building on Corby Circle was completed in 1967. For decades the two churches served their neighborhoods side by side. Then, in 2016, the membership of Benson Presbyterian Church merged with PCM to form the single congregation that worships on Corby Circle today. The merged church retains a strong identity rooted in both legacies.
A More Light and Earth Care Identity
In 2020, the congregation took the deliberate step of becoming a More Light Presbyterian congregation, called to center and celebrate the lives, gifts, and leadership of LGBTQIA+ people in the PCUSA and beyond. The church's stated welcome extends across age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and economic means. Alongside this commitment, the congregation has been recognized as an Earth Care congregation, demonstrating through everyday practice a commitment to environmental stewardship, creation care, and the preservation of natural resources. Adult education programs in recent seasons have carried that theme forward, including a multiweek fall series exploring nature as a way God speaks to us.
Sunday Mornings on Corby Circle
Worship is the weekly center of life at PCM. Sunday worship is held at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary and is simultaneously livestreamed on YouTube; recordings remain available for later viewing. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the service moves to 9:30 a.m. Education Hour begins at 9:00 a.m. and offers classes for every stage, from nursery through adult. Services follow the suggested PCUSA order, including prayer, music, Bible readings, a sermon based on Scripture, prayers of intercession, personal response and offering, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The pastor selects Scripture passages across both Testaments, and lay members of the congregation regularly assist in worship leadership.
The current pastoral leader is Rev. Aaron J. White, who serves as Pastor and Head of Staff. Rev. Cindy Harvey serves as Parish Associate, stepping into the role in the summer of 2019 after years as a guest pastor in the area. Both are part-time, and a number of retired Presbyterian pastors who attend also assist with leadership of services from time to time.
Music and Worship Arts
Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is treated as a vital and ancient form of prayer at PCM. The Chancel Choir is an adult ensemble that sings most Sundays, joined by the Bell Choir (handbells), the Master Brass Ensemble, and Youth Choir(s), with space for individual vocal or instrumental performances. The ACE Puppet troupe rounds out the program, occasionally taking part in worship and performing at community events and audiences outside the church. Brian Jay serves as organist, and a dedicated team of volunteers helps shape services that members describe as meaningful, thoughtful, and inspirational.
Children, Youth, and Summer Camp
Younger members are a major focus of PCM. A full-time staff professional coordinates youth ministry, supporting a deep bench of volunteer teachers and leaders.
For infants and toddlers, a secure nursery is available throughout the Sunday morning, both during the Education Hour and worship. Children ages three, four, and five have their own Sunday school classes during the Education Hour, and children age five and under are welcome in the nursery during worship. The nursery is close to the sanctuary for easy parent access.
Elementary children (PreK through sixth grade) gather for a group singing time in the "pit" area for about fifteen minutes before heading to their grade-level classes. Bible stories are taught through games, singing, arts and crafts, and reading.
Middle school students (seventh and eighth grades) meet for prayer, Bible study, and activities built around getting to know one another. Senior high students (ninth through twelfth grades) meet for Bible study, presentations, and discussions on issues pertinent to teenagers, with a balance of structure and openness. A Senior High Fellowship Group also gathers at other points during the year for social outings beyond Sunday morning.
A highlight of the year for many families is Camp Calvin Crest, the year-round Presbyterian camp and retreat center near Fremont, Nebraska, perched high on a bluff overlooking the Platte River. Many PCM youth make the trip a yearly tradition.
Welcome Table: A Monthly Free Meal
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." This verse from Matthew 25 anchors the congregation's signature outreach ministry. Welcome Table is held the third Saturday of every month from noon to 2:00 p.m. A hot meal is served at no charge. No IDs are checked, no questions are asked beyond a brief survey about how visitors heard about the program, and the church does not evangelize or ask anyone to participate in a religious service. The only goal is to feed neighbors facing food insecurity. As a More Light congregation, PCM welcomes everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, occupation, nationality, or language spoken.
Mission Beyond the Building
PCM's mission involvement stretches across the Omaha metro area. Members serve directly with Welcome Table, the PCM Community Garden and Garden Mart, Red Cross Blood Drives, Habitat for Humanity, Siena-Francis House, Food Bank for the Heartland, Table Grace Ministry, Crossroads Connection Prison Ministry, and Together, Inc. The church is also a financial supporter of the worldwide mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The church building itself is shared with the wider community: Boy and Cub Scouts meet on-site, along with AA and Al-Anon groups.
Life and Learning for Adults
Adults find a range of ongoing ways to grow, serve, and connect. A number of Bible studies, prayer groups, and discussion series meet on Sundays and during the week. In the fall and spring, the Wednesday evening Seekers series combines a shared meal with a thoughtful program. The women's ministry includes prayer groups, a book club, and an annual retreat. Fellowship activities range from church dinners and restaurant gatherings to a summer golf league, book clubs for men and women, and the community garden. The annual spring clean-up day is one of many service opportunities that bring members together beyond the sanctuary.
Removing Barriers to Participation
PCM has worked deliberately to remove barriers to participation. The facility is a single level and ADA compliant. Ample parking is available, including handicapped spaces. A hearing aid loop serves those with "T" coil-equipped devices, and additional hearing devices are available to loan. ASL signing can be arranged for services upon request. A kid's "prayground" sits inside the worship space, giving children a place to enjoy activities during the service while parents remain nearby. Video displays in the sanctuary provide liturgies, prayers, and hymn lyrics. A smartphone app offers quick access to prayer requests and bulletins during the service. For members who cannot attend in person, the pastor and lay visitors provide home and hospital visits, including home communion.
A Reformed Heritage
PCM is rooted in the Reformed tradition that traces back to John Calvin in sixteenth-century Geneva. The PCUSA expresses this heritage in its confessions, with central themes that include the majesty, holiness, and providence of God; the election of the people of God for service as well as salvation; covenant life marked by disciplined concern for order; faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation; and the recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny, calling God's people to work for the transformation of society.
Church government is also distinctive. Authority is shared between ministers of the Word and Sacrament and elected elders. The session, made up of elders and ministers, governs the local congregation. Above the session sit presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly. The word Presbyterian itself comes from the Greek word for elder, and both men and women share fully in every level of ordained and lay leadership.
Ensuring Our Future: The 2026 Capital Campaign
PCM is in the middle of a three-year capital campaign called "Ensuring Our Future." The campaign, which kicked off on March 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2028, is focused on retiring the debt from a major building renovation completed in 2018. The original 2017 loan was for $1,855,000; the current balance stands at approximately $1,185,134, with the loan otherwise scheduled to run until November 2037. The goal is to raise roughly $800,000 so that, combined with existing reserves, the entire debt can be retired and freed-up giving can flow directly into ministry rather than interest. The Session has shared that without retiring the debt, the monthly payment would eventually need to come from the operating budget, likely forcing cuts to staff and programming. Pledges can be made online, through the One Church member portal, or on a printed commitment form.
Getting Involved and Staying Connected
Members and visitors stay connected through several tools. A Friendship Registry, prayer request submission, online giving, and weekly bulletins are all available online. The church uses One Church software to manage member profiles, and members can opt in to receive text messages for church-wide communications, including weather-related closures. The congregation publishes a newsletter called the PCM Voice and maintains active Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels. Session minutes and annual reports are posted publicly for transparency.
The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the building sits up the hill on Corby Circle behind the Family Fare supermarket overlooking Interstate 80, with Taco John's on 108th Street serving as a familiar landmark for visitors making the turn east onto Corby Circle.