A Neighborhood Church Near Dodge and 90th
First Covenant Church of Omaha sits at 201 North 90th Street, just south of Dodge on the city's western edge. The main entrance and parking lot are both off 90th, which makes the building easy to find for anyone driving in for the first time. The congregation describes itself with a line that opens nearly every page of its materials: "Every individual is welcome at FCC, each bringing a different perspective and background. While we are not the same, we are committed to being together, trusting what makes us different makes us whole." That sentence captures the spirit of a church that has chosen intergenerational life over sorting people by age or stage, and it shapes nearly every program the congregation offers.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
Worship begins at 9:30 AM and runs for about an hour. Many people arrive early to grab a doughnut and a cup of coffee and catch up with friends before the service begins. The sanctuary hosts the whole congregation together, including children of all ages. Parents are welcome to pick up coloring pages, pencils, books, and quiet activities from a resource cart in the Upper Commons, or to step into a Wiggle Room where the service is broadcast for children who need room to move. An usher can point the way.
The service itself follows a familiar pattern for anyone who has spent time in an evangelical mainline congregation: singing, prayer, scripture reading, and a sermon that works through a Bible passage and considers what it might say today. Visitors are encouraged to join in the singing, praying, and engagement with God's word. A nursery for children through age three is also offered during worship, where caring volunteers help the youngest children begin to experience God's love through attention and play.
After the service there is time for conversation before the Formation Hour at 11:00 AM, which runs September through May. During the school year, kindergarten through fifth graders gather for Godly Play, students meet for an intentional time of Christian formation, and adults gather for studies such as a survey of Genesis and Exodus. Casual dress is the norm; jeans are as common as sport coats, and the church has told first-time visitors plainly that comfort matters more than formality. Pastors Greg and Coby are available on Sunday mornings to greet newcomers and answer questions.
Children: The Whole Community, Not a Separate Wing
Children's ministry at First Covenant is built around the conviction that parents play the most important role in a child's faith journey, and that the church's role is to walk alongside them. A volunteer team called the Children's Christian Formation Team partners with families to nurture spiritual growth from birth through fifth grade. Pastor Coby Fisher oversees the program and is the main contact for families.
On Sunday mornings, that means nursery care for infants through age three, Wiggle Room access for wigglers, and Godly Play for K-5 kids during Formation Hour. Children are always welcome in the sanctuary during worship, even with their wiggles and noises, and the church has built its programming around the idea that being a child is part of being present.
On select Wednesday evenings throughout the year, the church gathers for dinner, fellowship, and formation, with nursery care for infants through PreK and Holy Moly programming for K-5 children running alongside the meal.
Students: Not the Future, But the Church Today
The student ministry page makes the philosophy explicit: First Covenant does not see its sixth through twelfth graders as "the future of the church" but as whole persons in the church today. Students are invited to organize special events, participate in or facilitate Formation classes, lead in worship, and serve on leadership teams.
Sunday mornings during the school year include an intentional time of Christian formation that explores scripture, faith, and life together. Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM bring students together for Midweek, a gathering that includes free time, snacks, games, teaching, and small groups. The Wednesday rhythm is described as a highlight of the week.
For students in seventh, eighth, or ninth grade who want a more systematic exploration of the Christian faith, Confirmation is offered yearly, beginning in January and concluding on the first weekend of May. Pastor Coby leads this work and serves as the main point of contact for student ministry questions.
Adults: From Centering Prayer to Tai Chi
Adult formation at First Covenant runs through several doors. Centering Prayer meets Sunday mornings at 8:30. The choir rehearses Wednesdays at 6:30 PM from September through May and sings in worship weekly. A Praise Band rehearses Sundays at 9:00 AM for anyone who sings or plays an instrument and wants to help lead worship. An Adult Christian Formation Team creates thoughtful, varied experiences to encourage adults on the journey of transformation that the church considers central to its life.
Beyond Sunday and Wednesday, the church hosts a striking variety of community groups for adults. Tai Chi meets Tuesdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 2:30 PM and is adaptable to many levels. The Retired Men gather Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM to handle small repairs and maintenance around the building. Sisters of the Skein, a knitting and crocheting group, meets Thursdays from 9:00 AM to noon to make prayer shawls, hats, scarves, and personal projects. The OWLS (Older, Wiser, Loving Seniors), for those 55 and up, plan fellowship events and programs throughout the year. An Adult Fellowship Group runs outings and activities open to adults of all ages. A church library on the lower level of the educational wing lends books to members. SoulCollage, a contemplative creative practice that uses images and intuition to create personal collaged cards, is offered periodically on Saturdays in the Fellowship Hall.
Smaller Community Groups gather around shared interests, and during the fall Formation season a small group works through Ruthless Elimination of Hurry on Sundays at 11:00 AM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
Wednesday Nights at the Table
Wednesday evenings are a weekly rhythm of the church during the program year. Dinner is served at 5:30 PM in the Upper Commons, and the meal is provided; desserts are welcome but not required. After dinner, formation programming runs for children, students, and adults until around 7:00 or 7:30 PM. Pastors describe the dinners as a chance to gather with friends, reconnect as a family, and share a meal together. They are often suggested as a low-pressure way for newcomers to get to know the church without committing to a full Sunday morning visit.
An Evangelical Covenant Church in Omaha
First Covenant belongs to the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), a multiethnic movement of about 850 congregations in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Locally, the church is part of the Midwest Conference, a network of 90 churches and fellowship groups spanning Western Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.
The ECC's core convictions are summed up in six affirmations: the centrality of the word of God, the necessity of the new birth, a commitment to the whole mission of the church, the church as a fellowship of believers, a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit, and the reality of freedom in Christ.
First Covenant's own vision is drawn from Luke 10:27: "To Love God and Our Neighbors." Its mission takes shape from Micah 6:8 and the Great Commission: walk humbly with God, love mercy and act justly, and share the good news of Jesus. As part of that whole-life mission, the church gathers each Labor Day weekend for an All Church Retreat at Covenant Cedars Camp, a few hours from Omaha, for worship, connection, and rest.
Pastors and Staff
Greg Applequist has served as Lead Pastor since August 2016. He is joined by Coby Fisher, Associate Pastor, who oversees children's and student ministry. Ray Grabner coordinates the Music Ministry, Chris Wright serves as Worship Leader, and John Cooper is the Accompanist. Diane Stoner serves as Church Administrator and Beth Hemphill as Administrative Assistant. An elected Lead Team of laypeople shares governance of the congregation alongside the pastors. The church also keeps an annual report, a constitution, and bylaws that describe how ministry teams, staff, and congregational decision-making fit together.
Becoming a Member
Membership is open to anyone who has been baptized. The path runs through a 90-minute Membership Class offered twice a year, in the fall and in the spring, on Sundays at 12:00 PM with lunch provided. After the class, prospective members complete a short application that includes some spiritual questions and simple family information, then meet with members of the Lead Team for a lighthearted conversation. New members are welcomed with a photo and brief bio published in the church bulletin the day they are received.
The church is clear that membership is not required to participate. Anyone is welcome to attend worship, join a Wednesday dinner, or serve alongside members. Membership is described as a way of saying, "I am committed to being part of this community," and includes the opportunity to vote on congregational matters and serve on the Lead Team.
Staying Connected Between Sundays
The Loop, a weekly e-newsletter, carries upcoming events, announcements, and service opportunities, and an archive of recent issues is available. It is the main communication channel alongside Realm, the church's online management system, which members use to register for events, give online, check children into programs, view giving history, and access a church directory. A Realm Connect app is available for iOS and Android.
Sunday worship services are livestreamed through BoxCast and archived, so anyone who is traveling or homebound can keep up with recent messages. Giving is one of the ways the church describes its response to God's generosity: donations support spaces for faith formation, care for one another, investing in the next generation, serving neighbors, and sharing the good news of Jesus. Online giving is processed through Realm.
Pastors Greg and Coby welcome questions at any time, and the church office at 402-391-2747 or office@firstcovenantomaha.org is the front door for everything from planning a first visit to signing up for a Wednesday night dinner. Livestream and online giving are available any time.