My Omaha Film Screening & Conversation
When: Fri, Oct 23, 6:00 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm)
Where: Chapel

What does it take to stay connected when our deepest beliefs pull us apart?

My Omaha is a documentary following filmmaker Nick Beaulieu as he returns to Omaha to document the city’s racial justice movement while reconnecting with his terminally ill, conservative father. Through his relationship with community organizer Leo Louis II, Nick confronts a side of his hometown—and himself—that he had not fully seen.

The documentary premieres October 5 on PBS’s Independent Lens. On Friday, October 23, First Presbyterian Church of Portland’s Service Beyond Our Walls committee invites the congregation, downtown neighbors, students, and the wider Portland community to gather in the FPC Chapel to watch the film together.

At a time when political and social divisions can make honest conversation difficult, My Omaha asks what it means to tell the truth about injustice, listen across deep disagreement, and remain in relationship when convictions pull us apart.

After the 85-minute film, Nick and Leo will join us live for a conversation with the audience. Watch the trailer for the film by clicking here!

Admission is free but RSVPs are appreciated at this link.
Free parking will be available in our underground garage on 12th.

Parking for Sunday morning worship will be much the same as it has been as we introduce a new LPR system (License Plate Recognition). When this system is fully operational, members visiting the church at any time will enter and be recognized by the system as free parkers. Once a vehicle is “in the system,” transient (non-monthly) parkers can enjoy touchless entry and automatic payment. Until then, the system will be a hybrid of free access and digital validation.

PMC Ambassadors (formerly known as attendants) will be on site eight hours a day including weekends. The duties and range of activity of the Ambassadors differ from the previous attendant model. Since payment for transient parking is made digitally on entry (or shortly after by mobile device), there is no collection on exit. Ambassadors walk the garage assisting new users with initial payment transactions as needed. Ambassadors also verify that all parkers have entered the payment system.

We will provide further updates on this new parking garage system and management as we are able. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact the church office.

First Presbyterian Church (FPC) is a unique treasure nestled in the heart of the city. With its Victorian Gothic-inspired architecture, it is the perfect location for a large or intimate affair. Built in 1890, it is one of the oldest and largest churches in Portland. The hammer-beam trusses, original hand-carved pews, Povey stained glass windows, and magnificent Jaeckel pipe organ provide the perfect setting for a romantic and unforgettable wedding ceremony.

Click here to learn more about booking your wedding at First Presbyterian Church.

The Presbyterian Church (USA), of which First Presbyterian is a part, works to affirm the worth of all persons, including those in the LGBTQ community. Our church’s governing body, the Session, affirms ours as a welcoming and affirming congregation. All are welcome to join in worship, fellowship, and service!

Our PCUSA Mission staff penned this prayer as we continue to work and hope for the reign of God to be established:

God of justice, hope, love, and mercy, help us to continually live into the church that you have called us to be. Compel us to stand against injustice wherever it may be found. Provoke us to hold firm to the gospel message of inclusion and equity. And empower us to continually be salt and light in a world that so desperately needs more representation of your Spirit. We love you and strive to love others in the same way. Through God’s grace, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

As of September 2024, our church joined the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, a national movement committed to a vision of the church where all are welcome and all are valued. By joining this network, we affirm our commitment to inclusivity, mutual respect, and the full participation of all people in the life and ministry of the church. This partnership strengthens our mission of fostering a community where God’s love and justice are central, and it empowers us to engage more deeply in the ongoing work of reconciliation and transformation within the broader church and society.