The Herald Newsletter
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Issue 2 I February 2025
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BENEFIT CONCERT FOR FIRST-PLYMOUTH’S JUST NEIGHBORS MINISTRY AND HOPE HOUSE
Daniel Martinez & Jarana In Concert
Sunday, February 2, 4:00pm, Sanctuary
FREE concert and freewill offerings to First-Plymouth JustNeighbors ministry and Hope House.
Daniel Martinez, flamenco guitarist and his band Jarana will offer a benefit concert to support First-Plymouth’s JustNeighbors ministry and the Hope House that supports our neighbors in need in the Near South neighborhood.
JaRaNa (HAH-RAH-nah) formed by Daniel Martinez in 2009 is a band built on energetic, danceable music blending South American, African and Mediterranean beats such as Flamenco, Rumba and Salsa, accompanied with authentic, traditional instruments. Band members are natives of Peru, Mexico, Cuba and the US.
Martinez is a Music and Culture touring and teaching artist through the Nebraska Arts Council, Teaching Artist for The Lied Center for Performing Arts, Guest Artist for John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. He is also a guitar instructor at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Union Adventist University. He was awarded as the Lincoln Mayor’s Choice Award in 2023 and also the 2023 Here’s to the Heroes Award.
Love Your Neighbor
Become a Navigator at the Hope House
This March, First-Plymouth Church is excited to launch The Hope House, a welcoming resource hub designed to connect our neighbors with essential social services. Through this initiative, we aim to provide support, guidance, and practical solutions to those who may be struggling to find the help they need.
As a Hope House Navigator, you’ll play a key role in assisting individuals who reach out—whether by phone, email, or in person—by guiding them to the right resources and providing a listening ear. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a direct and meaningful impact in our community.
Looking ahead, in the fall of 2025, we will introduce a financial support component. This will include a mutual aid fund to help with basic needs and a micro-loan program to assist neighbors in avoiding predatory payday loans, pawning items, or struggling with transportation costs. This is a chance to empower individuals and families, helping them regain stability and self-sufficiency.
Apply To Become A Navigator
If you are interested in joining this compassionate team, please apply at firstplymouth.org/hopehouse
We Need Your Help
Join Our New Welcome Team!
At First-Plymouth Church, we have always prided ourselves on being a warm and welcoming community. However, due to the size and layout of our building and the variety of services we offer, we recognize that it can sometimes be challenging to greet visitors, assist families in finding Sunday school, help guests find their seats, or even share a cup of coffee in conversation. That’s where we need your support.
We are excited to announce the formation of a new, unified Welcome Team that will bring together our ushers, greeters, and First-Welcome team members. This team will play an essential role in ensuring that every visitor and congregant feels embraced and at home, whether you greet them at the door, assist at the Welcome Table, or help with the offertory.
What makes this opportunity truly special? As part of the Welcome Team, you’ll work alongside a group of dedicated and supportive individuals, collaborating to make each service a meaningful experience for everyone who walks through our doors.
We’re seeking enthusiastic volunteers to serve at the following times:
9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:59 AM services
9:30 AM at FP South, Roper and Sons South Chapel
Already serving in one of these roles? No problem—this initiative is simply about adding more hands and hearts to strengthen our team.
We want to ensure enough people to cover every service and continue offering a heartfelt welcome to everyone who joins us. Teams will rotate once a month each quarter.
We’d love to hear from you if you want to learn more or get involved! Please get in touch with Pastor KJ at kj@firstplymouth.org for more details.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our visitors and congregation. We look forward to welcoming you to the team!
Abendmusik Concert Series continues in February
My Funny Valentine: an Abendmusik fundraiser
Friday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. - Online only - tickets required
Enjoy Valentine’s Day in the comfort of your own home with entertainment from Tom Trenney and the Great American Songbook and with a gourmet meal from Chef au Chef delivered right to your door.
The Crossing: Three-time Grammy
Award-winning chamber choir, conducted by Donald Nally
Sunday, February 16 at 4:00 p.m.
The Crossing is committed to working with creative teams to make and record new, substantial works for choir that explore and expand ways of writing for choir, singing in choir, and listening to music for choir.
I Believe: Choral Music by Black composers
Sunday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Honoring Black History Month, The Plymouth Choir, Nebraska Wesleyan University Choir, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Choir join together with guest conductor Anton Armstrong in Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, Margaret Bonds’ Credo, and a collection of spirituals.
Learn about Composer Margaret Bonds and the Rediscover Her Credo
Pamela Starr, Professor Emerita of Music History at UNL, will teach us about the remarkable life and work of Margaret Bonds-- one of many female and black composers whose works were ignored until recently. Learn about her Credo-- a setting of W. E. Dubois profound and challenging “I believe” litany which will be sung in our February 23 Abendmusik concert.
Sun, February 23 - chapel, 6:00-6:30pm before the concert
Youth Masterworks Festival
Requiem by Gabriel Fauré
Monday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m.
More than two hundred high school singers and instrumentalists from across Lincoln collaborate to perform one of the most cherished choral/orchestral masterpieces of all time. Led by Anton Armstrong, conductor of the renowned St. Olaf Choir.
Compline
Sunday, February 9, 7:00-7:30pm, Sanctuary.
Ancient Worship for the modern soul.
Worship with us Sunday at 8:15am
A special gathering with donuts, learning, conversation and spirit! Hosted by Jim Keck and Juan Carlos Huertas. Held in Pilgrim Hall.
Have you tried FP South yet? We’d love to see you there!
Sundays, 9:30am, located at Roper and Sons South Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Dr (S. 40th & Yankee Hill)
A casual service, but deeply Christian with scripture, prayer, singing and joy. The service is a fusion of our other FP services at the main site but in a smaller setting. There is a Sunday school experience for the kids. PLUS+ there is an accessible entrance and easy parking.
Campaign to End Child Hunger
Join Bread for the World for the launch of a new advocacy campaign to impact child hunger and malnutrition. Learn about the national legislative priorities to be pursued, why they matter for children, and what you can do to make a difference. February 4, 6:00pm. Register today. Visit qrco.de/nourishourfuture.
Tips from the FP Sustainability Committee and Climate Action Team
Want to reduce your energy bill? Try cold water for laundry. About 80% of the energy used for washing goes to heating water.
Even the Smallest Action Matters
The First-Plymouth Climate Action Team is joining with other faith communities in Lincoln to work on one climate or environment policy issue in the next few months, likely a bill in the legislature. If you’re willing to take the smallest step, such as calling or writing your state senator, contact Lorrie Benson at lorriebenson2@gmail.com.
Grape Expectations Church Socials
A great way to meet others who attend First-Plymouth! Bring an appetizer and beverage (most bring wine) to share. All are welcome! Next social: Fri. February 28, 6:30-8:30pm, Pilgrim Hall at the church. Hosts: Marilyn Larson and Jane & Jerry Wray. RSVP if you plan to attend by emailing msuelarson@hotmail.com.
Plymouth Pride Movie Night February 21
Watch your email for details closer to the dates. If you are not receiving our emails but would like to, let us know at FirstPlymouthPride@gmail.com.
Ash Wednesday | March 5
Two opportunities to receive ashes:
Noon-1:00pm Sanctuary
6:30-7:30pm Ash Wednesday Worship service
Please note that there will not be any Wed Night Live dinner or programming that evening.
We invite everyone to attend the service with your family.
Coming Soon: Mental Health Café
February 27, 6:30pm, Mayflower Hall
What do you know about mental health? What do you understand about mental health? Are you curious about learning more? Everyone struggles with mental health at one time or another. Come join the Faith in Recovery Committee as we discuss these questions and more.
Bible Study Opportunities
Between Services Book Group
Sundays, 9:45-10:30am, Tower Room. Group led. Contact person: pennylarsen66@gmail.com
Academic Bible Study
The Parts of the Bible
Sundays, Feb 2 – March 23, 11:30am-12:30pm. Led by Leah Cech.
What are the sections of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and how is each one connected to different periods in the history of biblical Israel? Join us for a class exploring a “big picture” overview of the different parts of the Bible. This will be an 8-week series. Optional book: Michael Coogan, The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction.
Theology on Tap
Healing Resistance
Conversations on Non-Violence, Advocacy, and Solidarity in Urgent Times. Mondays, February 10, March 24, April 28, 7:00-8:00pm, The Mill - Innovation Campus (2021 Transformation Dr). Join Pastor JC this Spring for a series of conversations on the ways that the church can be an effective movement of resistance in the world today. Pastor JC believes that such resistance does not use the tools of the oppressor in thought, word, and deed and yet the tools it uses can be effective if only we commit to this healing way together.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30am, Calvert Parlor. Led by Carolyn Zeisset. Feb. 4 - Mar. 4: Enigmas in the Apocrypha. Compare differing viewpoints in books written between the Old & New Testaments, their influence on New Testament writers, and similarities with different viewpoints today.
Thursday Bible Study with Jim Keck
Thursdays, Noon-1:00pm, Choir Room. Led by Dr. Jim Keck. A spiritual adventure using the Bible to launch the imagination, and catapult us into far-ranging topics of real interest.
