The Herald Newsletter
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Issue 4 I April 2025
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Palm Sunday
April 13 at all services
Maundy Thursday
April 17, 7:00pm, Sanctuary and online
Gather together as we remember Jesus’ Last Supper. Infant/toddler care provided.
Good Friday
April 18, 7:00pm, Sanctuary and online
Easter Festival - NEW!
April 19, 11:30am-1:30pm, outside the church. Egg hunt scrambles, crafts, games, food trucks, and more for the whole family
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil
April 19, 5:30pm, Sanctuary
Easter Day – April 20
7:00am
Worship at sunrise and experience Easter as dawn breaks. Gather in the Chapel, then head outdoors to the Courytard. A light continental breakfast will be served in Pilgrim Hall following the service.
8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am
Beginning with a solemn procession, the promise of the Easter story is shared in a hope-filled scripture and an inspiring sermon, accompanied by the holy strains of the Plymouth Choir and Orchestra. Infant/toddler care provided. Helpful tip -- the 8:00am has ample seating!
9:30am at FP South (Roper and Sons Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Dr)
Easter worship perfect for families and friends of all ages! *Accessible parking.
11:00am Family Service
Experience Easter in an interactive worship experience in Mayflower Hall, designed for young children and families.
12:29pm
Celebrate the Easter message along with music from Daniel Martinez. A worship service without the formalities of the morning services.
Easter Day Livestream, Television, and Radio Broadcasts
Digital Worship: Sunday 9:00am
Livestream: Sunday 9:30am
Reach Out & Live Television Broadcast:
Midnight KPTM | 8:00am FOX KFXL and Dish 17 & 51.
9:00am KPTM FOX 42 | 9:00am KNOP North Platte | 7:00pm Spectrum
Radio: 9:00am 1240am
Help Fill Our Easter Candy Barrel! Drop off individually wrapped Easter candy in our donation barrel located in the west entrance.
Volunteers are needed to bring our Easter Festival to life. Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4BABAA29A7FC1-55210189-easter#/
This Lent, our Pastors Jim Keck, Juan Carlos Huertas, KJ Langlais, and Jim Miller will lead 40 days of Bible studies. Join us for a daily opportunity to join others in hearing the ancient story in new ways and deepen your Lenten journey.
March 6 – April 14
Sundays, 5:00pm Calvert Parlor, Rev. Jim Miller
Mondays, 10:30am, Calvert Parlor, Pastor KJ Langlais
Tuesdays, 5:30pm, Calvert Parlor. Dr. Jim Keck and Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas
Wednesdays, 6:15pm, Pilgrim Hall. Dr. Jim Keck and Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas
Thursdays, Noon, Choir Room, Dr. Jim Keck
Fridays, Noon, ZOOM online, Pastor KJ Langlais
Saturdays, 4:30pm, Calvert Parlor, Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas
Compline
Sunday, April 13, 7:00-7:30pm, Sanctuary
Ancient Worship for the modern soul.
Mozart’s Requiem
Sunday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Join the Nebraska Wesleyan University Choir and the Abendmusik Chorus and Orchestra for a preview of a performance they will take to Prague in June 2025.
A fundraiser for Community CROPS
First-Plymouth Presents
The Most Important Cuss Word of Our Time
While we can’t reveal the word in print, join Dr. Keck as he shares what it is and explains why understanding it is essential to comprehending our world.
Sun April 27, 6:00pm (doors open at 5:00pm)
Screamers Family Restaurant (803 Q St) with live music!
Parking garage located directly across the street.
Pastor Jim Miller is about to try retirement for a second time
Help him celebrate on May 18
Pastor Jim Miller has served as a Congregational care Minister at First-Plymouth for the past nine years. He had retired from his pastoral ministry at a United Methodist Church in 2015. As a part of a small Thursday morning pastors’ group that included First-Plymouth Senior Minister Jim Keck, he decided it would be best to step away from the church he was serving, so along with his wife, Karen, he joined First-Plymouth.
“We quickly became engaged in the friendliness of the people, the beauty of the music, and hearing Jim’s message each week,” said Miller.
About a year later, Pastor George Wolcott decided to retire from his congregational care ministry at First-Plymouth and Miller stepped up for another chapter in his life as a minister.
“And so began a wonderful and meaningful experience for me,” said Miller. “First-Plymouth is the model church I always strived to develop throughout the years of my ministry. It is fully inclusive, spiritual, and innovative, and provides opportunities for intellectual sharing and continual outreach to our community and beyond. And the music--well, that’s a spiritual experience of its own.
“I cannot say enough about the people at First-Plymouth – there are so many very wonderful people and so many to learn from—so many ways to develop new depths of understanding.”
During Miller’s long tenure in ministry he has worked to reinvigorate each of the churches he has served, led youth and adult mission trips, both nationally and internationally, and organized a very large junior high camp in central Nebraska, serving as its leader for 20 years.
He says the biggest and most meaningful highlight of his ministry at First-Plymouth has been serving with all of the tremendous people on staff and meeting so many wonderful people through his work.
Jim and Karen plan to stay engaged as active members of First-Plymouth as Jim gives retirement another try. He plans to spend more time with grandchildren, find some time to fish, continue with exercise, biking, and never-ending home projects. He may even hike another 14,000-foot mountain in Colorado.
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.
Grief Support
2nd Friday (April 11) 3:00pm, Calvert Parlor. Group led.
Tues. April 15, 6:00-7:30pm, Tower Room. Led by Lisa Borchardt, LCSW. Zoom option available – email
addie@firstplymouth.org for link.
Caregivers Support Meeting
2nd Tuesday monthly
April 8, 6:00pm in Room 209. Contact martiterri@gmail.com or r.umphlett@yahoo.com for more info.
Adoption Triad Sharing Group
April 10, 6:30pm, Calvert Parlor. Contact dbush2508@gmail.com.
Volunteers Needed for the Reception Desk
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist at our front reception desk. This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of the FP team and create a welcoming environment. For more information contact julie@firstplymouth.org.
Theology on Tap
Healing Resistance
Conversations on Non-Violence, Advocacy, and Solidarity in Urgent Times
Monday, April 28, 7:00-8:00pm, The Mill-Innovation Campus.
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.
SIGNIFICANCY
Untangling Heroism
Thursday, May 15, 7:00pm, Sanctuary
Featuring Dr. Jim Keck and Dr. Ari Kohen, UNL Schlesinger Professor of Social Justice.
Heroism is often misunderstood today. In modern society, any difficult or impressive behavior is labeled as heroic. But what drives some to act
heroically, while others don’t? And why does one type of hero seem more heroic than another? Join us this evening to hear a deeper exploration
of what truly defines heroism.
Live music | Childcare available during the program
Grape Expectations Church Social
Fri. April 11, 6:30-8:30pm in Pilgrim Hall at the church. A great way to meet others who attend First-Plymouth. Bring an appetizer and beverage (most bring wine) to share. Hosted by Gloria Aron. RSVP by emailing garon@neb.rr.com.
Plymouth Pride Pizza & Trivia
Fri. April 25, 6:30pm in Pilgrim Hall. All are welcome! RSVP to FirstPlymouthPride@gmail.com.
FP Singles Ministry
Check out the monthly events by getting on the email list. Email addie@firstplymouth.org.
Pickleball at FP
Join us for Pickle Ball! Tuesdays, 5:30-7:00pm. Enter from the East parking lot
Facing Challenges Alone?
There are moments in life when we face challenges that make us feel alone. It can happen with the word cancer, after the loss of a loved one, or with the uncertainty of a job or changes in our home. Having someone to talk to is vital for our processing and coping. At First Plymouth, we have Stephen Ministers trained to walk with you through the changes by meeting each week, listening, and encouraging you on your journey. We do not want you to be alone; contact Pastor KJ Langlais at kjl@firstplymouth.org to talk about a Stephen Minister.
Bible Study Opportunities Walk-ins Welcome!
Between Services Book Group
Sundays, 9:45-10:30am, Tower room. Group led.
Academic Bible Study
Led by Leah Cech, Sundays 11:30am-12:30pm, Tower Room.
April 6 & 13, The Bible With and Without Jesus Discover biblical verses and themes of Lent and the Jewish origins of those concepts.
April 27-May 18, The Historical Jesus and Christ of Faith
Drawing on scholar Marcus Borg’s distinction between what we can know from history and archaeology about the time period and region when Jesus lived, and what can be known through faith, this class will explore archaeological finds and historical texts to unearth what historians have been able to learn about life in first century Galilee. How do archaeologists think and write about the historical Jesus?
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30am, Calvert Parlor. Led by Carolyn Zeisset. April 1-May 6: Bible Books from the Persian Empire Period. Find a topic from each book in a hymn.
Thursday Bible Study with Jim Keck
Thursdays, Noon-1:00pm, Choir Room. Led by Dr. Jim Keck.
Justice in Action
An interfaith, grassroots coalition of faith communities in Lancaster County that harnesses the power of organized people to address big community problems. The FP Board of Christian Outreach and Justice In Action invites everyone to attend the Nehemiah Action Assembly on Thurs. May 1, 6:30-8:30pm, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church 8550 Pioneers Blvd.
An Opportunity to Learn about Guatemala
Are you interested in a cultural learning trip to Guatemala? Attend the informational meeting: Sun. May 4, 9:30am, in Room 207. Unable to attend? Email jlbgreenwald@gmail.com for info.
Spring Church Grounds Cleanup
Volunteers needed: April 5, 9:00 – 11:00am; April 12, 9:00 – 11:00am; April 18, 9:30 – 11:00 am (if needed). All dates, weather permitting. Please bring garden tools/gloves. Contact ccrellin@neb.rr.com.
Navigating the Aging Journey
3 part series led by Tabitha
Because Every Moment Matters - Thurs. April 10, 10:30am, Pilgrim Hall
Can Home Health Care Be the Key to Recovery & Independence - Thurs April 17, 10:30am, Pilgrim Hall
Tour Through Tabitha - Thurs. April 24, 10:30am at Tabitha (4720 Randolph)
Love the Planet
Tips from the FP Sustainability Committee and Climate Action Team
Paper or Plastic? Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can pose a danger to wildlife, but paper bags require significantly more resources (trees, energy) to produce. Keep some bags in your car to grab on your way in and reuse.
We The People - Healing Our Democracy
Are you Interested in Learning More?
This program was held on November 10, 2024, featuring a cross section of Nebraskans representing a variety of political orientations. They discussed ways we can help strengthen our democracy by coming together with a focus on a collective and cooperative effort to heal our democracy. Indicate your interest in learning more by completing this form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTNpaqcDSwLQaN7y_3HK82vKLna4ConUN6ZaRkF5WRoNTWNQ/viewform