WNL Adult Programs:

New Year, New Season, New Beginnings!

Jan 15, 6:15-7:30pm, Pilgrim Hall. Led by Pastor KJ Langlais. It is always easy to come up with a list of New Year resolutions; however, more difficult to change our attitude and approach towards the opportunity for a fresh start in life. What does it mean to let go of the past, and seize the opportunity to start a New Year with a fresh outlook on life?  Come, and let us explore together new ways and new beginnings for this New Year.

We Can Make a Difference!

Jan 15, 6:15-7:30pm, Chapel. Join former State Senator Patty Pansing Brooks and lobbyist Eric Gerrard to learn how to effectively advocate for issues you care about. They’ll discuss how to contact elected officials and what to say, testifying at hearings, writing letters to the editor, using social media, and more. Help shape our community and state by sharing your thoughts on the many issues on the table in 2025. Whether you care about hunger, environment, voting rights, health care access, public school funding, LGBTQ+, immigration or more, learn the skills you need to advocate for your beliefs! Sponsored by FP Bread for the World and Climate Action Team ministries.

Yoga

Jan 15, 22, 29, 6:15-7:30pm, Mayflower Hall. Led by Jessica Jewell, Yoga Together Lincoln. All ages and abilities including beginners are welcome. Bring a yoga mat.

Developing the Gift of Empathy

Jan 22, 6:15-7:30pm, Chapel. Presented by FP Stephen Ministers. We often listen with our heads, ready to respond with our thoughts. In this session, you will learn how to listen with your heart and develop the tools of empathy so needed today in work, families, friendships, and faith communities.

Love Your Neighbor series

Wed Jan 22 - Feb 26, 6:15-7:30pm, Pilgrim Hall

In a time of increasing division and polarization, this series offers a refreshing, biblically grounded perspective on one of the most central commands in the Christian faith. This series invites participants to explore the timeless message of loving your neighbor—a message that remains as relevant today as it was in ancient time. Designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you to live out the radical love Jesus calls us to, fostering deeper relationships with our neighbors and working toward healing in our communities. Over the course of these sessions, we will dive into key questions that challenge and inspire us to live out this command more fully in our daily lives

Jan 22: Who is My Neighbor?

Pastor Juan Carlos leads a panel discussion on what does it mean to be neighbor?, how is neighboring experienced?, and we'll hear from some of our people who are practicing neighboring in our First-Plymouth community. Panel: Sara & Charlie Bills, justNeighbor Coordinators; Lisa Guill, Asian Cultural Centers of Lincoln; Haroon AlHayder, Yazidi Refugee

Jan 29: Loving Neighbor

Pastor Juan Carlos and Rabbi Alex Felch discuss the theological concept of loving neighbor in Christianity and Judaism.

Feb 5: Review of Immigration Laws in U.S. Policy

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial for being informed advocates for immigrant neighbors. Explore the history, the present-day realities, and the implications of these policies on individuals and communities.

Feb 12: What Do You or a Neighbor Do if ICE Knocks on Your Door?

What rights do individuals have when facing the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)? Learn practical guidance on what to do to ensure safety and due process.

Feb 19: Methods to Protect Immigrant Neighbors: Resistance and Advocacy

Learn tools and strategies for advocating on behalf of immigrant neighbors. We will discuss the importance of staying informed, understanding legal rights, and learning how to effectively resist harmful policies.

Feb 26 Loving God, Loving Neighbor: What the Bible Says and What Do We Do Now?

As we conclude the series, we will reflect on the relevance of Jesus’ teachings today. What does it mean to love your neighbor in the midst of today’s cultural and political challenges? How can we practically embody love in a world that is often marked by division and conflict? Together, we will explore how to move from understanding to action, answering the call to love with intention, humility, and grace.

Poetry in the Biblical World

Jan 29-Feb 19, 6:15-7:30pm, Chapel. Led by Dr. Jonathan Redding, Nebr. Wesleyan Univ.

When we want to know what a society was like, really like, we don’t look to artifacts or stories of war. We read their poetry. Join Dr. Redding dive deep into Poetry of the Ancient World. We will start with poetry of the ancient levant (Egypt, Mesopotamia, and others) to set up a discussion about poetry in the Hebrew Bible. These writings tell us about the heart and soul of who wrote them, and in analyzing these poems we can better understand what it means to be human then and now.