The Herald Newsletter
Front Page | WNL / Events & Announcements | Joys & Concerns | FP-Family
Issue 11 I November 2025
Download this month's issue of The Herald
“Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5
Service of Remembrance
Sunday, November 2, 9:00am worship
We will lift up the names of church members who have died since November of last year as well as remembering all our loved ones who have entered eternity.
Give Love. Give Hope.
Thanks For Your Help
The annual pledge drive to raise funds for the 2026 budget began last month. As of October 24, 218 pledges had been made totaling $695,599 in support of next year’s budget. Our pledge drive goal is $2.6M, a 5 percent increase over our 2025 goal.
If you have already made a pledge, thank you. If you have not yet made a pledge, please consider making one by November 23.
A pledge of any size helps bring love and hope to thousands in our congregation and the greater community.
Your generosity allows First-Plymouth to continue to have a powerful, positive impact in a world. Here are a few examples of what we, together as a congregation, bring to life through our financial support:
About 40 worship services per month, reaching our in-person worshipers plus about 5,000 online each week. Our YouTube channel has more than 16 million views
Hope House is providing help for those in need of connecting with ‘safety net’ programs for low-income families
Our inspirational music ministry
Christian education for children and youth of all ages
Lincoln Food Bank’s monthly food distribution in the parking lot to more than 700 families
Support for Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, Clinic with a Heart, and Community Action Head Start, to name a few.
Pledges can be made using a pledge card (available in pews), online, or in person in the church office.
Thank you for being a part of this wonderful church and all that we are accomplishing to make the world more loving, hopeful and peaceful.
Bill Etmund, Chair
First-Plymouth Presents - New Location!
The New Conservative Moment: Faith, Politics, & Power
With Dr. Jim Keck and Rev. Juan Carlos Huertas. Live music from singer-songwriter, Josh Hoyer
Sunday, November 23, 6:00pm (Doors open at 5:00pm) at The Talon Room (230 N. 12th St)
Grab a soda, beer, or dinner (available for purchase - special menu)
Parking garage located directly across the street.
Join us with Pastor Katherine Ebling-Frazier!
Pastor Katherine Ebling-Frazier, who leads ConnectioN Point, a vibrant community center in Lincoln, will be guest preaching on Sunday, November 16. Catch her at 9:30am at FP South (Roper and Sons South Chapel) or at 11:57am in the main sanctuary.
Compline
Sunday, November 9, 7:00-7:30pm, Sanctuary
Ancient Worship for the modern soul
Pre-Compline series Into the Stillness
Yoga
Nov 9, 6:00pm, Chapel. Led by Maggie Pleskac, Milkweed Yoga. Free.
This series combines yoga and worship, guiding participants through breath and movement to a place of stillness at the center of their being—the space that connects us with the Divine within. At 7:00pm, following the yoga session, all are invited to the sanctuary to experience Compline, a time of deep inner peace.
Significancy
Big Ideas | Conversation | Music
Playing the Game: Faith, Deception, and The Snake
Thursday, November 13, 7:00pm, Sanctuary. Live music from Emily Bass. Join Dr. Jim Keck for a fascinating conversation with Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz as he reflects on his experience as both a pastor and a contestant on FOX’s reality show The Snake.
Hear how he navigated the game’s web of trust, alliances, and strategy—and why he viewed it as a unique opportunity to explore human behavior, integrity, and faith under pressure.
Rev. Dr. Buchholz currently serves as Senior Co-Pastor of Claremont United Church of Christ with his spouse, Rev. Dr. Jennifer Strickland. They’re proud parents to their daughter, Clementine, along with several rescue dogs and pigs. Jacob credits his three years as Associate Pastor at First-Plymouth, working alongside Pastor Jim, as the most formative of his ministry—and he’s eager to reconnect with the amazing people of Lincoln. Find him on Instagram @the.inclusive.pastor or TikTok @theinclusivepastor.
Community Sing:
Handel’s Messiah
Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Raise your voice in Abendmusik’s annual rendition of George Frideric Handel’s iconic Messiah. Led by First-Plymouth’s Schola Cantorum, hundreds of singers from the Lincoln community come together to sing their “Hallelujahs” for an uplifting conclusion to Thanksgiving weekend.
Freewill offering to benefit First-Plymouth’s Hope House.
See the full season concert lineup at Abendmusik.org
Biblical Hebrew, Simplified: Language Insights to Deepen Your Bible Study
Sundays, Nov 16-23, 11:30am-12:30pm, Tower room. Led by Leah Cech, PhD. Curious about Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, but not ready for a full year of study? This class gives you practical tools and examples to understand just enough Biblical Hebrew to enrich your Bible study and uncover deeper meaning in the text.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Tuesdays, 9:30–11:00am, Calvert Parlor. Leader: Carolyn Zeisset. Voices of the Voiceless --Prophets speaking for and to the powerless in economically, politically, and culturally fraught times.
Between Services Book group
Sundays, 9:45am, Tower Room. New book begins Nov. 2: The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister.
Grief Support
2nd Friday (Nov 14) 3:00pm, Calvert Parlor. Group led.
Nov 18 & Dec 16, 6:00-7:30pm, Tower Room. Led by Dr. Lisa Borchardt
Grief & The Holidays, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 6:00-7:30pm. Register with addie@firstplymouth.org
Theology on Tap - New Location, New Time
The Fire of Justice
The Radical Theology and Politics of Dr. King
Nov. 10 | 6:30-7:30pm at White Elm Brewery
Join Pastor Juan Carlos for this bold and timely Bible series exploring the revolutionary vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Far beyond the safe and sanitized version often remembered, Dr. King spoke with prophetic fire about justice, nonviolence, economic inequality, and the soul of America. Together we’ll engage four of his most powerful writings and speeches—Pilgrimage to Nonviolence, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?, The Three Evils of Society, and I’ve Been to the Mountaintop—and reflect on their theological roots and urgent relevance for today. Come ready to wrestle, reflect, and be transformed. Grab a soda, beer, or water (available for purchase).
Cancer Support Group
First-Plymouth offers a Cancer Support Group that meets via Zoom on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, is undergoing treatment, or is in remission, consider joining this group for support, insight, and friendship. The group provides a confidential and compassionate space where members share their journeys honestly, offer encouragement, and lift one another up through devotionals and prayer. To receive reminder emails, contact mrickers14@gmail.com or kadams1@neb.rr.com.
Adoption Triad Sharing Group
3rd Thursday of the month (Nov 20), 6:30-8:00pm. A birth parent of an adoptee, an adoptee, or an adoptive parent are welcome.
Being a part of the Adoption Triad comes with various emotions. This supportive group welcomes those who want a safe place to share those feelings. Contact Dori Bush, dbush2508@gmail.com.
Winter Gear Donation Drive
The Board of Christian Outreach will be collecting new and gently used adult coats, hats, and gloves for the Friendship Home. Look for the collection bins around church through Nov 9.
Bread for the World Ministry
Join us at WNL on Nov 12, at 6:15pm to learn about WIC
Help us Stuff the Box! Write a letter to Congress on Nov 9, 16, and 23, in the Otis Young Room. Or write a letter at home and drop it in our mailbox between services. No stamps needed. Letters will be delivered by hand to our local Congressional offices. Sample letters at firstplymouth.org/breadfortheworld.
Share Your Voice in the 2026 Lenten Devotional Booklet
First-Plymouth is seeking volunteers to contribute brief reflections for the 2026 Lenten Devotional booklet. No writing experience is necessary. Contact dale.hauptmeier@gmail.com for details.
Be a Lenten Group Host
Our Lenten discussion groups are returning for 2026—and we’re looking for people to host! You can gather a few friends or new faces at your home, a coffee shop, at church, or wherever community feels right. Interested? Email addie@firstplymouth.org
Spirit of Giving Gift Drive for Mourning Hope
Sundays between Nov. 9 – Nov. 23, a table will be in the hallway between services where you can select a gift tag and buy a gift to donate. Donations will allow the children to shop for gifts to give their caregivers during the holidays. Return unwrapped gifts to the table by Sun. Nov. 30. Financial donations are welcome. If you prefer to shop online, visit Mourning Hope to pick out gifts to be delivered to the church.
Mourning Hope is a grief support network for children, teens, young adults and their families who have experienced the death of someone special to them.
Love the Planet
Sustainable tips from First-Plymouth’s Climate Action Team
Replace filament light bulbs with LEDs. They cost more upfront but last many years and use far less energy, so they ultimately save money.
Thank You Garden Volunteers
A heartfelt thank-you to our volunteer grounds crew members for their hard work this summer—planting, pruning, weeding, watering, and keeping our church grounds beautiful! We invite others to join us when we start up again in March.
Grape Expectations Church Social
A great way to meet others who attend FP! All are welcome. Fri. Nov. 7, 6:30-8:30pm, in Pilgrim Hall. RSVP to the host, Marilyn Larson, at msuelarson@hotmail.com.
Plymouth Pride
Movie Night, Nov 14, 6:30pm
Christmas Party with Ugly Christmas Sweater contest & cookie exchange, Dec 12, 6:30pm.
RSVP for both events to FirstPlymouthPride@gmail.com
FP Singles Ministry
Check out the monthly events by getting on the email list. Email addie@firstplymouth.org.
Indigenous Working Group
Monthly meetings 2nd Thursday (Nov 13), 5:00-6:30pm, Calvert Parlor.
Nov 6 Judi gaiashkibos, Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, will speak about Native American Boarding Schools—how children were taken from their families, the lasting impact of deculturalization, and ongoing efforts toward truth, healing, and reconciliation.
Nov. 10 Growing Native Alaska: People of the North — the first in a four-part series reclaiming traditional Indigenous knowledge and resources. Ross Theater, time TBA (usually 7:15pm).
New! Parent & Baby Nursing Lounge
Now open on the lower level, across from the infant/toddler area.
Be the Miracle
One man’s story of survival, gratitude, and the life-changing gift of organ donation.
I have learned it’s okay to ask questions and seek second or third opinions when something feels wrong. Perhaps you know someone who needs encouragement to take the next step for medical care. I did. Please consider supporting those facing uncertainty about their health.
Doctors at The University of Kansas Medical Center and Mayo Clinic collaborated on a plan that saved my life—a rare occurrence. The Mayo Clinic medical team, including doctors, PAs, nurses, technicians, and support staff, saw me at my most vulnerable. These people are the miracle!
Judy and I also received countless calls, cards, emails, and texts from friends, family, and church leadership. Their prayers and encouragement helped me stay strong during dark and long days. They are the miracle!
Every day, I also remember the individual who gave the ultimate gift: a donor and a family who lost a son so I could live. I do not know if I am worthy of such a gift.
I ask you to consider becoming an organ donor. During my hospital stay, I met many who needed transplants—without help, they and I could not survive. There are not enough donors to meet the need. Please consider giving the ultimate gift of life. Be the miracle.
—Gene Thompson