Fifty to 60 volunteers will be working this summer to build an amphitheater at New Life Baptist Church in Bellevue — for both the church and community.
“We feel that, being a church on top of the hill, we have an obligation to the community to build something that can suit them,” said Jeff Jenkins, ministry leader for worship and celebration. “And it can bring people to our church, not only for worship, but for other things also.”
He hopes to see the amphitheater host weddings, banquets, school functions and other events.
New Life, at 801 Kayleen Drive, plans to offer use of the amphitheater for free as well as the help of church members for coordinating and planning events.
“Because our focus has been on the community, because we’ve been renewing our understanding that we exist partly for the community, the amphitheater represents a vision that is not going to be bound by our four walls,” said pastor Michael Friday.
Congregants are helping with the project. Jenkins’ employer, Heimes Corp., will do the grading work, while another member, who is a contractor, will oversee the construction.
The amphitheater will feature grass seating. In the next phase of construction, which probably will begin next summer, small retaining walls will be built to create rows of seating.
Construction of the first phase should take about three months; the groundbreaking is Sunday. Jenkins said the church plans to hold its first event there in September and expects to hold Sunday services outside when weather permits.
Other news from area churches and religious groups:
METHODISTS ON THE MOVE: Nebraska United Methodist Conference Bishop Ann Brookshire Sherer announced this week the purchase of a new property to house the Nebraska United Methodist headquarters. The property is at 3333 Landmark Circle in north Lincoln.
At the same time, Nebraska Wesleyan University President Fred Ohles announced the university’s purchase of the United Methodist Conference’s existing properties at 2641 N. 49th St., 4825 St. Paul Ave., and 4823 St. Paul Ave. in Lincoln.
The conference move to the new building will begin in August. On Sunday, Oct. 11, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and consecration service are planned.
Nebraska Wesleyan’s purchase of the conference properties fits the North 48th Street/University Place Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. That recommends campus-related commercial and residential activities be increasingly integrated into the 48th Street business district.
The announcements came during the Nebraska United Methodist Conference’s annual conference.
ANNIVERSARIES: Three Notre Dame sisters celebrated the anniversaries of their religious profession Sunday. This year, Sister Michelle Hayek is marking 60 years, and Sisters Celeste Wobeter and Mary Kay Meagher 50 years each. A 1:30 p.m. Mass of thanksgiving and reception were held at the Notre Dame Motherhouse.
Sister Michelle is semiretired and working at Neumann High School in Wahoo as a substitute teacher; Sister Celeste is president of the Notre Dame Sisters; and Sister Mary Kay is a professor in the Creighton School of Nursing.
DIAMOND JUBILEE: Sister Mary Vincent Strittmatter, who taught school and volunteered in Omaha for 10 years, is marking 75 years in religious life this year.
Sister Mary Vincent, an Ursuline nun, served in Omaha from 1982 until 1992, teaching at Blessed Sacrament School, volunteering at the parish and assisting at a local senior citizens program. She now lives in Louisville, Ky., and remains active.
She visits third-graders at a local school, handles guest room hospitality at the convent and volunteers with senior citizens.
SERVICE OF HEALING: St. Timothy Lutheran Church at 93rd Street and West Dodge Road will hold a Healing Service on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The 30-minute service will include a devotion, Communion, and opportunity for anyone to be anointed with oil and prayed for individually.
Prayers for healing (physical, relational, intercessory) will be offered. This service is held every other month.
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