Worship in the Midlands

Worship in the Midlands

The Arts » ‘Faces of Christ’ starts U.S. tour at St. Benedict Center » Sculptor’s passion: Connecting viewers with Jesus, Mary special section

March 20, 2016

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

‘The Good, the True and the Beautiful’ Conference, Faces of Christ exhibition put focus on Christian art, Pope’s call

By Kim Carpenter World-Herald staff writer

James Langley’s “Sketches From the Passion” are part of the Faces of Christ traveling exhibition coming to the St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, Nebraska, in September.

“Sacred art is that which calls one to prayer,” John Meng-Frecker said, reflecting on the nature of Christian art.

It’s something the civil engineer knows personally. When facing a family illness in 2009, the business development director at E & A Consulting Group turned to painting the Rosary as a way to draw closer to God. That, in turn, led to his joining a group of Christian artists and exhibiting his work at parishes throughout the region.

Fast-forward seven years, and Meng-Frecker is immersing himself in his faith through art.

He’s organizing a Catholic Artists Conference and bringing Faces of Christ, an international exhibition featuring 30 artists from around the world, to Nebraska.

“The Pope says that artists have an obligation to create that which is good, true and beautiful, and we wanted to do the conference in a really big way,” Meng-Frecker said.

The focus will be on fine art, sculpture, architecture, music and film when artists gather Sept. 12 and 13 at St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, Nebraska.

“Ultimately, it’s about prayer,” Meng-Frecker said. “How does the conversation between an artist and God occur? How does the creativity of art get documented for the viewer?”

He said the event will serve as an important time for Catholic and Christian artists to discuss their faith and the role it plays in their creativity.

Featured speakers include Anthony Visco, director of The Atelier for the Sacred Arts in Philadelphia, and David Clayton, provost of Pontifex University.

Singer/songwriter Tori Harris will also speak and perform.

The location seems especially fitting. Run by Benedictine monks, the retreat center houses a large permanent art collection.

“We are a center of prayer and study and also of the arts,” said the Rev. Thomas Leitner, the center’s administrator. “I’m impressed by the scope of the conference. It will cover a wide range

worship in the midlands A special section produced by the news division of the Omaha World-Herald.

Special sections editor: Chris Christen, 402-444-1094,chris.christen@owh.com Designer: Kiley Cruse Copy editor: Howard K. Marcus Contributors: Kim Carpenter, Maggy Lehmicke, Dan McCann, Mike Whye Special section advertising manager: Dan Matuella, 402-444-1485, dan.matuella@owh.com On the cover, clockwise from top: “INRI” by Sergio Ferro, “The IVth Station of the Cross” by Thobias Minzi and “The Washing of the Feet — St. Mark” by Ferro

ST. MICHAEL

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Don Hovsep Achkarian has multiple pieces in the exhibit, including “The Lord of Glory Sends the Holy Spirit.”

joy of engagement

Sculptor’s work draws viewers in quiet ways

By Kim Carpenter

IF YOU GO For more information about the Catholic Artists Conference, visit catholic-artistsconference.com.

Learn about the Faces of Christ exhibition at facesof-christ.com.

arts. People who are open to letting God speak to them through art should come here and find their way to us. We feel it’s so wonderful and worthwhile to support.”

Visitors can also experience the Faces of Christ, which features 85 original paintings curated by Steen Heidemann, who was raised as an atheist before converting to Catholicism and whose expertise is organizing international exhibitions.

On view to the public Sept. 14-24, the collection has been shown at World Youth Day in Madrid, the World Eucharistic Congress in Dublin and at the Cathedral of Caen in France. After its North American debut in Schuyler, the exhibition will travel to several U.S. cities, including New York City, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

Leitner is looking forward to what the exhibition will offer Catholics.

“We are surrounded by secular art,” the priest said. “There is usually a message, but not in support of hope, faith and love as there is in Catholic art. This art can put us into the presence of Biblical stories and the saints. This is edifying.”

Catholic art, the priest said, “presents the joy of the Gospel and gets people into a conversation about their faith and what they feel. Faces of Christ will inspire faith-filled people.”

For Meng-Frecker, the work devoted to organizing both events has become a calling. “I’m head-over-heels in love with Catholic art,” he said. “I’m never going to do a bigger project (in my life), and I have to embrace the peacefulness, the prayerfulness and the mystery of it.”

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World-Herald staff writer

When you encounter a sculpture of Jesus or the Virgin Mary created by Omaha artist John Lajba, you can’t help but be taken in by the frank and open nature of their gazes.

They look at you directly, inviting you toward quiet contemplation, reflection and prayer.

“I want Jesus and Mary to look at viewers and get close to them,” said the sculptor.

“They’re alive today, and all of us are worthy to get close to Jesus.”

Lajba might be best known for his bronze figures at Omaha’s Durham Museum and TD Ameritrade Park (“Road to Omaha,” NCAA’s Men’s College World Series). But it’s his religious work — found in dozens of parishes throughout Omaha as well as the St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, Nebraska — that resonates most profoundly with him.

That’s because faith is central to who he is and what he does. “It’s who you are, really,” the Catholic artist said. “Faith goes beyond belief. I see Christ in everything. Look at our beautiful world!”

Jesus, of course, figures prominently in Lajba’s work, whether it’s depictions of the Savior suffering on the cross or the glory of the risen Christ.

“When I do a sculpture of Jesus, I always start with the face,” the artist said. “He doesn’t have to look a certain way. It’s about His love for us. I want there to be the perception that He has given His life for us, and I want Him to be there for us ... There is joy when I sculpt Jesus.”

There is also great love when he sculpts Mary, but with her, Lajba often seeks to capture a more specific emotion.

A sculpture of Jesus created by John Lajba.

“Mary worries for us ... She’s concerned about our well-being. She wants us to be closer to God,” he said. “I want her to look you in the eye and almost lean toward you to engage you.”

He has also depicted Mary more abstractly. His most recent commission, a 30-footrelief wall for Omaha Marian High School’s new performing arts center, features seven shooting stars. “The future is very bright, but yet uncertain. There’s a lot of excitement in life,” the sculptor said of his inspiration.

That excitement is always present for Lajba.

“It amazes me how much God loves us even when we’re imperfect. He wants us to succeed and do good in life,” he reflected.

“I think about our souls and our spirits. I always want to have a stronger relationship with God.”

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TriniTy LuTheran ChurCh, papiLLion

Circles of influence: bringing together A thriving youth ministry and discipleship confront the national trend toward no particular affiliation

By Dan Mccann World-Herald CorreSPoNdeNT

A friendly game of soccer. A couple of slices of pizza. Some chitchat among friends.

It’s a scene that plays out each Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Papillion as dozens of youth assemble, and things get real.

“We have a good time, but this isn’t an alternative play venue. This is a place where Christ is spoken of, revealed, taught and lived,” said the Rev. Erik Boye, the church’s senior pastor.

Trinity’s thriving Quest Student Ministries involves sixth- through 12th-graders.

Their Wednesday night gatherings — centered on faith-focused small-group discussions and worship — typically draw between 60 and 70 participants.

“I love the community,” said Kyla Mohr, 18. “I feel like I can laugh out loud, and no one is going to look at me funny.”

For Ethan Maas, 17, it’s a time to be with like-minded friends. “They are in a walk with Christ right alongside me.”

Matt Pearson is Trinity’s long-time youth and family ministry director.

This particular evening, the soccer-induced perspiration on his face aptly symbolizes the effort that staff and students say he pours into his role.

“We try to be real with students and also show them how relevant all of scripture is. We hold a high view of God’s word and don’t try to water it down or soften it,” he said.

A father of three young boys, Pearson said the ultimate goal of Trinity’s youth ministry is to strengthen the next generation of believers through discipleship and transformation.

Kiley

Students in the youth group at Trinity Lutheran Church in Papillion lay their hands in prayer on Jace Armstrong during worship. Armstrong was praying for a “Jesus describes His followers as salt and light. Our hope is that our students will be salt and light at the lunchroom table, on the football team, in band competition … whatever circle of influence God has given them,” he said.

From a church leader perspective, the need to reach and invigorate youth has never been greater.

In the Pew Research Center’s latest U.S. Religious Landscape Study re-

leased in 2015, 36 percent of millennials ages 18 to 24 described their religious affiliation as “nothing in particular.”

Thirty-four percent of millennials ages 25 to 33 had the same reply.

“The growth of the “nones” as a share of the population, coupled with their declining levels of religious observance, is tugging down the nation’s overall rates of religious belief and practice,” Pew researchers said in their analysis.

“Our challenge with youth in church and people in general is that there are so many more options in the culture today to grab our attention,” Boye said.

Pearson agreed, adding that it is becoming more difficult for the church to reach young adults and more important for youth ministries to focus on disciple-making.

“Students in their middle school, high school and college years have the most influence in regard to their social

circles,” he s the remarkab do when ther mission to th A vibrant y ported by sta leaders — is approach to “ The church porary worsh mornings, th Trinity’s you

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a friend’s mother who died.

said. “History shows us able things teenagers can re is a calling, purpose and heir lives.” youth ministry — supaff and lay congregation just one prong of Trinity’s “none” prevention. ch also offers two contemhip services on Sunday he preferred choice of uth.

The message mirrors the church’s more traditional services, except for the addition of a PowerPoint presentation. The key distinction is the music; the church organist is replaced by a worship praise team, guitars, drums and a pop/rock sound.

“When I look around the church on Sunday morning, there are several rows of just youth sitting together.

That is its own community,” Boye said.

“Having those connections certainly normalizes the experience for them.”

At a time when fewer people are attending worship services — 29 percent of U.S. adults told Pew researchers they seldom or never attended, up from 25 percent in 2003 — Trinity Lutheran is growing.

Average Sunday attendance is at 640 families, an increase of about 20 percent since Boye arrived here eight years ago.

“To me, the real growth isn’t in the numbers,” he said. “It’s in the focus on transformation and discipleship.”

Adam Keogh said he is a “direct product of what we’re trying to go for here.” A youth group participant in high school, he now serves as Trinity’s director of contemporary music and helps lead small group discussions on Wednesday nights.

“I get to see our youth in places that I’ve been before and walk with them from experience,” he said. “It’s a lot more powerful to be able to say, ‘When that kind of thing happened to me, this is how I coped with it.’”

Pearson said he loves the fact that “so many of our former students from youth ministry have plugged back in as leaders of small groups, worship services and missions.

“We are always looking for ways to give our students a heart and passion for sharing their faith and part of that is to allow them to lead,” he said.

Mohr beams about her involvement with the church’s summer Adventure Trip, a time of high ropes, hiking,

.

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camping and worship. She served as a tent leader for a group of younger students.

“They really opened up,” she said.

“They shared their back stories and where they are in their faith.”

Trinity’s youths also engage in personal development through spirituality retreats and conferences. The church sent more than three dozen students to the Dare 2 Share Christian teen conference in Lincoln in mid-February.

Mission trips, another crucial part of youth ministry, include service at home and abroad.

“We’ve done a pretty eclectic mix of outreaches over the years in our summer mission trips with our high school students,” Pearson said. “Last summer, we worked in Lexington, Kentucky, and partnered with several churches to build two houses. We’ve also done refugee ministry and street evangelism.

We’ve served in homeless shelters.”

Ethan Maas joined the Kentucky mission trip and will be traveling with the team to Idaho next summer.

“It was awesome,” he said. “After we got back home, I felt renewed.” *** “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, oh my soul. Worship His holy name…”

Keogh strums his guitar and sings as youth filter out of their small groups and reassemble for Wednesday evening worship.

Jace Armstrong, 15, has shifted from youth group participant to musical accompaniment on the cajon — a sixsided, box-shaped percussion instrument. He has been attending the church’s Wednesday night activities since fifth grade.

“You just learn a lot. In small groups, with people surrounding you who are your own age, hearing their stories, it really helps you figure out what to do in times of trouble,” he said.

Mohr has a similar message for her peers — the faithful, the “nones” and those in-between: “If you don’t feel like you belong, I know somewhere.”

Trinity Lutheran Church youth group members, top, including Alex Greenfield, Kyla Mohr, Kaylin Pratt and Sydney Yost, sing during worship time.

Above, students play a game of soccer before Rooted starts.

At left, Casey Hirschfeld helps second-graders with a craft project during Sunday School.

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Religious? Maybe not. Spiritual? Absolutely.

By Maggy Lehmicke //

World-Herald CORRESPONDENT

Busy schedules often keep students and young adults from attending regular worship services, according to a random college campus survey. But those same millennials told us they still acknowledge their faith and spirituality. Here’s how.

Nicole Rauner, 23, Lincoln

Chris Phipps, 25, Lincoln

Rebekka Schlichting, 23, Lincoln

Dario Gonzalez, 21, Seward

“My religion, or rather my relationship with God, is part of my daily life. If I have a question, or if I’m sad or even happy, I look to God to guide me. One way to worship outside of church is to volunteer and do good things.

Every year I either go on a mission trip or volunteer at home. Helping others is a humbling way to help the world one individual at a time.”

“My life is my worship ... and music provides me with a stage to show God’s true glory and light. He allows me to be creative and to give Him praise.

Through music I am able to get a message across to many generations ... The more I perform, the more bold I become. Rapping about God in secular venues is not easy, but He has strengthened me to be able to do it.”

“I worship through nature. I burn sage and offer tobacco to the Creator as part of my prayers. I thank the Creator often for small things, like the sight of a hawk. I also believe that my ancestors fought hard for me to be where I am today, so I must do the same in their honor for future generations. This belief has gotten me through college and has led me to work for people in many different ways.”

“I try to go to church every Sunday, but it doesn’t always happen.

I pray every night, before I eat and throughout the day. Religion has played a huge role in my life. Being Hispanic, my entire family is Catholic.

When we have a family gathering on a Sunday, we’ll go to church together. My grandmas are the most religious people I know. Obviously, I look up to them.”

Mariah Gatson, 22, Omaha

Rachel Plummer, 27, Omaha

“Worship for me includes fellowship with like-minded individuals. My most genuine relationships have God at the center ... We share our prayer requests with each other each week and pray for each other. It strengthens our relationships because we are asking what the other is going through and offering help through prayer and service.”

“I’m a CEO — Christmas and Easter only. I don’t see myself as religious . . . I like to think of myself as spiritual. God is supposed to be my ‘Heavenly Father’ so I treat our relationship like He is my dad. A father loves you unconditionally, so I know I always have somebody who loves me and is rooting for me. My high school experience helped me understand forgiveness and love. It was because of the Omaha Street School staff’s actions that I came to understand the depth of God’s love. They knew I had made mistakes and they knew I was going to make more, but they still loved me and encouraged me to follow my purpose in this life.”

Emma Thomas, 22, Lincoln “I somewhat consider myself spiritual. I think that there is a possibility of a higher power so I catch myself ‘praying’ to it. I question if events are because of a higher power, fate or just chance ... I was raised to believe that you can worship wherever you are because the Bible teaches that God loves unconditionally and you are always forgiven if you accept Him.”

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Nate Wong, 21, Lincoln “Everything I do, I do for the Lord. My sport played a role because I used (golf) as a way to glorify God. He put my coach, administrators and others in my life ... I play for a prize but the ultimate goal is to exalt God.”

Aaron Wong, 21, Lincoln “My relationship with God is the single most important thing to me.

Almost anything you do can be a holy and pleasing offering to God, so you choose to honor Him with your intentions. When it comes to golf, I can invite Christ onto the course if I take up my cross, humble myself and work at my craft as if working for Him. I am far from perfect, but I try as hard as I can to worship Christ with everything I do. “

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6:30pm Tenebrae Service

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Saturday 5:00pm Sunday 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00am

“Religion plays a big role in my everyday life, but we don’t worship like a lot of religions.

Refraining from coffee, tea, drugs and alcohol shows how we love our Lord and how we’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s really easy to keep up with it if we’re not (at church), but nothing really substitutes going to a service.

The biggest way I worship is through my calling — teaching 3-year-olds the gospel.

Not everyone has a calling, but it’s an honor if you do.”

Join us at Maplewood for the following Holy Week services:

Holy Week & Easter Worship Palm Sunday

Mackenna Maddox-herr, 21, Lincoln

March 27

MAPLEWOOD CHURCH

A United Methodist Ministry

Serving God & the Community for Over 50 Years

Easter Sonrise Service, 6:45 a.m.

Easter Sunday Service, 10:15 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 10:15 a.m.

(402)572-1430 www.maplewoodumc.com 3535 Maplewood Blvd. Omaha, NE 68134 Maplewood Preschool • (402)572-1079 www.maplewoodpreschool.com

JOIN US for Easter Sunday Worship at 9 am & 11 am Easter Brunch at 10am

www.dpcomaha.org 5312 Underwood Ave.

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Helping others

Empty Tomb fills a variety of needs

By Mike Whye World-Herald CORRESPONDENT

photo by Mike Whye

Dave Holloway leads a group of youth in prayer during Sunday School at Empty Tomb Ministires. Holloway’s family has been volunteering at the church for 10 years.

HolyWeek March 20 – March 27

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Music by Choir & Orchestra at 9:00 & 11:10 Services Education at 10:00 am

We are celebrating our 100 years of healing services in the Omaha area.

Maundy Thursday

And Tenebrae Service 7:30 pm

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He Is Risen!

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Traditional Worship Join Us Every Sunday at 517 S. 114th St.

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(402) 333 - 7466

A

Join us on Easter Sunday and discover how you can have your own resurrection experience – freedom from pain, fear and sadness.

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Second C hurch C hrist, Scientist

The Rev. Steve Sheridan sat down, unstrapped his sandals and walked barefoot to the pulpit of Empty Tomb Ministries’ church.

It was a recent Sunday morning, and about 200 were in the sanctuary.

Sheridan began preaching barefoot years ago because he believes he is on holy ground whenever he spreads God’s word.

Though Sheridan also has a church with its own congregation in South Omaha, the church at Empty Tomb Ministries is where members of many other Omaha-area churches come together to help those in need. Services at Empty Tomb Ministries are known for being lively, with fastmoving songs, messages from Steve and sometimes a heart-tugging testimonial by a former meth addict.

Downstairs, volunteers were busy. In the minds of some people, this is the heart of Empty Tomb Ministries.

Robin Holloway of Calvary of Christ Church in Bellevue was helping grade school students clean up after lunch so they could color with crayons.

Meanwhile, her husband, Dave, and his brother, Mike, sat in a circle talking about religion with junior high students.

“Some have parents, some are from half-parent families or have no parents at all and some are homeless,” said Dave, whose family has volunteered here for 10 years.

When Dave gathered the youngsters in a prayer circle, he held 7-year-old Gracie Glebavicius in the crook of his left arm and asked her to offer one of her

See Empty Tomb: Page 8

He was pierced for our transgressions . . . He was led like a lamb to the slaughter . . . Isaiah 53

Adat HaTikvat Tzion

The Hope of Zion Congregation Where Jews & Gentiles have broken down the middle wall of partition & worship together.

Christ is Risen!

Palm Sunday - March 20

8:30 a.m. Traditional Cantata Worship 9:45 a.m. Holy Week Adventure 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Maundy Thursday - March 24 6:45 p.m.

Good Friday - March 25 6:45 p.m.

Every Saturday, 10 a.m.

Join us at the Southwest Church of the Nazarene 14808 Q Street

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Empty Tomb: Giveaways of food, clothing supplement spiritual message Continued from Page 7 own prayers.

A few feet away, Tonja Puentes, Doreen Heinemann and Susie Koca were sorting clothes that would be picked over by those upstairs after services concluded.

Tonja belongs to Empty Tomb, Doreen is a member of King of Kings Church in the Millard area of Omaha and Susie attends services in Papillion at Overland Hills Church.

Doreen put some children’s clothes on hangers, then squished other clothes already on the racks to make a tiny space for the children’s clothes.

“There’s not enough room to hang all the clothes,” she said, adding that although she, Tonja and Susie are from separate churches, “God wants us to be together.”

Jim Miller, also of King of Kings Church, was sorting cans of sliced carrots, green beans and pasta sauce into paper grocery bags that would be given away.

“We started this 18 years ago, and everything’s been provided for 18 years,” he said. “We’ve never asked for one red cent to do this.”

At some tables in one nook of the tight basement, Norma

Fraley, Cathy Harris and her daughter Nicole arranged deep metal pans of chili goulash and green beans, both cooked the day before, and fruit cocktail. Nearby, Susie Koca and her daughter, Chelse, spread frosting on the vanilla and chocolate cakes they made a day earlier. *** “Each church plans a meal and brings it here,” said Sheridan, whose church has no cooking facilities. “Sometimes we’ve done a cookout.”

He said Empty Tomb Ministries started as a Bible study group of three used-car salesmen — himself, Jim Miller and Dave Kittle of Glenwood, Iowa. Before settling into its location at 25th and K Streets about 10 years ago, the church had been in a bookie joint and, as Sheridan put it, “a terrible bar.”

Now, Empty Tomb is a lighthouse for those in need, including those battling drug abuse and alcoholism.

Dan Willis, Empty Tomb’s coordinator, arranges for up to 25 volunteers a week to spend their Sunday mornings helping to feed, clothe and deliver religion to those who need help.

“Members of various churches

or groups volunteer,” Willis said.

“Some are families that want to give something to others.” *** When the service upstairs ended and everyone came downstairs, several formed a line to the room holding the sacked groceries. In the doorway stood Amanda Sheridan, the pastor’s daughter. She asked for the coupon that had been handed out during services. Every time Amanda was handed a coupon, she hoisted a grocery bag off the floor and put it into waiting arms.

Some people also received plastic bags loaded with rolls of donated toilet paper.

About half of those who had been given a bag of groceries took off. Others went into another line for fresh food, which was served in plastic to-go containers.

Though some left after getting the meals, others including John Ferrin sat at a table to eat.

“I’ve been a member of the church here for three, four months,” Ferrin said. “A friend recommended I come here, and I try not to miss any Sundays. Coming here can change your life for the better. It’s changed me.”

Mike Whye

Volunteers from Overland Hills Church pack hot meals in to-go containers for those who attend services at Empty Tomb Ministries.

Welcome to First Presbyterian Church for Holy Week Worship Services MARCH 20 PALM SUNDAY 10:30 AM Celebrating the Triumphal Entry of our Lord

MARCH 24 MAUNDY THURSDAY 6:30 PM Communion Worship Service

MARCH 25 GOOD FRIDAY 6:30 PM Candlelight Service “The Seven Last Words of Christ”

MARCH 26 COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT 10:00 AM Enter doors on 34 Street

MARCH 27 EASTER SUNDAY 10:30 AM Celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ: “He Lives!”

O M A H A

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