Newsletters - Neighbors

NEIGHBORS NEWS

September 2026

Musings from your Newsletter Editor

Last month, I shared that a team of Neighbors folks are working to better coordinate and streamline our communications. That process continues and as a result you will see we are exploring yet another newsletter format.

Here’s how it all began. Way back in the 1970s, I created newsletters for my department. I typed the content on a typewriter, then literally cut the pages up and repositioned the pieces along with pictures on another piece of paper and pasted them down.. Then we made photocopies for distribution. And that is where the term “cut and paste” comes from!

This past week, I created this month’s newsletter using an open-source program called WordPress on our Neighbors web site (in the 1970s there were no such things as the internet, a web site, or an open-source program). I’m doing this on my laptop computer (no laptop computers in the 70s), working inside our web site to create a newsletter that can be sized to read on a cell phone (none of those in the 70s), a tablet (nope, none of those), a desktop computer (you guessed it), or on a web page.

Several times a day, as I learned this new-to-me rather complex program, I’d ask myself: “Why in the heck am I doing this!!!!!”

Well, this is why:

You’ll be able to access the newsletter (and actually have print big enough to read) from any of your electronic devices.
Our web site tells our story, and the newsletter will now be available on the site.. Many visitors at Neighbors Church have told us they first looked at our web site before walking in the door.
We are updating and expanding our web site content and linking that content to the vast opportunities within Neighbors and beyond to fulfill our mission: Love God; Love Yourself; Love Your Neighbor.

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So bear with us as we keep exploring, altering, messing with, and hopefully improving our communication tools. E-mail me if you have any feedback you’d like to share.

Happy September!

Bette Olson (bjolson1951@gmail.com)

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A Sea of Change

Neighbors Church is in a season of change, actually a sea of change: a new pastor, new visitors, new activities and events, new ideas and visions. As we said good-bye to the incredible pastor who launched and grew Neighbors Church (Pastor Trever Rook), we said hello to a new pastor (Pastor Jay Stewart) who brings that same abundant energy, who welcomes all, who delivers dynamic sermons, and who invites us to continue to follow the beliefs upon which Neighbors was built.

Everyone is our neighbor.
We cannot love others until we allow ourselves to be fully loved.
Everyone is fully deserving of unconditional love.
Our actions are an echo of our faith.

We invite you to join us at either the 9:00 or 10:30am service.

Note: The 10:30 service is streamed live each week on YouTube.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Pray and Play (K-12)
- Every Wednesday, 6;30 – 7:30pm
Front Porch Mornings
- Wednesday, September 9, 10:30 – noon
Good Neighbor Project @ Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach
- Tuesday, September 15, 5:00 – 6:30pm
Justice in Action: Neighbors House Meetings
- Sunday, September 20, 12:15pm
- Monday, September 21, 6:30pm
Around the Table Pot Luck–Pray and Play
- Wednesday, September 23, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Good Neighbor Project: Five Loaves and Two Fish
- Sunday, September 27, 6:00 – 7:00pm

ssA Record to Celebrate

Last Sunday, August 23, worship service attendance reached 115, the highest attendance in our 10-year history.

Neighbors Church has been filled with energy this summer!! Lots of people; lots of laughter; lots of community! The past eight weeks, from Sunday, July 5, through last Sunday, August 23, we have averaged 88 in attendance. To put that number in perspective, we averaged 68 in 2025, 71 in 2024, and 71 in 2023. Summer slump? Not at Neighbors!! We have welcomed visitors from St. Mark’s UMC who are here to support Pastor Jay in his new appointment; other new visitors who have come for a variety of reasons; as well as our regular attendees. We thought maybe attendance would drop off as the summer progressed. But not so!

This spring, at a United Methodist workshop on diversity and inclusion, a speaker shared that the Great Plains Conference (Kansas and Nebraska) has approximately 700 churches. Of those, around 500 average less that 50 in attendance each Sunday.

We are truly a strong and vital congregation.

Pray and Play

Every Wednesday

6:30-7:30pm

Pray and Play is a place where children and youth (K-12) from our neighborhood and beyond can connect, grow, and experience the love of Jesus together.

Our Wednesday night ministry is built on two simple ideas: pray and play. We pray through scripture, prayer, and meaningful conversations about faith. We also play because following Jesus is the greatest adventure of our lives. Wednesday nights are filled with laughter, friendships, encouragement, and opportunities to discover God’s love.

Spread the word! Invite children, youth, families, friends, and neighbors to join us in this exciting new ministry. We can’t wait to see what God does through Pray & Play at Neighbors Church!

If you have a heart for investing in the next generation, please text Pastor Jay at 402-202-0759 to volunteer. (All volunteers will need to complete online Safe Gatherings certification.)

Front Porch Mornings

Coffee, Conversation, and Community

Wednesday, September 9

10:30am – Noon

Wishing for a time to relax, sit with friends, drink a cup of coffee, and have a great conversation? Join us on Wednesday, September 9, as we explore what Front Porch Mornings could look like. How often? What format? What content? Maybe we discuss a certain topic; maybe we discuss an article or a book; maybe we take turns facilitating, or maybe we just come together and share life Bring yourself and your ideas! If you can’t make Front Porch Mornings, let us know if you be interesedt in a Front Porch Evening?

The Good Neighbor Project

Loving our neighbors. Serving our community. Sharing the hope of Christ.

Serve at Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach.

Tuesday, September 15

5:00 – 6:30pm

We are looking for 6-8 volunteers to help prepare, serve, and clean up. If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact Pastor Jay at jay@neighborscommunity.org or sign up on Sunday morning!

We will be serving the third Tuesday of every month, so if you can’t join us in September, please join us in the future!

Together, let’s be good neighbors by serving our community with compassion, hospitality, and the love of Christ.

Neighbors Church served at Matt Talbot on Tuesday, August 18. The volunteer coordinator commented on how thankful she was for our group and other groups that volunteer on a regular basis. Last month, in July, she said that Matt Talbot served over 10,000 meals, “The highest number of meals we have ever served in my ten years being here. There are a lot of people who are struggling.”

Thank you to our Neighbors Church family for helping out in the neighborhood.

Annual House Meetings

Sunday, September 20, 12:15pm

Monday, September 21, 6:30pm

Join us @ Neighbors Church

Hello to all. Justice in Action for Lincoln and Lancaster County is gearing up for the coming year. Across Lincoln, participating faith communities are making plans for this fall’s house meetings.

We at Neighbors will be hosting two times for our gatherings—Sunday, September 20 at 12:15 after second service and Monday, September 21, at 6:30pm. Both sessions will be at Neighbors Church. We hope one of these dates and times will work for you.

Justice in Action is a grassroots, interfaith, justice ministry organization. We practice relational organizing, which means our work doesn’t begin with policy proposals or experts. It begins with people. Every campaign we’ve ever worked on was because stories came from a house meeting. Those stories became the foundation for organized action that is changing our community. This sn’t a meeting to debate politics or to solve every problem in one evening. It’s a chance to listen carefully to one another and to notice where our experiences overlap.

At our house meeting this year, we will have a structured dialogue about the values that are important to you and gather your input on the issue of making food more available for those in particular need. We hope you will consider joining one of the house meetings to give your input.

Join us for our monthly potluck dinner!

Wednesday, September 23

6:00 – 8:00pm

Our potluck dinners have been fantastic! Join us at the table in September for great food and lively conversation.

In addition, rumor has it that the September potluck will include music bingo!!!

Pray and Play (K-12) meets every Wednesday evening, so on potluck nights, the youth will join all of us for fun and fellowship.

Prior to the potluck you will be sent a message to sign up for a main dish, side dish, salad, or dessert. Didn’t sign up??? Come anyway and bring whatever you’d like.

All are welcome at the table. Please join us!

Good Neighbor Project:

Five Loaves + Two Fish

Sunday, September 27

10:00am

Five loaves and two fish placed in the hands of Christ were enough to feed thousands. In the same way, when we place what we have in the hands of Jesus, God can use it to transform the lives of our neighbors in need.

Every fourth Sunday, unless otherwise noted below, we will gather for Five Loaves + Two Fish Sunday—a simple, hands-on outreach project designed to bless our neighbors and community.

We will gather from 10:00–10:20am between our 9:00am and 10:30am worship services, so everyone can participate.

Projects throughout the year may include:

Creating toiletry kits for neighbors in need
Packing sack lunches for people experiencing homelessness
Writing encouraging cards for teachers and older adults
Preparing Thanksgiving food baskets
Other practical projects that allow us to serve our community together

Upcoming Dates

September 27: 10:00am.
October 25: 10:00am
November 22: After the 10:30am worship service
December 20: 10:00am.

I am excited for us to gather around the table, serve side by side, and discover what Jesus can do with the gifts we place in His hands.

The Season for Giving

As we transition into this new era in the life of Neighbors, we must look to ourselves to ensure Neighbors Church continues to grow and continues to live its mission. As of Sunday, August 30, we have received $112,188 of the $244,000 in financial contributions needed to balance the 2026 budget. We are making steady progress, and the last quarter of the year is usually our highest giving.

We ask each of you to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider how you might contribute to Neighbors through the rest of the year. Whether that be $5, $50, $500, or $5000, every donation makes a difference.

You can share through our giving box at Neighbors, by clicking on our website at neighborscommunity.org, taking a photo of the QR code, or by mailing checks to 575 Fallbrook Boulevard, Suite 102, Lincoln, NE 68521.

Quarters from Heaven

Got any spare change? Bring it to Neighbors Church! We’re collecting coins to help us build a steady fund to be used for people in need. Just bring your change and drop it off by our Generosity Table.

Cans for Kids

Bring your cans to Neighbors Church! We are collecting aluminum to help fund special programs. Bring your shopping bags filled with clean aluminum, drop them in the bin down the hall, and we’ll take care of the rest!

Neighbors Prayer Team would be honored to pray for you and for others who need special prayers. On Sundays, you can fill out a green prayer card on your table and either leave it on the table or drop it in the prayer box on our Generosity Table. You also can send a prayer request to: info@neighborscommunity.org.

Neighbors Connect

Check the Neighbors Calendar to find opportunities to connect with your Neighbors Church community!

Spread the Word

Another way you can help is to spread the word about this wonderful church. Like and subscribe to our Facebook and YouTube pages and invite your friends and family to join you at Neighbors Church!