STILL A PREACHER: With his 100th birthday coming Monday, the Rev. Reinhard Beckman plans to celebrate on Sunday by preaching at the 9 a.m. service at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Syracuse, Neb.
Early in his pastoral career, Beckman was in the Omaha area from 1938 to 1948. He helped found Bethany Lutheran Church in what was then Elkhorn and served as Protestant chaplain at Boys Town. He later served the American Lutheran Church in Gothenburg, Neb., and then the Syracuse church where he will preach on Sunday. While in Syracuse, he also was the nursing home administrator for the Good Samaritan Society.
Late in his career, when Beckman was more than 70 years old, he helped start the Beautiful Savior parish in Palmyra, Neb. In retirement he assisted 17 parishes at various times as interim pastor.
He currently lives at the Good Samaritan Society's Linden View Assisted Living facility in Syracuse.
LECTURE SERIES: "Northern Africa from Morocco to Egypt" will be the topic of a free, weekly lecture series starting Sunday, at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln, 6300 A St.
Various professors and specialists are scheduled to speak in the seven-week series. All sessions will be at 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Majid Hannoum, assistant professor of African and African-American studies and anthropology at the University of Kansas, will deliver the first lecture. His topic will be how the colonial history of North Africa shaped the current political and cultural dynamics of the region. Raymond Maxwell, deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, is scheduled to speak March 4.
Information: www.unitarianlincoln.org.
PATIENCE WITH GOD: Frank Schaeffer, author of "Patience With God," will speak on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Countryside Community Church, 8787 Pacific St. The Center for Faith Studies will sponsor the lecture; it will also include a book signing. The suggested donation for the evening will be $10 at the door.
WINDS OF FREEDOM: The Air Force Heartland of America Band will present a free concert by the Winds of Freedom at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 324 S. Jackson St. in Papillion. The concert, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, will showcase a woodwind ensemble whose repertoire includes classical and jazz numbers. Information: 402-339-3308.
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Compiled by Jane Palmer
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