Ministry for
Spiritual Formation
Grow Night!
Urban Abbey 101, 201, 301
Each month, individuals have an opportunity to learn together about the Abbey community, the Bible, theological reflection, our Methodist roots, spiritual practices, and other topics that help us to grow in relationship with God and one another. In these classes (Urban Abbey 101, 201, 301), we also learn about what Urban Abbey membership means and discern if membership is where you are being called.
Small Groups
There is power in small groups. After all, 12 disciples changed the religious landscape of our world. In Urban Abbey Small Groups, we get to know one another and dig more deeply into the spiritual and theological topics that we are exploring in worship.
We gather seasonally for five-week sessions to journey through life’s ups and downs together.
Wesley Pub (ages 21+)
Wesley Pub is for people of all faiths — Christians, non-Christians, and people annoyed by Christians. It is for everyone that might have given up on church or wouldn’t step foot in a church. Wesley Pub is a community centered on exploring progressive theology and social justice topics through dialogue, reflection, art and music.
Bring some beer or a bottle of wine to share. Everyone is welcome, but you must be 21 to partake responsibly.
Rule of Life Cohort
Early Abbeys had a Rule of Life and that may sound a little intense but it’s really about a rhythm that helps us be our best selves so we can be a just and loving community. Once a year a cohort of 12 folks dive into creating their own rule of life. We are a United Methodist Church and the membership vows mean something, if we make them. But Prayer…is pretty big and can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, some folks like centering prayer and some just fall asleep, EVERY TIME.
Through the Urban Abbey curriculum and skilled facilitators; each person determines what the Methodist commitment of Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness means to them right now. This group requires deep commitment to have a deep impact and folks are invited after participation in the life of the church, Grow Nights, Worship and small groups.
Soul Arts
Our world invites left-brain analytic thinking to predominate our day. Soul art allows our right-brain creative expression to bring balance to life. Through drawing, painting, weaving, sculpting, writing, sewing, crafting (whatever your medium), you can allow wisdom to flow and get ‘unstuck.’ Our subconscious attempts to present to us a wealth of information, wisdom and healing. This occurs one way in our sleeping dream world, but it also can pour forth when we engage our creative brain and allow messages and meaning to flow.
Rev. Dr. Jane Florence leads a variety of near-monthly gatherings to enrich and expand your spiritual journey. From the sound baths and singing bowls to Mandala meditations and Labyrinth creation, you are invited into a safe place to explore. Check our events for what adventure is happening this month.
Justice Team
John Wesley said, “There is no holiness without social holiness.” Which means faith involves action. At Urban Abbey we believe the world should be different and the gift is we don’t have to do it alone. We believe in working with non-profit partners and are humble enough to acknowledge they usually know more about the work than the church, and we are focused enough on change that we don’t need to have credit. This work is bigger than we are. Partnering is powerful, we listen and work with powerful organizations doing the work of advocacy and social justice well.
We believe in presence over projects. Our primary partners in this work are Omaha Together One Community, Nebraska Appleseed, Women’s Fund of Omaha, Sand for Schools and OutNebraska. We support them through our coffee bar giving and now we can support them with a team dedicated to learning, listening and fueling our collective work for change. We co-host events and book studies, join rallies, organize for collective action, collect signatures on petitions, write letters, train people on how to understand local government, show up for our partners and testify at the places of power. Oh and we have some fun! You are invited, join the Team.
The Hygge Sessions
Hygge (HOO-Gah) is the Danish practice of coziness and in initiation to intentional living. Every January we invite community to explore this practice in a small group with Facilitation by Lindsay VanZee and Urban Abbey's five chapter devotion. This session happens on Zoom so everyone can join from where ever they are and no matter the weather.
It is an invitation to discover the beauty of hygge (HOO-Gah) as a spiritual practice. We will look at incorporating aspects of hygge into your life as a way to find meaningful moments in the simplicity of everyday moments and spaces. Hygge invites folks to love life and when we love our lives and ourselves with out wishing the season was summer; when we can love ourselves we can love our community better, too.
Hymn Sing Gathering
Join Kyle to sing and play, celebrate voice and be community. No pressure, no microphones and no old school hymns about blood or contemporary worship songs that are obsessed with shame. Just good community and good fun at Urban Abbey’s progressive ‘hymn’ sing.
Holy Runaways Book Study and Conversation group
Join Urban Abbey to explore Matthias Roberts’ personal and professional insights into struggling with religious/spiritual harm. This very small group is a space to process the stories shared in Holy Runaways and personal experiences of group members. This safe space is crafted with intentional boundaries for listening and sharing, a very small group size, and skilled facilitators. Desirae Vallier, M.S., LMHC, CRC is our group facilitator.
This group is offered three times a year. This is not a support group. We, at Urban Abbey, encourage folks to see trained therapists (like for everyone and everything). This group is an invitation to anyone in the community. You do not need to be a part of the Urban Abbey community. There is no pressure or intention that folks participating in this gathering become members or a part of the Urban Abbey community. We are hosting this space because we know there is great religious harm and church trauma. This is about healing and care. Book is available at the Abbey or on Bookshop.org
Nature and Spirituality with Joel Walker
Join us once a month for a time of reflection as we enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hitchcock Nature Center. Joel Walker, M.Div., will guide you in exploring the forest, with a nature and spirituality hike. Winter hikes are in the afternoon, otherwise hikes are in the morning, weather permitting. We ask folks to register online.
Wear comfortable footwear, bring a bottle of water, and prepare to have your spirit lifted! This hike is open to up to 12 adults. Hitchcock Nature Center's admission is $5 per carload, payable by exact change or check at the gate.
Big Magic: Creative Courage Sessions
Join us each fall for a special session connecting with Liz Gilbert’s book, Big Magic and Urban Abbey’s companion prayer guide. This is a time to engage your courage and live beyond fear. Session topics are Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust and Divinity. You can find the prayer guide here.
Get in Touch
Have questions about Urban Abbey? Looking for more information on how to get involved? Or simply want a freshly brewed cup of coffee? Our team is here to help!