After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses will return to Lincoln this year for an in-person convention at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The event, which is expected to be attended by about 5,200 people, will run June 30 through July 2 with "Exercise Patience" as this year's theme, according to a news release from the organization.
After more than 100 years of in-person, public events in stadiums, arenas, convention centers and theaters, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that tradition and forced Jehovah's Witnesses to transition to virtual programing.
But according to Joshua Fischer, a local spokesperson, it wasn't quite the same.
Workers put up a stage and fill a baptismal pool in 2016 in preparation for a Jehovah's Witnesses regional convention at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Journal Star file photo
"The virtual conventions were fantastic in convenience and content, yet nothing can compare to being together in person," Fischer said. "With the resumption of large gatherings this year, we bring back the joy of fellowship together."
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This year's convention will feature six sessions that will explore the quality of patience. On Saturday morning, a live baptism will be performed, and a two-part, prerecorded drama will be featured on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
As part of this year's convention series, Jehovah's Witnesses will hold 6,000 events worldwide. In the U.S., 708 conventions in 144 cities from May through September are being organized.
Attendees are expected from portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.
All sessions are open to the public and attendance is free.
For more information and a schedule of the 2023 "Exercise Patience" convention, visit .
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Photos: Inside Lincoln's beautiful houses of worship
First Plymouth Church
The sanctuary of First-Plymouth Church.
Journal Star file photo
Mount Zion Baptist Church
Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Journal Star file photo
Holy Thursday 4.1
The Newman Center-St. Thomas Aquinas Church hosted in-person worship for Holy Thursday. One year after COVID shut the doors to in-person services, churchgoers again returned to the pews the week of Easter, the most important holiday for Christians.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Westminster Presbyterian
The Westminster Presbyterian Church's newly renovated sanctuary.
LJS file photo
St. Patrick's
Newly installed stained glass windows and stations of the cross help move the new St. Patrick's Catholic Church toward completion on Aug. 14, the day before the church dedication.
GWYNETH ROBERTS/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
First-Plymouth stars
“It’s not like people will think they are in a planetarium, but you can see all the stars,†the Rev. Jim Keck said about the constellation adorning First-Plymouth's ceiling.
GWYNETH ROBERTS/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
St. Mary's
St. Mary's Catholic Church has a small gated room off to the left of the main entrance with a statue of St. Joseph and a baptismal font.
LJS file photo
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Organ builders from Bedient Pipe Organ Company install a new pipe organ in the upper cavity behind the crucifix and a mesh screen at the front of the church on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, at St. Joseph Catholic Church.Â
KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
First Christian Church
A Bedient pipe organ is in the First Christian Church chapel.Â
LJS file photo
First Presbyterian Church
The current First Presbyterian Church organ includes all three organs used in the church. Each time a new organ was installed, the chancel was remodeled and enlarged to accommodate the new piece.
LJS file photo
Friedens Evangelical Lutheran
Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church installed this statue of Jesus in the church in 1907. The statue was saved from a fire in 1925 when it was carried out by the pastor.Â
Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church
Sabah Mosque
The interior of Sabah, a mosque in the 1100 block of Furnas Avenue.
FRANCIS GARDLER/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
St. Luke United Methodist
Rod Scott uses a nail gun to attach wood trim around the final pane to be installed in 2004 in a stained glass window at the St. Luke United Methodist Church at 1620 Superior St.
ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo
St. Teresa's
The meditation garden at St. Teresa's Catholic Church.Â
ERIC GREGORY/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
Zion Church
John C. Friesen practiced on the new Zion pipe organ in 2011.
LJS file photo
Salem Baptist
Salem Baptist Church in 2008.
GWYNETH ROBERTS/LJS file photo
Saint Paul United Methodist
A cross hanging over the pulpit is framed by organ pipes at Saint Paul United Methodist Church.Â
ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo
North American Martyrs
Sydney Arndt (left) and Jalyn Meyer watch Mass at North American Martyrs Roman Catholic Church from the choir loft in 2004.
TED KIRK/Journal Star file photo
St. John the Apostle
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church.Â
LJS file photo
First United Methodist Church
The stained glass dome at First United Methodist Church in Lincoln features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and Civil War-related symbols.Â
ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo
Christ Temple
A view of the renovated interior at Christ Temple Church.
LJS file photo
St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center
A 72-panel stained glass window containing about 7,200 individual pieces of glass is a major focal point in the chapel of the new St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. The window, called "Christ in the Heavenly Court," was made for the church by Franz Mayer of Munich in Germany.
MATT RYERSON/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
Compline at First-Plymouth
First-Plymouth Congregational Church's Compline service harkens back to ancient fourth-century monastic traditions. Not a word is spoken, and only candlelight illuminates the vast sanctuary.
Courtesy photo
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Megillat Lincoln is a relief sculpture at Tifereth Israel synagogue. The sculpture by Lincoln brothers Dean and Jay Tschetter, depicting the history of Jews in Lincoln and their ancestry, was a gift to the synagogue from the Max Neiden family.
MATT RYERSON/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
St. Joseph Catholic
This stained glass window towers over the sanctuary in the new St. Joseph Catholic Church.Â
ERIC GREGORY/Journal Star file photo
St. Patrick's
Murals were installed at the new St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Aug. 3, 2015.
GWYNETH ROBERTS/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
First Presbyterian
A reredos titled "Christ - Teacher and Lord of All" is at First Presbyterian Church.Â
LJS file photo
Zion Church
After Zion Church's original building was destroyed by fire, the church rebuilt.
LJS file photo
St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center
The chapel of the new St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church was nearing completion in April at 16th and Q Streets.
MATT RYERSON/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
Saint Paul United Methodist
New oak pews grace the sanctuary at Saint Paul United Methodist Church.Â
ERIC GREGORY/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
St. Patrick's
A finished pew rests in a press created for assembling the pieces in the new St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Aug. 9.
GWYNETH ROBERTS/Lincoln Journal Star file photo
Reach the writer at 402-473-7326 or dmartirosov@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @dmrtrsv
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