Worship Schedule
Saturday Evening
5:30 pm
Sunday Worship
8:15 & 10:45 am
Sunday Learning Hour
9:30 am
Service for Healing
3rd Sunday during
Communion at 8:15 & 10:45
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Home  First Lutheran Staff
Brian Maas
Senior Pastor
Brian Maas has been Senior Pastor of First Lutheran since mid-2006. He is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Yale Divinity School and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA. He is a native Nebraskan and has served parishes in Tekamah, NE and Kansas City, MO. He and his wife Debbie have two teenage children, Nathan and Rebecca. He enjoys family, reading, writing, humor, rich worship, good food, and being a pastor.
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Aaron Erdley
Associate Pastor
Aaron Erdley has been the Associate Pastor at First Lutheran since August 2007. Aaron is originally from Pennsylvania, and despite being a "transplant" to the midwest, he and his family are still avid Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Aaron graduated from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Music degree, and immediately entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, graduating in May 2005. First Lutheran is Aaron's second call, having previously served a small parish in Altoona, PA. In addition to his "regular" pastoral duties, he works with the Social Ministry Committee, and has responsibilities for Confirmation, Middle & Sr. High Youth group, and college-age ministry. He is passionate about the inclusion of youth and young adults into all aspects of church life and making connections between the generations. He and his wife, Danielle, have been married since December 2000, and have one daughter, Elena, who is in elementary school. He enjoys spending time with his family, music, soccer, and cheering on their PA football teams!
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Harlan Heier
Visitation Pastor
Harlan Heier has been Visitation Pastor at First Lutheran since January, 2001. His main focus is calling on those unable to attend worship. Pastor Heier graduated from Central Lutheran Theological Seminary, Fremont, and was ordained in 1955. In 1978 he received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He has served as pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran, Verdon; St. John's Lutheran, Schuyler; First Lutheran, York; and Trinity Lutheran, Newman Grove. Pastor Heier and his wife, Shirley, joined First Lutheran in 1997. They have six children, 13 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
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Sarah Timian
Vicar (2010-2011 Intern)
Sarah Timian is a North Dakota native. She earned her undergraduate degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she majored in English Writing and Classical Studies. She completed two years of study at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg before beginning her internship at First Lutheran, and she will return for her senior year there in the fall of 2011. Sarah’s interests include a wide variety of things, from reading to baking to ice fishing.
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Bonita Johnsen
Director of Worship & Music
Bonita Johnsen has been the Director of Music Ministry since 1985. She earned a Master of Music degree specializing in sacred music at UNL and has been an Associate in Ministry since 1987. Bonita is the primary organist and choir/ensemble director for the congregation and oversees a number of very talented assistants and volunteers. She also works with worship preparations, drama ministry, visual arts and memorials. She strives to involve as many members as possible in the various fine arts ministries. Bonita is married and has two grown daughters.
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Sunni Richardson
Ministry Coordinator
Sunni loves being a part of the "ah-ha" moments people experience as they discover their gifts, discern their call, try on different leadership hats, participate in worship and serve together. She is called to First Lutheran as a commissioned Associate in Ministry serving in the area of faith in daily living. Her position includes member-to-member support, Stephen Ministry, evangelism, connections, spirituality and administration. Sharing the homestead with Sunni is Koda, a black cocker. The two of them enjoy being outdoors, fun times with friends and getting together with family.
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Heidi Widner
Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministries
Heidi Widner joined the First Lutheran staff in 2009. As the Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministries, Heidi is responsible for FaithTrek, our Sunday School ministry for children age 3 through 5th Grade, Kids for Christ, Vacation Bible School, and our growing Milestones Ministry. Heidi also coordinates and supports a variety of ministries for children and families including the annual Advent Fair, involvement with Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, and other outreach projects, festivals and special events. Heidi graduated in 1996 with a BA in Music from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN and received her Master's in Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Our Lady of the Lake University, Houston, TX in 2007. Heidi’s husband, Mike, is a Pastor at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Syracuse, NE. They have been married for six years and have one daughter, Violet, who is four.
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Judy Batterman
Parish Coordinator
Judy Batterman has been a member of First Lutheran since 1974. She recently came out of "retirement" to work part-time in the church office. Between them, Judy and her husband, Bob, have 5 grown children and 7 grandchildren. In her spare time, Judy likes to travel, garden and spend time spoiling the grandkids.
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Elva Mares
Membership Secretary
Elva has been a member of First Lutheran for 50 years, became church secretary in 1974 and has worked part time for the last 11 years. Elva has 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
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Blaz Knezevic
Head Custodian
Blaz Knevevic is a native of Croatia. He immigrated to the United States in 1998. Blaz is married to Tracy Mueller Knezevic, and they have two daughters, Vana, 5, and Daria, 2 1/2.
Blaz enjoys woodworking and cold-smoking meats, as well as crafting in a variety of materials. Blaz worked in the telecommunications industry in Bosnia for 10 years. He also worked in construction and maintenance in Germany before immigrating. Most recently, he was a maintenance technician for the Lied Center for Performing Arts at UNL.
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Howard Cook
Custodian
Howard "Hop" Cook, part-time custodian, is one of seven children. He grew up in Lincoln, where he raised four children. He is proud of five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He has been actively involved in sports his whole life and is an inductee in the Lincoln High Sports Hall of Fame. He says the three most inspirational people in his life are Jesus Christ, his father, and his coach.
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