First Lutheran Staff
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Address: 1551 South 70th, Lincoln, NE 68506
Phone: 402-488-0919
Fax: 402-488-2859
Email individuals listed below
Brian Maas, 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, movies, humor, rich worship, good food, theology, John Deere, and (most of the time) a Golden Retriever named Barkley.
Aaron Erdley, Associate Pastor
Aaron Erdley has been the Associate Pastor at First Lutheran Church since August 2007. He is a graduate of Mansfield University in Pennsylvania and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg PA. He is a native of Pennsylvania and prior to his call to First Lutheran, he served a parish in Altoona PA. He and his wife Danielle have a daughter, Elena, and a dog, Abby. He has a love for music and enjoys spending time with family, playing the guitar, meaningful worship, and woodworking.
Harlan Heier, 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.
Vicar Jody Rice
Vicar Jody Rice is the intern from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Jody has a bachelor's degree in marketing and spent thirty years in the retail and wholesale industry before starting at seminary. She is a native of Florida but has also lived in North Carolina, Texas, Indiana, Pennsylvania and now Nebraska. She has been married to Jeff Rice for 35 years. Lorraine, Jody's mother, lives with them for most of the year. Lorraine goes home to Florida when the snow begins to fly! Jody will have one more year of schooling before completing the requirements for a Masters of Divinity.
Bonita Johnsen, 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 since1987. 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 the drama ministry and visual arts task force. She strives to involve as many members as possible in the various fine arts ministries. Bonita is married and has two grown daughters.
Sunni Richardson, Ministry Coordinator
Sunni Richardson joined the staff at First Lutheran in January 2008. Sunni served at Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for 17 years as the Director/Programs and worked 18 years in a variety of positions and locations with Camp Fire, Inc. She brings experience in developing faith based programs, human resources, volunteer management and helping others discern their call to serve. Sunni's favorite activities include gardening, photography, reading and watching things grow, especially God's children. She lives in Lincoln with her buddy, a black cocker named Koda, who likes playing ball and being outside with Sunni.
Debbie Maas, Interim Learning & Family Ministry Coordinator
Debbie Maas, a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, is the most recent addition to the staff at First Lutheran. She has worked with child, families and adolescents for over 22 years as a music educator in the public schools in Connecticut, Kansas and Nebraska. She has a passion for partnering with the staff at First Lutheran to empower parents as they guide and nurture their children's faith development. Deb's greatest teachers are her two children, Nathan age 16, and Rebecca age 13 and her golden retriever, Barkley. She loves being back in her home state where she can reconnect with family and have the opportunity to serve First Lutheran with her husband Brian in this interim position.
Curt Brinkmann
Curt Brinkman is responsible for general maintenance, cleaning and upkeep of the church building and grounds including snow removal, mowing and landscaping. Curt likes the variety the job offers, the daily challenges and interaction with staff. Curt has worked for First Lutheran Church since 1998, and he and his wife Renee have been members since 1992. They both grew up in Ponca, Nebraska and moved to the Lincoln area in the late 80's. They live near Firth enjoying life in the country. In his spare time Curt likes woodworking, reading, gardening and metalworking.
Howard Cook
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.
Ellen Niebuhr, Secretary
Ellen is the full time secretary. She has been a member at First since 1977 and worked in the office since 1985. Ellen and her husband, Dale, have 2 married children and 4 grandchildren, including triplets. In her spare time she likes to decorate, scrapbook and spend time with family.
Elva Mares, 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.
