First Things First - Movies , Baseball, Jazz and Patios! (Budget and Council Update, Too!)

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Making disciples of

Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

A weekly newsletter from First Lutheran Church, created to inspire and connect you with meaningful ministries and opportunities to live out your faith - within our church, our community, the world and your everyday life.

Highlights for the Week of June 18, 2025

Kids Explore Faith, Culture and Food at First Lutheran VBS

On Earth as In Heaven VBS is in full swing this week at First Lutheran! It kicked off with 35 kids “traveling” to Mexico, where they got to try Torrejas (kind of like French toast), a snack traditionally served during Holy Week, and learned about how important corn is as a staple crop.

For games, they did a relay where they found items to bake bread, build a church, plant a garden and more. In crafts, they painted Amates - Mexican art made on brown paper.

Storytelling time taught them about how our ELCA church is helping people in Mexico get what they need to grow their own food.

At the simulation station, the kids worked in teams on a scavenger hunt to find different food types (like protein, dairy, and veggies) and tools. They had to trade items to gather everything needed to live which sparked conversations about where our food comes from and the challenges farmers face, like droughts and floods.

They wrapped up the day by writing prayers for the prayer wall and singing a few songs. Throughout the week, they’ll be “traveling” to other countries, so stay tuned on our social media and News webpage for more updates!

Family Movie Night: Catch The Sandlot

Join us for Movie Night at First Lutheran this Saturday, June 21, at 6:00 PM as we bring the classic, The Sandlot, to the big screen! Grab your favorite drink (make sure it’s got a lid), a comfy pillow and a blanket. We’ve got comfy couches and chairs for the grown-ups and plenty of snacks to keep everyone happy.

Planning to come? Let Laura Graulty know so we can load up on treats for all.

This is a family-friendly event, so bring the whole crew - yes, even Great Aunt Edna (if she’s up for it)! See you there!

First Lutheran Night with the Saltdogs: Baseball, Fireworks and Fun

Mark your calendars for First Lutheran Night with the Saltdogs on Friday, July 11! The evening kicks off with a tailgate at 5:30 PM, followed by the game at 7:05 PM. Plus, it’s Fireworks Friday and you’ll even score a pair of Saltdogs socks! Tickets are just $16 and will be available Sunday mornings on June 22, 29 and July 6 or at the church office during regular hours. Get ready for a night of fun, community and baseball!

Jazz Up Your Worship: Join Us for Jazz Sunday!

What could be better than singing your favorite hymns during worship? How about singing them with a touch of jazz! Join us this weekend for Jazz Sunday where the energy and spirit will fill the Sanctuary with an uplifting vibe. Come ready to tap your foot and lift your voice. We will see you Sunday at 9:30 AM - don’t miss it!

Congregational Council Update

by Rod Johnson, Council President

Following is a quote taken from the book that the Council is currently studying, Leading Faithful INNOVATION by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff.

“We invite you for the time being to set aside the institutional dilemmas your church may be facing, not because they aren’t real and don’t need to be addressed, but because the best way to address them is first to learn to be led by God into deeper connections with one another and our neighbors."

When it comes to First Lutheran Church, remember our mission of "Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." This is a WE statement, concentrating on what we as disciples can do together, not a ME statement of what I want or expect.

At this month’s Council meeting, we had a meaningful discussion with staff leaders from Mosaic of Lincoln. This was introduced to us through the Peppmullers, First members who are very involved in the work of Mosaic. Many of us are familiar with Mosaic and would like to find a way to offer our welcoming and accessible church facility to those in the community with various needs. This was followed by an open comment period discussion with Gene Cotter, representing a group of First members who have prepared a proposal titled “Extending Welcome Beyond Our Walls.” This entire discussion will be reviewed and discussed further at the July Council meeting.

The May financials were reviewed and there is a report below. We are reminded not to get too comfortable with the current surplus position, as this is normal and we have a long way to go yet in the year. The preliminary Finance and Budget planning for 2026 is underway and working on a plan to present to the Stewardship Committee by the end of the summer.

Mark July 27th on your calendar for the 3rd quarter Town Hall meeting. This event for the whole congregation, will be hosted by your Council and staff, as a recognition of all the outreach, volunteers and involvement that our members commit to First Lutheran and the community. Please plan to attend to celebrate the commitments of our church and church family. Watch for more information over the next few weeks.

We are currently discussing a plan to help with the communications between the various committees and the Council. We plan to have this developed as we move into September committee meetings. The Gifts and Memorials Planning Committee has presented a revised draft of the guidelines for moving forward. The Vitality Initiative group will be working with staff and the Council summarizing their efforts for implementation.

Remember, all are invited to attend the monthly Congregational Council meetings, held the 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 PM.

Read Council Meeting Minutes and Staff Reports

May Financial Update

by Tyler Fleischacker, Church Accountant

Quarter 2 has had a strong two months with April having a $4.7k surplus and May having a surplus of $5.6k. Just some friendly reminders, we are recognizing about $4k/mo in one-time funds as income. Additionally, we are supplementing our mortgage payment by using $2.5k/mo from the mortgage transition fund.

Through May, we are sitting at a YTD surplus of $50K. Receipts are ahead of budget by $43k which is likely attributed to the fact that 24 members have paid their entire 2025 pledge, and we have recognized $20k of one-time funds as receipts.

Minor note: Last month I mentioned expenses were only up 0.6%, but I believe it should’ve been 1.80%, which of course is still very good. Expenses remain under budget YTD by $7k. YoY expenses look even better through May, only up 1.09%.

The table below recaps receipts and expenses YTD as well as provides a comparison against the budget and 2024 actuals. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Looking Ahead

Pastor Bekah Davis as Guest Preacher - Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29. Pastor Bekah is from Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) in Cairo, Egypt. She will also be the Adult Forum speaker at 10:40 AM.

Pastor Patio Gatherings -Wednesdays, July 2 and August 27 from 7-9 PM. Hosted by Pastor Erin on her patio! All are invited!

Wild Women of First - Monday, July 21. Stay tuned for details about the wild fun that's planned!

Photos of the Week

This past weekend Lincoln was filled with love and community at the Star City Pride Festival and First Lutheran Church was honored to be part of it. Families, friends and people of all ages came together in the spirit of inclusivity and we proudly shared our message, "All Are Welcome." We connected with the community through Rainbow Skittles, stickers and pins that sparked smiles and conversations. Kids enjoyed coloring pages and crayons, reminding them of God's unconditional love. The most touching moments came from those who thanked us for being a faith community at Pride, sharing the simple but powerful message that God's love is for everyone.