St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Omaha, NE

06/03/2026

In living hope of the resurrection to eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Dear Nebraska Synod Leaders:

In living hope of the resurrection to eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ, I write to inform you of the death of our partner in ministry, Pastor Terry Nielsen.

Terry Nielsen, 71, passed away on May 31st, 2026. He was born on September 1st, 1954, in Minden, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Marilyn Nielsen, and his brother, Gary Nielsen. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sandy; daughter Megan Vander Haar (Jade); son Erik Nielsen (Sarah); grandchildren Zachary and Brody Vander Haar and Kinley and Nolan Nielsen; sister Sharie Hubert (Andy); sister-in-law Mary Nielsen; and many nieces and nephews. You can learn more about service details and Terry's life at : Obituary information for Terry Lee Nielsen.

We give thanks to God for the life and ministry of Pastor Terry. As we have walked together in life and ministry, so now the Nebraska Synod walks together in hope and faith in the promise of Christ’s resurrection.

Grace and peace,

Bishop Scott Alan Johnson
Nebraska Synod ELCA
Visitation & Service Information
A funeral will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Friday, June 5th at 10:30 a.m. with visitation on Thursday evening from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

06/01/2026

The astonishing grace that commissions worshiping-yet-doubting disciples, past and present, assures us that all has been made right with God in Jesus. The Spirit uses the promise of this good news to create joyful faith that cannot sit still.
Transformed by our encounter with Jesus, we go by faith into the world by a different way, relating to others as God has related to us: with grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love. This is what attracts and engages new disciples, and what it means to be baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: a new and better way of life that gladly gives of itself for the sake of the world, trusting the promise that we will never be abandoned.

The astonishing grace that commissions worshiping-yet-doubting disc...

05/19/2026

In John, more than in the other three gospels, relationship is the ultimate focus of the life of faith. Jesus’ mission on earth is to bring people into knowledge of and relationship with God. Jesus exemplifies perfect relationship with the Father and wants all people to know this same intimacy with God. He also prays that his disciples might live in such a loving and mutual relationship with one another. Moreover, he prays that we might be one, so that our unity reflects the unity of the Father and the Son.
How might Jesus be leading us and the church in this subversive work? How might mutual love and interdependence be signs of our faith, forging a path of healing for our broken world?
https://youtu.be/OUuEzP0z1GU

05/10/2026

It has been said that, on our journey of discipleship, each of us receives new eyeglasses. These glasses have a prescription that filters out all the cobwebs and distractions, giving us the ability to see everything through love.
Paul clarifies this love as he addresses the Athenians. “The God who made the world and everything in it…gives to all humanity life and breath and all things…God has appointed Jesus to be the salvation for all. He has given assurance of his love by raising him from the dead.”

It has been said that, on our journey of discipleship, each of us receives new eyeglasses. These glasses have a prescription that filters out all the cobwebs...

05/03/2026

Love, Love, Love! That’s what it’s all about! Jesus loves.
Following Jesus was not easy for Stephen and other early Christians. It is not easy today. But in today’s gospel reading, Jesus assures his followers - then and now - of three things. First, the great doors to a place with Giod will be open to us, in a house with many rooms. Second, he is the way, truth, and life, and by knowing him, we come to know God the Father. Third, we can ask him for anything. These are promises of Jesus’ continuing care for us, for people of every time and place, and for all creation.
Jesus loves.

May 3, 2026 Fifth Sunday of Easter

04/26/2026

The reading from Acts 2 provides an image of abundant life among the early Christians, a live with an extravagance of worship, fellowship, prayer, generosity, service to others, and thankfulness.
Do you know someone who has abundant life in Christ - a life of faith, joy, and love? How might you be encouraged by them to become one like them in Christ?

April 26, 2026 Fourth Sunday of Easter

04/19/2026

Heart imagery is central to today’s readings. In Acts, those who hear Peter are “cut to the heart,” and in 1 Peter members of the churches of Asia Minor are called to “love one another deeply from the heart.” In Luke, Jesus calls the Emmaus pair “slow of heart to believe” and they describe their hearts burning when he opened scriptures to them. In the often used passage of John 14:1, Jesus says, “do not let your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me.”
Religion with a heart will work to bring compassion to people who need it in any age. That would be folks who are AIDS victims. It would be folks like the hungry of our community. Religion with a heart will lobby for the suffering Iowa farmer and those single parents on ADC. You may say "Not practical." Perhaps. You may say "Not popular." You’re probably right. But "Christ-like"? you bet. That it is! And when our hearts are warmed with God’s gospel, we must be active, concerned Christians.

April 19, 2026 Third Sunday of Easter

04/13/2026

We could go on labeling Thomas a doubter, but such a title is unfortunately riddled with disparaging connotations. Perhaps we would do well to claim him as “Thomas the curious,” recognizing that doubt and belief intersect along curiosity’s pathway. Thomas may just be our example of how to perceive the resurrection in our midst, thereby leading us into a deeper understanding of life with the risen Christ. After all, it is his proclamation we share in the Easter season as we declare Jesus crucified and risen. May we, too, be curious as we look for signs of Easter among us.

April 12, 2026 Second Sunday of Easter

04/06/2026

What did this first Easter-morning look like? Did the women recite traditional Jewish prayers? Were they moved to sing? Might this worshipful moment be the time and place the first Easter “alleluia” was uttered? Perhaps they harkened back to Psalm 118 and sang to Jesus, “The Lord is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation” (v.14). At the feet of Jesus, the women found strength as they bore witness to God’s liberation and the power of resurrection. This was the Jesus they would share with the other disciples and, by extension, the world. This is the Jesus they would sing out to others in Galilee and beyond. A new day had dawned; Easter had arrived. Alleluia!

What did this first Easter-morning look like? Did the women recite traditional Jewish prayers? Were they moved to sing? Might this worshipful moment be the t...

04/03/2026

Service at Grace Lutheran Church 1326 S 26th, 9:30 am