Across from the Capitol Since 1869
First Christian Church has stood at 430 South 16th Street in Lincoln since 1869, directly across the street from the Capitol building. It is among the city's earlier Christian congregations and a steady presence on this stretch of 16th Street, with its stained glass windows, a Bedient pipe organ, and a prayer garden shading the grounds.
The congregation is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement organized in America in the early 1800s. It works in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska and with the national body whose general offices sit in Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Nashville. Of its heritage, the congregation states, "We do not claim to be the only Christians. Instead we pray that we are Christians only, in our actions, thoughts, and teachings." First Christian is an open and affirming congregation. Everyone is welcome to full inclusion in every aspect of the church's life, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sunday Worship at 10:30 AM
Sunday mornings follow a steady rhythm. Adult Sunday School meets at 9:30 AM in the church library on the first floor. Worship begins at 10:30 AM in the sanctuary, gathering the congregation around scripture readings, a children's message, congregational singing, a sermon, and the Lord's Supper. Communion is celebrated every Sunday, a hallmark of Disciples practice rooted in the New Testament. Most weeks, deacons pass trays of bread and small cups of grape juice to seated worshipers; on special occasions, wine is offered alongside the juice, and gluten-free wafers are available on request. Everyone is welcome at the table, and children, including infants, are included in the welcome.
Services are livestreamed on YouTube at 10:30 AM each Sunday, with recordings archived for later viewing.
Music: Bedient Organ and the Torch
Music is woven through every service, with traditional and contemporary styles meeting in the same hour. Mark Miller, who has directed music and sacred arts at First Christian since 1986, oversees vocal choirs, handbell ensembles, and instrumental groups. A Grand Island native, he holds a Bachelor of Music from Hastings College and a Master of Music in Organ Performance and Church Music from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He also serves as organist at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Lincoln, is a long-time member and former Sub-Dean of the Lincoln Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is President and Tonal Director of the Bedient Pipe Organ Company in Lincoln.
Alongside the organ music, Marcia Foster has led the Torch worship team since 2003, a contemporary Christian ensemble that brings a livelier sound to Sunday mornings. A mortgage professional during the week, Foster also helps run the church's book club.
Children in the Pews, Youth Around the Table
Children are full participants in the life of the church. Activity bags, storybooks, and coloring sheets tied to the Sunday scriptures sit in the narthex, and during each service a children's message brings the youngest worshipers to the front for a short lesson. Younger children may then step out for a Worship and Wonder program of their own, while older children stay to help lead the closing blessing and benediction. A nursery on the first floor cares for babies and toddlers through age five from 10:00 AM to noon on Sundays, and childcare is also provided for Wednesday evening activities.
Youth in grades seven through twelve meet twice a month on Sunday evenings during the school year. Parents provide supper at 5:30 PM, then seasoned youth leaders carry the group through fellowship, study, and games. The calendar swells beyond the twice-monthly meetings: Souper Bowl Sunday, the CROP Walk, summer camping at Kamp Kaleo in Burwell, regional fall and spring retreats, pancake breakfast and spaghetti luncheon fundraisers, and a steady stream of community service projects. Youth may serve as greeters, candle-lighters, worship leaders, ushers, functional team members, and members of the diaconate.
Adults gather in smaller circles. The Deborah Group of Disciples Women meets on the first Monday of each month, September through May, for fellowship and study; an annual apple pie project raises money for non-profits in Lincoln and beyond. A monthly book club is open to anyone who loves to read, seasonal small groups form around shared studies, and a prayer ministry keeps the congregation connected through intercession.
Outreach Across Lincoln and Beyond
The congregation concentrates its outreach on a small circle of steady partners. Locally, First Christian supports McPhee Elementary School, the Food Bank of Lincoln, the Gathering Place, Lincoln Police and Center Pointe Street Outreach, Clinic With A Heart, and Kamp Kaleo in Burwell. A monthly Acts of Kindness collection barrel rotates among these groups. Globally, the church gives through the Disciples Mission Fund.
First Christian also hosts its own community gatherings: Praisefest!, an annual rummage sale, a Thanksgiving dinner and celebration, a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Wednesday-night soup suppers, and potluck dinners.
Pastoral Care and Stephen Ministry
Two ordained pastors tend the spiritual life of the congregation. Rev. Kara Hillhouse, an ordained Presbyterian minister with a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, leads pastoral ministry after years in hospital chaplaincy, hospice chaplaincy, and parish ministry. Her monthly blog, Delighting in the Lord, shares reflections with readers beyond Lincoln. Rev. Karen Moritz also serves as a pastor at First Christian.
Elaine Parman, who has been a member of First Christian since 1992, serves as Care Coordinator, visiting members at home, in hospitals, and in rehab centers. Sara Lugn coordinates the Stephen Ministry, a lay-led program in which trained members offer Christian care to people facing grief, illness, and other life challenges.
The Building: Sanctuary, Chapel, and Prayer Garden
The building at 430 South 16th Street blends historic architecture with practical accessibility. The large sanctuary seats up to 350 and houses the Bedient pipe organ. A separate chapel seats up to 100 and offers both a piano and a smaller organ for more intimate gatherings. The parlor, classrooms, and a library all serve groups large and small, and a prayer garden on the grounds offers a quiet outdoor space. Stained glass windows and old woodwork frame services and visitors throughout the year.
The first floor is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp entrance along 16th Street and a lift at the north entrance. Hearing assist devices and large-print hymnals sit at the back of the sanctuary. Parking is available in the church lot at the northwest corner of 17th and K Streets, with additional space along K Street and, on Sundays, in the Masonic Lodge lot north of the building. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 2 PM.
Weddings at First Christian
As an open and affirming congregation, First Christian offers its sanctuary, chapel, prayer garden, and parlor for the weddings of all couples. The 350-seat sanctuary sets the stage for larger services, with the Bedient organ framing the bride's entrance. The 100-seat chapel fits more intimate gatherings, with both a piano and an organ accompanying the vows. The parlor provides a gathering area for family, while classrooms and the library give attendants room to prepare. Two parking lots keep guests close to the door, and the prayer garden, stained glass, and the Capitol across the street give photographers a wide range of backdrops.
Giving and Staying Connected
Gifts can be made online through PayPal, by electronic funds transfer from a bank account, by check through the green FCChecks envelopes in the pews, or through planned giving such as wills and bequests, life insurance policies, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable gift annuities. Endowment funds are managed through the FCC Foundation. Members and friends can also share memories and photographs through Share Your Stories, helping keep the long history of First Christian visible to those who walk through its doors.