History of Peace Lutheran Church

Peace Lutheran Church has been a part of the Hastings community since the middle of the last century. Looking back over the years, much has changed — pastors, places, hymnals, and faces — yet Christ’s Word and gifts remain our constant.

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Formation of Peace Lutheran Church

Peace Lutheran Church of Hastings, Nebraska came into existence early in 1948. Some of the first meetings during the earliest organizational period were held in the Zion Lutheran Church basement on South Denver Avenue in Hastings. The Southern Nebraska District Mission Board called Reverend G. A. Krueckeberg to establish a new congregation in north Hastings.

On March 7, seventeen people met in the Little Theater in McCormick Hall at Hastings College to hold their first worship service. In December of that year, the site of worship was moved to the old chapel building (which later burned down).

Voters chose “Peace” as the name of the new Mission Church on June 22, and on July 14 they passed a resolution to organize as Peace Lutheran Church and to join the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Original Location of Zion Lutheran Church

McCormick Hall, Hastings College

Old Hastings College Chapel

Building a Place to Worship

In March of 1949, the congregation purchased a building site at Ninth Street and California Avenue for $2,400. The original building committee included Herbert Werner, Harry Petersen, Harmon Pfeil, Otto Ruhter, and Reverend Grant Krueckeberg. Ground-breaking was June 18, 1949, and the cornerstone was laid on September 4. The Christmas service was held in the new church basement that same year.

The construction of the new church building was finished in 1950. The building was 40×70 feet and seated 300. Dedication Day services were held on February 19.

Peace Expands Its Facilities

In 1969, Peace began the construction of an educational unit, enlarged narthex, northern addition, lower storage room, and a tower with an aluminum spire and gilded cross. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on June 15, 1969. A year later, on June 28, 1970, the new addition was dedicated. The entire project was built at a cost of $98,500, including furnishings.

Open the Doors at Peace

In 2014, Peace set out a new capital campaign, “Opening the Doors at Peace,” to build a new fellowship hall, narthex, kitchen, elevator, drive-up, parking lot, and restrooms to better accommodate the congregation and improve accessibility. Ground broke on April 3, 2016; the addition was dedicated on October 8, 2017.

Debt Retirement of New Fellowship Hall — February 16, 2020

PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
906 N. California Ave. - Hastings, NE - 402-462-9023