Over the past year, our congregation has remained deeply committed to a clear and faithful mission: cultivating a culture of invitation that welcomes all people and creates space to respond to the Holy Spirit. This commitment has been lived out through the work of our Invite Teams and the shared spirit of our church community, helping invitation become not just an idea, but a way of life.

When you’re sitting in the pews during worship, it’s hard to grasp just how much of what’s happening around you takes place behind the scenes. 

Thank you for being part of the team on this first leg of our Expanding Worship journey! With each new step along the way, we hope you have found that our worship services continue to be welcoming, engaging, and most of all, centered on Jesus Christ and his good news. 

Over the past several months, Peace has been engaged in a thoughtful and prayerful process we call Expanding Worship—a multi‑year effort focused on strengthening how we gather, lead, and experience worship, both in the sanctuary and online. 

In 2008-09, Peace member Jackie Bailey joined with others from our congregation to start up the outreach distribution that would become known as Necessities for Neighbors. Along with Holly Marty, Pat Eidsness, and several other devoted Peacemakers, Jackie  wanted to respond to the many needs of our neighbors in local Sioux Falls with the love and generosity of Jesus Christ.  

For those of you who don’t know me, I should tell you I have been part of Peace Lutheran Church since 1994—first as a young mom and volunteer, then as Director of Children’s Ministries, and eventually as a pastoral intern and pastor. Peace has been the place where my faith has grown up right alongside my life.

A new slate of officers was installed this past December for Peace’s chapter of WELCA (Women of the ELCA). The new officers include Arelene Sorensen (President), Betty Fokken (Vice-President), Maggie Schmidt (Secretary), Millie Horter (Treasurer), and Deb Patzlaff (Director of Stewardship).

I have grown up going to Peace. I love the community, the congregation, and especially the youth. I grew up going to Wednesday school, then confirmation, and now I go to youth group every Wednesday.

I joined Peace Lutheran not long after graduating from SDSU and moving to Sioux Falls. I didn’t know many people yet, but at a new member potluck, I discovered Peace had a co-ed recreational softball team—so I signed up, met some familiar faces, and the rest, as they say, is history.