Peace Lutheran Church and School has been part of Shelby Township for more than sixty years, and the two have grown up together. Set on 24 Mile Road, the campus now includes a sanctuary, classrooms from preschool through middle school, gathering spaces, and a deep bench of ministries that span cradle to grave. The congregation's mission, simply stated, is "Reaching out to help people experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Everything at Peace - from the hymns sung at 8:30 a.m. to the Friday afternoon athletics, from the youngest cub in Panther Cubs to the oldest members of the 60+ Ministry - flows from that one purpose.
A Family of Faith on 24 Mile Road
Pastor David Klemm describes Peace the way many members do: less like an institution and more like family. "The people here are not perfect, and we are not a perfect church," he has written, "BUT, the people here love the Lord and love each other." The congregation is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and is part of the LCMS Michigan District, which gives the church a network of partner congregations, pastors, and resources while leaving the day-to-day life of the parish rooted in Shelby Township.
Deacon Jim Schurig came to Peace with his wife more than six years ago and felt the same reception. "I was told that this is a 'family of faith.' I couldn't agree more," he says. "It is great to see that the people here love Jesus and love each other too." Deacon Jim teaches Children's Messages, supports the worship services, and walks alongside the pastor in ministry. His verse is Micah 6:8, "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
What Peace Believes
Peace's Statement of Faith is organized around ten core teachings, each rooted in Scripture. The church confesses one God in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and teaches that all people are created in God's image but separated from Him by sin. Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, rose on the third day, ascended into heaven, and will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
The Good News at the heart of it all is that God has reconciled the world to Himself through Jesus. Forgiveness, eternal life, and peace with God are freely offered and received through faith in Jesus Christ. Peace teaches that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
Two sacraments are central to the life of the church. Baptism is God's gift of grace through water and the Word. The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month, with dealcoholized white wine in the center of the communion trays and gluten-free wafers available upon request. Worship at Peace draws on historical Lutheran forms as well as contemporary expression, with the word "Worship" described as the meeting place of God and His people.
Peace also holds confessional positions on marriage and gender. The church teaches that marriage is a covenant relationship designed by God as a union between one man and one woman, and that God created human beings only as male and female. All human life, from conception to natural death, is described as sacred and created in God's image.
Sunday Morning: Two Services, One Sermon
Worship is the heart of the week at Peace. Two Sunday services share the same sermon and the same Communion schedule but offer very different musical settings.
At 8:30 a.m., the Traditional Music Service opens the day with hymns and organ music, drawing on the Lutheran heritage of liturgical and choral worship. At 10:30 a.m., the Contemporary Music Service fills the sanctuary with songs led by the Praise Team Band in a more modern, celebratory style. The 10:30 service includes a Children's Message, after which children through fourth grade are invited to KidZone, and children newborn through age three may be taken to the nursery.
Both services celebrate the Lord's Supper on the first and third Sundays. Communion is open to all who confess faith in Jesus and trust His real presence in the bread and wine. Visitors who have questions about partaking are invited to speak with Pastor Klemm or an elder before the service.
Worship Wherever You Are
For those who cannot be in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, the 10:30 a.m. service is livestreamed each week on the Peace Lutheran Shelby Facebook page, the Peace Lutheran Shelby YouTube channel, and the church's app. The same livestream is available through the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon. Recordings of previous services, daily devotions, and a Daily Bible Verse are all accessible through the app and the online media page, so members and friends can stay connected to the week's teaching from anywhere.
Children, KidZone, and the Nursery
Children are woven into the life of the church, not sidelined by it. At the 10:30 service, after the Children's Message at the front of the sanctuary, children ages four through fourth grade walk to KidZone for a Bible study, crafts, and games designed to help them grow their friendship with Jesus. The curriculum, called Simply Loved, centers on a Jesus-centered journey through God's story.
Younger children, from newborn through age three, can be taken to the nursery during the 10:30 service so parents and guardians can participate in worship. Peace also offers a Children's Worship Service each fall, geared toward preschool and kindergarten children and their families, with refreshments following in the sanctuary.
Vacation Bible School and other seasonal children's events round out the year. Sunday school teachers, VBS leaders, and KidZone volunteers come from across the congregation, and Holly Nelson, the Director of Family Life, coordinates the children's ministries from preschool through high school.
Peace Lutheran School: Preschool Through Middle School
Peace Lutheran School has long been one of the church's signature ministries. The school provides a Christ-centered learning environment, equipping students for lives of Christian witness, service, and academic excellence. Classes run from preschool through eighth grade, with the elementary and middle school programs nationally accredited.
The preschool, led by Early Childhood Director Suzette Quail, offers Panther Cubs for two-year-olds and a parent or caregiver, a 3s program, a 4s program, and a Pre-Kindergarten (Young 5s) class. The program is play-based and academically rich, balancing structured instruction with child-led exploration. Each day includes Jesus time, with Bible stories, songs, and Christ-centered values such as kindness, respect, and compassion.
Elementary students (kindergarten through fifth grade) follow a curriculum anchored in five core subjects: Reading/Language Arts, Math, Religion, Science, and Social Studies. Faith is integrated into every subject. Specials include Physical Education, Art, Vocal Music, Band, Recorders (third and fourth grade), and Technology. Each class receives in-lab computer instruction two to three times a week, with iPads in the youngest classrooms and Smartboards in every K-8 room.
Middle School (grades 6-8) builds on the same five core subjects, with an emphasis on writing, Math through Algebra, and a deepening study of how to apply and defend the Christian faith. Spanish is added in middle school, along with Art, Vocal and Band Music, Technology, and Physical Education. Outside the classroom, middle schoolers participate in the Washington, D.C. class trip, a Creation Museum trip, an expanded Outdoor Education program, and local field trips.
Religion and the arts are central to the school week. Preschool classes have Jesus time every day. Wednesday mornings are Chapel time for Young 5s through Grade 8, with Bible-based lessons from the teaching staff, pastoral staff, and other LCMS pastors. Each quarter has a different mission focus. Two school choirs - Sonshiners (grades 1-4) and Unashamed (grades 5-8) - sing at weekly chapel services and at church services once a quarter. The 5th-8th grade band program is led by Mr. Brian Pollatz, who has taught instrumental music for nearly four decades.
After school, Peace offers clubs such as Chess, Book, Science, and Sewing, and athletics for grades 5-8 including Track, Soccer, Girls' Volleyball and Basketball, and Boys' Basketball.
The school is led by Principal Michael Nelson, who joined the Peace staff after eighteen years in Lutheran and public education. "I know that we will be great partners as we support these children in their faith walk," he has written. The Parent Teacher League supports the school year-round through Classroom Enrichment, assemblies, community events, safety and security upgrades, building updates, and Staff Appreciation, with committees that plan Trunk or Treat, the Raise Craze Kick, the Christmas Shop, and Teacher Appreciation.
Latchkey: Before and After School Care
For Peace Lutheran School families who need extended hours, Latchkey offers before- and after-school care in a comfortable, Christ-centered environment. AM Latchkey is coordinated through Mrs. Quail, and PM Latchkey is led by Mrs. Rebecca Polchowski with support from Mrs. Claire Sarzynski. Children enrolled in Latchkey are cared for in the same building as their classrooms, easing the transition from school day to home.
Youth Ministry: JYM, HSYM, and Bible Quizzing
As students move beyond elementary school, Peace offers a growing suite of youth ministries. Junior Youth Ministry (JYM) gathers students in fifth through eighth grade, and High School Youth Ministry (HSYM) gathers students in ninth through twelfth grade. Both groups meet for fellowship, games, service, and Bible study, with their own kick-off events each fall and weekly Bible studies during the school year. JYM/High School Bible Study, led by Holly Nelson in the Media Center, covers a range of topics chosen with input from students.
Detroit Bible Quizzing is a separate but related ministry. Peace partners with Epic Church to field teams of quizzers from first through twelfth grade, who meet on Thursday evenings at Stoney Creek Church in Utica to study the book of John and compete against other Metro Detroit teams. Practices begin the Thursday after Labor Day.
Bible Studies for Every Season
Adults at Peace can choose from a rich menu of Bible studies. During the school year, Sunday morning studies at 9:40 a.m. include "The 12 Disciples of Jesus" with Ken Fritsch, "How We Got the Bible" for high schoolers with Holly Nelson, "Relate(able): How God Can Change Our Perspective on Relationships" with Brian and Heidi Chaplin, and "Mark This!" for junior youth with George Nelson. KidZone for children age four through fourth grade runs in parallel.
Wednesday studies include a daytime study for adults in the Gathering Room and two evening studies - a LifeLight study on Daniel with Pat Longtin and "In the Footsteps of the Savior" with Jeff Desano. A Wednesday evening Zoom study on Genesis, led by Deacon Jim Schurig, opens the Bible to those at home.
The Church-Wide Bible Study is the congregation's largest shared study, running for four weeks each year with sermons and small groups following the same theme. Mornings with Meaning, a Tuesday-morning coffee and devotion time in the Gathering Room, offers a quieter weekly rhythm that anyone can drop in to enjoy.
Mornings with Meaning and the 60+ Ministry
Mornings with Meaning meets every Tuesday at about 8:45 a.m. for coffee, tea, or cocoa, a short devotion, and conversation. It is a low-key way to start the week in God's Word and is led by Holly Nelson.
The 60+ Ministry, formerly the Seniors' Group, meets on and off campus on the second Wednesday of the month from September through June. The group plans day trips and fellowship events throughout the year. Past outings have included a fall trip to Frankenmuth with a tour of St. Lorenz Church and a meal at Zehnder's.
GriefShare: Walking Through Loss Together
GriefShare is a 13-week support group for anyone who has lost a family member or friend. Led by Pam Aulgur and Karin Sparks, the group meets on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and follows a curriculum that helps participants understand the unpredictability of grief, learn healthy coping strategies, and find support from others who understand what they are feeling. A new session begins each September.
Christian Care and Local Outreach
The Board of Christian Care oversees Peace's outreach into the surrounding community, including the Meal Ministry, Funeral Luncheons, Shut-In and Nursing Home Visitation, Stephen Ministries, Blood Drives, and Food Drives. The board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. and is always looking for new volunteers.
Each fall, Peace collects new coats, hats, mittens, and scarves - in sizes from newborn to adult - to benefit Friends of Foster Kids in Shelby Township. The Coat, Hat, Mitten, and Scarf Drive is one of the congregation's most tangible ways to care for neighbors in need.
Camp Restore Detroit
Once a month, on the third Saturday, a caravan leaves Peace for Camp Restore Detroit, where volunteers spend a day serving the community. Camp Restore has a three-fold outreach of Human Care, Environmental, and Construction, and partners with neighbors rather than parachuting in with solutions. Skills needed range from carpentry and drywall to plumbing, painting, gardening, music, teaching, and children's work. Anyone with a willing heart is welcome.
"The Talk" for Parents
Each year, Family Life Director Holly Nelson leads "The Talk," a one-session class designed to help parents begin conversations with their children about growing up. The class is offered once a year and may be repeated as often as desired, with two time options to fit busy family schedules.
Other Annual Events
Peace hosts a busy calendar of fellowship events throughout the year. Trunk or Treat is a Halloween alternative held on the Sunday before October 31, with decorated trunks, cider, donuts, popcorn, and games. The Fall Mom to Mom Sale brings together gently used kids' clothes, toys, baby gear, and maternity wear, with proceeds benefiting the Peace Youth Group. The Peace"Full" Auction, held every other year, is one of the church's largest fundraisers, with live and silent auctions, baskets, and decorations, all planned by a committee of volunteers.
Joining the Peace Family
Anyone curious about the Christian faith, Lutheran teachings, or Peace itself is invited to Christianity 101 Orientation. Led by Pastor Klemm, the casual class explores the basics of Christianity, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and what ministry looks like at Peace. Visitors interested in membership can complete the sign-up form online to connect with the pastor.
Giving, the App, and Staying Connected
Peace offers several ways to give. Online giving is available through the Subsplash Giving platform and through VANCO Giving. The Peace Lutheran app, available through the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon, provides access to livestreamed services, recordings of past services, daily devotions, the daily Bible verse, and giving. The Peace Lutheran Shop, currently temporarily closed, will reopen with new church and school items available to order online and pick up at the office. RaiseRight gift card fundraising provides another way for families to support tuition and the ministry through everyday purchases.
Boards and Governance
Peace is governed by a Board of Directors and five ministry boards that oversee the life of the congregation. The Board of Directors, led by President of the Congregation John Matalavy, sets direction for the congregation and oversees staff. The Board of Elders, led by John Blanchard, oversees doctrine and worship. The Board of Christian Education, chaired by Tom McClelland, supports the school ministry. The Board of Family Life coordinates youth and family ministries. The Board of Christian Care, chaired by Judy Franckiewicz, oversees mercy and care ministries. The Board of Trustees, chaired by Jason Abele, cares for the physical campus.
A Note on Visit
The church and school share a single address: 6580 24 Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI 48316. The church office can be reached at 586-731-4120 during summer office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors can also contact the church by email at churchsecretary@peaceshelby.org or by completing the online contact form. Tours of the school can be scheduled by reaching out through the school's enrollment page.