From a Funeral Chapel in Waverly to a Congregation of Hundreds
On April 30, 1969, a general meeting of area Lutherans was held at Umberger Funeral Chapel in Waverly, Nebraska. The attendees decided that night to form a mission congregation, and on September 7, 1969, the first worship service was held at the funeral chapel at 9:00 a.m. with 119 worshippers present. Sunday school followed at 10:15 a.m., and midweek pre-confirmation classes began later that month. Six months later, on April 20, 1970, the new church was chartered as Peace Lutheran Church with 141 members spanning 32 families.
The congregation purchased land in 1971, broke ground on its own building in March 1972, and held its first worship service in the new facility on February 4, 1973. By then Peace had grown to 263 members, and the building was dedicated on September 9, 1973. Over the decades Peace has been shepherded by Pastors Arnold Krugler, Roland Hischke, Justin Burns, Eugene Gierke, and Kenneth Hoover. Pastor Neil Wheeler, who has served the congregation since August 7, 2005, is the church's current pastor.
Two Sunday Services, Two Styles of Worship
Peace offers two distinct Sunday services to fit different worship preferences. Traditional Worship is held at 8:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary and features liturgy, hymns, and organ music, with Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays of the month. Contemporary Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Ministry Activity Center (MAC) and is led by a Praise Team featuring guitars, drums, keyboards, and vocalists, paired with traditional elements of worship. Holy Communion is offered on the second and fourth Sundays at the contemporary service.
Both services are rooted in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's confession of the Triune God and the teaching that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone. For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on YouTube at the Peace Waverly channel.
A Building That Has Grown with the Congregation
The church's home sits at the corner of 145th Street and Amberly Road in Waverly. The facility is fully accessible with grade entrances and an elevator, and ample parking is available in the church lot or at the school across the street. Beginning in 2008, a Building Committee worked with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund on a three-phase expansion that more than doubled the space available for ministry.
Phase I, completed in October 2011, created the Ministry Activity Center, or MAC, which houses the contemporary worship space, reception areas, a new kitchen, fellowship space, an indoor play area, a youth room, and meeting space. Phase II in 2012 used Laborers for Christ, an LCMS-affiliated organization, along with congregation volunteers to remodel the administrative area and tie the new and old portions of the building together. Phase III, finished in 2014, updated and enlarged the original sanctuary, with an expanded chancel area, enhanced sound and lighting systems, and a new organ and handbell set for traditional services.
Children, Youth, and the Peaceful Beginnings Preschool
Peace runs a full slate of Christian education ministries for young people from birth through high school. Hannah McLaughlin, the church's first Director of Christian Education, joined the staff in 2021 after graduating from Concordia University, Nebraska, and oversees children and youth ministry. Faith Nimtz serves as the PBECC Lead Preschool Teacher, with Sara Bunting as PBECC Assistant Director and Nick Heitman as PBECC Director.
Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. are packed with options: Dig-in Sunday School for Pre-K through 5th graders, where kids play games, create crafts, sing songs, watch puppet shows, and learn a Bible story in the lower level commons area; Checkpoints Bible Study for middle schoolers; and CrossRoads Bible Study for high schoolers. On Wednesday evenings during the school year, Base Camp serves 3rd through 5th graders with hands-on, interactive lessons covering the big picture of the Bible one year and Luther's Small Catechism the next, with 5th graders preparing for first Communion during Holy Week. Beginning in 6th grade, students enter the Journey youth group experience, while high schoolers gather as CrossRoads. A week of Vacation Bible School is offered each summer for children Pre-K through those entering 6th grade.
Free childcare is also available during the 10:30 a.m. service for children age four and under, staffed by background-checked caregivers in the lower level Commons from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.
The Peaceful Beginnings Early Childhood Center (PBECC) is housed in the lower level of the church building. Its mission is to bring families to Jesus by providing a high-quality, Christ-centered preschool and childcare facility. The licensed center offers childcare, preschool, before and after school care, school day out care, and summer day camp, serving up to 135 children ages six weeks to 13 years. PBECC opened in 2010 after ministry leaders determined that a childcare center and preschool would have the greatest impact on the Waverly community.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
The Supper Express program provides a healthy meal each Wednesday during the school year so families can come straight from work or school and share fellowship before evening activities begin. The menu typically includes sides such as fruits, vegetables, chips, salads, and desserts. Volunteers help by bringing dessert or assisting with setup and cleanup, and the meal feeds about 80 people.
After supper, the building fills with kids and youth for Base Camp, Journey, and CrossRoads, while adults gather for Bible study classes running from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. During the summer, Supper Express takes a break and resumes in August.
Music That Leads Both Services
Music is a strong thread at Peace. The Adult Choir, led by Choir Director Julie Wilshusen, sings regularly at the 8:00 a.m. traditional service and joins the orchestra or Praise Team for special holiday and festival Sundays. The Praise Team, under Praise Team Leader Tom Salistean, provides music each week at the 10:30 a.m. contemporary service with vocals, guitars, keyboard, and percussion. The orchestra, open to all ages and instruments, plays for traditional worship on festival days.
Belonging and Getting Connected
Peace welcomes newcomers through Connect@Peace, a discovery course offered four times a year for anyone interested in becoming a member, including transfers from other LCMS congregations. The course covers what it means to be a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod church and what Peace is about. Sunday morning adult classes at 9:15 a.m., Wednesday night classes from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. during the school year, and small groups meeting at various times and locations throughout the month provide ongoing ways to grow in the Word. New small groups based on hobbies, interests, or stage of life are welcome to start up.
The congregation organizes its ministry life around six areas: Worship, Education, Fellowship, Evangelism, Service, and Stewardship. Worship ministry includes greeters, ushers, altar guild, media team, drama team, and wedding coordinators. Education ministry supports Sunday school teachers, midweek academy volunteers, Vacation Bible School, and adult Bible study. Fellowship ministry covers hospitality, small groups, men's ministry, youth ministry, senior adult fellowship, and a prayer ministry led by a team that takes prayer requests by email. Evangelism includes a Welcome New Neighbor Ministry, Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML), Gospel Mailers, and a Peace for Life Team. Service ministry organizes childcare, health ministry, Helping Hands for those recovering or grieving, funeral luncheons, a Kids Clothing Connection, Christmas Cheer Baskets, and community outreach.
Reaching Out from Waverly
Peace is an active presence in the Waverly community. The congregation hosts annual events including a 4th of July barbecue, a Halloween Hot Dog Feast, and a Health Fair, and the church building hosts community group and school events throughout the year. Peace also contributes to the Waverly Food Bank and the local Backpack Program.
Missions extend beyond Waverly. The congregation supports missionaries working in Jamaica, encourages members to be sidewalk advocates for life, and partners with the Belize Mission Society through an annual Bike and Car Show that raises funds for medical, dental, mental health, Vacation Bible School, and construction support. Lutheran Hour Ministries daily e-devotions are available, and Peace members support nearby LCMS congregations through shared worship opportunities.
For those interested in getting connected or learning more about Peace Lutheran Church, the office can be reached at 402-786-2345 or office@peacewaverly.org, and offerings can be made online or through Venmo.