Please Welcome Peace’ Vacancy Pastors . . .
Pastor Joe Asher
Rev. Joseph Asher has had a long and varied ministry with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In 1978, he was a seventh and eighth grade teacher at St. Paul- First English Lutheran School in New Orleans. From there he went to seminary and completed his M.Div (1984) at 
Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. He then served in the Southern and Indiana Districts as a parish pastor.
Then for fourteen years, he was a public high school teacher in Fort Wayne, Indiana, while also serving as an intentional interim pastor in two LCMS congregations. While at Homestead HS, he earned an MA in Communications from Purdue, and he taught all English and communications (speech, debate, and radio) classes for fourteen years. While there, he also coached baseball and academic teams, and he also had the privilege of teaching adult continuing education classes (speech) for pre-seminary students an adjunct professor for Concordia University, WI.
Coming back into the full-time ministry, he worked as a chaplain for the Indiana Department of Corrections (five years), finishing up at Westville prison, and then he was called by the Office of International Missions- LCMS (2014) to go as a missionary to Asia and Germany. From there, in January, 2021, he retired from pastoral ministry after thirty-seven years on the clergy roster.
Wife Jennie Asher worked as a public school spec. educ. and elem. educ. teacher for 12 years, including 5 yrs at Park Elem, Hutchinson. She is also an LCMS Deaconess and has served as Missionary to the Deaf in New England, a parish Deaconess in Michigan, and Director for the Deaconess Program at Concordia University, Chicago. She earned an Ed. D from Northern Illinois University in Education Technology with an emphasis on Distance Learning. She then served as a missionary with Joe. Now she works as a first through third grade special education teacher at New Discoveries Montessori Academy in Hutchinson.
Pastor Asher will be in the office and available the following hours at Peace:
Tuesday 8:30 – 12:30
Wednesday 11:45 – 5:00
Thursday 8:30 – 12:30
Stop in and introduce yourself, his door is always open!
Pastor James Fuchs
Pastor James grew up in Northeastern Iowa the son of a rural ALC Lutheran Pastor. He graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary in 
Gettysburg, Pensylvania in 1971. His Intership (Vicarage) was Elgin State Hospital in Elgin, IL. where he completed an additional year Clinical Pastoral Education. Some family issues prevented ordination at that time and he went into corporate America where he served as a Sr. Executive for over 25 years. He left corporate America and became an Ordained Minister in the LCMS through the colloquy process on October 17, 2010. Immediately after Ordination he completed training as an Intentional Interim Minister and has served in various capacities throughout southern Minnesota. He is trained as a Reconciler with Ambassadors of Reconciliation and is continuing advancement with this organization. Pastor James is an avid reader of Psychology, Theology, and History. He also has completed significant graduate work in clinical psychology.
Pastor James’ wife, Karen Van Wert joins him in ministry as a handbell soloist and instructor. They reside in Savage, MN.
Galatians 6:10
Education Wing Dedication moved to Sunday, Sept. 19
Paul A. Berg, Minister of Operations, was instrumental in the continuing Christian Education Programs at Peace for many years. He was a servant of the Lord and his love for God and others was lived out every day of his life.
In the January 2017 Messenger Paul wrote, “Today is the day to extend that apology, today is the day to speak that word of kindness, today is the day to spend time with someone who is lonely, today is the day to share your food and clothes with those in need, and today is the day to share the saving knowledge of Jesus with someone through your words and actions.”
In his memory, the Peace Lutheran Education Wing will be named the Paul A. Berg Education Wing.
Dedication will take place on Sunday, September 19 at the start each of the morning Worship Services and also at the start of the Saturday Evening Service, September 18.
PLC PRESCRIPTION – Missional Formation
August 8, 2021
Congregational Meeting
March 14, 2021
Under the guidance of Pastor Stephen Wismar and Dr. Phil Johnson, Pastor, elected church leaders, staff and steering committee participated in a “Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation” Bible study. The study was 6-sessions, completed March 25, 2021.
November 24, 2020
Bob Sylvester appointed President of Mission & Ministry.
Lynn Brown appointed Vice President of Mission & Ministry.
Robbie Peterson appointed Chair of Elders.
Vote Results from Voters Meeting – November 8
*Ambassadors of Reconciliation Voting results -54 for No and 35 for Yes
Notice of Congregational Voters Meeting – November 8th
With respect for those members who are unable to attend the Voters Meeting in person, we would like to make possible for them to attend via Zoom meeting.
In order to do this, a voting item must be added to the agenda pertaining to the use of Zoom for Congregational Meeting & Absentee Voting.
For this reason, the Voter’s meeting has been moved to Sunday, Nov. 8th.
Agenda Items for Voters Meeting on Nov 8th:
- The congregation will vote to approve the use of Zoom so that members may join the meeting by the internet or by phone.
- The congregation will vote on the funding of Ambassadors of Reconciliation – Prescription 5
A link to the Zoom meeting will be e-mailed to those with e-mails listed in Servant Keeper next week.
- How to use ZOOM – from Bulletin Insert
- Agreement for Group Reconciliation Assistance
- Voting Resolution – 10/28/20
- Congregation Consultation Report – 3/31/19
If you have questions about the vote, please contact:
Robbie Peterson, Elder 320-587-7628
Pastor Pasche 320-296-9877
October 14, 2020
The PLC Link Team is formed; 2 Elders and 2 council members to work with staff.
Dear Members of Peace,
It is with great joy that I share with you – Peace Lutheran has voted to move forward with the “Mission Formation” process. Your vote to proceed has placed us at the beginning of a new path!
Our prayer for Peace is to remain true to who we are as Lutherans and as the church of God.
Our prayer is that Peace will begin the hard work of looking at ourselves and by God’s grace heal and grow to the church He desires. A church that “is the body of Christ in the community of Hutchinson offering unconditional love and compassion for all who are lost and abandoned. Rejoicing over each one who comes just a little closer to the truth in Jesus.”
In the blessed service of our Lord!
Pastor John Pasche
4/28/19
5 Step Prescription
- VISION … arriving at a common vision–an understanding of what God would have Peace Lutheran be in the world. Pastor Mark Frith, facilitator.
- STRUCTURE … explore an Accountable Leadership Model
- STEWARDSHIP/INDEBTEDNESS … research and recommend the development of a healthy, God-honoring financial strategy.
- LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT … implement a process of establishing expectations, communication, training and recruiting future leaders.
- DISCIPLESHIP DEVELOPMENT … a Season of Peacemaking – cultivating Christian disciples
The Timetable of Mission Formation
11/8/20 – Voters Meeting on the funding of Ambassadors of Reconciliation – Prescription 5
3/31/19 – Congregational Consultation Report … Observations, Commendations, Concerns by Dr. Phil Johnson & his team.
4/28/19 – Congregation votes to move forward with the Mission Formation process.
6/9/19 – Steering Committee is formed.
8/11/19 – Vision Committee is formed, Step 1 of the prescription started.
10/9/19 – Vision Event… Pastor Mark Frith gives a summary of the survey and more information is gathered.
11/6/19 – The Vision team had its final meeting.
12/8/19 – The Vision Statement proposal was shared at a Congregational Meeting. We will have 60-90 days before it is voted to accept or decline it.
“We are a loving community called by God’s grace – that all know the Peace of God.”
“Vision Statement Explanation & Implementations” Mark Frith video
3/8/20 – Special congregational meeting to approve the new vision statement.
The New Vision Statement passed unanimously at the congregational meeting on March 8th. Many thanks to the vision committee members for all of their hard work.
Mission Formation Steering Committee:
John Kalenberg – 612.840.2701
Brad Wick – 320.583.8737
Dick Higgins – 320.587.7480
Lynn Brown – 320.582.0193
Shirley Wurdell – 320.583.1009
Pastor John Pasche – 320.296.9877
Les Young
Paul Berg
Step 1 Vision Committee:
Ross Wendling, Ross Peterson, Marc Telecky, Karen Solien, Renae McKimm, Scott Brusehaver, Jan Bakken
Step 2 Structure Committee:
Step 3 Stewardship/Indebtedness Committee:
Step 4 Leadership Development Committee:
Step 5 Discipleship Development Committee:
Which synod is your church affiliated with?
Peace Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Our beliefs can be found on https://plchutch.org/connect/what-we-believe/ on our website.