Church Directory

The Meaning of Peace

The Hebrew word for ‘peace’ is ‘shalom’. It is used in a variety of ways, but at its root it means “to restore broken relationships”.

We believe peace is the work of God and the responsibility of the people of God.

So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:20-21)

You are invited to GIVE PEACE A CHANCE and know God’s reconciling love in your life.

For in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)

You are invited to GIVE PEACE OF CHANCE and discover how God empowers us to make friends out of strangers and enemies.

So Jesus came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

You are invited to GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. Peace Lutheran Church, that is. Peace is a congregation of faithful people who worship, learn, and serve together in the name of Jesus Christ.

History of our Congregation

Hope Lutheran Church of Heber Springs received it charter from the Lutheran Church in America in 1976. Religious services were conducted in the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches in Heber Springs until the dedication of the new building at the present site at the junction of 110 West and 107 in September 1977.

Some of the charter members of this new congregation were residents of the Greers Ferry and Fairfield Bay areas. As time wore on, membership at Heber Springs grew from these areas. Because of the distance of travel and weather hazards, the church council agreed to conduct a separate service in the Greers Ferry area.

Attendance at Greers Ferry increased to the point where a decision had to be made as to whether to move to larger quarters or to build a permanent church home. On March 15, 1984 a natural phenomenon occurred, which helped us make that decision. We were forced to cancel our first Lenten service because a tornado had completely destroyed the bridge connecting Edgemont and Greers Ferry.

As a result, the members from the Fairfield Bay and Mystic Isle areas were forced to drive to Greers Ferry via Clinton and Bee Branch to join their fellow members from Greers Ferry in religious services, a distance of 57 miles. After a short period, this situation was remedied by the installation of the ferry boat system. From then on, until the erection of the new bridge in 1985, it was a matter of trying to set one’s schedule to that of the varying ferry boat schedules in an effort to “get to the church on time”. Needless to say, this was a real test of faith for this unusual group, most of whom were retired, yet had the enthusiasm of teenagers, in their determination to serve the Lord.

In early summer of that year a planning committee was formed to select a site and to set in motion plans for the building of this new chapel. Blue prints were received in July 1985 for Hope Chapel. Ground-breaking ceremonies were conducted on August 25, 1985 with Rev. Royall Yount, Dean of the Arkansas District, Central States Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, presiding.

The cement slab was poured on April 1, 1986. The remainder of the year was extremely busy for all of us.

The Wright Construction Company, with the aid of mostly volunteer workers, was busy at the site, while the dedicated building committee was busily making decisions on a weekly basis.

On November 10, 1986 we were blessed with Dr. Robert Dealey’s acceptance to become our new permanent pastor.

The Hope Chapel section of Hope Lutheran Church celebrated its first worship service in the new building on January 18, 1987.

On January 1, 1988 the Lutheran Church in America will join the American Lutheran church, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America, a church body of 11,000 congregations, 5.3 million members. The three uniting church bodies have long had a common faith and mission. Now, the are seeking to express this faith and their unity in Jesus Christ more fully, and to strengthen their mission together, enriched by each others traditions.

May 1997 – Pastor Robert Dealey accepted a call to a church at Maryville, Ill.

January 11, 1998 – At the annual meeting of Hope Lutheran Church the mortgage was burned. The mortgage was dated 1991 for $77,283.99 to be paid off 11/1/01. Luis and Maxine Nelson of St. Joseph, Ill., held the mortgage.

February 1, 1998 – At a special congregational meeting it was decided to become two separate congregations. 109 members attended the meeting. 98 voted yes to the resolution, 10 voted no, and 1 abstention.

February 15, 1998 – It was decided the name would be Peace Lutheran Church of Edgemont. This was the first and very important step in facilitating the legal aspect of forming a new congregation. It was decided at the January 11, 1998 meeting that Heber Springs would retain the name of hope Lutheran and Edgemont would select a new name.

April 26, 1998 – Pastor Norbert Hellrud’s last Sunday. He has accepted a call for a church in Illinois.

May 3, 1998 – The charter and registration for Peace Lutheran church was signed by all members at that time.

September 28, 1998 – Pastor John E. (Jack) Swanson accepted the call to Peace Lutheran Church. With his starting date to be December 1, 1998.

January 17, 1999 – Pastor John E. (Jack) Swanson is installed at Peace Lutheran church.

April 24, 1999 – Peace Lutheran church received into the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod.

September 10, 2000 – Ground breaking for the new sanctuary and offices.

May 27, 2001 – Installation of the Time Capsule in the floor of the new narthex.

July 29, 2001 – At the close of the Sunday worship we moved to the new building.

September 13, 2001 – Prayer service at Peace as a result of the tragedy in New York City at the World Trade Center.

September 21, 200 – First Taizé worship service.

October 21, 2001 – Reformation Sunday – Church building dedication with reception. Bishop Floyd Schoenhals presiding.