Our Community
The members of Peace are committed to making a difference for the good in the community around us. Peace has served as the home for a variety of community events, activities and organizations since the doors of the church opened in October, 2000. A partial list of our current community involvement includes:
The members of Peace are committed to making a difference for the good in the community around us. Peace has served as the home for a variety of community events, activities and organizations since the doors of the church opened in October, 2000. A partial list of our current community involvement includes:
- AA meeting Friday evenings 7:00 PM
- First Sunday collection for Faith In Action
- Adoption of individuals and families by members of Peace and Bible Study groups for Holiday meals and gifts
- Jackson Trippers meeting usually on the First Monday of the month at 10:30 AM
- V.A. Hosptial personal patient kits
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt
- Tyler Steffey Field is a home for Dexter Little League and Dexter Soccer Club. The partnership with these two organizations has the two groups working together to help maintain the fields. Peace does not charge either youth sport program any additional funds for the use of the field
- Peace T-Ball League for 3 to 6 years old children in the Fall
- Peace Soccer League for 3 to 6 year old children in the Spring
- All Pro Dad's Breakfast 3rd Sunday of the Month at 9:45 AM
- Creation of a HART Huron Valley, a support program for First Responders in Washtenaw County
- Dexter Special Olympic Basketball
- UMAISE Walker Soccer
- Dexter Coop Preschool moved into our new building addition in September, 2016
HART Huron Valley HART (Helping Area Response Teams):
HART is a service ministry started by Peace in partnership with WAMAA (Washtenaw Area Mutual Aid Association), the Washtenaw County Fire Chiefs Association. HART has been in business since March 2015 providing help and support to First Responders. The HART team is made up of roughly 1/3rd volunteers from Peace, 1/3rd from active or retired First Responders and 1/3rdfrom the community.
During the first year HART responded to request for our services 27 times serving approximately 1168 first responders with an average of 7 agencies at each response. We have provided our services at structure fires, SWAT incidents and a road closure. We have had an average of six HART volunteers at each response for a combined total of 75 hours. This does not include the behind the scenes volunteers who help run and support the program. HART served 46 gallons of coffee, 19 gallons of hot chocolate, 40 cases of water, and 35 cases of sports drinks. We serve snacks and hot food to First Responders. We also provide blankets, gloves, hats, clothing, personal hygiene kits, and pet supplies as needed.
As you can tell, we are helping to make a difference for the good of our First Responders and the people that they serve. You can find out more about HART at www.hhv.care. You can also follow HART on Facebook.
HART became an independent non profit organization in the spring of 2016 to expand the financial support base for the program. Peace continues to prove support for the program with Larry Courson (Pastor of Peace) serving as the President of HART.
Wheat Ridge Ministries Awards Three New Burst Project Grants:
Wheat Ridge Ministries recently awarded three Burst Grants totaling $15,000. Burst Project grants are one-time grants for human care ministry projects designed and led by young adult leaders in the Lutheran community. In addition to the grant, participants receive professional consultation and feedback from Wheat Ridge staff and participate in a regular gathering of other Burst Project leaders. Peace is the recipient of one of these grants. The Virtual Adaptive Sailing Simulator is coming from Australia. We plan to launch the program early in 2016.
Virtual Adaptive Sailing
Peace Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Grant Amount – $5,000
Sailing is one of the few sports that allows people of all physical abilities to participate together and at a comparable performance level. Through the use of a ride-on sailing simulator, which allows people to learn how to sail in a safe and controlled environment off the water, Peace Lutheran Church’s Virtual Adaptive Sailing Program will help people with disabilities gain a sense of control and accomplishment, create personal connections through a shared experience, and enrich overall quality of life. The Virtual Sailing machine arrived January 21st. We are in the process of getting everything in order so that we can begin using the adaptive sailing program to help meet some unmet needs in our community.
Tyler Steffey Field:
Dedicated on May 9, 2009 with Al Kaline throwing out the “First Pitch” to Mike Steffey, Tyler’s father. This was followed by Dedication baseball game between Dexter High School baseball players and Dexter Little League Players. The completion of the field and the dedication ceremony was the culmination of a community wide effort to honor Tyler and to support Dexter Little League. Tyler Steffey, a member of Peace Lutheran Church, was Confirmed at Peace in 2005. Mike Steffey was the Vice President on the Board of Directors of Peace and also served on the Dexter Little League board. Mike was the liaison between Peace and Dexter Little League to lay out initial plans and design a Little League ball field at Peace. This initial work was done over a year before the tragic automobile accident that took Tyler’s life in December, 2007.
Because Tyler not only was a Little League Umpire and played on both the Dexter High School Football and Baseball teams, it was clear that the Dexter Community would want to do something positive in response to Tyler’s untimely death. The Community pulled together in a series of fund raisers to provide the majority of the money needed to construct Tyler Steffey Field. Dexter Little League was a partner in this project. The construction effort was overseen and coordinated by members of Peace. All of the funds raised for Tyler Steffey Field were kept in a separate account and used for the construction and improvements of the field.
Peace Lutheran Church and Dexter Little League entered into a 10 year agreement for the use of the field. Since play began on the field in the summer of 2009, Dexter Little League has used the field during their regular and summer leagues Monday through Thursday evenings (Friday rain out games if necessary) and Saturdays for an average of 7 to 9 games per week. The agreement that gives Dexter Little League exclusive access to the field during these times requires that they maintain the field (mowing and fertilizing), and help pay for the annual start up and winterizing of the sprinkler system. They share these expenses with Dexter Soccer Club that has a use of the Soccer Field constructed at the same time.
In the past Dexter Little League has hosted a regional Little League tournament, with the majority of the games being played on Tyler Steffey Field. Before the first tournament was played on the field, the league paid for fencing and aluminum bleachers. Picnic tables and the Score Board are Eagle Scout Project additions. Tyler Steffey field has been a great benefit to Dexter Little League, Peace Lutheran Church and the community served by both.
HART is a service ministry started by Peace in partnership with WAMAA (Washtenaw Area Mutual Aid Association), the Washtenaw County Fire Chiefs Association. HART has been in business since March 2015 providing help and support to First Responders. The HART team is made up of roughly 1/3rd volunteers from Peace, 1/3rd from active or retired First Responders and 1/3rdfrom the community.
During the first year HART responded to request for our services 27 times serving approximately 1168 first responders with an average of 7 agencies at each response. We have provided our services at structure fires, SWAT incidents and a road closure. We have had an average of six HART volunteers at each response for a combined total of 75 hours. This does not include the behind the scenes volunteers who help run and support the program. HART served 46 gallons of coffee, 19 gallons of hot chocolate, 40 cases of water, and 35 cases of sports drinks. We serve snacks and hot food to First Responders. We also provide blankets, gloves, hats, clothing, personal hygiene kits, and pet supplies as needed.
As you can tell, we are helping to make a difference for the good of our First Responders and the people that they serve. You can find out more about HART at www.hhv.care. You can also follow HART on Facebook.
HART became an independent non profit organization in the spring of 2016 to expand the financial support base for the program. Peace continues to prove support for the program with Larry Courson (Pastor of Peace) serving as the President of HART.
Wheat Ridge Ministries Awards Three New Burst Project Grants:
Wheat Ridge Ministries recently awarded three Burst Grants totaling $15,000. Burst Project grants are one-time grants for human care ministry projects designed and led by young adult leaders in the Lutheran community. In addition to the grant, participants receive professional consultation and feedback from Wheat Ridge staff and participate in a regular gathering of other Burst Project leaders. Peace is the recipient of one of these grants. The Virtual Adaptive Sailing Simulator is coming from Australia. We plan to launch the program early in 2016.
Virtual Adaptive Sailing
Peace Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Grant Amount – $5,000
Sailing is one of the few sports that allows people of all physical abilities to participate together and at a comparable performance level. Through the use of a ride-on sailing simulator, which allows people to learn how to sail in a safe and controlled environment off the water, Peace Lutheran Church’s Virtual Adaptive Sailing Program will help people with disabilities gain a sense of control and accomplishment, create personal connections through a shared experience, and enrich overall quality of life. The Virtual Sailing machine arrived January 21st. We are in the process of getting everything in order so that we can begin using the adaptive sailing program to help meet some unmet needs in our community.
Tyler Steffey Field:
Dedicated on May 9, 2009 with Al Kaline throwing out the “First Pitch” to Mike Steffey, Tyler’s father. This was followed by Dedication baseball game between Dexter High School baseball players and Dexter Little League Players. The completion of the field and the dedication ceremony was the culmination of a community wide effort to honor Tyler and to support Dexter Little League. Tyler Steffey, a member of Peace Lutheran Church, was Confirmed at Peace in 2005. Mike Steffey was the Vice President on the Board of Directors of Peace and also served on the Dexter Little League board. Mike was the liaison between Peace and Dexter Little League to lay out initial plans and design a Little League ball field at Peace. This initial work was done over a year before the tragic automobile accident that took Tyler’s life in December, 2007.
Because Tyler not only was a Little League Umpire and played on both the Dexter High School Football and Baseball teams, it was clear that the Dexter Community would want to do something positive in response to Tyler’s untimely death. The Community pulled together in a series of fund raisers to provide the majority of the money needed to construct Tyler Steffey Field. Dexter Little League was a partner in this project. The construction effort was overseen and coordinated by members of Peace. All of the funds raised for Tyler Steffey Field were kept in a separate account and used for the construction and improvements of the field.
Peace Lutheran Church and Dexter Little League entered into a 10 year agreement for the use of the field. Since play began on the field in the summer of 2009, Dexter Little League has used the field during their regular and summer leagues Monday through Thursday evenings (Friday rain out games if necessary) and Saturdays for an average of 7 to 9 games per week. The agreement that gives Dexter Little League exclusive access to the field during these times requires that they maintain the field (mowing and fertilizing), and help pay for the annual start up and winterizing of the sprinkler system. They share these expenses with Dexter Soccer Club that has a use of the Soccer Field constructed at the same time.
In the past Dexter Little League has hosted a regional Little League tournament, with the majority of the games being played on Tyler Steffey Field. Before the first tournament was played on the field, the league paid for fencing and aluminum bleachers. Picnic tables and the Score Board are Eagle Scout Project additions. Tyler Steffey field has been a great benefit to Dexter Little League, Peace Lutheran Church and the community served by both.