History:

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church was organized in Howell during the latter part of 1960.  The Cossack Welfare Hall on East 4th Street in Freewood Acres was rented to hold services, and on November 27th, 1960, the mission church held its first service.

The first organization formed was the Altar Guild, started by two of the ladies.  Later it was officially named the Mary and Martha Altar Guild.  Then came the first Sunday School with nine children enrolled, the first adult choir rehearsal, and our first Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve at 11 P.M., December 24th, 1960.

We continued to grow slowly, and in late November 1962, with money loaned by the Atlantic District LCMS, the congregation purchased the property at Aldrich Road and Woodland Drive, where our Parish Hall was built in 1963, and our current church was later erected.

On April 22nd, 1963, we became officially incorporated under the laws of this state.  On May 19th the Voters' Assembly extended the Solemn Call to the Rev. Norman G. Brinkmann to become our first pastor, he having served as a missionary up to that time, and on July 14th that call was accepted.

Our church continued to grow, and in 1964 we had three choirs, started our monthly newsletter, which is the present "Prints of Peace," and held our first Youth Service with the teens and teenage choirs participating in a regular worship service.  On July 19th Pastor Brinkmann left Prince of Peace, accepting a call to Westwood.  The Rev. Paul A. Voitko (Good Shepherd, Point Pleasant) served as our Vacancy Pastor for over a year.

The vacancy lasted fifteen months, with many calls extended.  On October 11th, 1965, the Rev. Frank P. Jorcke accepted our call and was installed on November 14th.  In June of 1966 we began conducting two services each Sunday morning, and in December Holy Communion was changed from once a month to each Sunday, alternating the services.