A Hemet Congregation on the Corner of Sanderson and Menlo
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church stands at 701 North Sanderson Avenue in Hemet, on the corner of Sanderson and Menlo. The church and its preschool share that one corner campus, and from it the congregation runs a full Sunday program plus a long list of small groups that meet throughout the week. The church identifies itself as part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a body it describes as a conservative Lutheran body, and that affiliation shapes everything from the order of Sunday worship to the way the congregation talks about baptism and the Bible.
Two Sunday Services, One Sunday School Hour
Sunday mornings at Prince of Peace are split between a traditional and a contemporary service, with Sunday School and an adult Bible study hour in between.
- 8:30 AM Traditional service in the main sanctuary
- 9:45 AM Sunday School in the Fellowship Hall, alongside an adult Bible study class
- 10:30 AM Contemporary service in the Family Life Center
Both services draw on the same Lutheran liturgy and teaching, but the 8:30 hour follows the more traditional order while the later service moves into the Family Life Center for a more contemporary setting. Children's Sunday School meets in the Fellowship Hall during the middle hour, so families with younger children can drop them off before the contemporary service begins.
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Beliefs
The congregation lays out its teaching plainly. Jesus is the center of the faith, the one who died for the sins of the world on the cross and rose again in victory over death. The 66 books of the Bible are received as the Word of God, read as a whole and interpreted by Scripture rather than mined for proof texts.
On salvation, Prince of Peace teaches that everyone is born into sin and cannot produce faith on their own. Faith, the church says, is a gift from God worked by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 is named as the flagship verse of this teaching: salvation is by grace, through faith, and not by works, so that God receives all the credit and assurance rests on his faithfulness rather than on the strength of a prayer.
The Lord's Supper is understood as a true presence of Christ's body and blood together with the bread and wine, mirroring the way Jesus is fully God and fully man. Baptism is taught as the means by which God adopts a person into his family, not simply an outward sign of obedience, and the church follows the early-church pattern of baptizing both infants and adults. The Christian life is framed as sanctification, a Spirit-led walk of kindness, generosity and compassion that grows out of what Christ has already done. The goal, the church says, is eternal rest, joy and worship in heaven, since the best is yet to come.
Bible Study and the Teaching of Pastor Luis
Pastor Luis leads the central midweek Bible study, called In the WORD. The group meets on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the church office or online through Google Meet, and its motto is Know what you believe and why you believe it. Participants who want the written material in advance can text or call 1-951-657-3662 and provide an email address; the online meeting opens fifteen minutes before the start.
Pastor Luis also teaches a seven-week New Members Class for anyone considering membership or simply wanting to know more about Lutheran teaching. The class covers what Lutherans believe about God, about human nature, about salvation, about faith, about grace, about good works, and about life after death. The day and time are set once participants have signed up.
L.I.F.E. Groups: The Small-Group Web
Beyond Sunday worship, most of the church's ministry runs through a network called L.I.F.E. Groups, with eight groups.
Dinner for Six brings members together in rotating homes for a home-cooked meal and conversation, with couples and singles equally welcome. The Bookbound Online Reading Club meets on Google Meet to debate the chosen book, with sessions running on Sunday afternoons in October and November. Cookies, Fellowship and Devotions gathers on the first Monday of October and November at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall, led by Karen Range and Sue Cummins, for homemade cookies, tea, and a shared devotion. Walk it Out takes the small group outdoors for walking, talking and prayer on Saturdays, with members choosing different locations in and around the valley and transportation sometimes required.
Two craft groups meet on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. The Quilters make quilts to give to baptism candidates, confirmation graduates, and charities such as Lutheran World Relief, Valley Restart, Birth Choice, and the Salvation Army. Knit and Knosh knits for the Magic Yarn Project and Birth Choice for Kids. A Young Lutherans group rounds out the small-group offerings.
Preschool on the Same Campus
The same address houses Prince of Peace Preschool, which operates under a formal nondiscriminatory policy admitting students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. The preschool is run as a separate ministry of the church (princeofpeacepreschool.com).
Outreach Around the Valley
Outreach at Prince of Peace runs largely through the hands of its members. The Quilters and Knit and Knosh groups produce handmade items that are donated to Lutheran World Relief, Valley Restart, Birth Choice, the Salvation Army, the Magic Yarn Project, and Birth Choice for Kids. The Walk it Out group meets in different locations in and around the Hemet valley, and the church supports missions around the world alongside its local work.
Planning a Visit
Prince of Peace is at 701 N Sanderson Ave, Hemet, CA 92545, on the corner of Sanderson and Menlo. The church's main number is 1-951-925-6121. Sunday services are held at 8:30 AM in the main sanctuary and at 10:30 AM in the Family Life Center, with Sunday School and an adult Bible study at 9:45 AM. The Tuesday Bible study with Pastor Luis meets from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the church office or online through Google Meet. The church keeps a YouTube channel and a Facebook group for updates, and giving is available online.