Story and photos by Abigail Mbuvi

Since its founding as a small congregation on April 22, 1849, St. John Lutheran Church has thrived, outgrowing both the original worship space and schoolhouse.

The first school was built in 1865, and the St. John community will mark the current building’s 100th birthday in 2013.

The Rev. Peter Ill, the current lead minister for St. John, is responsible for not only Sunday preaching and administering the sacraments, but also teaching confirmation classes, leading the weekly school Chapel, visiting the sick and baptizing schoolchildren.

“As a pastor I get to do a lot of cool stuff,” Ill said. “That is the thing that I love about my job: no two days look the same.”