In 1927, the Holy Spirit led Pastor G.H. Hillmer of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Riverside, CA, to plant a Lutheran Church in Hemet, California. He held his first Bible classes and services in new members' homes.
The first formal service, which included communion, was held on December 31, 1927, at the home of Ross and Adelia Anderson. The Constitution of St. John's Lutheran Church in Hemet was adopted, and the election of the first congregational officers was on March 20, 1928. On that date, there were 23 communicant members. As the year progressed, Pastor Hillmer arranged to conduct St. John's Sunday afternoon services at the First Baptist Church.
The first Resident Pastor of St. John's-Hemet, Pastor Oswald Skov, was installed in August 1928. So that St. John's could hold Sunday morning services, they began meeting in the basement of the old Hemet Library. The congregation purchased land at the northeast corner of Buena Vista Street and St. John's Place, and construction on the first St. John's Lutheran Church began in May 1937. Pastor Skov was the architect and construction supervisor. It took almost two years to build, and various individuals donated over 244 days of labor to complete the project.
The new sanctuary was dedicated on March 26, 1939, and services were held. More and more people began attending St. John's, and in 1957 two Sunday services were established to accommodate the rapidly increasing community. St. John's Lutheran Church was the first church in Hemet to have two Sunday morning services.
In May 1961, the church resolved to purchase the land at 26410 Columbia St., where our present sanctuary is located. Building commenced, and the new site, including the Martin W. Wahl Fellowship Center, named after Pastor Emeritus Rev. Martin Wahl, was dedicated in March 1965. The church again became too small to accommodate the number of people worshiping here, and our current sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1982. On January 9, 1983, the congregation of St. John's Lutheran Church decided to start a school as a mission outreach to families in the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley. St. John's Lutheran School's first kindergarten class began in September 1983. In 1984, the congregation decided to add 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, and in 1985, it added the Early Childhood Program. The school ministry continued to grow, and St. John's Lutheran School added the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in 1987. The school ministry flourished. St. John's congregation saw the benefit to families in our community and decided to add 7th & 8th grades to complete St. John's Middle School program.
We look forward to many more years serving our community as we continue our mission to touch lives with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
The first formal service, which included communion, was held on December 31, 1927, at the home of Ross and Adelia Anderson. The Constitution of St. John's Lutheran Church in Hemet was adopted, and the election of the first congregational officers was on March 20, 1928. On that date, there were 23 communicant members. As the year progressed, Pastor Hillmer arranged to conduct St. John's Sunday afternoon services at the First Baptist Church.
The first Resident Pastor of St. John's-Hemet, Pastor Oswald Skov, was installed in August 1928. So that St. John's could hold Sunday morning services, they began meeting in the basement of the old Hemet Library. The congregation purchased land at the northeast corner of Buena Vista Street and St. John's Place, and construction on the first St. John's Lutheran Church began in May 1937. Pastor Skov was the architect and construction supervisor. It took almost two years to build, and various individuals donated over 244 days of labor to complete the project.
The new sanctuary was dedicated on March 26, 1939, and services were held. More and more people began attending St. John's, and in 1957 two Sunday services were established to accommodate the rapidly increasing community. St. John's Lutheran Church was the first church in Hemet to have two Sunday morning services.
In May 1961, the church resolved to purchase the land at 26410 Columbia St., where our present sanctuary is located. Building commenced, and the new site, including the Martin W. Wahl Fellowship Center, named after Pastor Emeritus Rev. Martin Wahl, was dedicated in March 1965. The church again became too small to accommodate the number of people worshiping here, and our current sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1982. On January 9, 1983, the congregation of St. John's Lutheran Church decided to start a school as a mission outreach to families in the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley. St. John's Lutheran School's first kindergarten class began in September 1983. In 1984, the congregation decided to add 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, and in 1985, it added the Early Childhood Program. The school ministry continued to grow, and St. John's Lutheran School added the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in 1987. The school ministry flourished. St. John's congregation saw the benefit to families in our community and decided to add 7th & 8th grades to complete St. John's Middle School program.
We look forward to many more years serving our community as we continue our mission to touch lives with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.