St. George Lutheran Church has stood at 803 W. Main Street in Brighton, Michigan, since 1922, but its roots reach back nearly two centuries. The congregation calls itself a Historic ELCA Church, and in 2025 it marked its 180th anniversary. The Lutheran emphasis, the church teaches, is God's grace: a grace that forgives, makes God's children, and empowers service to others. All people are welcomed, included, and valued.
A Feast Day Beginning in 1845
In the late 1830s, German Lutheran immigrants settled in what would become the Brighton area. Around 1842, about twenty-five German immigrant families, along with the Buek family, began gathering in Genoa Township for worship led by Reverend Frederick Schmid. On the feast day of St. George in 1845, the group decided to organize a new congregation and build a church, choosing the name The Evangelical Lutheran St. George's Congregation of Genoa, Michigan. By 1855 the congregation had doubled in size, plaster walls had been finished, and tables and benches were placed inside.
The Move to Brighton in 1922
On June 1, 1921, the congregation voted to relocate to the village of Brighton. The cornerstone for the present-day building was laid on April 23, 1922. The original church was dismantled, loaded onto wagons, and reassembled at its current Main Street site. A pipe organ replaced the original pump organ. During reconstruction, services were held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which graciously moved its own services to the afternoon to make room for St. George's worshipers. In September 2006, the original pump organ was rediscovered and donated back to St. George, where it now sits on display in the sanctuary near the front door.
Sunday Worship
Worship is held on Sundays at 9:30 AM, with music led by Organist Gail Boyd and Traditional Worship Service Coordinator Kevin Keller. A sermon and bulletin are posted online after each service, and the service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person. The sanctuary sits at 803 W. Main Street in Brighton, with the church office next door at 815 W. Main Street.
Sunday School, Confirmation, and Nursery
Children's programming runs from birth through 18 years. Spark Lectionary Sunday School meets after worship from 10:30 to 11:30 AM for children in Pre-K through 6th grade. The curriculum follows the Revised Common Lectionary, the same readings used in Sunday worship, and helps children explore who God is, how they fit into God's family, and how they live the Christian life.
A two-year Confirmation program welcomes students in 6th through 8th grade, covering the foundations of the Lutheran faith. Nursery care is offered every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM for children from birth through kindergarten.
Free Early Childhood Classes: Musikgarten and Gymnastics
St. George offers free early childhood community classes to families in the Brighton area. Musikgarten, taught by Morgan Gibbs, meets Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. The faith-based music program serves children from birth through age 5 and uses singing, dancing, and instrument play to build musical aptitude, motor skills, and language connections. Older siblings are always welcome, and no registration is required.
A free Gymnastics Open Play for children ages 1 through 6 also meets Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Children explore gymnastics equipment, practice skills, and socialize in a safe environment while parents stay for the duration.
Small Groups and Bible Study
The congregation hosts several ongoing small groups. A men's group meets Wednesdays at 8 AM for coffee and conversation in the Fellowship area, working on projects while enjoying fellowship together. Bible study meets Thursdays at 10 AM, both in person and via Zoom. Needleworks gathers the first and third Fridays of each month at 10 AM in the Fellowship Hall, creating knitted, crocheted, quilted, and tied-fleece items that are donated to a local hospital, a local women's shelter, and an ELCA port mission for seafarers. All skill levels are welcome, and yarn and needles are supplied. AA recovery meetings are held at the church on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM.
A Free Food Pantry and Other Outreach
A free food pantry is located in the rear vestibule off the parking lot, offering 24/7 access to free food, school supplies, and personal care items. The pantry has its own Facebook page, St. George Free Food Pantry, for updates. A Little Free Library in front of the Parish House is filled with faith-based children's books, movies, and CDs. St. George is also a Love INC partner church, offering free cleaning supplies to neighbors by appointment through Love INC.
Weddings at St. George
St. George hosts weddings, including for non-members. Pastor Ken Staib officiates; if he is unavailable, another ELCA clergy member must officiate. The Traditional Wedding Ceremony Package accommodates up to 200 guests and includes a four-hour ceremony block, a one-hour rehearsal one to two days prior, a congregational organist, a wedding coordinator, and a custodian. A reservation fee of $1,300 and a signed wedding policy confirm the date.
The People
Pastor Ken Staib has served as an ELCA pastor since 2011, having attended Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to St. George, he served congregations in De Soto and Murphysboro, Illinois, and St. Clair, Michigan. His wife, Joyce Partyka Staib, is also an ELCA pastor. Morgan Gibbs serves as both Office Manager and Youth Director, with an Associate of Arts degree from Schoolcraft College and an Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate credential. Gail Boyd is an organist with over 20 years of experience who has studied at Wayne State University and with classical organists and church music professors. Kevin Keller, the Traditional Worship Service Coordinator, earned his music and teaching degree at Central Michigan University and spent 26 years in elementary and music education.