About Trinity

About

We are a Bible-based, Christ-centered, and life-related Lutheran- Christian Church. Our worship services, sermons, Christian education programs, and our whole mission and ministry reflect that. We take seriously the confessional standard of the congregations affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

We are located in Auburn, but our members have Auburn, Virden, Pawnee, Divernon, Girard, Chatham, Thayer, Farmersville, Waverly, and Springfield addresses. We are truly a church of several communities.

There are about 700 persons whom we consider to be a part of our congregation. We try to reflect the Biblical teaching that each person is important to God in Jesus Christ and is a part of our congregation.

Auburn Trinity has been in existence for over 70 years. The congregation was formed on July 19, 1953, as a daughter congregation of St. John’s Lutheran in Chatham, Illinois.

Our History

The history of Trinity Lutheran Church began in 1911 when Pastor Brandt and Teacher Robert Schoknick began to hold services in the Thayer, Illinois area, just south of Auburn. The first members came from the surrounding areas including Auburn. In the first years, services were held in the Will Ladage home. Later they were held in the public school in Thayer and were held there regularly until the summer of 1953. The group there was always small, numbering about 25 or 30 members. The Thayer group became affiliated with St. John's Lutheran Church in Chatham, Illinois during Pastor Wegehaupt's pastorate there in the 1920's. Pastor George Klein continued to hold services in Thayer and to instruct the children during his entire ministry of over 20 years.

In 1952 candidate R. A. Haak was called to the Chatham-Thayer parish and served in Chatham as well as continuing the services at Thayer. In the summer of 1953, the Thayer group conducted a Vacation Bible School in Auburn, renting the facilities of the Advent Christian Church. With the success of this endeavor, the congregation began to hold church services and Sunday School in Auburn, where its first service was held on July 19, 1953. After this move was made, the congregation grew steadily, numbering about 80 communicants and 125 souls early in 1956.

The Trinity Lutheran congregation was formally organized on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1953 and was received into membership in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in August, 1954.

In late 1954 a tract of land containing 2.9 acres located in the southwest corner of Auburn, the current site of the church, was purchased with the intent of using it as a site for a church building .The congregation began building plans in early 1955. Eberhard and Murphy, Urbana, Illinois, were engaged as architects and in August, 1955, a contract was signed with M. Russell Young of Girard as General Contractor. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on September 4, 1955. Cornerstone-laying ceremonies were held on February 19, 1956. The cost of the church building with furnishings was about $70,000. This project was financed in part by a loan from the Church Extension Fund of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The dedication services for the church were held on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 1956.The Rev. R. A. Haak was the preacher at the morning dedication service. The speaker for the afternoon service was the Rev. Remus E. Rein, Executive Secretary of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The speaker at the evening choral service was the Rev. Prof. Martin Naumann and the music was provided by the Lutheran Hour Chorus of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, under the direction of Dr. Fred L. Precht.

The church officers during this endeavor were:

• Rudolph A. Haak, Pastor
• Kenneth Sanders, Chairman
• Leroy Seiz, Secretary
• Leonard Renken, Treasurer
• Harold Jaeger, Financial Secretary
• George Sokol, Financial Secretary
• Ernest Miller, Elder
• Rudy Ackerman, Elder
• Paul Tobeck, Elder

The members of the Building Committee were:

• Paul Tobeck, Chairman
• Roy Seifert, Co-chairman
• H.J.Helmerichs
• Carl Renken
• Rudy Ackerman
• Ernest Miller.

Pastor Haak continued as the pastor at Trinity Lutheran until June,1958. By then Trinity was able to support a full-time minister and called Rev. James Meichsner, who began his service at Trinity in June, 1958. Because the congregation had no parsonage, the home on the Studebaker farm north of Auburn was rented for the pastor until the James Stockdale home in Auburn was available.

Trinity's Women's Guild was organized as part of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League on February 18, 1958, with the motto, "In His Service" This group continues to "Serve the Lord with Gladness" by supporting many service and mission projects locally and abroad.

On November 28, 1960, the decision was made to build a parsonage at the approximate cost of $10,000. to $12,000. The parsonage which is still used today is just west of the church. Funds were borrowed from Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Virden for this building project. Kenneth Sexton served-as General Contractor from the congregation along with John Harms, Leroy Seiz and Herman Renken who served on the Building Committee. After much donated labor and time from the members of Trinity, the parsonage was dedicated on May 21, 1961, and Pastor Meichsner and family moved into the parsonage. Pastor Meichsner served us until the fall of 1961.

Rev. R. Dean Mues was installed as our Pastor in June, 1962, and served until April, 1966. As our congregation and Sunday school attendance grew the need for an educational facility was realized. The additional space, seven Sunday school rooms, two offices and a utility room, became a reality under the guidance of Pastor Mues and was dedicated on January 19, 1964.

The building committee included:

• Herman Neumann, Chairman
• Kenneth Sanders
• Walter Seifert
• Jack Smith
• Wayne Waganer

The architect was M. D. Turley & Associates, Springfield, Illinois. The general contractor was Paul Farris, Auburn, Illinois.

A loan of $20,000.00 was secured from the Church Extension Fund of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to undertake this project.

Rev. William Adam was installed as our Pastor in August, 1966. Pastor Adam served the congregation until June, 1970. On April 10, 1967, the loan on the parsonage was paid in full.

In September, 1970, Rev. Richard R. Harre became our Pastor and still serves our congregation today. Since 1971 choir music has been a regular part of our worship services.: This was under the direction of Barbara Stamer until December 2006.

On September 23, 1972, a decision was made to purchase for $5000 the railroad right-of-way, located just east of the church property, for additional parking.

In 1973 the folding partition was taken out of the back of the church and eight pews were added. On February 10, 1974, in a special service, the mortgages for the original church building and the education wing were burned, and the following evening plans were set in motion at a special Voter's Meeting to expand and remodel our facilities.

On September 14, 1975, the dedication services for the remodeled facilities and multi-purpose addition was held. The remodeling, at the cost of $115,000, included new carpeting, air-conditioning, and eight additional pews in the church, and improvement of the pastor's office. The Building Committee included:

• Richard Meidel, Chairman
• Rev. Richard Harre
• Loren Boesdorfer
• H. J. Helmerichs
• Al Schumacher
• Dr. Milton Sernett
• Richard Stamer
• Harold Bergman
• Keith Ladage

The architectual firm was Maslauski, Litvan, Bernstein, Architects & Planners, Springfield, Illinois

The General Contractor was Harold O'Shea Builders, Springfield, Illinois,.

On September 21, 1980, Trinity Congregation celebrated Pastor Harre's 10th Anniversary as Pastor of Trinity with a dinner, fellowship and games.

In the early 1990's the Sunday school wing of our facilities was improved with a new gable roof to replace the flat roof.

In May 1998 Holly Wietfeldt was hired to the staff of Trinity as the Director of Christian Ministries and Services. She served in this capacity until retiring in July of 2004.

"Tea Thyme with God" Women's Bible study originated on October 20, 1998, with six friends meeting to study God's Word and spend some time sharing in a cup of friendship in Christian fellowship. The group meets twice a month and are invited to bring their Bible and favorite tea/coffee cup and enjoy a dessert served on a beautifully decorated table. Friends participating have the opportunity to bring dessert and decorate a table. Through the years we have studied many different Bible studies and our group attendance has grown to around 20 or more. God has blessed "Tea Thyme with God" through the years with many different friends of all ages participating. “Tea Thyme with God" will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this year on October 20, 2023. Glory Be To God!

Donna Moldenhauer has served as a part time Coordinator of Christian Education since January of 2007.

In May, 2000 a Space Need’s Committee was formed to access the needs of the congregation in regards to church facilities. The recommendations of the committee for additional Christian Education Space, additional office space, renovation of the existing Sunday School rooms and multi-purpose room and the addition of an entrance canopy and improved foyer space was sent to the Voters’ Assembly in January, 2001.

With Voters’ Assembly approval, a Building Committee was formed in January, 2001. The committee studied the Space Needs Committee recommendations and worked with the architectural firm of Fitch and Fitzgerald from Springfield Illinois, with John Renken as the lead architect from the firm. The building project commenced in May of 2003 with Trinity being the general contractor. The church was assisted by the able hands and guidance of member of Laborers for Christ, led by project leader, Gene Eytchison. The new facilities were essentially completed by the end of 2003 and were dedicated to the Glory of God on March 21, 2004.

By June 2004, the construction bills were all in and the members of Trinity had contributed over $300.000 to the project, so the construction loan was converted to a mortgage of $600.000. The cost of the project was nearly $900,000.

On November 18, 2002 an agreement was signed with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Capital Funding Service to initiate a Sustained Giving Stewardship Emphasis to raise funds for the project. This emphasis was completed in three years in April 2006 after over $600,000 was committed and raised.

Building committee members included :

• Peggy Atteberry, Chairperson
• Rev. Richard R Harre,
• Holly Wietfeldt
• John Richmond
• Dave Hallerberg
• Randy Helms
• Steve Johnson
• Gary Gharst
• Hugh Shown
• Jim Bandy

In July 2004 Pastor Joel Dieterichs was installed as an Associate Pastor for Trinity. He had completed his training for the ministry in May 2004 at Concordia Seminary, St Louis. He served the congregation through January of 2008. In February of 2008, the Rev. Harold G Woodworth of Springfield was installed as a part-time Assistant Pastor. Pastor Woodworth served at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Illinois before his retirement.

On September 11, 2005 Pastor Richard R. Harre’s thirty-five years of service to Trinity was celebrated with an open house in the church’s new facilities.

In August 2005, after months of planning and preparation, a before and after-school program, G.R.O.W. in the SON, was opened for school age children up to twelve years of age. Teresa Todt was hired in June 2005 as Director of the program. In January, 2006 a three-day per week Preschool program was added. It started with 4 children. By August of 2006 the G.R.O.W in the SON program had grown to 33 children and the Preschool to 14 children. An assistant Director, Gina Rutkowski, was hired in August 2006.

In March 2011 Mrs. Todt stepped down as Director of the G.R.O.W. program to concentrate on the preschool program. Under her direction this program expanded to two classes: a preschool class for 3-year-old children on Tuesday and Thursday, and a Pre-Kindergarten class for 4-year-old children on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Mrs. June Callarman assumed responsibility for the G.R.O.W. program starting in May 2011 until February 2013. At that time Miss Marissa Stoddard became Director of the program through 2016. Dolly Vinlove was interim director until Tess Richardson was hired. She was director with Dolly Vinlove assisting in both the G.R.O.W program and as an aid to the Preschool program. Upon the resignation of Tess Richardson in December 2019, Emily Mann served as interim director. When the Auburn school district went to remote learning due to Covid we were unable to staff a full day program or provide the internet students would need for remote learning. Emily Mann and Ashley Schmid served as co-directors for the 2020 Summer Camp. The G.R.O.W. program was not able to reopen due to staff shortages and the unknown circumstances of remote learning as the 20/21 school year approached. The board reported to the Voter’s that difficulty in finding a director and staff, the G.R.O.W. program was not going to operate any longer. G.R.O.W. celebrated our 10th Anniversary Sunday, September 27, 2015. At that time 196 families for a total of 416 children had been served (16 Trinity Members)

At the end of the 2016/17 school year, Teresa Todt submitted her resignation effective the end of the 2017/18 school year. She taught the MWF class and Amy Kaufmann taught the T TH class. Amy Kauffman accepted the Director/teacher position for the 2018/19 school year. We continue to be able to serve up to 13 students in our Caterpillar T TH class and up to 16 students in our Butterfly MWF class.

In early 2009 a church organ replacement committee was formed. From July 2009 to October 2010 the Trinity organ committee studied various organ building companies and listening to many organs in churches from St. Louis to Chicago. In September 2011 a rebuilt, refurbished 10 rank Casavant Freres, Opus 2490, pipe organ was installed in the church sanctuary by Berghaus Pipe Organ Builders of Bellwood, IL. The organ was dedicated to the Glory of God and played for worship the first time on Sunday, October 2, 2011. An organ dedication concert, featuring guest organist Jonathan Oblander, was presented on December 4, 2011.

After more than 42 years of faithful service as pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastor Richard R. Harre asked for his release from the congregation to retire as of April 30, 2013. A farewell dinner was held in his honor on April 28, 2013.

Rev. Harold G. Woodworth also retired from his ministry at Trinity on April 30, 2013, after more than five years of service as Assistant Pastor at Trinity.

Rev. Wayne Hoffman, formerly pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Springfield. Illinois, served as Vacancy Pastor from May 1 to July 28, 2013.

The Reverend Martin Kaufmann of Houston, TX, accepted the divine call from Trinity in May of 2013 to serve as our pastor and he was installed on July 28, 2013.

Dinah Comfort Dog Ministry - The Dinah Comfort Dog ministry here at Trinity began in 2015. A ministry plan was developed and with the support of the members of Trinity and volunteers to form the comfort dog team, our application for a comfort dog was officially accepted by Lutheran Church Charities on August 31, 2015. From there we waited for the news that a Comfort Dog had been trained and was available. On June 22 2017, ten members of the Comfort Dog team went to the LCC office in Northbrook Illinois, to meet our Comfort Dog, Dinah, and completed a three day training to become certified as comfort dog handlers. A passing of the leash ceremony was held at Trinity on July 2, 2017. The original members of the Comfort Dog Ministry Team, were Hank Barrington(Top Dog), Amy Barrington, Ruth and Dave Hallerberg(Caregivers), Donna Moldenhauer, Beth and Mike Heren, Janna Seiz, Roxy Seifert, Tim Seifert, Lemar Johson, Kathy Johnson, Pastor Kaufmann, Amy Kaufmann, Charles Swain and Holly Weitfeldt. Since July of 2017 Dinah Comfort Dog and her team have worked to provide comfort at various places, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer facilities, and schools, just to name a view. Dinah is also vested to go to police and military functions. In 2018, the comfort dog team started hosting a monthly 22 Dinner for veterans and active military members and their families. In addition to the original team members, Peggy Atteberry, Linda Strubbe and Kathy Rakes have become a part of our Comfort Dog Ministry team. Dinah is now 7 ½ years old and keeps a full calendar of visits each week. What a blessing our Dinah Comfort Dog Ministry has been to our church and our community.

In 2018, Trinity added a LERT (Lutheran Early Response Team) with 12 members. The original LERT team went on a mission trip to Houston in July of 2018 to help rebuild following Hurricane Harvey. The current LERT team has over 20 members. The team deployed to Taylorville following tornadoes in December of 2018. Team members also helped with recovery efforts following tornadoes in Kentucky in 2021. LERT ministry reaches out through LCMS congregations to their communities with services that include on-site assessment, emergency relief and development grants, and pastoral care.

Trinity's Life Team was established in early 2018 by members Alice Steljes, Kay Hogan and Marlene Rahe. 5 years later the core members continue to bring Lutheran's For Life message of the sanctity of life to Trinity. Prayerful support from other members, "Friends of Life", help us spread the message that together we can stand for the value and dignity of all human life from the youngest to the oldest, the preborn to the elderly, the weakest to the strongest. This message is shared through regular distribution of Life Dates publication, Life issue information/opportunities, celebration of Life Sunday, presentation of Life displays at various locations, support of area pregnancy care centers with donations, workshop on aging and regular "Son Shine" visits to shut ins.

In 2019 technology was added to project the liturgy and hymns on large screens. An AV booth was built and Trinity was ready to share the services online. This was the hand of God at work. We had no idea the services would be going online only at the beginning of 202 due to the Covid pandemic. God prepared His church even before we knew we needed it.

In 2020, during the time out of the sanctuary, the steps leading up to the altar were remodeled, flooring was redone and pews were respaced. In August of 2021, a new sliding glass partition replaced the accordion folding partition at the rear of the sanctuary.

A Safety & Security Team was added in 2023 to provide guidance in case of fire, weather, health or intruder emergency.

In the summer of 2023, Trinity is hosting a summer intern. This is part of the Central Illinois District Program of Evangelism. Our intern, Caleb Gustafson graduated from Concordia University Chicago. Following his summer internship, he will begin his study at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Trinity Congregation has pledged its faithfulness to the Triune God and His Word as revealed in the Bible and that Word alone is the source and norm of Christian faith and life. May that God continue to bless Trinity Congregation and enable the members of this congregation to be a blessing to others. The Gospel of God's grace, love, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ as it comes to people through Word and Sacrament is what has blessed the members of Trinity, and it is also what will continue to bless us in the years ahead.

Updated: November, 2013