Welcome
Trinity Lutheran Church
Welcome to Trinity!
We’re glad you’re exploring our website and look forward to connecting with you in person. Allow us to briefly introduce ourselves…
Trinity Lutheran Church & School is a family of believers
created by God the Father
redeemed by Jesus the Christ
equipped by the Holy Spirit
to confess, proclaim, and teach the Good News of God's love and grace.
In short...
Created. Redeemed. Equipped.
to
Confess. Proclaim. Teach.
A Congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Worship
Christ-centered, Bible based worship and sacraments, including Baptism and Holy Communion.
School
Christian education through its school and preschool, nurturing both academic and spiritual growth, as well as adult education and Bible studies.
Community
Community and fellowship opportunities for all ages, community meals for homeless and support of Women’s Alliance Clinic.
Connections
A welcoming environment for newcomers to Racine seeking a faith-based community.
Let’s Answer Your Questions
When are your worship services?
Worship services are held Saturday at 5:00pm all year round. There may be some occasions where we announce that this service is cancelled but those situations are rare (like Christmas day falling on a Saturday and we have service in the morning).
From September 1 to May 31, services are held on Sunday at 8:00am and 10:30am with adult bible class and public school confirmation held at 9:15.
From June 1 to August 31 serves are held on Sunday at 8:00am and 9:30am, there is not bible class or confirmation.
Thanksgiving Day service is held at 9am.
Christmas Eve services are held at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm.
Christmas Day services are held at 10:00am.
What services do you practice?
Divine Service
The Divine Service is at the heart and soul of what we do at Trinity. We are a community that gathers to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We gather together each week to receive the gifts that God has for us: the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation. We also believe that the support one Christian gives another is a vital part of a worshiping community.
On Sunday mornings we follow the Divine Service from the Lutheran Service Book. During the seasons of Advent and Lent we use Divine Service III (the old page 5 and 15 from The Lutheran Hymnal). Advent and Lent are more reflective times of the church year lending towards the tone of Divine Service III and the omition of the Hymn of Praise. During the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany and Easter we use Divine Service I which is more upbeat and includes the extended version of the Hymn of Praise. During the none festival portion of the church year (Pentecost) we use Divine Service II.
We are blessed to have two pastors who preach on a regular basis here at Trinity. Pastor Gehne and Pastor Jennings switch off every other week. Each has his own style of presentation and each one takes the craft of preaching seriously.
Saturday Evening Services
Our worship on Saturday evening at 5pm is “relaxed.” We follow the same general order of service as on Sunday except that the liturgy or musical accompaniment was written by former Racine Lutheran High School band and choir teacher Peter Klemp. Worship on Saturday is generally led by piano rather than organ (with the exception of Easter Vigil). The Pastors generally wear suits and clerical collars (black shirts with the white tab) rather than robes.
Communion Practices
At Trinity we do follow the LCMS practice of Close Communion. For more information on this please visit http://www.lcms.org/faqs/doctrine#communionhistory
The Lord’s Supper is served at all regular services with the exception of our “Family Service” the 2nd Sunday of the month at the 10:30am service.
We offer both the individual cups and the common cup for the reception of the wine. Please note, that the clear glass in the center of the individual cup tray is water with just a drop of wine. We have determined that this is the best option for those on medication that reacts with alcohol and those with a history of alcoholism.
What is the history of your church?
Many important events led up to the founding of our congregation in 1905. During the summer of 1904, two children were confirmed in an English service at St. John’s German Lutheran Church. Shortly afterward, four men who had been instructed for more than a year desired to join the Lutheran Church. These men, Walter E. Moe, John H. Phillips, Frank G. White and August Balzer, under the guidance of St. John’s pastor, Dr. J. F. Boerger, decided it was time to organize an English mission congregation on the north side of Racine. “The Father’s Faith in the Children’s Language” was the vision of the founding fathers of Trinity.
After two unsuccessful attempts to find a missionary pastor, a call was extended to the Rev. Frederick C. Eseman of Coal City, Illinois. On January 15, 1905, in a service at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Eseman was installed as English Missionary for Racine. He preached his first sermon on Sunday evening, February 5, in St. John’s Church. On the same evening John Phillips was baptized and confirmed, and Walter Moe, Frank White and August Balzer were confirmed by Rev. Boerger. On February 14, Mr. Philips, Mr. White and Mr. Moe met with Rev. Eseman in his home at 1828 Green Street and formally organized Trinity English Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
From 1905 on, the congregation grew steadily. Initially, the mission congregation held its English worship services in St. John’s Church. After about a year, plans were drafted to build their own place of worship. In the spring of 1906, ground was broken at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue (now Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Drive) and Albert Street. On May 20, 1906, the cornerstone was laid. This new church, constucted and furnished at a cost of $7,500, was dedicated on September 9, 1906. During the next few years several amenities were added, including new furnishings, stained glass windows and a pipe organ.
Trinity was less than fifteen years old when its members realized that their facilities were no longer adequate for church, Sunday school and day school. At a meeting of the congregation on October 19, 1919, the purchase of our present-day Geneva Street property was announced by the Expansion Committee. In the fall of 1924, the original property on Milwaukee Avenue was sold to another church body and steps were taken to rebuild.
On September 9, 1924, ground was broken for the new church building and the cornerstone was laid on November 23.
The church where we continue to worship today was officially dedicated to God’s service on July 12, 1925. During the next year-and-a-half, the parsonage was constructed, followed by the building of the school.
Trinity continues to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Church and School. In 2000, a preschool wing was added to serve our youngest students. Recently an elevator and additional fellowship space was added to serve our members better. In 2017 a new HVAC system will update our heating and add air conditioning to the church and school. All this has been provided my our marvelous members under the grace of our Almighty God.
How do I join the congregation?
Trinity is a worshipping community. We find our identity in the worship experience where we express to God our thanks and praise and where He serves us by granting us strength, forgiveness of sins and salvation. Worshipping God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is at the heart and center of who we are as Christians. To become a member of Trinity, one should realize that we are committed to worship.
- Attend one of the worship services. After the service, introduce yourself to one of the pastors and share that you are interested in membership.
- If you have been confirmed in a Lutheran Church, and have met with one of our pastors, ask for a transfer from your current congregation.
- If you have not been confirmed, you will need to enroll in one of our membership classes. They are usually held in the fall and run for eight to twelve weeks.
- After your transfer has been received (or you have been confirmed) and we have received your membership information form, you become a member. Welcome to the Trinity family!
- Worship regularly. We cannot stress this enough. We are concerned about your relationship with your Lord. To keep that relationship alive and strong, you need to be regular in worship and in receiving the Lord’s Supper.
- If you have not received Holy Communion for a year, and have not worshipped, you may be considered “self-removed” from membership. It is our desire to keep that from happening. To prevent that, just keep on coming to church. Keep on taking the Lord’s Supper. It’s that simple!
Our prayer and desire is that Trinity will be a blessing to you and your family. And that you will grow closer to your Lord through the power of His Spirit.
Church Documents
Join Us
Please feel free to contact us and join us for worship. We would love to meet you.
Trinity is a welcoming environment
Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Racine, WI has a rich legacy of faith and service that dates back to 1905, when it was founded as an English-speaking mission congregation. The vision of its founders—“The Father’s Faith in the Children’s Language”—reflected a desire to make the Gospel accessible to future generations in their native tongue.
From humble beginnings, Trinity quickly grew. By 1906, the congregation had built its first church building, and by 1925, the current church on Geneva Street was dedicated. Over the years, Trinity expanded its facilities to include a parsonage, a school, and later a preschool wing in 2000. Recent updates like an elevator, additional fellowship space, and a new HVAC system have helped Trinity better serve its members and students. Trinity’s recent renovation of the Sanctuary has brought modern amenities to the church while maintain the classic style of the church.