Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn in­to this thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God. Saying back to Him what He has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Most true and sure is His name, which He put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are His. This we acknowledge at the beginning of the Divine Service. Where His name is, there is He. Before Him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and we plead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven, acclaim Him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words He has used to make Himself known to us.

The rhythm of our worship is from Him to us, and then from us back to Him. He gives His gifts, and together we receive and extol them. We build one another up as we speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our Lord gives us His body to eat and His blood to drink. Finally His blessing moves us out into our calling, where His gifts have their fruition. How best to do this we may learn from His Word and from the way His Word has prompted His worship through the centuries.  We are heirs of an astonishingly rich tradition. Each generation receives from those who went before and, in making that tradition of the Divine Service its own, adds what best may serve in its own day—the living heritage and something new.  (Excerpted from Introduction to Lutheran Worship)

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Service Schedule

You are invited to worship on Sundays at 10:00am and Sunday School starts at 9:00am. We celebrate Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays of the month.  You may consult our weekly worship bulletin for more information about our services.  It is generally updated on Saturday evening for the following Sunday service.

The recently published Lutheran Service Book provides a rich variety of service orders and hymns for worship at Trinity.  Worship and sermon themes generally follow the Church Year and its appointed Scripture readings.

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Special Services

During Lent we have special services on Wednesdays at 7:00pm with special themes related to the season.  Other special services include Thanksgiving Day at 10:00am, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00pm, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day at 10:00am, and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at 7:00pm. 

Our Shelter House provides an excellent venue for worship and we hold outdoor services there several times each year, usually on the Sundays nearest Ascension Day and July 4th, and the Sunday following our annual Blocktoberfest festival, held on the third Saturday in September.

Shelter House Altar

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 Holy Communion

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Children in Worship

Often, guests and prospective members ask if children are welcome in the worship service. Of course, what they mean is, “My child is young and can sometimes be ‘active.’ Will this upset anyone in the church?” No! We love having children in worship, learning that it is a place for them to be, getting used to participating in the worship service as they grow up.  If they make some noise, that is just their way of praising God!  We have children’s “quiet bags” available and children’s sermons about every other Sunday.  The article Children in Worship from the LCMS Department of Worship has great ideas for helping make worship a meaningful experience for children.

Our Gathering Room and Heritage Room are both available for parents who need to step out with a child, equipped with speakers so that you can hear the service. 

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Sanctuary and Stained Glass

Our beautiful Sanctuary, constructed in 1959, provides a worshipful setting for our services.  A special original feature is the large, east-facing stained-glass window above the altar, which floods the Sanctuary with colorful light, and is lit at night as an inspiring testimony to those passing by on Block Road.  As a tribute to the name of our congregation this window includes symbols for the three Persons of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In 2018 our 150th Anniversary Window above the new North Wing was donated by Pastor Kevin and Terese Vogts, in memory of Pastor Vogts’ great-great-grandparents Johann and Katherina Windler, who settled at Block Corners in 1865 and were founding members of the congregation in 1868. It is kept constantly lit as a colorful beacon and features a cross radiating beams of light, to symbolize the Gospel radiating out from Trinity Lutheran Church & School for over 150 years.  The color palette matches the original 1959 Altar Window. This window is especially vivid because it was made with the dalle de verre method, French for “slabs of glass,” composed of thick chunks of faceted glass set together with mortar.  This is very fitting for our mid-century modern building, since this type of stained-glass reached its peak of popularity during that era.

150th Anniversary Window

Trinity’s New North Wing Erected in 2018 

An extensive building addition and modernization project was completed in 2018 as part of our 150th Anniversary celebration.  Included in the new North Wing is a covered drive-up handicapped entrance, new stairs and full-size elevator to all three floors, a music rehearsal room adjacent to the balcony, a large pantry that doubles the size of the kitchen space, and a unique Heritage Room with a stone fireplace featuring the cornerstone from our 1884 Sanctuary.  Other improvements include new handicapped restrooms, a large Gathering Room with snack service area adjacent to the Sanctuary, an expanded Youth Room, and all new electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems throughout.  Special care was taken to preserve and replicate the classic mid-century modern design and decor of the 1959 structure.

Sanctuary Decorated for Christmas

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Organ

Trinity is blessed with several fine organists, and an excellent, historic two-manual, ten-rank Kilgen pipe organ (seen on the right wall of the chancel in the photo above).  It was originally installed in our 1884 Sanctuary in 1918, with tracker action.  It was relocated when the present Sanctuary was erected in 1959, with a new console and electro-pneumatic action applied.  A piano and electronic keyboards are also used to enrich our worship.

Organ Stop List Great Diapason 8' Dulciana 8' Principal 4' Melodia 8' Swell to Great 8' Swell to Great 4' Swell Geigen Principal 8' Gedeckt 8' Salicional 8' Trompette 8' Flute d'Amour 4' Swell to Swell 16' Swell to Swell 4' Swell Unison Off Tremolo Pedal Bourdon 16' Great to Pedal 8' Great to Pedal 4' Swell to Pedal 8' Swell to Pedal 8'
	Trinity’s Kilgen Pipe Organ as Originally Installed in 1918 with Tracker Action in Our 1884 Sanctuary

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Choir and Tone Chimes

Trinity has a strong tradition of an excellent Choir, which sings for worship several dozen times a year, as well as a Tone Chimes Choir.  See the picture at the top of this page of them performing together at Christmas.  We are blessed with extremely fine acoustics in our Sanctuary and balcony, which enhances our singing and enriches our worship experience.  As part of our Building Addition & Modernization Project in 2018 an excellent Music Room was added adjacent to the balcony.  All are welcome to participate!

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Weddings

A couple’s wedding day is one of the most significant and memorable events in their lives. Because of the deeply emotional nature of this day, those who wish to hold their weddings at Trinity will usually have a close attachment either to Trinity in particular or the Lutheran Church in general.  If you do not have a Lutheran background, but are interested in having your wedding at Trinity and finding a new church home as you begin your new life together, you are invited to contact Pastor Woelmer about taking our Adult Information Class to become members.

Weddings at Trinity are generally limited to when at least one of the couple is a member of Trinity, or a member of another congregation of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).  This courtesy is also extended to members of several other Lutheran bodies in North America, including the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), Association of American Lutheran Churches (AALC), and Lutheran Church-Canada (LCC), as well as the several dozen Lutheran bodies worldwide with which the LCMS is in fellowship and has exchange agreements. 

Subject to approval by Trinity’s pastor, it is possible to use Trinity’s facilities, such as the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, or Shelter House, for a wedding and have someone other than Trinity’s pastor perform the ceremony only if the officiant is a pastor associated with the LCMS or another of these particular Lutheran bodies.  However, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), North American Lutheran Church (NALC), and Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) do not have such an exchange agreement with the LCMS.  Therefore, the pastor of Trinity generally does not perform weddings for those affiliated with the ELCA, NALC, or LCMC, and it is not possible for ELCA, NALC, or LCMC clergy to conduct weddings at Trinity.

Using any of Trinity’s facilities for weddings or receptions is also governed by the limitation stated in the congregation’s Constitution: “No property of any kind of this congregation, including but not limited to the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Shelter House, and church grounds, shall be used for any activity which conflicts with the confessional standard set forth in Article III of this Constitution, including but not limited to weddings, funerals, and other religious services, and receptions, celebrations, and other events, both religious and non-religious. Determination of eligibility shall rest with the Board of Elders, in consultation with the Pastor.”  (Article X – Doctrinal Conformity in Use of Church Property)

If you wish to discuss having your wedding at Trinity, please introduce yourself to the pastor following a worship service and request an appointment with him.

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Funerals

Those anticipating they will eventually have their funeral at Trinity Lutheran Church and/or burial in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery are encouraged to pre-plan certain aspects of their funeral and burial with Trinity’s Pastor.  He is happy to meet with you about this, or our Funeral Planning Worksheet can simply be submitted to him for placement in the church’s records.

Funerals are generally conducted by Trinity’s Pastor for members of Trinity Lutheran Church or those with whom he otherwise has a pastoral relationship.  Because a funeral is a worship service, funerals at Trinity may only be conducted by the congregation’s Pastor or other Pastors affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Though a funeral is a time for family and friends to remember and give thanks for the deceased, as noted above it is also considered a Lutheran worship service, especially when held at the church.  It is therefore suggested, though not required, that the order of funeral service and hymns be from our congregation’s hymnal, Lutheran Service Book.  Other hymns, solos, and items like poems that are desired by the family but not found in our hymnal may also be used, so long as they do not conflict with Lutheran teaching.  For example, the song “Ave Maria” is a prayer directed to the Virgin Mary, which is contrary to Biblical doctrine (1 Timothy 2:5), and therefore should not be included in a Protestant service.

Rather than eulogies given by family or friends, it is suggested these memories and sentiments be communicated to the Pastor for inclusion in his sermon or the obituary that he will read as part of the service.  Rites recognizing service in the military, law enforcement, firemen, etc. are welcome.  However, rites of fraternal organizations such as the Masons are not appropriate, either as part of the funeral itself or at the graveside.  Trinity’s Pastor cannot participate in funerals or committals, at any location, which will include rites by such fraternal organizations.

Funerals and/or visitations can be held at either the church or the funeral home, depending on the wishes of the family.  The services of Trinity’s Pastor, use of the church, and burial plot in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery are provided without charge.  However, gifts and donations are appreciated, especially for upkeep of the cemetery. The actual opening of the grave and other matters associated with the committal are arranged by the funeral home and included in their overall cost for the funeral.  Trinity’s organists are happy to play for your loved one’s funeral.  Payment for their services is generally included by the funeral home as part of their overall cost for the funeral.  If not, please provide the organist with an honorarium.

Trinity’s ladies will be happy to serve a funeral luncheon or reception in our Fellowship Hall.  However, the food must be catered or otherwise provided by the family ready to serve.  In good weather some may desire to hold the funeral luncheon at Trinity’s Shelter House adjacent to our cemetery.  It is an excellent facility and beautiful setting, and can be used without charge if not otherwise reserved. However, because the Shelter House does not have a full kitchen, the family or a caterer they engage will need to serve meals or receptions held there, rather than Trinity’s ladies.

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Trinity Lutheran Cemetery

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery is owned and operated by Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial plots are provided without charge to members and former members of the congregation and immediate family.  Donations are appreciated to help with upkeep of the cemetery.

Please note that since 1868 Trinity has followed an “old world” custom of making burials in our cemetery in chronological order of death, without the possibility of reserving adjacent plots for spouses or other loved ones.  Please keep this in mind if it is important for you to be buried next to your spouse or other loved ones, as there can be no exceptions to this practice. There are several other cemeteries in the vicinity where adjacent plots can be purchased. The funeral service, visitation, and funeral luncheon or reception can still be held at Trinity, with Trinity’s Pastor conducting the funeral at Trinity and the committal held at the other cemetery.

Because Trinity Lutheran Cemetery is consecrated ground and an integral part of the congregation’s property dedicated to serving the Lord in accordance with the teachings of the Lutheran Church, committal services or other graveside rites or ceremonies in our cemetery can only be conducted by Trinity’s Pastor or other Pastors affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Both upright headstones and flush grave markers are allowed in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.  To ensure proper placement that will not disturb or impinge upon other graves, and proper installation that will avoid maintenance issues, all permanent headstones and grave markers must be acquired through and installed by a funeral home or other professional monument firm; be of good quality granite, marble, or other durable stone suitable for such purpose; and have a proper footing.  Grave liners or burial vaults are required in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery to alleviate maintenance issues from soil subsidence.

It is strongly encouraged that headstones and grave markers give testimony to the Christian faith of the deceased.  That is the primary purpose of a Christian grave monument, not only to mark the location of the deceased’s grave, but to bear a final witness to their saving faith in Christ and assurance of eternal life.  Many fine examples of such sayings and Bible verses can be found throughout our cemetery. It would be helpful to note on the Funeral Planning Worksheet what specifically you would like on your headstone or grave marker.

Although wide latitude is allowed in the design of such monuments based on the preferences of the deceased or family, because Trinity Lutheran Cemetery is consecrated ground obviously nothing can be permitted on a monument, either wording, symbols, or pictures, that is contrary to Christian propriety or Lutheran teaching.  Examples include any kind of profane images or inscriptions; non-Christian or expressly non-Protestant religious symbols or sayings; and Masonic symbols.  In the unlikely event that a monument is installed that includes something inappropriate, Trinity Lutheran Church will work with the family to have it corrected, but ultimately reserves the right to have the monument altered or removed.  If you have any questions about what you would like included on a monument please consult with Trinity’s Pastor.  Also, funeral homes and other monument providers are happy, and actually prefer, to provide the Pastor with a proof for approval before creating and installing a monument.