A Lutheran Congregation in Okauchee
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Learning Center stands along Wisconsin Avenue where the small lake-country community of Okauchee meets the larger city of Oconomowoc in Waukesha County. Members describe the congregation as a family of believers united by a common faith in Jesus Christ, and the church is best known for two things: traditional Lutheran worship built on the Word and Sacraments, and a year-round, Christ-centered early childhood program called Tree of Life Learning Center that runs alongside the congregation under the same roof.
Worship and the Historic Lutheran Liturgy
Worship at Holy Trinity follows the historic Lutheran liturgy. Each service includes Bible readings, a sermon, prayers, and hymn singing, with every part of the service printed in a service folder that worshipers receive as they come in. The notes in the folder clearly mark each section so newcomers can follow without prior experience.
The congregation gathers for worship on Sunday morning at 9:00 AM and again on Thursday evening at 6:30 PM, giving two regular opportunities each week to receive Word and Sacrament. The 9:00 AM Sunday service is livestreamed on YouTube, and a video archive of past services is available for those who want to catch up. A radio broadcast also carries the service to listeners in the surrounding area.
The Triune God and the Means of Grace
Holy Trinity is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a national church body headquartered in Mankato, Minnesota. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod has been in fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod since 1872. The congregation subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions found in the Book of Concord because, in its own words, "they are a faithful and accurate summary of this biblical doctrine."
The church confesses one true God, the Triune God revealed in Scripture as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It teaches that human beings inherit a sinful and corrupt nature from Adam and Eve and are completely incapable, on their own, of removing their sins. From the Bible, members learn that the Father in love sent His Son to be the Savior; that the Son, Jesus Christ, lived a perfect life in our place, took the punishment we deserved on the cross, and rose triumphantly from the grave; and that the Holy Spirit gives a saving faith through the Word and the Sacraments.
Holy Trinity holds to the Reformation principles of Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone. The Lord's Supper is taught as a true presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, received for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. Baptism, including for infants, is taught as a means of grace through which the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens faith and gives new life and salvation.
Tree of Life Learning Center
Sharing the same building, Tree of Life Learning Center is a year-round, Christ-centered early childhood program whose mission is to assist families in nurturing God's children for time and eternity. The center teaches that every child is a special creation of God, dearly loved by their Savior, Jesus, and it nurtures growth in spiritual, social and emotional, physical, language, attitudes toward learning, and emerging cognition in a loving, playful, and safe environment.
Three programs serve different ages. Early Learning is for children ages two through five and prepares them for kindergarten with a Christian foundation. Extended Care is for school-age children needing before- and after-school care. A Summer Program serves ages two through twelve with Bible-themed weeks of activity. The center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Director Becky Lange leads the teaching staff. Parents consistently describe the program as caring and Christ-focused. One parent shared that the summer weeks are themed around Bible stories and that prayers are taught and encouraged. Another wrote that the staff welcomed her child with a smile and a hello every morning. Tours can be scheduled on request.
Sunday School, Bible Class, and Lifelong Learning
Sunday morning at 10:15 AM, children ages three through twelve are invited to Sunday School in classrooms 507 and 508 inside the Learning Center. Each session includes a craft, a Bible story, and plenty of time to play. No prior registration is needed, and parents and grandparents are welcome to stay with their child for the hour.
Adults gather at the same time for a Sunday morning Bible class that studies God's Word together between the worship services. Lifelong learning is part of the congregation's identity, with connections to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Bethany Lutheran College, Christian Family Solutions, and a daily devotion called Peace Devotions.
Pastor and Leadership
Pastor Paul Lange has served Holy Trinity since June of 2021. A graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, and Bethany Lutheran Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota, he spent twenty-one years as a Lutheran elementary school teacher, principal, and staff minister in congregations of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod before entering the pastoral ministry. He served a congregation in Bowling Green, Ohio for seven years before coming to Okauchee. His wife, Becky, directs Tree of Life Learning Center.
What a First-Time Visitor Finds
Holy Trinity invites visitors to come as they are. Ushers are available to help with seating, and any special seating needs can be accommodated. Worshipers range from suits to casual attire. The entire service is printed in a folder so anyone can follow along, and each part of the liturgy is clearly marked. Children of all ages are welcome in the service, and members and visitors are encouraged to grow in faith together as they hear God's Word and sing His praise.
Guests are not expected to contribute to the weekly offering, which supports the ministry of the church in Okauchee and around the world. The church office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and is closed Wednesdays.