A Congregation with Two Pastors at the Pulpit
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church sits on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte, Florida, just a short drive from the shops and waterfront of Charlotte County's largest community. The congregation belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is led as a co-pastoral team by Pastor Andrea Barrios and Pastor Ken Barrios, who together marked two decades of ministry at Holy Trinity in 2022. Joining them is Pastor Carl Fischer, the church's Visitation Pastor, who brings communion, flowers and bulletins to members who can no longer attend in person.
Holy Trinity describes itself as a community of faith committed to learning, living, and loving Jesus Christ. Its vision statement calls members to gather for worship, gather for fellowship and friendship, provide settings for ministry that reach all (especially children and youth), reach out in Christian love beyond the church, and be loving stewards of God's gifts.
Two Sunday Services, One Family
Sunday mornings at Holy Trinity offer two distinct worship experiences. At 9:00 AM the Celebration Worship service draws people who prefer a more contemporary feel, led from the platform by Worship Leader Miles Mancini. At 10:45 AM the Traditional Worship service follows the liturgy of the ELCA, shaped by the congregation's chancel choir, handbells and organ. Both services take place in person and are livestreamed, so members who are traveling or homebound can join remotely. The altar at Holy Trinity is open: all who are baptized are welcome to the table.
Between the services, children gather for Children's Sunday School at 9:45 AM, and adults are invited to "Let's Talk," a Sunday morning Bible study at 9:15 AM that resumes each program year in late September. The Sunday morning coffee hours that fill the gap between services are organized by the church's Fellowship ministry and have become a regular rhythm of their own.
Music as a Daily Practice
Music is woven into everything Holy Trinity does. Cecil Buchinger serves as both Organist and Handbell Director, Sonja Rozier directs the Chancel Choir, and Miles Mancini shapes the contemporary Celebration ensemble. The Worship and Music ministry coordinates greeters, ushers, readers, communion assistants, acolytes, the altar guild and the music program, taking care to provide a wide variety of worship experiences across the week and through the church year. Concert recordings and service videos stretch back on Vimeo through 2015 and continue to the present, including Palm Sunday, Easter, Christmas Eve and the congregation's annual Holy Humor Sunday.
Learning for Every Age
Christian Education at Holy Trinity touches every stage of life. Children's Sunday School meets during the worship hour, and a Confirmation class is offered for youth, with details in the weekly Sunday Star newsletter or by calling the church office. Adults have several weekly options. The Tuesday morning Bible study led by Pastor Ken runs at 10:00 AM in person and on Zoom (Meeting ID 869 2000 4969, Passcode 556381), and its video recordings are posted online. Vacation Bible School and Kids Night Out round out the year for younger families, while the Friendship Hotline keeps members in regular contact with those who cannot attend.
Tender Hearts and the Wider Community
Outside the church walls, Holy Trinity partners with several ministries that serve Port Charlotte and beyond. The Tender Hearts Partnership hosts free, peer-based events and activities for intellectually challenged residents of the community; the church lists it as a featured ministry, and a calendar of remaining events each year appears on its page. The congregation also keeps a close relationship with Faith Preparatory School, recording the school's kindergarten and VPK graduation ceremonies on Vimeo.
The church's recently formed Community Outreach Committee, which replaced the older "Caring and Sharing" group, gathers eleven members who coordinate the congregation's service to neighbors. A long-standing tradition recognizes congregants who reach their 90th birthday each year with a special celebration, and the annual church picnic and Valentine's party are staples on the Fellowship calendar.
Walking with the Bereaved
For families who have lost a loved one, Holy Trinity offers both a local partnership and a national program. The church hosts the Charlotte County chapter of Valerie's House, an organization that supports grieving children and families. Members also participate in GriefShare, including a yearly "Surviving the Holidays" session, and the church's Good Shepherd ministry brings communion, flowers, weekly bulletins and sermons to those who are homebound. Celebration of Life services for church members are recorded and added to a long-running Vimeo showcase.
A Footprint that Reaches to Uganda
Holy Trinity's mission footprint stretches across the Atlantic. Rev. Eric Twine serves as the congregation's missionary to Uganda. Closer to home, the Evangelism ministry welcomes visitors with Friendship Pads, soup mixes, and information packs, and keeps the church's brochure up to date for newcomers.
How to Connect
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM at 2565 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Visitors can reach the office by phone at 941-625-5262, by fax at 941-625-7201, or by email at office@htlchurch.org. Pastor Andrea and Pastor Ken can be reached directly at pastorandrea@htlchurch.org and pastorken@htlchurch.org. An online member directory, online giving through Tithe.ly, recorded worship services, and a year of Sunday Star newsletters are all available through the church's online presence.
For anyone new to the area, the simplest introduction is still a Sunday morning: a Celebration or Traditional service, a hymn and a handshake, and the welcome of a congregation that has been sharing God's grace in Port Charlotte for a generation.