Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and School sits on the corner of Augustine Street in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, where it has long served as both a house of worship and a place of learning for young children. The congregation belongs to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and gathers around a simple confession that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Trinity is known in the community for its traditional Lutheran worship, a strong music program anchored by a renovated pipe organ, and an early childhood center that partners with Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran School.
Sunday Worship Centered on the Gospel
Worship at Trinity is built on two movements. The congregation first receives from God through his Word and the Sacraments, hearing the Gospel of forgiveness and receiving Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They then respond by giving praise, thanks and glory to God for all he has done. Sunday services begin at 9:00 AM, and the same liturgical pattern carries into midweek services during Lent and other seasons of the church year. Recordings of recent services are available to watch online.
What Trinity Believes
Trinity teaches that all people are born in sin and deserve God's eternal punishment, and that hope is found only in Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man. He died for the sins of the whole world and rose again on Easter morning, and believers will rise with him on the Last Day to eternal life in heaven. Trinity is a confessional Lutheran church, united with its congregation and synod on the basis of the public confession found in the Book of Concord, including the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, the Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord.
A Music Program Built Around a Renovated Organ
Music has long been a hallmark of Trinity's worship. In 2013, Letourneau Pipe Organ Builders renovated and updated the congregation's aging pipe organ, restoring it as a central instrument of praise. The Adult Choir, made up of confirmed men and women, rehearses on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the church and sings three- and four-part music in worship about once a month. The Handbells group rehearses Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the church balcony and also plays roughly once a month. Instrumentalists of any age and any instrument are welcomed to enhance services. Both music groups are directed by Emma Curtis and welcome new members throughout the year.
Early Childhood Center for 3K and 4K
Trinity's Early Childhood Center provides a 3K and 4K program that pairs developmentally appropriate practices with Christ-centered teaching. State-licensed teachers build relationships with students and families using the High Scope Curriculum for academic learning and the Christ Light Curriculum for Bible lessons, working on pre-literacy, number sense and independent skills. The school year runs from the end of August through the end of May. Trinity has since merged its early childhood operations with Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran School, and current enrollment forms, supply lists and tuition information are handled through the Shepherd of the Valley campus. Prospective families can book a tour through that school's visit page.
A School Building That Serves the Whole Congregation
The school building and church sit close together, and each supports the other. Once a week the schoolchildren cross the street to the church for a chapel service, and the pastor spends time in the classrooms getting to know students and their families. Classrooms have an open design with attached child-height bathrooms and individual cubbies. Every room is equipped with a SmartBoard, and teachers use the technology thoughtfully to balance screen time. The activity center (a full gym) hosts school and church events and serves as an indoor recess space when Wisconsin weather turns harsh. Outside, a fully fenced playground holds two large climbing structures, swings, a teeter totter and a small slide.
Sunday School and Christian Education
Sunday School is offered for children as part of Trinity's Christian education program, and families can contact the church office for current details. The school office, secretary Maggie Curtis, and church contacts Patrick Marks and Dale Lambie field questions about Sunday School, programs and facility use.
Rentals, Scrip and the Cemetery
Trinity makes its buildings available for birthdays, baby showers, anniversary parties, sports practices, tournaments and large community functions for a free-will offering. Rental inquiries go through the school office or to Patrick Marks and Dale Lambie. The congregation also runs a Scrip gift card program, which can be applied toward tuition, with a current enrollment code posted on the church's Scrip page. Trinity maintains a cemetery as part of its ministry to member families, with a Cemetery Committee that handles inquiries and a Cemetery Operating Procedure Handbook available for reference.
Livestream, Bulletins and Staying Connected
Recorded worship services from Trinity can be watched online, and the congregation has also archived weekly and midweek bulletins from recent months. Visitors and members can reach the church at 800 Augustine Street, Kaukauna, WI 54130, by phone at (920) 766-2029, or by email at secretary@trinitykaukauna.com.