The Lutheran Church on Hilltop
Trinity Lutheran Church sits on fourteen acres along Hilltop Drive in Redding, California, just off Interstate 5. The congregation has been a steady presence on this stretch of Redding since 1960, and today more than two hundred families call it their church home. The mission of Trinity is simple and deeply scriptural: "Proclaiming Jesus Christ so that all may know God and grow in faith toward Him and in love toward one another." Visitors are invited each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for a blended worship service in the sanctuary, and the church's wider life stretches through Bible studies, a preschool, an extensive youth program, and a network of local and global mission partnerships.
Sunday Morning on the Hilltop
Worship is the centerpiece of the week. The service begins at 10:00 a.m. and usually runs about one hour. Trinity describes its service as blended, weaving traditional Lutheran hymns with more contemporary music. The Lutheran liturgy provides the framework, rich with history and threaded through with the Gospel. Lutheran Service Books sit in every pew so worshipers can follow along, and the order of service along with song lyrics appear on two screens flanking the front of the sanctuary.
When visitors arrive, a greeter hands them a service guide and answers any questions about seating or the flow of the morning. The service includes congregational singing, confession and absolution, prayers, scripture readings, a sermon, profession of faith, Holy Communion, and a benediction. At the conclusion, the pastor dismisses the congregation with the call, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!" Worshipers respond together, "Thanks be to God!"
Children are welcome to remain with their families in the sanctuary. Busy bags are available for young children who would like quiet activities, and a nursery room sits adjacent to the sanctuary with a see-through window so parents can step out and still follow the service.
Communion is offered each week. Trinity provides both blessed wine and alcohol-free grape juice, along with gluten-free wafers for those with dietary restrictions. Ushers are glad to accommodate when notified on arrival.
What First-Time Visitors Can Expect
Sunday mornings at Trinity are intentionally welcoming without being overwhelming. Parking is plentiful in the large lot on the campus. The church building and fellowship hall are ADA accessible. People come dressed in everything from jeans to jackets and ties. The bulletin-style service guide orients newcomers to each part of the liturgy, and the greeters make a point of helping anyone find their way around.
For those unable to attend in person, services are livestreamed on Sermon.net and recordings remain available on YouTube and Facebook.
A History of the Hilltop Congregation
Trinity's story begins in 1930, though the nucleus of the congregation did not form until 1938. The timing coincided with the growth brought by the Shasta Dam project, and the small group of Lutherans in Redding first met in the Episcopal Church building on Court Street. In August 1939 the congregation purchased what had been the Seventh Day Adventist Church building at 1550 Chestnut Street and worshipped there while preparing for a permanent home.
Construction of the present facility on fourteen acres of Hilltop Drive was completed in 1960. In 1962 the church launched an after-school program that quickly grew into a Christian day school, and in 1977 a school wing of four classrooms and a gymnasium was added to the property. The school served preschool through eighth grade and was fully staffed until 1995, when financial difficulties forced the day school to close. The preschool remained open and continues to serve local families.
In the early years of the new millennium, the school briefly reopened to include Kindergarten and First Grade, but staff discerned that Trinity could best serve families by focusing on preschool and after-school care. The 2000s brought a time of growth, transition, and reconciliation within the congregation. Jesus' love and forgiveness renewed the community during a period of struggle, and under the Spirit's care in Word and Sacrament the members found reconciliation with one another.
Today the campus includes the church, a fellowship hall with coffee bar and commercial kitchen, a south wing of classrooms, a playground, modular units, and the gymnasium. Reservations for the gym and fellowship hall are open to local nonprofits and community groups.
Beliefs Rooted in Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions
Trinity Lutheran Church belongs to the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and is a part of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District. The congregation's beliefs trace directly to the Bible and are summarized under several headings.
God is Triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in one divine essence. Jesus Christ is true God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the only Savior of mankind. All mankind is born in sin and is by nature spiritually blind, dead, and broken, in need of restoration with God. Justification is God's work through the death of His Son on the cross: through faith in Jesus, God no longer holds our sins against us but declares us righteous.
Conversion to faith in the Savior is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and Holy Baptism, which the church teaches is a gracious work of the Spirit who creates faith, washes away sins, and saves, connecting the believer to Jesus. The Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, is Christ's true body and blood, really present in the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of sins. Scripture is inspired by God, without error, and a solid guide to life. Creation happened according to Genesis, in six days, by God's almighty creative word. The Second Coming of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected.
Seven core values shape daily life at Trinity: God's Word as top priority, living the faith in thought, word, and deed, Lutheranism in its historical witness of keeping Jesus central, Christian education for passing the faith to the next generation, human care for members through life's changes, music ministry for worshiping God boldly, and lay leadership for carrying out the church's mission.
Bible Studies and Small Groups Throughout the Week
Bible study at Trinity happens at almost every hour of the week, with something for nearly every schedule.
- Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - Pastor Brian leads a themed Bible study in the Fellowship Hall.
- Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. - Women's Evening Bible Study, led by Jayne Cummins, meets in the Fellowship Hall (or the Sanctuary when other events are scheduled).
- Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - Men's Bible Study begins with a light snack at 7:00 a.m., with the study starting at 7:30 a.m.
- Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - Women's Bible Study.
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League, the official women's auxiliary of the LCMS, focuses on affirming each woman's relationship with Christ, encouraging women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries, and supporting global missions. PALS, People Alone Love Support, is a group for widows, widowers, and seniors who meet over lunch on the first Thursday of each month except July. Members keep in touch and check on one another during illness or hospital stays.
Confirmation classes and individualized studies are available for those who want to deepen their knowledge of Lutheran teachings or who believe a young person is ready to be confirmed. Pastor Brian welcomes inquiries about either path.
Youth, Children, and the Early Learning Center
Trinity takes seriously its commitment to the next generation. The Early Learning Center provides high quality, affordable daycare and Christian education to over thirty students on a typical day, with preschool and after-school care programs. The center remains a fixture on the campus since the day school closed, and it is supported in part through the Scrip Program, which lets supporters buy gift cards to more than two hundred retail locations and earn cash-back rewards that apply directly to ELC operations.
For younger children, the Sunday nursery sits adjacent to the sanctuary and is stocked with toys for little ones. Junior high and high school students have their own space to gather and grow in faith. Activities include camping trips, lock-ins, praise team participation, mission adventures, and youth group outings. Past youth outreaches include The Lot, Angel Tree, Bell Ringing, Mission Trips, Loaves and Fishes, and Nursing Home Outreach.
Vacation Bible School in early June is a free summer day camp for local families and has long been one of the church's most popular outreach events. Every February, the Early Learning Center hosts Parents Night Out, providing free childcare for the evening; every May, the annual Rummage Sale raises funds for ELC programming.
Glocal Missions: Local and Global Outreach
Trinity uses the word "glocal" to remind itself that mission work begins at the doorstep. The congregation sponsors a family carrying out ongoing missionary work abroad through the LCMS, and the church supports official LCMS missionaries and mercy workers through designated donations.
Locally, Trinity is a long-time supporter of Faithworks Community Coalition, Inc., a Redding-based nonprofit founded in 1998 through the collaborative efforts of multiple local churches. Faithworks provides transitional housing facilities for homeless families and veterans, and the program has been replicated in neighboring counties. Trinity helps further its mission through referrals.
Annual community events draw neighbors onto the Hilltop campus. The Harvest Fair in October features carnival games, pumpkins, costumes, and live entertainment. The annual Rummage Sale in May funds Early Learning Center programming. Every December, Trinity participates in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse, with collection boxes available in the Narthex throughout November. A Prayer Chain brings the community together each week to lift up individuals and families facing hardship, illness, or uncertainty, including a special segment for family members serving in the Armed Forces.
During the seasons of Lent and Advent, midweek suppers fill the fellowship hall before a worship service in the sanctuary. Volunteers bring dishes for the meal, with weekly sign-ups alternating between desserts and sides. These suppers are designed to be easy, welcoming times to invite friends and family to hear more about Christ.
Music, Daily Devotions, and Online Resources
Music ministry is one of Trinity's seven core values, and the church treasures worship as a means of singing God's praises boldly. The blended service uses both traditional Lutheran hymns and more contemporary selections, with a praise team that includes youth participation.
For those who want a daily word of encouragement, Pastor Brian Cummins records daily devotions available on YouTube. Other devotional resources the church points members toward include Lutheran Hour Ministries, Higher Things Reflections, a Martin Luther prayer collection, and the daily lectionary scripture readings from the LCMS. Weekly adult Bible study audio is also archived online.
The Trinity Lutheran Messenger, the church's weekly newsletter, provides information on upcoming events and newsworthy items, with auto-delivery by email and physical copies available by mail upon request. Trinity also maintains a presence on Facebook and Instagram for announcements and devotional thoughts.
Online giving is available through a secure portal for one-time or recurring gifts, and giving also supports designated relief funds and ongoing facility maintenance. The campus is open to local nonprofits and community groups for meetings, and Trinity's story on the Hilltop continues to unfold under the care of Word and Sacrament.