Two Liturgical Services on Sunday Morning
Trinity Lutheran Church gathers for worship twice each Sunday morning at 1415 S Holland Avenue in Springfield. Services are held at 8:15 AM and 11:00 AM, and the congregation emphasizes that there is no difference between the two. Both use the historic Lutheran liturgy and hymns, and both serve Holy Communion. A livestream and archive of past services is available on Trinity's YouTube channel. Sunday School for children and Adult Bible Classes meet between services at 9:45 AM.
The structure of the service is intentional. Trinity is a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a tradition known for a formal, creed-based liturgy that traces its roots to the Reformation. Members and visitors can expect a service shaped by the confession of the Triune God, the public reading of Scripture, congregational hymnody, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
What Trinity Believes
Trinity teaches, with the universal Christian Church and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the doctrine of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and rose to life again in victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
The congregation describes itself as a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church that strives to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within the church and community. Its mission statement reads, "The family of Trinity Lutheran Church welcomes all people to share in the life of the Christian faith in worship, friendship, and service." The vision is that "the family of Trinity builds and nurtures the bonds of faith through love, learning, and sharing with others."
Six core values shape the congregation's life: Faithfulness to God's Word, Integrity, Compassion, Family Focused, Engagement in Service, and Welcoming to All People. The church identifies five "critical targets" that guide its planning: Faithful Worship, Christian Education, Healthy Christian Homes, Caring Relationships in Christ, and Robust Community Connectivity and Outreach.
Faith Foundations on Monday Mornings
One of the signature programs at Trinity is Faith Foundations, a women's Bible study that meets every Monday morning during the school year at 9:15 AM. The rhythm of the morning is built around three parts: a half-hour of opening devotion in the gym, followed by an hour of small group discussion in various rooms of the Education Building, and a closing thirty-minute summary and Q&A led by Pastor Hagerman back in the gym.
The curriculum rotates through extended book studies. The 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 years were devoted to the Gospel of John, broken into many small sessions covering John 1 through John 21. The 2026-2027 study is "Songs of Scripture," and previous years have included the book of Ezekiel. Bonus sessions on theories of atonement and an introductory overview of Ezekiel remain available on the church's YouTube channel.
Materials and session handouts are posted online so participants can follow along or catch up if they miss a week. The group welcomes women of all ages and stages of life.
Wednesday Nights at Midweek
Wednesday evenings are a major hub of life at Trinity. The regular midweek schedule begins at 5:00 PM with dinner served in the gym, followed by an hour and a half of classes for every age. Childcare for newborns through PreK is offered from 5:45 to 6:15 PM. "Littles Music" for children from birth through 2nd grade runs 6:00 to 6:25 PM, and Kids of the Kingdom Choir for grades 3 through 6 meets at the same time.
Catechism instruction for kindergarten through 6th grade and a 7th and 8th Confirmation class for middle-school students fill the evening from 6:15 to 7:30 PM. Adult classes and small groups also meet during this hour. During Lent and Advent the schedule adjusts slightly so that all classes end at 6:50 PM and a worship service follows at 7:00 PM.
Recent adult class offerings have included "Parenting in God's Way," a discussion-based study facilitated by Jody Hackley and Hannah Knehans, the Director of Family Life Ministry. Other adult Wednesday studies rotate by season and include small groups for parents and topical electives.
Family Discipleship at Home
Trinity takes seriously the calling of parents to pass the faith to the next generation. The Family Life Ministry Committee supports this calling through a series of milestone celebrations, take-home resources, and intergenerational events for every household at Trinity.
Each year on the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday in January, the congregation holds a Baptismal Remembrance Celebration. On the last Sunday of September, three-year-olds and six-year-olds receive age-appropriate story Bibles on Story Bible Blessing Day. Parents and children gather to learn how to use the story Bibles at home and how to build simple habits of family devotions.
The Family Life Ministry also recognizes mothers, fathers, grandparents, and all those who help raise the next generation in the faith through little gifts and celebrations throughout the year. Hannah Knehans serves as Director of Family Life Ministry and works alongside the committee chair to coordinate these efforts.
Children, Youth, and Mighty Missionaries Camp
Trinity offers programming for children from birth through high school. Sunday School classes meet during the 9:45 AM Sunday School hour, and Trinity Tots meets regularly in the gym. Catechism instruction on Wednesday evenings walks students through the Lutheran confessions and prepares them for Confirmation.
Junior High youth (grades 6 through 8) and Senior High youth (grades 9 through 12) each have their own regular programming, and high schoolers gather during the Sunday School hour to discuss Scripture and its application to high school life. Senior High youth also take part in gatherings like Luther Cup with area Lutheran churches.
Mighty Missionaries, or M and M Camp, is the congregation's annual summer camp held at YMCA Camp Wakonda. Camp runs for students who have completed grades 3 through 8, and high-school students serve as cabin leaders. Adult volunteers attend a mandatory training session in May, and every volunteer must have a background check on file. Sponsorship opportunities are available for campers in need.
Music Ministry
Music is an integral part of worship at Trinity, supporting the liturgy and the congregation's musical heritage. The Music Ministry is directed by Caleb Staehr, who coordinates ensembles for all ages.
Kids of the Kingdom Choir, for students in grades 3 through 6, rehearses Wednesday evenings during midweek. The Trinity Choir and the Heavenly Vibrations Bell Choir both rehearse on Thursday evenings, with the choir meeting from 5:25 to 6:40 PM and the bell choir from 6:50 to 8:00 PM. Instrumentalists and singers of all levels are welcome to participate.
College Connections at the Lutheran Student Center
Trinity partners with the Lutheran Student Center (LSC) on National Avenue, near the Missouri State University campus, to support college students in Springfield. The LSC hosts a Weekly Prayer and Praise gathering on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, and Trinity members help provide meals for students throughout the year.
Opening week activities at the start of each fall semester include worship, a student organization fair, mini golf, a tie blanket and pizza night, a scavenger hunt, and a bonfire.
Adult Bible Studies Throughout the Week
In addition to Faith Foundations on Monday mornings and the Wednesday adult studies, Trinity offers several other weekly Bible study options. A Wednesday morning Adult Bible Study, led by Pastor Hagerman in the gym, walks through a New Testament Historical Survey from September through May at 10:30 AM.
Sunday morning classes at 9:30 AM include a study of Lutheran hymnody in the gym, a study of the book of Judges led by Dr. Bob Quebbeman in the Worker Room, and a video-based study of Martin Luther and the Reformation led by Zeke Young in the Family Room.
Getting Involved at Trinity
Beyond formal ministries, Trinity has a long list of committees and groups that keep the congregation running. Members serve on the Church Council, the Altar Guild, Building and Grounds, the Usher and Greeter teams, Coffee Hour, the Technology team, Van Drivers, and Lutherans for Life. Trinity Women in Action (TWiA) meets quarterly, and the men of the congregation gather for Men's Dinner Out on the second Monday of each month. Pickleball, Trinity Tots, Senior Safari, and Vacation Bible School round out the calendar.
The congregation supports two partner schools, Springfield Lutheran High School and SLS Saints, and partners with the Lutheran Student Center on the MSU campus. Online giving is available through Trinity's secure giving platform, and supporters can also contribute through the SCRIP gift card program, which raises funds through everyday purchases at more than 700 retailers. Those interested in visiting are invited to start at the "I'm New Here" page, and giving can be made online through the church's giving portal.