Trinity Lutheran Church sits on the south side of Ardmore Avenue in Villa Park, a few doors north of the Illinois Prairie Path in a quiet stretch of DuPage County suburbs. The congregation's motto, "Always Growing in Christ," points to a parish that traces its roots to a single mission service held at Ardmore School on November 16, 1913, and today welcomes worshipers at three weekly services, a Christian education hour, and a packed rotation of Bible studies and fellowship groups.
A Century on South Ardmore
Trinity's story began in 1913 when the Rev. C. H. Kenreich of Grace Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn walked the village, calling on homes and gathering families for a new Lutheran mission. Thirty people showed up for the first service at Ardmore School. Two years later, in 1915, Ballard and Pottinger Real Estate donated a lot at 305 S. Ardmore Avenue, and a church was built and dedicated on November 14, 1915.
Fire partially destroyed the original building on February 10, 1936, and the congregation repaired and enlarged it within seven months. By 1953, the worshiping community had outgrown the space, and a new church was constructed across the street at 300 S. Ardmore Avenue, dedicated January 29, 1956. The old building was sold to the Villa Park Village Board for $20,000, remodeled by architect Gustave Orth of Hinsdale, and reopened as the first permanent home of the Villa Park Public Library on October 22, 1956. A 1967 building program added the Christian Growth Center, dedicated September 29, 1968, to relieve crowded Sunday School classrooms.
Among the parish's small footnotes in local history is its role as a film set. In 1965, the Rev. Arno Schlechte collaborated with student John Primm on "The Marble," a 19-minute film that won first place in the Kodak Teenage Movie Contest. The script and scenes are still available through the church.
Rev. Robert Rogers has served as pastor since 2004. He is assisted by retired pastor Eric Allyn, who joined Trinity to lead the Wednesday morning Bible study and preach when Pastor Rogers travels for the English District or takes vacation weekends.
Worship on Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning
Worship is at the center of life at Trinity, and the congregation offers three weekly services. A Saturday service is held in the Chapel at 4:30 p.m. On Sundays, the Divine Service is celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and again at 10:30 a.m., with Holy Communion offered at each service. Worship materials, including bulletins, are archived online so members and visitors can follow along, and services are livestreamed.
Each Sunday at 9:15 a.m., between the two services, Trinity runs its Christian Education Hour. Children from preschool through fifth grade attend Sunday School during this hour from September through May, and the hour also includes the high school Bible study (held in the Youth Room) and adult Bible studies (held in the Trinity Center and the Conference Room).
Music from Preschoolers to Adults
Cantor Mary Benson Stahlke has shaped the church's music program since October 2005, directing choirs and instrumental ensembles and serving as organist. A Ph.D. in Historical Musicology from the University of Southern California, she has held Lutheran, Methodist, and Anglican church music positions over the years and brings an unusually broad repertoire to the parish.
The adult Jubilate Choir rehearses every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Music Room. The choir leads the congregation in worship roughly every other week and sings at many of the major feast days of the church year. Reading music is not required. Bells of Praise is a flexible bell and chime ensemble whose members play as soloists or in small groups during services. Adult soloists and instrumentalists, including vocal soloists, round out the program and rehearse on an individual basis.
Children and youth have their own musical life. Sunday School children sing and play instruments every week and perform in services during the school year. Confirmation students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades devote part of their Wednesday confirmation training to worship and music, including instruction in chimes and bells, and the Confirmation Ringers play in worship about four times a year. In the spring, the Big House high school youth group practices bells and is featured in a festival service.
Youth and Confirmation
Judy Bruschuk has directed the youth ministry at Trinity since 2002, after eight years of volunteering, and her family has been part of the congregation since 1976. She oversees ministries for sixth grade through college age and is the creator of The Projects, an after-school program for junior high students.
Big House is the senior high youth ministry, meeting year-round on Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Each week includes dinner, Bible study, and time for games, crafts, and service projects. Camp C.H.A.O.S. (Chocolate, Holiness, and Other Stuff) is the middle school program, meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays from October through March. Camp C.H.A.O.S. students head into confirmation class afterward and join the high schoolers for dinner. The Projects, the after-school middle school program, lets students learn new skills, build friendships, and serve others.
Confirmation is a central part of the confirmation-year program for sixth through eighth graders. Students work through the Small Catechism, the Eight Commandments, and sermon reports in preparation for the rite of confirmation.
Bible Studies, Women's Groups, and Dorcas
Beyond Sunday morning, Trinity runs an unusually full slate of Bible studies. Dr. Stephen Boudro leads an adult Bible study in the Conference Room at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays and Growing in Prayer on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Barnabas Room. Pastor Allyn teaches a Wednesday morning Bible study at 10:00 a.m. in the Trinity Center, working through Galatians and Ephesians from September through May.
Two women's Bible studies meet in the Trinity Center. The Women's Bible Study gathers on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is also active at Trinity, supporting missions and service projects across the LCMS.
The Dorcas Guild, the church's women's fellowship and service circle, has been a part of Trinity for generations. The guild welcomes new members, calls on the homebound, supports the Altar Guild, and directs its mission offerings to specific projects. Dorcas meets the first Tuesday of each month, except in July and August, with annual dues of $5.
Trinity Center Coffee Shop and Community Life
The Trinity Center Coffee Shop anchors much of the church's weekday life. The coffee shop is open to the community and hosts a series of recurring groups. Flying Hooks and Needles knits for charity on Mondays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. On Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., adults with different abilities gather to color pictures for charitable causes, partnering with UCP Seguin. Rest Your Soul, a group for mothers to share the joys and struggles of parenthood while staying centered in Christ, meets on second Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. A men's discussion group meets Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and a Wednesday morning Bible study with Pastor Allyn is held during the school year.
Trinity is also deeply involved in mission partnerships. The parish supports Adult Christian Care in Elmhurst, which offers a planned daytime program for moderately impaired adults; UCP Seguin of Villa Park, which creates full inclusion for people who experience disabilities; Lutheran Church Charities in Northbrook; The Outreach House in Lombard, which combines a food pantry, clothes closet, and walk-in assistance; Voice of Care of Villa Park, which equips churches to embrace, empower, and engage people with disabilities; and the English District missions office in Farmington, Michigan.
Council, Staff, and Getting Connected
The church is led by Trinity Council, headed by Acting Executive Director Scott Golz and Assistant Executive Director Bob Rundgren. Other council directors include Cindy Weber (Treasurer), Gina Heaney (Christian Education), Jon Alvarez (Church Property), Marna Rundgren (Evangelism), Donna Heuser (Human Care), Bert Dale (Lay Ministry), Sue Lotter (Parish Fellowship), Shelly Bychowski (Stewardship), and Kate Ilcken (Youth Ministry).
Giving is offered in four ways: through My E-Offering, a recurring online giving account; Give Lively, a one-time or recurring donation that works on phones and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay; the church's Facebook Donations page; and through donations of time and talents. Worship bulletins and announcements are archived by month, going back several years, and a sermon archive is also available. Monthly newsletters are available online and by email subscription. The church office can be reached at (630) 834-3440, and members can join the text announcement system by texting JOIN to (630) 296-6570.