what we believe

FORMING FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST

What We Believe

The WORSHIP OF GOD

In worship the church offers God the glory and praise that is due His name for all that He has done for us, especially for His grace in Jesus Christ. Through His Word and Sacraments God forgives, nurtures, instructs and motivates His people. All that we are and all that we do flows out of and back into our worship life. the cultivation of our relationship with the Triune God in worship is therefore the highest priority of the Church. 

The SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF ALL BELIEVERS

Through its programs and activities, Trinity seeks to encourage and enable the growth of God's people toward maturity in loving relationship to God, to self, to other persons in the community and to the whole of God's created world. 

The GROWTH OF GOD'S KINGDOM

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ meant what He said when he commissioned His Church to make disciples of all people (Matt. 28:18-20), and that God "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"(1 Tim. 2:4). Trinity is therefore committed to the expansion of the kingdom as well as to the growth of every individual believer. We believe that God has called Trinity to be a large church. While numbers in themselves are not the goal of the church's activities, they do represent people for whom Christ died who are now being included in God's family.

The welfare of the family

The family is the basic unit of the church and of society. More important than any other institution, the family unit is under siege and disintegrating under the pressures of the world. Trinity is committed to strengthening the family unit and helping the many varieties of families to function according to God's purposes. We believe that in being a church which supports family values, Trinity has much to offer its community.

The church as an expression of God's family

The Church is designed by God to be a healthy extended family for all people. It is a place of belonging, where people can get to know themselves and their values, experience acceptance and support, be healed and challenged.

The Nurture and Education of Children's

According to our belief, children are a trust from the Lord. It is the responsibility primarily of parents, but also of all other adults, to nurture and prepare God's children for life in time and in eternity.

Community Evangelism

The Church is designed by God to be a healthy extended family for all people. It is a place of belonging, where people can get to know themselves and their values, experience acceptance and support, be healed and challenged.

Community Service

As an expression of the Body of Christ, Trinity is called to be a positive and redemptive force for good in our community. We seek opportunities to serve the community and encourage our members to be involved in ministering to the lost and hurting, in combating evil, promoting justice and serving our fellow man through acts of love and compassion.

WORLD MISSIONS

The Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20) calls us not only to be local and regional Christians, but to be world Christians. Each year we pledge a portion of our budget to God's work through our District and Synod. It is also our goal and intent to offer greater support to world mission through direct mission support.

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

The Christians cannot serve God effectively without being an active part of the Body of Christ, the Church. The local congregation serves as a place of Christian accountability, service and fellowship. Trinity will always encourage its people to sacrifice time and resources for the growth and outreach of the church. Regular attendance in worship is expected, as is consistent resources. The Church is God's instrument for the redemption of the world. God expects His people to give the Church their best.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

The local congregation is accountable to God and to its membership to provide the most excellent ministry that the resources entrusted to its care can support. Accordingly, Trinity expects its staff and leadership to be fully committed to the congregation's values and to be fruitful in the ministries entrusted to them. Trinity's programs will be regularly evaluated according to the agreed upon standards and will be expected to support the congregation's goals.

Unity of Faith and Purpose

As a Lutheran congregation, Trinity is committed to the Holy Scriptures as the sole source and norm for the Christian faith and life and to the historic confessions of the Lutheran Church.

The History of Trinity

In the 1850’s, there were many German immigrants in the Mt. Clemens area. Lutherans gathered for worship at the court house in Mount Clemens MI.  In 1882, Pastor Boeling came to Mt. Clemens with the purpose of founding a parish.  On April 18, 1885, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of Mount Clemens, Michigan was established.  Services, in German, were held in a public hall.  After a donation of land on Dickinson Street was made, a building was soon constructed where Sunday worship would be held as well as classes in Trinity’s school.  Sunday evening services were conducted in English and the community was invited.  A pastor was called to Trinity school for the purpose of teaching because no teachers were available. 

The city of Mount Clemens grew as did Trinity congregation and by 1900 a new church was built next to the other buildings. The school children and the church members worked in unity to construct and furnish the new sanctuary showing the deep connection between the church and school which still exists today.

Trinity continued to grow, and a new school building was dedicated in 1926.  Sunday School was initiated and Sunday morning services in English started at that time as well.  Trinity had grown to almost 1000 members.  The Great Depression caused hardship and some cutback of school staff but by 1935, Trinity celebrated its’ 50th anniversary with a week long celebration and showed more growth and promise.

A second pastor was called to Trinity in 1937 to direct the work with youth ministries.  He expanded his area of ministry over the years to include a connection with the community – an involvement Trinity still supports today.  In 1947, Trinity was renamed Trinity Lutheran Church of Mount Clemens, a shorter name that still maintained its connection to the community. 

Moving from the 40’s into the 50’s, brought still more growth to Trinity.  Land was purchased in 1952 on Harper in Clinton Township – Trinity’s current site.  A new school building (our current school building) was built and dedicated in 1955.  By the mid 1960’s, it was clear that a new church building was needed.  Trinity had over 1100 people worshipping during 3 services on Sunday.  The current sanctuary was dedicated in 1968.  All Trinity’s members could worship at one time!  The church and school again worked in unity to furnish the new sanctuary.  The children in the school saved their pennies to help purchase the new pipe organ. 

Trinity continued to expand its ministries.  In 1971, women were given the opportunity to vote in the congregation.  In addition to our two pastors, several lay leaders were called to support our growing ministries in adult and family life, growth and assimilation, music, youth, and health and human care.  A new Community Center and an Early Childhood Center was built in 1994 to provide more outreach to the community. 

Today, Trinity’s mission, to make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, is seen at work in its members who understand that a fully devoted follower knows Jesus, worships Jesus, grows in Jesus, serves Jesus and shares Jesus.  This is shown in it’s commitment of excellence in worship, its support and connection of the School and Early Childhood Center, and in all of the varied and diverse ministries Trinity has to offer.  We hope that you will find Jesus at work in the hearts of our people and ministries at Trinity as we look forward to our 125th anniversary and beyond.