January 12, 2025

Celebrating 150 Years

Rev. Bernard Ross, III

Anniversary Theme:
“Remembering Our Past, Serving Our Present, Celebrating Our Future”

Anniversary Bible Scripture:
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues through all Generations. The Anniversary Banner will also be unveiled.

The Anniversary Committee is hosting a Cookie and Coffee Reception immediately following church services in the church basement

February 9, 2025

Celebrating Our Founders

Rev. Dr. John Mehl – Guest Speaker

John Mehl was raised in Concordia and Blackburn, Mo. He started grade school at St. Paul’s in Concordia and graduated from Trinity Lutheran, Alma in 1973. He attended St. Paul’s College in Concordia, Mo. and Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich. From Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. he received a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in missional leadership.

John served eight years as a parish pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Kansas before being called by the LCMS Board for Mission Services to serve as a church planter in Moscow, Russia in 1993. During his 11 years in Russia, he served as the pastor of two congregations in Moscow and established and supervised the “Moscow Seminars,” an ongoing theological education program for Russian Lutheran pastors. He also served as a guest instructor at the Ingrian Lutheran Seminary near St. Petersburg. From 2000 to 2003 he served as the Area Director for LCMS World mission in the CIS—the countries of the former Soviet Union.

In 2004 John became the Regional Director for Eurasia with LCMS World Mission, and he and his family moved from Moscow to Frankfurt, Germany. While in this position, he continued support for missionaries and for outreach in Europe and the former Soviet Union.  He also served the LCMS as church relations representative with partner churches in the region, and investigated new opportunities for mission activities, including survey work for possible outreach in Kosovo.

In 2006 the family moved to Hong Kong, where John served as the LCMS World Mission’s Regional Director for Asia until 2013. While in Asia he served on the leadership team that established Concordia International School Hanoi. He led a missionary team of 28 career missionaries and as many as 68 long-term GEO missionaries and served as the church relations representative to partner churches in 11 Asian countries.

At the end of 2013 John and family returned to the US, and from 2014 through 2016 he served as the Director of Mission Partnerships and Church Relations at Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE) and taught classes on God’s mission.

Beginning in January of 2017, John has been serving as the Executive Director of Mission of Christ Network (MCN), an organization that focuses on intentional Gospel proclamation through training, sending, and supporting missionaries, focusing on laity. He continues to teach mission classes as an adjunct instructor at CUNE.

John is married to Susan nee Lange and together they have three grown children Katrina (Isaac) Dahlke, Louisa (Andrew) Lehenbauer and Theodore, and three grandchildren.

The Founders of Trinity:
Herman Dieckhoff, William Kessler, Herman Fricke, George Deterding,|
John Oberkoetter, ,John Robohm, John Eckhoff and Claus Henning

We extend a warm welcome to the descendants of our Founders.

The Anniversary Committee is hosting a Cookie and Coffee Reception immediately following church services in the church basement

March 9, 2025

Recognition of Educational Services

Rev. Bernard Ross, III

Pastors sermon will be inclusive of the first building used as a school, the first Walther League Organization, Youth Group, Sunday School,
Ground breaking of the school built in 1953 and two subsequent additions, The first PreSchool and Kindergarten, and the founding of PTL

The Anniversary Committee is hosting a Cookie and Coffee Reception immediately following church services in the church basement

May 11, 2025

Recognition of Women’s Organizations

Trinity Ladies Guild

Guild Members will recognize the former Ladies’ Aid #1, Ladies’ Aid #2, The Young Ladies Society, Ladies Aid 1922, and the present day, Trinity Ladies’ Guild

June 8, 2025

Recognition of Men’s Organizations

The Men’s Club organized as the Lutheran Layman’s League will be recognized for their work with the Lutheran Hour Ministries, Recorded Services for shut-ins, Easter Breakfast, Pancake Supper and Fundraisers for various area charities.

July 13, 2025

Recognition of Called Church Workers

Rev. Dr. Lee Hagen
President of the Missouri District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan was born in Birmingham, AL, and graduated from Concordia, Seward, NE, in 1992. He holds both a Master of Divinity Degree (1996) and Doctorate of Ministry (2011) from Concordia Seminary. Hagan served as Senior Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran in Concordia, MO (1996-2015) and was previously an Associate Pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Evansville, IN (1996-2002). He has been President of The Missouri District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod since June 2015. Hagan also served as Interim Director, LCMS Rural and Small Town Mission (2011-12), on numerous District Boards both in Missouri and Indiana, and during multiple Synodical Conventions as a delegate and on Floor Committees. He is married to Jill, and they have two children and one grandchild.

All former Preachers and Called Teachers will be recognized

Please join us in the church basement immediately following church services for our 5th Sunday Brunch: Brunch is provided by the Evangelism Committee

Donations of Danishes and Muffins are welcomed

August 24, 2025

Confirmation Reunion Service

Rev. Fred C. Hertwig

Pastor Fred C. Hertwig began his formal education at St. Peter Lutheran School in Schaumburg, IL and Edgerton Elementary School in Edgerton, WI.  He is a graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School, 1968 in Milwaukee, WI.  He also graduated from Concordia Junior College, Milwaukee in 1970 and he completed college at Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, IN in 1972.   He graduated Concordia Seminary in 1976.  On his vicarage year he served at Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK.

It was on January 10, 1976 he and Jane Faeth were united in Holy Marriage at Glendale Lutheran Church in Glendale, MO.  This is the congregation Fred was assigned as a field worker during his studies at the seminary.

The Hertwig’s responded to God’s call from the seminary to serve as “missionary at large” to a dual parish in southern Alberta, Canada:  Faith Lutheran Church, Cardston and St. John Lutheran Church, Magrath.  It was there the family grew with the birth of Rebecca and Leah.

It was in the spring of 1980 St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Cedar Bluffs, NE extended a call to Fred to be their pastor.  It was here the family continued to grow with the birth of Elizabeth and then Freddy. During this ministry Fred served also as a vacancy pastor, circuit visitor, and vicar supervisor.  He also became a volunteer fireman and later an EMT for the Cedar Bluffs Fire Dept.

In the spring of 1997 Pastor received and accepted the divine call to be pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Alma, MO.  His anticipation to be in rural ministry and be on a team ministry happened with God’s gracious timing.  As a side, Pastor Fred had visited this congregation  when he was about 10 years old with his parents.  Pastor Alex Pfotenhauer who was serving Trinity at the time was a cousin to Pastor’s dad.

Pastor Fred served Trinity till his retirement in 2013.  Pastor and Jane moved to rural Lincoln, MO. Pastor has served a number of vacancies and has done pulpit fills.  He is presently serving on Missouri Dist. Professional Church Worker Care ministry team.  He is also a board member of the local fire district.

Pastor and Jane are enjoying their 8 grandchildren, camping, traveling and involvement in their home congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, MO.

In Honor of our Confirmation Classes a Reception and Dinner will be held
in the school gymnasium immediately following church services.

A Freewill Donation, Buffet style dinner will be served. Live Entertainment throughout the day will be provided by:

September 14, 2025

Rededication of Jesus, Peter, and Paul Statues

Rev. Paul Mehl

Please join us as we celebrate and rededicate a piece of Trinity’s history. Our second church, which was built and dedicated on September 15, 1895, caught fire 67 years later and burned to the ground on January 4, 1942. Among other items, the statues of Jesus, Peter and Paul which ordained the Altar were recovered and placed in storage. Sometime in the early 70’s, the statues were purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kiehl. Many years later Trinity had the opportunity to buy back the statues. The Memorial Funds donated by the family of Louise Wyssmann were used to restore the statues in the spring of 2024. After undergoing a complete restoration to return them to their original beauty they are now back home at Trinity.

The Anniversary Committee is hosting a Cookie and Coffee Reception immediately following church services in the church basement

October 12, 2025

Mission Service

Rev. Dr. Terry Tieman

November 9, 2025

Honoring our Veterans

Rev. Dr. Larry Tieman

What I do:  I get to share the love of Jesus every day! I have the privilege of being an ambassador for Jesus and Immanuel at City Hall, in my neighborhood, at the local high schools and ball fields, in the nursing home or hospital, around McHenry County, and beyond through the blessings of modern technology.

How and when I joined the Immanuel team:  Our family was called to Immanuel in 2006. We are blessed to be part of an amazing group of Christ-followers who understand the mission of making an eternal difference in the lives of those people God connects us to in everyday life.

Education and Experience: My twin brother and I flipped a coin in 8th grade to see which one of us would enter Pastoral Ministry and which would be called into Teaching Ministry. He won and chose “Pastor” and I started my journey to become a Lutheran educator. After eight years of teaching Biology and coaching, God came and “flipped” my decision and I entered the seminary to become a Pastor, as well.  I still love teaching and learning and have been blessed to continue that passion in pursuing a Master’s and Doctor’s degree through Concordia Seminary.

My journey included 6 years teaching and coaching at Valley Lutheran High School, Saginaw, Michigan and a year at St. Paul’s College & HS, Concordia, Missouri, and a year at Excelsior Springs HS, Missouri. After graduation at Concordia Seminary, I have served congregations in Sullivan, Missouri; Chesterfield, Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; and the last 18 years at Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

I have been married to my wonderful wife, Sharon, for 36 years and have 3 adult sons: Philip, Andrew, and Jon.

Memorable moments in ministry:  I probably enjoyed my year of Vicarage as much as anything as I had the opportunity to learn under the tutelage of my twin brother, Terry, at Fort Smith, Arkansas. It may be the only time in LCMS history a vicar’s bishop happened to be his twin! I was also proud to teach Terry how to drink coffee!

Breaking ground on our 64-acre campus back in 2009 was a very humbling experience and I look forward to the completion of our new sanctuary (God willing) in 2027!

Currently I enjoy getting out into the community and visiting “first time guests” of Immanuel with my wife, Sharon, and all the time I get to spend with the kids at Immanuel Lutheran School.

I also love carrying newly baptized infants around the sanctuary to “show off” one of God’s new family members.

The Anniversary Committee is hosting a Cookie and Coffee Reception immediately following church services in the church basement

December 3, 2025

Candlelight Service – Festival of Lights and Music

Rev. Bernard Ross, III