With the universal Christian Church, The Trinity Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love 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 to rise to life again in the ultimate 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.

We accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.

Trinity is a sister congregation in the Northern Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and as such, Trinity observes the practice of closed communion.  Guests who desire to receive the Sacrament must speak with the pastor beforehand. Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.

Trinity Lutheran Church began on September 1, 1954 with an organizational meeting held at the Erwin Township Hall with approximately 200 people present.  The first Church Council was elected, the name “Trinity Lutheran Church” was decided upon, and Rev. H.P. Esala was called to be our first pastor.  Services were temporarily held at the school in Erwin Township, St. Luke’s Church, and at the Ironwood Drive-In Theater.  By September 15, Trinity had 144 communicant members, 93 children, and 124 voting members.

In the beginning, Trinity was part of the Finnish National Evangelical church.  After this was dissolved, we became Missouri Synod Lutherans.  A parsonage was built and ten months later, the mortgage was burned.  A loan was obtained for $25,000 from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, along with pledges by members toward the building of a new church.  Members traveled in a caravan from St. Luke’s Church on April 22, 1956 for the groundbreaking ceremony.  A hand plow was used, pulled by men of the congregation in the actual groundbreaking.

Many volunteered labor toward the building of the church during the spring and summer of 1956.  Cornerstone laying ceremonies were held on September 23 with Pastor Esala laying the cornerstone.

“We are Built on the Rock”

The church was enclosed as winter approached and a joyous and thankful congregation worshiped in the half-finished Lord’s House for Christmas 1956.  The building was ready for dedication in 1957.

In 1974, the children of the congregation used the same hand plow that was used for the church groundbreaking ceremony to break ground for an educational wing.  This was needed as every square foot of space was put to use for educational purposes, with some classes being held in pastor’s office and even the parsonage.  The educational wing was dedicated in April, 1975.  In August, 2004, a 50^th anniversary celebration service was held with Pastor Esala as the guest speaker.