Upcoming Events
Farewell Celebration for Pastor Erik
All are invited to celebrate Pastor Erik’s ministry at Trinity on Sunday, July 19, immediately following worship. A lunch from Smoque BBQ will be provided, offering a chance to share gratitude, stories, and blessings as Pastor Erik begins his new chapter as Bishop.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP by contacting the church office.
Built to Last: Paid in Full
Join us at Double Clutch Brewing Company on Thursday, July 23, from 6:00–10:00 PM as we celebrate an extraordinary milestone in the life of Trinity Lutheran Church!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our congregation through the Built to Last Special Appeal, the campaign far exceeded its goal, making it possible for Trinity to pay off its mortgage. What began as a vision to support Trinity's mission—past, present, and future—grew into a shared accomplishment that reflects the faith and commitment of our congregation.
Now it's time to celebrate! Gather with friends for an evening of fellowship, gratitude, and joy as we give thanks for this achievement and look ahead to all God has in store for Trinity. A light meal and open bar will be provided.
RSVP through the button below to help us plan our hospitality.
Ravinia Festival with SALT
All are invited to an evening at Ravinia with SALT on Friday, July 24. The program, called “On the Movies,” features the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing various film scores composed by women. The gates open at 5:00 PM, and the program begins at 8:00 PM. All are welcome!
To join in, please purchase your lawn tickets at Ravinia.org or by calling the Box Office at 847-266-5100. Ticket prices are $17. For seniors, tickets are $14; children 15 and under, or those with a student ID, are free. Bring or rent a lawn chair and consider a dish to share for a picnic buffet. Please sign up at the See, Sign & Serve table in the Gathering Space or through the form below so we can reserve space for everyone.
Click the buttons below to get your tickets now or learn more!
Music Under the Stars with Wilmette Community Band
Get ready for a summer night that shines! The Wilmette Community Band is bringing live music to Trinity’s back parking lot on Thursday, July 30, and the whole community is invited!
A simple meal kicks things off at 6:00 PM, followed by the concert at 7:00 PM. We’ll provide kosher hot dogs, snack chips, and drinks (water, lemonade, and iced tea). Vegetarian hot dogs and gluten-free buns will also be available. Some chairs will be provided, but extra lawn chairs or blankets are welcome to spread out and enjoy great music under the open sky.
This is a free community event, but please consider bringing a non-perishable food donation for Trinity’s Little Free Pantry.
If you live nearby, we encourage you to walk or bike over. Limited parking will be available in the front lot. In case of rain, the concert will move to the Sanctuary, and the meal will not take place. If you’re interested in helping at the event, stop by the See-Sign-Serve table to sign up or contact the church office, office@trinityevanston.org, with any questions.
Come connect with friends, meet new neighbors, and enjoy a musical evening together!
Chicago Snowballs Game
Head out to the ballgame with Trinity on Saturday, August 1, at 3:00 PM at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg.
It’s the Chicago Snowballs' inaugural season, and you’re invited to join in the fun! Contact Lauren Busey for more information or to reserve tickets. Click below to learn more about the Snowballs.
Congregational Meeting
Immediately following the 9:30 AM worship service on Sunday, August 9, the Church Council will hold a Congregational Meeting to present the proposed Call Committee for approval by voting members of the congregation.
Mark your calendars to be there for this important step in the pastoral transition process.
Celebrating Francine: Honoring 52 Years of Faithful Music, Service, & Community
Join the celebration on Sunday, August 9, at 11:00 AM as the Trinity community gathers to honor Francine’s 52 years of dedicated membership. A light lunch will be served, along with special music in her honor.
All are invited to share in the gratitude, joy, and celebration of her remarkable legacy.
Summer Soup Kitchen
Faith in Action will step in to organize the Summer Soup Kitchen on Sunday, August 16. If you’re willing to help by donating, prepping, driving, or serving, please sign up using the button below.
Singing Resistance Evanston Rehearsal
The Faith in Action Committee invites you to the Singing Resistance Evanston rehearsal to learn simple, group songs of courage and resistance on Sunday, July 12, from 7:00–8:30 PM at Trinity. No sheet music, singing experience, or reservations necessary. All ages and voices welcome.
Intergen
Families with children in Kindergarten through high school are invited to Intergen, a casual evening with worship and dinner, on Sunday, July 12, from 5:00-8:00 PM.
The schedule for the night is below.
5:00-6:00 PM | Activities for K-6th Graders & Adult Conversations
6:00-6:30 PM | Dinner
6:30-7:00 PM | Family Worship
7:00-8:00 PM | Hi-League
Global Refuge Sunday & Adult Education
Celebrate Global Refuge Sunday at Trinity on July 12 and connect with the mission of welcome. Mackenzie Mahon from Global Refuge will join us for worship and, after worship, will lead an Adult Education forum at 11:00 AM in the Chapel on the changing immigration landscape and the organization’s work through advocacy, legal services, and international programs like Camino a Casa.
Come explore meaningful ways to support ongoing efforts that extend care to asylum seekers, immigrants, and refugees.
Summer Soup Kitchen
Faith in Action will step in to organize the Summer Soup Kitchen on Sunday, July 12. If you’re willing to help by donating, prepping, driving, or serving, please sign up using the button below.
The next Summer Soup Kitchen date is August 16.
Indivisible Evanston Postcard Party
Meet and chat with like-minded people, enjoy some snacks, and write postcards to voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Georgia in the Gathering Space at Trinity on Thursday, July 9, from 6:30–8:30 PM. You can bring your own postcards, or we will provide them. Bring postcard stamps or make a donation to help cover stamps. Click below to let us know you’ll be there.
Deposits Due for Lutherland Trip
Step into the pages of history and walk where the Reformation began.
Take an unforgettable “Journey Through Lutherland” pilgrimage taking place April 29–May 6, 2027. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will trace the footsteps of Martin Luther through some of Germany’s most historic and inspiring sites. Learn more about the trip through the button below. Deposits are due by Tuesday, June 30.
1946: Movie Screening & Discussion
You are invited to a special Pride Month screening and discussion of the documentary “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture” on Tuesday, June 30, at the Unitarian Church of Evanston. The film explores the history behind the word “homosexuality,” first appearing in Bible translations in 1946, and the cultural impact that followed. Begin with a film screening at 6:30 PM, followed by a discussion at 8:00 PM. The evening reflects Trinity’s commitment to welcoming all people and creating space for thoughtful conversation, learning, and faith-centered dialogue.
Co-sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, and the Unitarian Church of Evanston.
Intergen
Families with children in Kindergarten through high school are invited to our next Intergen night on Sunday, June 28, from 5:00-8:00 PM. The schedule for the night is below.
5:00-6:00 PM | Activities for K-6th Graders & Adult Conversations
6:00-6:30 PM | Dinner
6:30-7:00 PM | Family Worship
7:00-8:00 PM | Hi-League
Congregational Town Hall Meeting
Pastoral Transition Town Hall
Church Council will host a Town Hall following worship on Sunday, June 28, to hear from the congregation, discuss the Ministry Site Profile, and share additional details about the pastoral call process. To learn more about the transition, click the button below.
Graduate Recognition Sunday
Here’s to the grads! On Sunday, June 28, Trinity will recognize this year’s graduates during worship. Come help celebrate their academic achievements.
Singing Resistance Evanston Rehearsal
The Faith in Action Committee invites you to the Singing Resistance Evanston rehearsal to learn simple, group songs of courage and resistance on Monday, June 22, from 7:00–8:30 PM at Trinity. No sheet music, singing experience, or reservations necessary. All ages and voices welcome.
The next Singing Resistance Evanston community event will be on Sunday, July 12.
Interfaith Family Pride Fest
You are invited to the 3rd Annual Interfaith Family Pride Fest on Sunday, June 14, from 2:00–5:00 PM at Raymond Park as we celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends, family, neighbors, and loved ones! This free community event will feature music, art, ice cream, and fun for all ages, including children’s area with performers, Jamberry, Booked Drag Story Time, RennFaire jugglers, magicians, and fairies! Enjoy main stage performances by CGMC, True Colors, Evanston Folk Choir, Full Spectrum Bluegrass, and live DJ sets throughout the afternoon.
Once again, Trinity will have a table at the event to share the love and welcome found at Trinity with our wider community. We need your help! Click the button below to sign up to volunteer with Trinity.
If you’d like to help with the event, click here for several different volunteer opportunities.
Donations are also appreciated. Click here to donate.
Summer Soup Kitchen
Faith in Action will step in to organize the Summer Soup Kitchen on Sunday, June 14. If you’re willing to help by donating, prepping, driving, or serving, please sign up using the button below.
Upcoming Summer Soup Kitchen dates include July 12 and August 16.
Singing Resistance Evanston
Singing Resistance Evanston invites you to learn simple, group songs of courage and resistance on Sunday, June 7, 7:00–8:30 PM at Trinity. No sheet music, singing experience, or reservations necessary. All ages and voices welcome.
Trinity hosted another Singing Resistance community event back in March—click here to learn more about the movement and its impact.
Narrative Through Quilts
On Sunday, June 7, at 11:00 AM, join Peg Lee as she shares “Narrative Through Quilts.”
Nearly fifty years ago, I went to my first Northern Michigan Relief Sale—held on the first weekend of August at the county fairgrounds in Mio, a very small town in the upper lower peninsula of Michigan. The Mennonite communities from northern Michigan gather to share what they have made and offer for sale for the benefit of needy communities around the world: baked goods, food stuffs, wooden crafts and furniture, needlework, and incredibly beautiful quilts.
On Saturday, people gather in their folding chairs around an open-air wooden structure in anticipation of the quilt auction that begins with a prayer at 11:00. Volunteers display each quilt, walking it around the structure, as one of the women describes the quilt and names its makers before the auctioneer invites bids.
Each quilt has a name and a story. Each quilt is a work of art made with love and care and given to the annual auction to be offered for sale. The Mennonite community understands their work as “one way we can make a difference in the world. . . .Together we are transforming lives.”
I look forward to sharing some of these beautiful works with you.
Dinner Church
Share a meal, make new connections, and enjoy meaningful conversation and worship at Dinner Church on Wednesday, June 3, from 6:30–7:30 PM. Whether you're a regular or joining us for the first time, we'd love to have you at the table. All are welcome!
Quarterly Council Forum
Stay after worship on Sunday, May 31, to get important updates on all the things happening at Trinity.
Reception of New Members
The life of the church is always growing and renewing. Following the celebration of Confirmation Sunday with Trinity’s youth, the congregation will gather again on Sunday, May 31, to welcome new members to Trinity. Becoming a member is a meaningful step in one’s faith journey. It is a commitment to worship, to service, and to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are thrilled to welcome each new person into our community and thank God for the many ways people continue to be drawn into Christian life.
If you are considering taking a next step in your faith journey—whether through baptism or becoming a member at Trinity—please reach out to Pastor Erik. He would love to have a conversation with you.
Confirmation Sunday
On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, Trinity’s youth will affirm their baptism during worship, publicly proclaiming their faith and giving thanks for God’s work in their lives. This celebration is especially meaningful on Pentecost, the day the church remembers the Holy Spirit empowering the disciples and sending them into the world to share the Gospel. You are invited to come celebrate and support these young people as they take this important step in their faith journey and witness the many ways God continues transforming lives within the Trinity community.
Intergen
Families with children in Kindergarten through high school are invited to our next Intergen night on Sunday, May 17, from 5:00-8:00 PM. The schedule for the night is below.
5:00-6:00 PM | Activities for K-6th Graders & Adult Conversations
6:00-6:30 PM | Dinner
6:30-7:00 PM | Family Worship
7:00-8:00 PM | Hi-League
Journey Through Lutherland in 2027
Step into the pages of history and walk where the Reformation began.
You’re invited to an informational session with Leslie Kane on Sunday, April 17, to learn more about the unforgettable “Journey Through Lutherland” pilgrimage taking place April 29–May 6, 2027. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will trace the footsteps of Martin Luther through some of Germany’s most historic and inspiring sites.
Come discover what makes this trip so special, ask questions, view the itinerary, and imagine yourself traveling the same roads that changed the course of Christian history.
La Bohème, Opera Aeterna
Opera Aeterna is bringing a week of exceptional music to Trinity, with multiple performances open to the community. You are invited from May 11–16 for performances of La Bohème at 7:00 PM. Admission is free for members and friends of Trinity, but tickets are required. Email communications@trinityevanston.org for details.
Dinner Church
Dinner Church returns on Wednesday, May 6! All are welcome to enjoy good food and great conversation from 6:30–8:00 PM.
Adult Forum: May 3
Caring for People in Difficult Times: A Global Health Perspective
Dr. Kenneth J. Schaefle
Dr. Schaefle has been going to Uganda regularly since 2013, providing medical care as part of a 20-year partnership between Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx and a rural hospital in Uganda. On Sunday, May 3, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel, he will offer thoughts and reflections on the impact of illness and healthcare on patients and families, and the role of faith in providing care in difficult times. All adults are welcome!
More about Dr. Schaefle:
Dr. Kenneth J. Schaefle, MD, is an internal medicine physician and assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, affiliated with Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He provides primary care and is involved in medical education and global health work, including long-term clinical teaching in Uganda. Originally from the Chicago area, he attended Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University before completing medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and residency at Lenox Hill Hospital.
May Soup Kitchen
On Sunday, May 3, Trinity will prepare a hot meal and bagged lunches for St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen. Both food donations and volunteers are needed to help with preparation and serving.
Sign up through the button below to join in! If you plan to donate items, please make sure they are delivered to the downstairs kitchen at Trinity by 8:30 AM on Sunday. If you would prefer to make a monetary contribution, please visit the giving page, write “Soup Kitchen” in the Note section.
Hi-League Albuquerque Trip Fundraiser
Help send our youth out to learn, serve, and share God’s love in Albuquerque!
The Hi-League teens are working hard to serve others this summer—and you can be part of it! Trinity’s youth group is taking a summer service trip to Albuquerque in June. During the trip, the youth will partner with local organizations serving people experiencing hunger and homelessness, supporting refugees, working with the disability community, and more.
Everyone is invited to the fundraiser on Sunday, April 26, after worship. Lunch will be from Smoque BBQ, and the youth will share information about the trip. Click the buttons below to learn more about the trip, make a donation (write “Hi-League” in the Note section), and use the form to RSVP for lunch.
Good Shepherd Sunday with LSSI
This month, we'll be joined by guests from our April Mission Possible organization, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). On Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Kelly Nieman Anderson, Church & Community Manager, and Teri Gens, Senior Director of Development, will share more about LSSI during worship. Pastor Kelly will also be our guest preacher.
LSSI served over 62,000 people last year, providing critical programs including foster care, mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, affordable senior housing, residential programs for people with developmental disabilities, home care for seniors, and services that help families who have been impacted by incarceration.
Built to Last: Congregational Forum
You are invited to a Congregational Forum after worship on Sunday, April 19, to learn more about the Built to Last: Special Appeal. The Finance Committee will explain the need for mortgage debt reduction, discuss new opportunities for ministry, and answer any questions. In the meantime, learn more about the appeal or submit your commitment online through the button below.
April Soup Kitchen
On Sunday, April 19, Trinity will prepare a hot meal and bagged lunches for St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen. Both food donations and volunteers are needed to help with preparation and serving.
Sign up through the button below to join in! If you plan to donate items, please make sure they are delivered to the downstairs kitchen at Trinity by 8:30 AM on Sunday, April 19. If you would prefer to make a monetary contribution, please visit the giving page, write “Soup Kitchen” in the Note section.
6–12th Grade Lock In
Hey 6th–12th graders! You’re invited to join the Youth Ministry Network of the Metro Chicago Synod for an overnight Lock-In from 10:00 PM on Friday, April 17, until 5:00 AM on Saturday, April 18. The night will be filled with mini bowling, bumper cars, laser tag, go karts, arcade games, and more. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided. The cost is $45 per person, which also includes a $20 arcade card. If you’re interested in attending or would like more information, please reach out to Lauren at lauren.busey@trinityevanston.org.