Trinity Lutheran Church Marks 150th Year Sunday With Festival Service

OAK LAWN, IL — A church founded by Oak Lawn’s earliest settlers will mark its 150th anniversary this Sunday, Feb. 11, with a festival service.

Trinity Evandelical Lutheran Church, 97th and Brandt Avenue, was officially established by several German families that settled in the area known as Black Oak. The original church was located on the north side of 95th Street and Brandt Avenue. As the church grew, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brandt donated a portion of their land for a new, larger church building at its present location.

In 1940 a joyous procession of pastor, church leaders, Sunday School children and congregation members entered this new church building. As years followed, several expansions were made, due to the increase of Sunday school and activities.

To celebrate this auspicious milestone, Trinity will hold a festival service starting at 10 a.m. The guest preacher will be Bishop Curry from the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA. There will be special music by the choir and instrumentalists. Following the service, a buffet luncheon will be catered by Barraco’s in the church auditorium.

The program will include presentations of “History” and honoring those who have been members the longest. Throughout the year, Trinity will feature various festivities to honor the church’s long-standing history.

Today, Trinity continues to serve the community by offering weekly worship, a robust seniors group with monthly events, Sunday school program, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, AA, yoga, a women’s group for the community, and Potter’s House, an outside theater troupe.

The church is currently in the process of merging with Ashburn Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago.