As things seem to be coming back to a sense of “somewhat normal” after Winter Storm Fern, we have made the decision to make the attempt to return to in-person worship at Trinity this Sunday.
As the pictures below show, the snow around the church has been cleared to various degrees. Streets in Mount Rainier are passable, but on-street parking is still rather limited. Our gravel parking lot has been cleaned as much as it can be, with the lovely addition of “Mount Trinity”, and thankfully there was some melting which occurred during the week. And our walks are clear and ready to welcome you again through our church doors.
We know that a little more snow is forecasted to come through on Friday evening and that temperatures this weekend are going to be below freezing with even lower wind chills. With that in mind, we leave it to your own best judgment on whether or not you will venture out for church on Sunday morning. But for those who do choose to come to Trinity, we’ll have the building heated, worship prepared, and the livestream available for all those at home.
Whatever means we happen to “see” you on Sunday, see you at worship!
Greetings to you all in Jesus’ Name! I hope that this message finds you all safe, well, and warm.
To say that this week has been an eventful one is perhaps an understatement. First, we had to deal with the winter storm of last weekend, which perhaps was the easy part. Then began the hard work of the “big dig” that many of us had to do to see our sidewalks and cars and roads freed from the newest, hardest surface now known to man: “snowcrete”. And then to top it all off, we still have to wait a few more days to see our temperatures get above freezing, and then be “just” above freezing. All of this has certainly complicated life for us in the area, and I think that it’s safe to say that we’re all getting a bit tired from all of it. Though it seems that one bright spot in it all is that the winter storm set to go up the East Coast this weekend will not add insult to injury by staying far enough off shore to keep us from having to deal with more winter weather.
All that being said, what are our plans for this weekend at Trinity? Seeing that we still are in the midst of the cleanup from last weekend, with our lot and sidewalks still icy and the roads around the church not providing space to park on-street, and with the temperatures remaining very cold, it seems for the best that we once again cancel in-person worship for this Sunday, February 1st. As hard as it is to make this decision, we feel that it is in the best interest for everyone’s safety.
You are again invited to join Pastor from his living room for “Sunday Worship-Home Edition” at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning. This Service of the Word will be livestreamed on the church Facebook Page, and the order of worship and Sunday Bulletin can be viewed on the church website. For more information on how to connect, please check out the online worship page here.
One small reminder should be made that has come about from our “missing church” for two Sundays…While the storm brought much to a standstill, there are some things that do not stop, like bills. Please kindly remember that your offerings, even though not presented during our worship, are still important and necessary to keep our congregation running. As you are able, please continue your generous and loving giving to the work of Trinity, either by “doubling up” when we return or by sending your offerings by mail. Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Hopefully, we will be able to be “back home together” at Trinity for worship soon. But until then, stay in the love and peace of the God who cares for us all. And I hope to “see” you all at worship online this Sunday!
It seems that the predictions of “the big one” may actually come to pass with the predicted winter storm that is supposed to be visiting us this weekend. Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to not hold in person worship this Sunday, January 25th.
In lieu of our usual worship service from Trinity, you are invited as you are able to join Pastor from his living room on Sunday Morning at 9:30 AM for a Service of the Word observing The Conversion of Saint Paul. Links and information about viewing online, as well as the order of service and Sunday Bulletin, are available here on the church website.
We pray that everyone in our church family will stay safe and warm at home through the storm and that the aftermath of it all will not be overly severe. We will keep everyone informed about conditions at church and future plans by email and on the church website and Facebook pages. And Lord willing, we will see each other again soon at church for worship.
This is another in a series of occasional articles about our Congregation’s history in honor of our 95th Anniversary year.
In our last installment of “A Moment from Trinity’s History”, we looked at how our Congregation was “birthed” by our “mother church”, First Trinity Lutheran in Washington, DC. Following that story, it seems fitting then that we should look at how our Trinity Congregation also became a “mother” of “daughters” as well.
Having been “born” out of the mission-mindedness of the Congregation of Trinity-Washington, it seems that Trinity-Mount Rainier would have the same in our own churchly DNA. Both the congregation and Pastor Pieplow became known for their desire to reach out to the communities around them with the Good News about Jesus. When he spoke about the door-to-door canvassing done both in reaching out to new members and in the preparatory work in beginning new churches, Pastor Pieplow described it in this way: “You keep your feet to the ground, your finger on many a doorbell, and your heart and mind on the Lord.”
Group photograph of the Greenbelt Mission Congregation on Easter 1944
Noticing the need to spread the Word further out beyond Mount Rainier as the suburbs around Washington also grew, Trinity and Pastor Pieplow desired to see how branch mission churches could be established. The first community which became the location for outreach work was in Greenbelt, Maryland. After a successful outreach canvass, the first worship service of the new Greenbelt Mission of Trinity was held on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944 in the home of Mr. & Mrs. E. Trumbule, with an attendance of 123. After some discussions with the Federal Public Housing Authority, permission was given so that the Mission could hold its services in the auditorium of the Greenbelt School. By 1947, the Mission numbered over one hundred communicant members, and around 326 persons in worship each Sunday.
Chancel in the “house church” used by the Landover Hills Mission
Not long after the establishment of the Greenbelt Mission, Trinity was called to go through a door which the Lord opened in the community of Landover Hills, MD. Invited by Mr. & Mrs. Donald Rindt, Pastor Pieplow gathered a group together in the Rindt’s home on January 14, 1945 for the first worship service of the Landover Hills Mission. After the Rindts transferred to another city, Mr. & Mrs John Bennick opened their home for the Mission to continue their worship services. With the growth of this new church came the need for a more permanent home. Trinity, which at the time was also working on the construction of a new building for its school, stepped out with faith and courage, purchasing a home in Landover Hills to be renovated to serve as a chapel and rooms for Sunday School and other Christian education purposes. The renovations were completed and the first service in this new chapel were held on Ascension Day, May 30, 1946. Also by 1947, this Mission numbered 150 members, with a rapidly growing Sunday School, and well attended Confirmation classes for both children and adults.
School auditorium stage set up for worship at the Hyattsville Mission
In December of 1947, Trinity dedicated its new building for the school she had begun in 1944, holding classes in the Mount Rainier church building. The new school building was located at 38th and Longfellow Streets in nearby Hyattsville, MD. The decision was made to put the school building into use as the site for yet another Mission plant. On February 15, 1948, the first worship service of the Hyattsville Mission was held in the school auditorium.
From 1948 until 1951, Pastor Pieplow served Trinity and all three of the Missions, preaching at six services each Sunday. The schedule for Trinity and the Missions was: Services at Trinity, 8 AM, 11 AM, and 8 PM; at Landover Hills, 9:15 AM; at Hyattsville, 10:15 AM; and at Greenbelt, 12:30 PM. On Sundays, Pastor Pieplow could be seen fully robed leaving one worship service, and getting into a waiting car to be driven to get to the next service.
Holy Cross – Greenbelt today
In 1951, two of Trinity’s Missions became their own Congregations. The Greenbelt Mission became Greenbelt Lutheran Church, later taking the name Holy Cross. They were able to build a church building on Greenbelt Road upon land acquired from the Federal Government. They still worship in that building today. The Landover Hills Mission became Ascension Lutheran Church, who built their own sanctuary on Buchanan Street off of Annapolis Road and began their own Lutheran School ministry. Their congregation remains active as well.
Ascension – Landover Hills today
From 1951 until 1956, Trinity was seen as one congregation in two locations: Mount Rainier-Hyattsville. She was served by three Pastors during this time: Pastor Pieplow until 1952; Pastor Kenneth Hoffmann, 1952-1954; and Pastor William Kohn, 1954-1956. Pastor Kohn also served as the President of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod while being Trinity’s Pastor.
On February 13, 1956, Trinity’s Voters’ Assembly passed a resolution, which read in part, “…resolved, that Trinity Lutheran Church of Mount Rainier and Hyattsville, Maryland, effect a voluntary division of its membership, and thus form two congregations, one in Mount Rainier and the other in Hyattsville”, and also “…be it resolved that our School be operated as a joint effort by the Mount Rainier congregation and the Hyattsville congregation.” This restructuring of ministry was hailed in the Southeastern District’s newspaper as “Multiplication by Division”, creating from one congregation three ministries.
The Mount Rainier congregation retained the name of Trinity, and 244 communicant members chose to remain at the mother church. The Hyattsville congregation had 357 communicant members who chose to go with the new congregation. This congregation formally organized itself on April 22, 1956, and took the name of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Redeemer then called Pastor Kohn to serve as Redeemer’s first Pastor. A ministerial candidate from the Saint Louis Seminary, Mr. Roy Maack, was assigned to receive the Call from Trinity to become the fourth Pastor in its history, being ordained and installed on September 9, 1956. Redeemer went on to build its own church building at East-West Highway and Queens Chapel Road, dedicating it in 1960, where she remains today.
Redeemer – Hyattsville today
By God’s grace, the work of the Lord continues in all four of our congregations, and we pray that He will continue to make use of us as long as He wills.
This is another in a series of occasional articles about our Congregation’s history in honor of our 95th Anniversary year.
To begin this article, a little explanation is in order about the title. Using Biblical language and images, the Church is often referred to in feminine language. We also see this in languages where nouns are classified by gender that the word used for “church” is identified as feminine; for example, in German it is “die Kirche” (as in a church building) or “die Gemeinde” (as in a church congregation), where “die” (pronounced like the letter “D”) is the feminine article. This idea of the Church being feminine arises from the Church being called in Scripture “the Bride of Christ”, who has been purchased and won from her sins by her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 5:25-27 and elsewhere).
Using this same idea, when we speak of the relationship between congregations of the same Christian confession and denomination, we often refer to them as “sisters”. Also, when one congregation begins a new worshiping community, the founding congregation is called a “mother”, and the newly planted congregation is known as a “daughter”. And it is such a relationship which began our Trinity Congregation.
Trinity-Washington’s Original Church Building
On November 2, 1851, the Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was founded. This congregation was begun by members from the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Washington, which at that time was the only German speaking Protestant congregation in the city. The reason these members left their congregation was because of the mixing between the teachings of the Lutheran and the Reformed faith, especially regarding the Presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, which at this time was common even in Lutheran Churches in Germany. (This was also the reason which a group of Lutherans from Saxony left Germany to come to the United States in 1838-39, settled in Saint Louis, and founded what became the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1847.) This new congregation began worshiping at the Temperance Hall located at 9th and E Streets, NW until 1857, when a new church building was dedicated at 4th and E Streets, NW, where the congregation remains today, though in a new building built on the same site in 1959.
Trinity Lutheran Church of Washington worshiped in the German language from its beginning. And because of this, she became the mother to several other Lutheran congregations in the Washington area. In the latter part of the 1800’s, Trinity formed two congregations for those who desired to worship in the English language. It was only in 1898 that Trinity began to hold English language evening worship services, later transitioning to worshiping in all English.
There was a mission-mindedness within the congregation which led them to find ways to extend the sharing of the Gospel elsewhere in Washington, DC and its surrounding area. In 1927, a group of women at Trinity-Washington organized a mission society with the purpose of aiding in the establishment of mission churches. This group and the congregation resolved to sponsor a branch mission church and to assume its beginning expenses. They petitioned the Mission Board of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America for a student assistant (Vicar) to help begin this new mission. And in 1931, the faculty at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, assigned Student Edwin E. Pieplow to come to Washington to work at this mission start.
Arriving in Washington, Vicar Pieplow began his work by preaching his first sermons in the area in both German and English during services at Trinity-Washington. He then worked alongside members of the congregation in canvassing the community which was chosen to plant this new mission: the “new” suburb of Mount Rainier, Maryland (which was founded in 1910). Following a rather favorable canvassing effort, Trinity-Washington’s mission society rented the town’s Odd Fellows Hall to be used as a worship site. And on October 11, 1931, the first worship services of the new Trinity Mission were held.
Until 1934, the mission continued as a part of the ministry of Trinity-Washington. In that year, Student Pieplow returned to Washington after the completion of his seminary studies, and he was ordained and installed as the Pastor of Trinity-Mount Rainier. At that time, Trinity-Washington then established the Mount Rainier Mission as a separate Congregation.
The relationship between “mother” and “daughter” continued in the early days of Trinity-Mount Rainier’s life, with the Pastor of the mother church often participating in major milestone events such as the cornerstone laying and dedication of Trinity-Mount Rainier’s church building, as well as anniversary celebrations.
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington, DC, today
Thanks be to God, our mother church still remains an active congregation in downtown Washington. One note though, she is now known as First Trinity Lutheran Church. This new name arose because of the confusion that there was sometimes as there were two “Trinity Churches” in relatively close proximity to each other. In the booklet prepared for our Tenth Anniversary in 1941, along with some historical notes there was a section titled, “Did You Know That?”, which had the following: “There is more than one Trinity church, yet there should be no confusion or inconvenience experienced if our church is referred to as TRINITY, MT. RAINIER”. Trinity-Washington chose later to be called by the name of First Trinity, as she was the first congregation to have that name in Washington, DC.
More history can be read about our mother church from their website: https://www.firsttrinitydc.org/who-we-are, where you can also view a “family tree” of the congregations begun by First Trinity.
We will follow up on this article with the story of how our congregation in turn also became a mother church as well.
This is the first of some occasional articles looking at various moments in our Trinity Congregation’s history as we observe our 95th Year. We hope these give you the opportunity to learn more about our past and to also see some of the pictorial treasures from our archives.
After nearly five years of its existence as a congregation, Trinity sensed the need to move beyond the space they were renting for worship and other church activities at the Odd Fellows Hall at 34th Street and Bunker Hill Road. Because of growth in numbers and outreach, a permanent church home would need to be found. A search was made of several available properties, and it was decided to purchase lots at the corner of 30th Street and Bunker Hill Road for the construction of a church building.
After settlement on the property, on the morning of September 18, 1936, ground was broken to commence work on the excavation on the property so building could begin quickly. A formal groundbreaking ceremony was dispensed with because of the lateness of the season. In lieu of such a ceremony, Pastor Edwin Pieplow gathered with the laborers and a few others, and after offering prayers, turned over the first spades of earth “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
A month after this, the congregation and others from neighboring Lutheran congregations gathered at the construction site on October 18, 1936 for the laying of the cornerstone for this new church building. In a worship service held outdoors, Pastor Pieplow led the 375 people in attendance in the rites which laid the foundation for the building. The Rev. F.C. Verwiebe, President of the Eastern District of the Missouri Synod, preached the sermon for the occasion. Pastors from the area also assisted in the leading of the service, including The Rev. Elmer Leonhardt (Immanuel-Alexandria, VA), The Rev. William Schiebel (Mount Olivet-Washington, DC), and The Rev. Hugo Hennig (Trinity-Washington, DC: our mother church, now First Trinity).
The following are pictures from the day’s event from Trinity’s Archives:
President Verwiebe delivers the sermon.
The gathered congregation.
The clergy make their way to the cornerstone. (from right to left: Pastor Leonhardt, Pastor W. Schiebel, Pastor Hennig, President Verwiebe)
The cornerstone is laid by Pastor Pieplow (left) as the gathered clergy look on (at right).
This picture from after the service is labeled in the archives as, “Kibler-Inspecting Job”.
Following the service, the gathered clergy: Pastor Leonhardt, Pastor W. Schiebel, Pastor Hennig, President Verwiebe, Pastor Pieplow.
This week, our Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will meet for its 40th Convention, under the theme “Immeasurable Hope”, based on Romans 5:5. This gathering, normally held every three years, is the body which will elect leaders and set the direction of our District through the adoption of resolutions. It is also a time for worship, study, and inspiration as we continue our walking together as “Synod in this place”.
The first days of the Convention, May 5-7, will be held virtually online via Zoom, with sessions each evening from 7-9 PM. On Monday, there will be a Convention Bible Study on Romans 5. Tuesday’s session will have a study in the Lutheran Confessions. Wednesday we will hear the first part of a report from our District President, the Rev. Dr. William Harmon, as well as the awarding of Servant of Christ recognitions. Each of these evening sessions will also include Floor Committee meetings to finalize preparations of the resolutions which will come before the convention for consideration
The final days of the Convention, May 8-9, will have sessions held in person in Richmond, VA. This will be the time for the election of our District leaders and for the adoption of resolutions, as well as hearing a report from our LCMS President, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison. There will also be time for worship, including a Thursday evening Divine Service with the Synod President preaching; and Morning Prayer to begin the session on Friday led by Pastor Schiebel. Also at the Convention, Pastor’s election as Circuit Visitor will be ratified and he will be installed along with the other Circuit Visitors and members of the District Board of Directors to serve for the next Triennium.
You are invited to view the online sessions of the Convention as you are able. To receive the Zoom link, please register by using the link below. Once registered, you’ll receive all the details you need to join the online Convention
Please keep this important gathering in your prayers as we seek the Lord’s will to be done among us as we carry out His mission in the place He has planted us to serve.
Christ is risen! And the joy of His resurrection continues to fill these Easter Days.
Yesterday at worship, I announced that the Seminaries of our LCMS were holding their placement services this week as Vicars and Interns, and soon to be Pastors-elect, will be sent out to either continue their learning “in the field” or to begin their Calls in their first field of service. We pray the Lord’s blessings on them all as they say along with the Prophet Isaiah, “Here am I, send me!”
If you would be interested in viewing these very special services from the Seminary Chapels, here are the links you will need.
Peace and blessings, +Pastor
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana:
Monday, April 28th at 7:00 PM ET Vicarage and Deaconess Intern Assignment Service The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, President of the LCMS, preaching
Tuesday, April 29th at 7:00 PM ET Candidate Call Service The Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, 3rd Vice President of the LCMS & Chair of the CTSFW Board of Regents, preaching
4:00 PM ET: Service of the Word with the Assignment of Vicarages and Deaconess Internships The Rev. Dr. William Harmon, President of the Southeastern District, LCMS, preaching
8:00 PM ET: Service of Evening Prayer with the Assignment of Calls The Rev. Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor, Bishop/President of the Atlantic District, LCMS, preaching
(A side note: Presidents Harmon and Taylor were both classmates of Pastor Schiebel’s at Concordia-Bronxville.)
Join us at Trinity as we celebrate with the whole Church the Days of our salvation as we walk with our Lord Jesus in this Most Holy Week.
THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY April 13, 2025
9:30 AM – The Liturgy of Palm Sunday with the Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem; the Solemn Reading of the Passion according to Saint Luke; Sermon: “Jesus, Our King”; and the Celebration of Holy Communion
HOLY (MAUNDY) THURSDAY – The First Day of the Easter Triduum April 17, 2025
7:00 PM – The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday with Confession and Absolution; Sermon: “Jesus, our Servant”; the Celebration of Holy Communion on the anniversary of its institution; and the Solemn Preparation of the Church for Good Friday
GOOD FRIDAY – The Second Day of the Easter Triduum April 18, 2025
7:00 PM – The Liturgy of Good Friday The Office of Tenebrae with the Adoration of the Cross; the Solemn Reading of the Passion according to Saint John; Sermon: “Jesus, Our Savior”; and the Solemn Prayers for the Church and the World.
THE FEAST OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD: EASTER DAY The Third Day of the Easter Triduum April 20, 2025
8:00 AM – Easter Fellowship Breakfast in the Multi-Purpose Room 9:30 AM – The Festival Divine Service of Easter Day with Hymns and Special Music; Sermon: “Jesus, Our Redeemer”; the Renewal of Baptismal Vows; and the Celebration of Holy Communion
Just wanted to let you all know that the concrete work was done on Thursday morning and we have the all clear to be able to walk on it today! So, when you come to church on Sunday, feel free to use the front entrance of your choice.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and look forward to seeing you at church!
