About

We preach Christ Crucified
Back of Worshi Center Alter picture

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Trinity Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. To learn more about the LCMS, click here.

Our History

 

On January 10, 1943, seventeen Lutheran men of North Little Rock met for the purpose of organizing a congregation on the north side of the Arkansas River. During the summer months of 1939, the Pastors of First Lutheran Church in Little Rock, the Rev. Rudolph Prange and the Rev. Erich Brauer, had begun holding open-air services in MacArthur Park in Little Rock.  Later, these outdoor services were transferred to a site in North Little Rock and conducted each Sunday and Wednesday night through the summer of 1941.  

In the fall of that year, First Lutheran Church purchased a lot at the corner of 17th and Maple streets in North Little Rock, a central location at that time.  In the spring of 1942, the Western District Mission Board was asked for assistance in this mision project.  Shortly thereafter, a call was extended by the Mission Board to Candidate Everett Grese to take charge of a new field. Candidate Grese was ordained and installed as missionary-at-large of the western District at First Lutheran on July 12, 1942, and immediately began his work in North Little Rock.

Meanwhile, the primary problem was to find a place of worship, and plans were made to erect a suitable chapel.  On September 27, 1942, Trinity's first sanctuary was dedicated to the glory of God.  Average attendance at the Sunday morning service at that time was 65.  A Sunday School was soon organized with an enrollment of 33.  In December of 1942, First Lutheran congregation, Little Rock, granted the request for release from membership of its members who live in North Little Rock in order that they may organize a congregation of their own.  

At the organizational meeting, which took place on January 10, 1943, the name "Trinity" was chosen for the new congregation. The new group numbered 124 souls and 81 communicant members. Support of 163 people were present at a special service that afternoon when the Rev. Prange preached on "We Have a Great Work to Do," based on Nehemiah 6:1-4.

What to Expect

What are the services like?

Trinity uses the historic liturgies of the Christan Church and makes use of the richness and depth of our Lutheran hymns as found in our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book. While the hymnal is modern, its contents are from the entire history of the Christian Church.

Can I come up for communion?

When we commune at an altar, we are saying "Amen" to what is believed and taught at that altar. Because of this, we are only able to commune those who have been instructed in the teachings of the Lutheran Church and are in fellowship with us. Ordinarily, this includes members of Trinity and members of our sister congregations of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. If you are unsure or have questions about participating in the Lord's Supper, please speak with the pastor before the service.
Those not communing are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing at the communion rail.

Is childcare available?

The gifts that are given and received in the Divine Service are for all people, young and old. For this reason, we encourage parents to have their children with them in the sanctuary. In addition to them hearing the Word of God, this also establishes the pattern of worship that will be part of their entire lives as Christians. We love to hear the voices of infants and children, but a cry room is available at the back of the sanctuary that allows parents to continue to see and hear the service should they need a place to calm a restless child.

Our Pastor

Rev. David D. Vandercook was installed as the pastor of Trinity (and as the pastor of Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle) on September 18, 2016. Prior to coming to Arkansas, Pastor Vandercook served three different congregations in Texas. Pastor has been married to his wife, Laura, since 2004 and they have been blessed with three lovely children: Allyssa, David, and Kaytlin. Pastor and his family enjoy camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Pastor is also an avid road cyclist and an amateur auto and bicycle mechanic.

In addition to his ministry to Trinity and Shepherd of Peace, Pastor Vandercook also serves as the Circuit Visitor for the Little Rock North Circuit of the Mid-South District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. He is also a regular guest on "Sharper Iron," a radio program on the LCMS's radio statio, KFUO.

Our Beliefs

 

BIBLE. 

We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, the revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.

GOD. 

We believe in one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has always been and will always be the only God. There were none before Him and shall be none after him.

THE FATHER. 

We believe that the Father created all things in heaven and on earth. He created human beings out of a love for us and desires a personal relationship with each of us.

JESUS. 

We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven.

HOLY SPIRIT. 

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, making them aware of their sin and the salvation available through Jesus. He regenerates, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service.

MAN.

We believe that man was created in the image of God and sinless, but fell into sin and is therefore lost and subject to judgment. There is nothing man can do to save himself from this judgment, but he can accept the death of Jesus as punishment in place of his own eternal death by acknowledging God and accepting the free gift of salvation.

SALVATION. 

We believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ provides the only way of justification and salvation for all who believe. Any who attach additional works of man as a requirement for salvation are false in that they infer Jesus’ death is insufficient in and of itself to save and that human beings somehow have the capability to save themselves.