December 21, 2025
We invite you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:30am.
THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS
PRESIDING - Pastor Leland Albright
ASST LEADER - Amy Luckett
READER- Heather Rzechula
COMMUNION ASST. - Heather Rzechula,, Linda Mizutowich
USHER - Chalie Ryan, Larry Symanski
MUSICIAN - Candace Peters,, Craig Lanigan
ADVENT WREATH - Garcia/Brown Family
IT’S NAME TAG TIME AGAIN! Let’s help Pastor Leland get acquainted with everyone, by wearing our name tags. Check out the Name Tag Board in the narthex by the main entrance. If you don’t see yours, just jot your name on the clipboard so a new one can be printed if needed.
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING - As a Christian tradition, we will light the candles of the Advent wreath at the beginning of worship. One candle is lit each Sunday. This week we thank the Garcia/Brown Family for lighting all four candles on the fourth Sunday of Advent.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
SUNDAY SCHOOL & CONFIRMATION -Classes will resume, Sunday, January 4, 2026.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM RECAP- Many thanks to our Sunday School students, families and teachers for an unforgettable Christmas Program, The King Is Born. All students did an amazing job sharing the message of God’s promises fulfilled with confidence and joy. Thank you to our teachers for their time, guidance, and dedication, and a special thank-you to Paul and Amy Enderle for the thoughtful preparation that made the program a beautiful and meaningful celebration of the birth of Jesus!
THIS WEEK’S OFFICE HOURS- As always it is recommended to call before stopping by.
Mon- 8am-4pm | Tues- CLOSED | Wed- 8am-12pm | Thurs-CLOSED | Fri- CLOSED
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK…
Sunday, December 21st 6:30pm Blue Christmas Worship
December 24th & 25th (see info below) Christmas Worship
BLUE CHRISTMAS - Sunday, December 21, 2025 @ 6:30PM
On December 21, the shortest day of the year, a Blue Christmas service will be held at Trinity Lutheran at 6:30pm. The main emotion for many people in the Christmas season is not joy or peace but rather sadness—whether it is due to the impending death of a loved one or to the death of a loved one in the past. The service gives opportunities to remember together, to grieve together, and to remember together the hope Jesus brought.
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP
And please join us as we celebrate the birth of our Savior ...ALL are welcome!
Christmas Eve - December 24th @ 6:30PM
Christmas Eve - December 24th @ 11:00PM
Christmas Day - December 25th @ 10:30AM
CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE
We are excited to announce that the Call Committee has received a new slate of three candidates from Synod. The initial round of interviews are set to begin on December 22. Please pray for the committee members and pastoral candidates as they begin the interview process and for the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Jeff Allen, Paul Enderle, Amy Luckett, Mark Peters, Jim Scheibel, Jan Wenski
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION
SCHOLARSHIP FUND: The O’Connell and O’Hare Families
WITH SYMPATHY & PRAYER
We were saddened this week to learn that Trinity member, Mike Maty passed away on Monday, December 15. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 21, from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at Kosary Funeral Home (9837 S. Kedzie) in Evergreen Park. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 22, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Visitation will begin at 10:00am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00am May God’s peace and comfort be with the Maty and Jaeger families during this time. We ask that you keep all who knew Mike Maty in your thoughts and prayers.
NEED TO KNOW
SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY 12/28/25 – All scholarship recipients will be notified next week and will receive details about their participation in the December 28th service at 10:30 a.m.
2025 ANNUAL REPORTS DUE IN JANUARY –Attention, Attention...Annual Report emails were sent on December 12th! If you received an email from Jan E. regarding an annual report, don't forget that reports are due by January 5, 2026. Thank you to all who have already submitted theirs. If you haven’t yet, please do so soon! If you have any questions, just contact the office. Thank you!
CHRISTMAS EVE 6:30PM VOLUNTEERS 12/24/25
PRESIDING - Pastor Leland Albright
ASST LEADER -Jobey Hendel
READER- Linda Kay
COMMUNION ASST. - Kurt Hendel, Linda Kay
USHER - NEED TWO
MUSICIAN - Candace Peters,, Craig Lanigan
CHRISTMAS EVE 11:00PM VOLUNTEERS 12/24/25
LEADER - Mark Peters
READER - Nancy Mondello
COMMUNION ASST.
Gene & Nancy Mondello, Jan Wenski
USHER - NEED TWO
MUSICIAN - Candace Peters,, Craig Lanigan
CHRISTMAS DAY 10:30AM VOLUNTEERS 12/25/25
PRESIDING - Pastor Leland Albright
ASST LEADER -Jan Wenski
READER- Susan Ferson
COMMUNION ASST. - Ely Peters, Naomi Peters
USHER - NEED TWO
MUSICIAN - Candace Peters,, Craig Lanigan
LOOKING AHEAD…
Sunday, December 28th 10:30am Scholarship Sunday
Monday, January 5th 9:00am 2025 Annual Reports Due
NEXT WEEK’S WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS -12/28/25 - COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2026 TRINITY COUNCIL
The Council met on 12/9/25 and elected officers for 2026, as listed below. Terms for the 2026 Council begin January 1, 2026. Council members elected at the November 16, 2025 congregational meeting are in bold print.
OFFICERS:
Trustee/ President: Gene Mondello
1st Vice President / Head Trustee: Dave Thompson
2nd Vice President / Head Deacon: Gary Enderle
3rd Vice President / Head Elder: Gail Klimek
Deacon / Financial Secretary: Julie Constantine
Deacon / Treasurer: Kurt Staehlin
Deacon / Recording Secretary: Amy Enderle
TRUSTEES:
Paul Andersen
Gene Mondello
Dave Thompson
Bill Waterstraat
DEACONS:
Julie Constantine
Gary Enderle
Jay Rzechula
Kurt Staehlin
ELDERS:
Amy Enderle
Craig Lanigan
Linda Kay
Gail Klimek
AT LARGE:
Diane Valdez
Pat Yeager
FOURTH QUARTER MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
The Fourth Quarter Missions theme is "Feeding/Caring." You still have the opportunity to make monetary contributions to ELCA World Hunger and Beds+ through the end of December. Please use “Special Offering” envelopes and designate the specific mission OR CLICK HERE to give online. Click “FUND” and then “MISSIONS” and "SUB FUND" and then select the one you'd like to support. You can also use THIS LINK to make special donations specifically for Advent and Christmas as well.
PRAYER LIST 12-21-25
Trinity Members
The Family of Mike Maty, Karen Weaver, Carol Cloutier, James J. Michael Gallagher, Daniel Garcia, Candace Peters, Helga Brand, James Gallagher, Dawn Fish, Mike Maty, Linda Kay, Larry Reich, Linda Jaeger, James J. Michael Gallagher, Daniel Garcia, Candace Peters
Friends & Family of Trinity Members
The Family of Maryanne Capron
Team Alpha International Ministry
Shelly by Barb Fitzpatrick
Bruce Markland by Stacey Fox
Joan Matthews by Karen Rascher
Matt Adams by the Peters Family
Brian Thompson by Dave & Diane Thompson
Jill Lynch by Amy Enderle
The Family of Eileen Caratini by Karen Rascher
Matthew McNaughton by the McNaughton/Smith Families
Brian Anderson
Alpha Primary School in Pakistan
Michael Thompson by Dave & Diane Thompson
Elaine Eberhardt by Jan Wenski
Phillip Yontez by Heather Rzechula
Trinity Prayer List Reminder
Please note, names submitted to the Trinity Prayer List will remain on the list for four weeks. After that time, the name(s) will be taken off but they can be re-submitted. Please use the pew Connection Cards or email office@trinityol.org for all prayer requests.
JESUS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL. AMEN!
WISHING YOU AND YOURS LOVE, PEACE AND JOY & A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR FILLED WITH GOD'S ABUNDANT BLESSSINGS!
STAFF CONTACTS
Pastor Leland Albright Interim Pastor leland.albright@mac.com
Jan Enderle Office Manager office@trinityol.org
John Weaver Custodian johnweaver9701@trinityol.org
