Trinity Lutheran Church, Weatherford
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The History of Trinity Lutheran Church
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Just The Beginning
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Early in 1958 a small group of men met at Resener's Office Supply on the Weatherford square to discuss the feasibility of establishing a Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, in Weatherford. After soliciting the advice and support of both the Texas District Mission Board and Fort Worth Mission Society and consequently, their approval, plans for the church came to fruition.
The founding personnel included: Millard Cates, Jr., Elmer Eubank, E. E. Huse, L. D. Huse, E. K. Muelschen, Carl Resener, John H. Tyre, J. D. Wright (all of Weatherford) and Bill F. Owens and Haywood Scarborough of Azle. The first organizational meeting was held May 14, 1958. The Reverend A. O. Rast, Mission Director of the Texas District, guided the group in ascertaining needs of the congregation. On June 1, 1958 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mutual Building and Loan Community Room, the election of the following temporary officers was held:
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| President | Carl Resener |
| Secretary | Millard Cates, Jr. |
| Treasurer | Elgin Muelschen |
| Sunday School Superintendent | Elmer Eubank |
The name, Trinity Lutheran Church, was chosen with plans for the first services to be held July 20, 1958 in the Twentieth Century Club on South Main Street, Weatherford. Worship service was set for 8:30 am. with Sunday School to follow at 9:45 am. The Reverend Herbert A. Rast of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, served as the first pastor. On July 20, 1958, forty-nine worshippers attended the first service of Trinity Lutheran Church. Hearts were filled with joy and praise to the Lord for the privilege of establishing the first Lutheran church in Parker County. The church's roll was held open until December 1958 with the following as the charter members:
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| Millard, Jr. and Lillian Cates | |
| Elmer, Erna and Jerry Eubank | (Norman, Larry, Gary) |
| Edmund E. and Velesta Huse | |
| Louis D. and Ruth Huse | (Connie Sue) |
| Selma M. Jentho | |
| Raymond and Voncile Jones | (Phyllis, Linda, Bucky) |
| Mrs. Jerry Lindsay | (Jerry Ann) |
| Fredrick and Lillian Meissner | |
| Elgin K., Dorothy and Elgin, Jr. Muelschen | (Wilford) |
| Carl and Retha Resener | (Candy, Guy, Greg) |
| Dock and Eleanore Ringo | (Joe, Danny, Richard) |
| Ted and Joan Saathoff | (Linda, Gary, Jerry) |
| James and Alice Sandberg | |
| Landon, Kathy, Garry and Landon, Jr. Schkade | |
| Raymond, Olivia, Marilyn, Raymond, Jr. and Lam Schoenke |
| Walter and Lucille Stelter | (Emily, Evelyn, George, Walter) |
| John and Wilhelmina Tyre | |
At that time, Trinity Lutheran Church's membership numbered thirty-nine communicants with a total of sixty-one souls. The first baptism was administered in the August 31, 1958 worship service when Jerry Ray Saathoff, infant son of Ted and Joan Saathoff was received into God's kingdom through the rites of Holy Baptism. The first duly-elected officers serving Trinity Lutheran Church included:
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| President | Carl Resener |
| Vice-President | Raymond Schoenke |
| Secretary | Millard Cates, Jr. |
| Treasurer | Elgin Muelschen |
| Financial Secretary | L. D. Huse |
| Elders | Elmer Eubank
E. E. Huse
L. D. Huse |
| Trustees Raymond | Schoenke, Sr.
Fredrick Meissner
Raymond Jones |
| Sunday School Superintendent | Elmer Eubank |
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