Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Clear Lake, Minnesota, was officially organized into a congregation on December 29, 1912. Missionary and preaching activity is reported to have begun as early as 1907 but there are not clear records verifying this.

Worship services were held in the homes of local Lutherans such as in the Kating residence. The services were conducted by Pastor Fark of St. Cloud ministering in English and Pastor Agather of Sauk Rapids, ministering in German and administering communion.

Some of the original names in this mission group were Herman Stephan, William Bost, the Heideman’s, Apling’s and Mrs. J. Dietrich and her children.

An organ was purchased through the efforts of Herman Stephan and services were then held in the city hall. Although Rev. Agather was in charge of all the mission activity in the Clear Lake area he was assisted by Student Geist from 1910 to 1912.

In August of 1912, Clear Lake Lutherans joined Foley Lutherans in calling Rev. Martin Hauser to be their pastor. He was installed by Pastor
Fark and Agather on August 18, 1912. Organizing Clear Lake Lutherans into a congregation on December 29, 1912. Pastor Hauser continued to serve Trinity until 1917 when he was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Karl Hauser. Many hardships were suffered by the Hauser brothers in serving their perish. Mr. Herman Stephan found one of them nearly frozen to death in the snow in his struggles to reach Clear Lake. Mr. Stephan took him to his house, cared for him, and then took him to Clear Lake to conduct services.

Rev. Karl Hauser was succeeded by Rev. W. Spruth as pastor on August 31, 1919. In a letter dated Sept. 20, 1937 addressed to Pastor Beck of Trinity congregation, Pastor Spruth writes: "All the while I served Clear Lake, we worshiped in the Methodist Episcopal church. Shortly before I left, we were taking under advisement the move of acquiring our own church home. Important advances under my leadership were the organization of a Ladies’ Aid, and a Sunday School with Hattie and Martha Sharff, as assistants. During that time, I conducted 134 services, 56 in German, and 78 in English. The attendance in the German service for that period was 1,192 adults. In the English service for the same period 3,344. The little flock at Clear Lake gathered most admirably around the Gospel preaching. Once during one of the winters I labored there, I had to walk from St. Cloud to Clear Lake since the buses discontinued to run on account of the roads being drifted shut. I had announced communion celebration for that Sunday. I walked out to Clear Lake and the communicants were there to partake of it. Even though the roads were impassable they knew the pastor would be there, and so they were there too. Clear Lake was at that time a very promising place. " Rev. Walter Spruth served 1919 to 1924.

Rev. Paul Beck began serving Clear Lake and Foley on December 11, 1924. He lived in the parsonage at Foley. In 1925 the Trinity congregation purchased, remodeled and dedicated a church building. The building was obtained from the Swedish Augustana Synod congregation which discontinued. (This building was located on the site of the “Knotty Inn” North of Hwy 10 on Cty Rd 6.)

German services were replaced by English services in the spring of 1931. Services were held every Sunday. In 1932 the congregation numbered 25 voters, 133 souls, and 77 communicants. They paid the pastor an annual salary of $300, and donated $113 for missions. During Pastor Paul Beck’s service to Trinity the activities of the Ladies’ Aid provided him with a garage and their labors also assisted in raising funds for the purchasing of pews for the church. The congregation also became self supporting.

In 1934 and 1935 Pastor Beck was assisted by his son, Student Arthur Beck. During this time Student Beck organized a Bible class and introduced a weekly newspaper the “Lutheran Messenger”. Pastor Paul Beck served until July 5, 1936. A graduate of St. Louis, Rev. Arthur Beck became pastor of the Foley-Clear Lake parish upon his father Rev. Paul Beck’s resignation July 5th. He served on many boards and
committees of the District. On April 22, 1937 Trinity congregation formally applied for Membership in the Lutheran Church of Missouri, Ohio, and other states. Pastor Arthur Beck served the congregation until October 1941.

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Rev Ewald Hinck served from 1942 - 1944. During his pastorate, Trinity became a corporation of the State of Minnesota on July 2, 1944. A building fund for a new house of worship was begun, as well. 

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Rev Julius Stein served from 1944 - 1958. The dual parish with Foley was ended, and our congregation became a dual parish with a congregation in St. Cloud (Holy Cross?). Our present building was built during this time, being dedicated on July 10, 1949. 

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Rev William MacGregor served from 1958 - 1964. He also served Faith Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Trinity's communicant membership was 125, and baptized membership. A new bridge was build over the Mississippi, connecting Clearwater to Clear Lake, and this brought new members. On October 28, 1962, a 50th Anniversary celebration was held. 

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Rev Aden Loest served from 1964 - 1969. On April 25, 1965, a motion was made to burn the mortgage note on the church. A new phone was installed at the church during his pastorate. 

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Rev Herman Hannemann served from 1969 - 1974. In 1972, Trinity voted to end the dual parish and have a full-time pastor. In April of that year, a house and lot were purchased across the street from the church. A new parsonage was constructed and dedication was on December 30, 1973.

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Rev Gary Thur served from 1974 - 1978 as Trinity's first full-time pastor. Two services were held at this time - 9 and 11am - we would return to one serve in May 1979. In 1977 a fellowship room, church offices, narthex, and ramp were added to our church building. A history box was placed in the cornerstone of the new addition containing a Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, a couple of newspaper articles, old coins, and service bulletins from the 25th Anniversary.

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Rev Rolf Preus served from 1979 - 1982. 

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Rev Steven Schmidt served from 1983 - 1987. A new organ was purchased in February 1984. In 1986, new hymnals were purchased. The parsonage was rented out after Pastor Schmidt moved out.

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Rev Alfred Leja served from 1988 - 1992 as our vacancy pastor. A new tradition was started in 1988 - our annual outdoor summer service. Old hymnals and a mimeograph were donated to a new church in Rice. We sold the parsonage in 1991. 

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Rev Craig Patterson served from 1992 - 1995 as our vacancy pastor. During his time, we purchased a copy machine, new carpeting, and sealed and striped the parking lot. New green paraments, stoles, and linen cloths were donated. 

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Rev David Hahn served from 1995 - 1999. "Streets of Bethlehem", a live nativity, was started. New oil filled candles were donated. We started serving soup suppers before Lenten services. A new computer and electric piano were purchased. 

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Rev Henry Fry served from 1999 - 2006 as our vacancy pastor. In 2003, construction began on our fellowship hall. Sidewalks were put in, a new parking lot tarred, and playground equipment was donated. 

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Rev Peter Holm served from 2006 - 2012 as our vacancy pastor. 

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Rev George Sagissor III served from 2013 - 2020. During his pastorate, we formed a dual parish (again) with Faith Lutheran in St. Cloud. 

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Rev Joshua Reber was called in 2020, and serves us currently.