Meet the Staff

Rev. Michael J. Borcherding - Pastor

Rev. Michael John Borcherding (Pastor Mike) was born on November 13, 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri to Ed and Norma Borcherding.  He is the oldest of five children, one sister and three brothers.  He grew up in St. Louis and Overland Park, Kansas.  He graduated from High School at St. John’s Academy, Winfield, Kansas, 1967; St. John’s Junior College, Winfield, Kansas, 1969; Concordia Senior College, 1972.  He attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. During the controversy in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, he moved to Concordia Seminary – in – exile, later Christ Seminary – Seminex, St. Louis, Missouri, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1977. Pastor Mike’s grandfather was a pastor, three uncles were pastors, and two cousins are pastors – all Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; a brother is a Director of Christian Education at a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana; and his father attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis before joining the army during WWII.

 Pastor Mike was ordained at Zion Lutheran Church, Kingman Kansas on June 26, 1977 in the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) by Bishop Robert Studtmann.  Pastor Mike interned at Grace Lutheran Church (Lutheran Church in America (LCA), Monroe, Wisconsin and has served at the following congregations: Zion Lutheran Church (AELC), Kingman, Kansas  and Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church (AELC), Haven, Kansas, 1977-1983; Faith Lutheran Church, St. John, Kansas (AELC) and Garfield Lutheran Church (LCA), Garfield, Kansas, 1983-1986; Assistant Pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church (LCA), Hutchison, Kansas, 1986-1987; Emanuel Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Stuttgart, Arkansas, 1988-1997; St. Paul Lutheran Church (ELCA), Peoria, Illinois, 1997-2009.  He began his ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church, Oak Lawn, on December 1, 2009.

 Pastor Mike is married to Susan (Sue) L. (Trusty) who is a Registered Nurse.  They met in St. Louis while Pastor Mike was in seminary and Sue was in nursing school.  They were married on July 20, 1974 in Salisbury, Missouri and have three daughters, Amy Michele, Erin Melissa, and Alisha Marie.  Amy is an assistant principal at an elementary school outside of Springfield, Massachusetts, and she is married to Jeff Napolitano.  They have two children, John Brown (Jack) and Ella.  Erin is presently living in Saginaw, Michigan where she is working producing independent films and has her own business promoting Christian concerts.  Alisha has her B.S. in social work and is currently traveling and working in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, and Australia.

 Pastor Mike enjoys movies, reading, fishing, gardening, and keeping freshwater tropical fish. He and Sue like camping and traveling and have visited all of the lower 48 states except Florida and all of Canada except for the Maritime Provinces.  He enjoyed running until his knee gave out. 

 Pastor Mike and Sue are enjoying the move to Oak Lawn and look forward to their ministry at Trinity.

Linda Bensen - Parish Worker

Parish Worker at Trinity since 1968.  Linda works with the confirmation and high school youth – teaching and planning youth programs and trips.  Part of her responsibilities also includes directing the Praise Choir and Trinity Bell Choir, planning fun trips for adults as well as youth.  Linda organizes other activities in the church.  She currently serves on the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod Candidacy Committee, Oak Lawn Community Partnership Committee and the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn Board.
 

 

Cathy Cepican - Director of Christian Education

Cathy brings years of teaching experience, a love of children, and her faith together to direct our Pre-School and oversee our Christian Education programming. Cathy has been the director of Trinity Lutheran Preschool for over 20 years and has had the joy of seeing over 1,000 children walk through our doors.  Cathy is active in many community activities.  She is chairman of the board of The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. In 2007, Cathy was awarded the “Soaring Spirit Award” for he extraordinary work for the Children's Museum  .





Marianne Izzo - Church Secretary

A resident of Evergreen Park, Single mother of 3 beautiful children, I started here  in March of 2006. I am very involved in many activities, I have been a member of the Northeast PTA for the past 6 years doing all of the fundraising for the school,  for the past  5 years I have taught Religious Education to 1st graders at St. Bernadette Parish .  I love having an active part in the community and my children’s lives.  I was on a committee that started a youth football & cheerleading program from the ground up in 2003 in Evergreen Park. I enjoy coaching  4 year old soccer, & cheerleading at St. Bernadette.    
 

 

Ray Wilk- Church Custodian
 

~ Coming Soon ~