Rooted in Jesus,
Growing Together,
Serving our Community.
Our Purpose
To be a church rooted in a dynamic relationship with Jesus, growing in relationships with one another, and empowered to serve our community in His love.
What Does That Mean?
We want to be like Jesus. We understand that begins with a relationship with Him (rooted in Jesus). As people rooted in Jesus get together, those relationships naturally encourage one another to grow. We learn to love one another as Jesus loves us. But as the love of God works through us, we can’t keep that to ourselves. We have to share it! His love compels us to go beyond our church to the larger community so all people might know the good news about Jesus.
Our Staff
Kirk Patterson
Kirk Patterson is the Lead Pastor at Trinity. He loves that he gets to guide people toward a vibrant relationship with Jesus, develop a culture where we learn to love one another like Jesus, and equip others to share Jesus with our communities and world.
Kirk currently lives in North Reading, MA with his wife, Shelby, and their three kids. He likes to explore new places with his family, read books that help him grow, go on runs with Shelby, and play guitar. If you hear an accent when he talks, it’s because Kirk grew up in East Tennessee. In the good and not-so-good times, he’s a faithful University of Tennessee fan.
Kirk has been at Trinity since 2014 and has been the lead pastor since 2018. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from the University of Edinburgh.
Mat Gansenberg
Mat Gansenberg is the Associate Pastor of Youth and Families at Trinity. He focuses most of his energy on middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults – but also gets excited about strategic thinking wherever it’s needed. Mat loves facilitating meaningful conversations, winning youth group games, and helping to build Jesus-centered community. He’s passionate about sharing the heart of God and equipping others to grow to reflect Jesus more and more in the ways they think, feel, and act.
Mat grew up on the North Shore, and he and his wife, Hannah, now live in North Reading with their two daughters. He enjoys spending time with people, reading, watching the Patriots or Celtics, and drinking Arizona Green Tea.
Mat has been serving at Trinity since 2016 and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
David Anastasi
David Anastasi is the Associate Pastor of Discipleship at Trinity. He is passionate about the mission of Trinity, which is to see people rooted in the saving grace of Jesus, growing with one another in community, and being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.
David currently lives in Danvers with his wife, Ashley, and their two daughters. He likes to stay active during all four New England seasons, read, spend time with his family, including their two English Labrador retrievers, and is a passionate Boston sports fan. David also serves as Head of School at Covenant Christian Academy in Peabody.
David holds a Master of Divinity degree in Christian Apologetics from Liberty University and a Master of Science degree in Finance and Economics from Boston University.
Hannah Gansenberg
Hannah Gansenberg is the Pastor of Outreach at Trinity. Hannah loves learning, big picture thinking, and dreaming up creative ways for the church to connect with those in our community. She is passionate about service, and loves finding opportunities for people to serve in life-giving ways, using the gifts and passions God has given them. Hannah always has an eye out for populations that might be on the fringes, and she cares deeply about cultivating a church community where everyone feels included and valued.
Hannah lives in North Reading with her husband Mat and their two little girls. Together, they love opening their home and creating a warm environment where people can spend time together.
Shelby Patterson
Shelby Patterson is the Worship Pastor at Trinity. She has been actively involved in worship leading since her days in youth ministry, and she loves every opportunity to help people actively engage with Jesus through music. She has also been involved in formal training musical spheres since childhood.
Shelby enjoys training and worshiping alongside people from children to those who have been around for generations. When she is not leading worship, she enjoys quality time with her husband Kirk and three children. She recharges by being outside, going on long walks or runs with a good sermon or podcast playing in her ears. She loves to write worship songs that share her experiences with the Lord and facilitate others’ connection with Him. She loves to spend time with friends, bake and celebrate people’s birthdays with gusto!
Shelby grew up in Tennessee and lived there until she and Kirk moved to Massachusetts in the Summer of 2010. New England is a special place to her and she’s honored to live here and love people.
Shelby holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University.
Megg Wenzel
Megg Wenzel is the Administrative Assistant in the Trinity office. She has a passion for hospitality and finds joy in making people feel welcomed and comfortable. She works alongside the Trinity staff and ministries to serve our church family and to ensure that, as a church, we can share the love of Jesus with the community around us.
Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Megg currently lives in Melrose with her husband Ryan and their three daughters. When not working, she enjoys traveling, indulging in a love for cooking and good restaurants, and reading a good book.
Teresa Larkin
As a member of Trinity for over twenty-five years, Teresa loves being part of the past and the present of Trinity and is excited to help shape the future of Women's Ministry.
She is passionate about reading and studying God's Word and equally passionate about sharing that love with the amazing women of Trinity.
Her full-time job is serving as the Executive Director of a life-affirming pregnancy center with multiple locations.
An avid reader, Teresa also enjoys the beach (all seasons), musical theater, and long walks with friends.
Lauren Siracusa
Lauren Siracusa is the Communications Coordinator at Trinity. Lauren loves to be in the kitchen and hosting events at her home and other places! Creating a warm, inviting space is what she always strives to do, and that extends to her love of Social Media. Over the last few years, Lauren has delved into the dynamic world of Social Media, turning it into a place to connect, engage, and foster a positive space. She is excited to bring her love for communication and genuine connection to the team in a way that glorifies Jesus.
Lauren grew up in the Boston area, and is currently living in Hampstead, New Hampshire with her husband Robert, son Jaxson, and dog Audrey. Lauren spends any “free” time at the hockey rink watching Jax pursue his love of the game.
History & Beliefs
Our History
For over 200 years this church has been committed to one main thing - pointing people across our region to the life-changing power of Jesus. In 1816, two women were baptized in the Ipswich River. That was the beginning of the First Baptist Church of North Reading. It was a consistent presence in the town for decades, seeking to reflect the goodness of God and tell the good news of Jesus. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the church began to grow. In the late 90s, the church’s name was changed to Trinity Evangelical Church. This name change reflects the undying commitment to the ‘evangel,’ which means ‘Good News’ of the Gospel.
Our Beliefs
We believe in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and are committed to living out his teachings in the world. At Trinity Evangelical Church, we feel most closely aligned to the beliefs outlined in The Lausanne Covenant.
Get Connected
How To Get Involved
CONNECTION
Sunday Services & Events
Join us for our Sunday worship services as we celebrate God’s presence and find encouragement to follow Him through our lives. After the service, be sure to stay and mingle over some refreshments. Head to our I'm New page for information about service times, location, children’s programs, and more!
Download Our App
The Trinity App provides easy access to sermon notes, small group questions, sermons, upcoming events, giving, and much more! Visit the app store for iOS or Android to download.
Community
Join a Small Group
Small Groups offer a community for the people who make up our church and are a great first step toward getting to know others. We have small groups for everyone! Each Small Group meets regularly throughout the month.
Join a Ministry
Serving in ministry, both inside and outside our church, is how we engage in God’s purposes for our lives. It’s also one of the best ways to meet new people who might share common interests and passions. Learn about our ministries and get involved in what God is doing at Trinity!
Become A Member
Membership
Becoming an official member means making Trinity your spiritual home and committing to our mission and vision. It means higher commitment, but also deeper fellowship and celebration as we follow Christ together and share in his work. Email info@trinitynr.org for information on the next membership class.
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