Trinity Lutheran welcomes new pastor

After enduring 10 months without a pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church welcomes Jonathan Zoch to the congregation just in time for Endure Worship Night.

Endure Worship Night is a free-will fundraiser for youth to attend the 2025 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. The gathering is offered every three years and the theme for 2025 will be endure, a term the church is well familiar with over the past year.

Since Pastor John H. Scheurman Jr. left the church in October, the church has been without a pastor, leaving responsibilities to church members and community pastors. 

“Everyone really pulled together as a group, I even helped organize some church events,” said Trinity’s Music Director John Burns, “so, we are very excited to welcome Pastor Jon and his family.”

Zoch comes from Huston, Texas, where he completed Seminary school in St. Louis, then his Vicarage at St. Mark, which just so happens is where Burns came from in June 2023.

Burns said around the same time Zoch was interviewing for Pastor positions, he had reached out to St. Mark for resources and the idea floated around that Trinity was in need of a Pastor.

“Moving way out west was not something we had originally planned, but I asked if it was something I should pursue and turns out they were very interested and it was a great interview,” said Zoch.

Burns said the Call Day, the day students receive their first pastoral or diaconal ministry placement, was a big deal at Trinity and it was live streamed at the church.

“We had members of the church here and everyone was watching and getting excited, it was really cool,” he said.

Zoch is looking forward to learning more about the community and culture both in the church and outside.

“I’m excited to serve the Valley,” he said. “There are some incredible people here at Trinity and I’m looking forward to working with the congregation to serve and love the community.”

He plans to connect with and strengthen relationships with families, particularly with Trinity Lutheran Preschool and Sierra Lutheran High School.

“We have a great preschool and schools and great families that attend those schools,” he said. “I would like to connect with them strengthen those relationships and find out how we can better serve them, while welcoming them into the church.”

Zoch will be formally blessed and introduced to the congregation on Sept. 14, but the community will have the opportunity to meet him during the Endure Worship Night on Aug. 15.

The event is a night of music, prayer, and testimonials focused on the faith of Jesus and his endurance of the cross so believers can “run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Hebrew 12:1).

The evening is scheduled before the school resumes to support students as they enter a new year.

Returning musicians include Adam Countryman, Ariel McMahon, and Briana Burns. Countryman is a nationally recognized song writer, musician and worship leader and McMahon is a professional singer and worship leader.  Briana, Burn’s daughter, has been a worship leader since college and enjoys adding her vocals to the mix. She served at Trinity during Thanksgiving and most recently on Aug. 3. Rounding out the bands are professional musicians Chris Matthews and Bayne Hurbert. Matthews played with Tribe & Tongue at Sierra Lutheran’s kickoff event in 2022.

“Come and energize your faith with us through wonderful music and inspirational words,” said Burns.

Trinity is the oldest Lutheran congregation in Nevada with the original church built in 1895. The congregation moved to the present church on Douglas Avenue 60 years later.