ABOUT US

The ELCA confesses the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In our preaching and teaching the ELCA trusts the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.

TRINITY’S STAFF:

Pastor Ruth Jensen

Pastor Ruth Jensen completed her undergraduate study at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin graduating summa cum laude with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religion/Religious Studies and Church Music. She was rostered in the Lutheran Church in America as a Lay Professional Leader in 1984 and served congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod and Allegheny Synod during the first 24 years of her ministry.

In 2006 she earned a Master of Arts degree in Children, Youth & Family Ministry from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota followed by her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary) in 2009. She has served in ministry for over thirty-five years. Pastor Ruth previously served Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Windber, and Grace Lutheran Church in State College, the largest congregation in the ELCA’s Allegheny Synod.

Pastor Ruth brings considerable gifts to Trinity, but above all she brings a vision that all people will know and personally experience the love of God. She feels called to reach out to the lost, anxious, conflicted, broken, shame-filled, abandoned, and marginalized people in our families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Nicholas Carroll

Director of Music

Nicholas serves as Director of Music and Media, and on many church committees. Nicholas also serves on various church and Synodical committees and has participated in churchwide vitality training. Nicholas Carroll is a professional pianist, piano instructor, composer, organist, piano tuner, and music minister. He operates Nicholas Carroll Piano Studio in Somerset. Nicholas has released two full length piano solo albums of original arrangements and compositions: Christmas in Somerset (2018), and Prayers for Piano (2022), both available on all streaming platforms. Nicholas has published a set of sacred choral composition entitled “Scripture Songs for Small Choirs” available from SMP press and written music for two liturgies. Nicholas is a regular performer and most notably has performed at the Flight 93 Memorial for the First Lady of United States. Nicholas holds music degrees from Seton Hill University and the American School of Piano Tuning. Born and raised in Somerset, Nicholas has a passion for advocating for music in small towns. In his spare time Nicholas enjoys reading and cooking. He lives in Windber with his wife Stephanie and pet tortoise, Lidiya.

At Trinity, he directs the TLC Choir, the Wittenberg Bells (Handbell Choir) and leads the congregation in worship at the organ and the piano. He has particular gifts in improvisation.

Vicar Regina Holliday

Regina Holliday is often described as the Energizer-bunny or a tornado depending on one’s perspective. She failed first grade, but then graduated the top ten in her high school graduating class. She was the Oklahoma State Champion in Original Oratory in 1990, but she never finished college. In 2009, she was interviewed by every major news network after painting a large mural in Washington, DC that became part on the National Health Care debate, but she is often mistaken for hotel staff when she paints onsite at healthcare events. She felt the call to ministry at the age of six, but she answered it at 46. She has written two books, is the mother of two children, and now serves two churches as their Vicar: Trinity Lutheran in Somerset and Horner Lutheran near Stoystown. She has delivered over 100 national speeches about improving healthcare for patients, helping the poor, and those that suffer; while she does that on a secular stage, she talks about God. In the last two years as a vicar in the TEEM program she has given over 100 sermons about the grace of Christ Jesus; and while she does that in a sanctuary, she talks about the poor, the suffering and life in the world. She is a widow and misses her husband Frederick Allen Holliday, II, PhD very much and looks forward to the day we are all united again in Heaven.

Ann Voytish

Office Manager

is in the office during office hours throughout the week. Ann is responsible for the business operations of the congregation; she is the keeper of all records and the resource manager of all supplies, computers, information, and communications.

Douglas Fanale

Sexton

keeps us warm, dry and everything clean! He also serves as a Volunteer Fireman.

Frank Kyle

Part-time Sexton

is largely responsible for the property and the buildings on the weekends and overnights

Jody Jurgevich

Director of Child Care and Learning Center

graduated from Harding University with a bachelors in early childhood and a minor in special education. She has had experience teaching in the preschool setting and as a substitute teacher. If you have any questions about our program please stop in and see her.