volume 18, issue 1 overall trinity on solid ground january 2018 · 2019. 2. 2. · overall trinity...
TRANSCRIPT
Advent Review 3-4
Advent Activities 5
Calendar 6-7
Missions 8
WOW Returns 9
UMW 10
Birthdays/Anniversaries 11
Obits 11
Th
e W
OR
D
Trin
ity U
nited
M
eth
od
ist C
hu
rch
, 6
15
1 W
. C
harleston
Blvd
., Las V
eg
as, N
V 8
91
46
LA
S V
EG
AS
, N
EV
AD
A
Volume 18, Issue 1
January 2018
8:45 a.m. Announcements
9 a.m. Worship Service
9:15 a.m. Children’s Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Youth Class
10:30 a.m. Adult Bible Class
12:00 p.m. Tongan worship
12:00 p.m. Korean Worship
Childcare is provided all morning.
See photos of events at church website
Fall Sunday Schedule
Overall Trinity on Solid Ground
Inside This Issue
Continued… page 2
Rev. Khalif Smith at cantata worship
By Dan Sahagun
The Word
Despite church leaders having
to call a special Church Council
meeting at the end of the year, Rev.
Khalif Smith remains confident of
the mission moving forward for
Trinity United Methodist Church.
On Dec. 14, leaders were given
the task of deciding how to pro-
ceed with the short-term dilemma
of facing a $32,000 deficit from the
previous 11 months.
Outgoing Finance chair Roger
Unger explained at the Church
Council meeting that because of
unexpected expenses incurred dur-
ing 2017, the church had to borrow
$32,000 from its restricted funds.
The challenge would be to
agree how to pay back the funds.
After much discussion, the Church
Council agreed on a solution of
withdrawing the funds from a
$100,000 investment account. The
account will be gradually paid back
from future anticipated revenue.
How did this situation come to
this point? Is the church in danger
of closing its doors? Has this short-
fall undone what Trinity has accom-
plished in 2017, especially with its
outreach to the Las Vegas commu-
nity? Absolutely not on the latter
two points.
This situation, though unset-
tling, is not that rare in light of the
bigger picture. Retired Rev. Larry
Gerber, who is a former senior pas-
tor at Trinity, officiated at the
Church Council meeting. He re-
members his introduction when
arriving from Arizona as senior
pastor at Trinity in 1982.
“I was told I would be coming to
a friendly, growing church and it
was. Unfortunately, they didn’t tell
me they were $30,000 in the hole.
Ultimately, we were able to pay it
all back,” said the white-haired pas-
tor on his way to the parking lot
after the meeting.
Rev. Smith was more optimistic
about the situation. He is in his
fourth year as senior pastor. He
expects through areas such as
fundraising and additional pro-
PAGE 2 THE W ORD
State of Trinity Continued from… page 1
Carol Bumgarner directs a combined choir during the 15th Annual cantata with an orchestra and narrators.
Continued… page 12
“There is money coming in,
we’re not a sinking ship, we’re
not going to die but the decision
to use our savings is a difficult
one. Many of our congregation
are older having grown up in an
era when you save for a rainy day.
You put away and you make sure
you have stored so in the time of
crisis you have the ability to get
yourself out,” he said.
“It’s important for us to un-
derstand that we are in a real, real
good financial situation. We are
not in a hole or behind. Have we
experienced cash flow difficulties?
Absolutely. (But) We’re sitting
pretty well. I believe we’ll be able
to recover fine. I believe 2018 is a
year we’ll be positively affected in
the finance area.”
The former Georgia pastor
downplays the deficit.
“Again, I think many of the
people within our congregation
don’t understand church finance
in the ways that it works over the
course of a year. Many on our
committees have an understand-
ing because they’ve been in a fi-
nance meeting or a (Board of)
Trustees meeting and they under-
stand the cycles a church goes
jected revenue, this deficit can be
paid back in the next year. Which
doesn’t dampen his optimism for
2018.
“I don’t really focus on the nega-
tive, I always focus on the positive
to serve Christ in the community
and how we grow as a faith commu-
nity in vitality and hope,” he ex-
plained.
Unexpected expenses are sim-
ply something to be expected for an
aging campus. Some of the original
structures are nearly 55 years old.
“This year was especially stress-
ful because we have done a lot of
maintenance on the campus. Main-
tenance costs money. When you
have to repair air condition units,
fixing up rooms, repairing toilets
and sinks and plumbing. We’ve had
two pretty heavy hits (repairs). One
was a parking lot issue where
plumbing had to be repaired. We’ve
replaced three air condition units.
All that physical maintenance re-
quires a little bit more money,” said
the provisional Elder.
While the church had to dip into
its savings, much like a person
would have to do to upkeep their
home, the financial situation is not
as dire.
through,” Rev. Smith said.
“Those who have not partici-
pated in those meetings may not
have an understanding that in the
summer months our cash flow
decreases but for some reason we
don’t see as high as cash flows.”
Low and high cash flows ap-
parently has been a way of live for
churches.
The pastor said, “At the end of
the year and the beginning of the
year is when we see a peak in giv-
ing, we have more cash on hand
so there is this up-and-down cycle
that a church goes through, par-
ticularly goes through. This is a
pattern that has repeated itself
year after year after year.”
The solution?
“The things we are doing to
try to curtail that to help that
situation is to add new members,
diversity our revenue streams,
look at ways to raise new money
to give people more access to giv-
ing such as electronic funds giv-
ing (on the church website) that
we are exploring right now to
help remedy those types of situa-
tions from happening.”
PAGE 3 VOLUME 18, I SSUE 1
Advent in Review
Advent has come and gone but the spirit experienced
during the last month figures to carry over well into the
new year as Trinity UMC continues its mission of spreading
the love of Christ throughout the Las Vegas community.
Members of Trinity United Methodist celebrated the
light of the birth of the Lord throughout December in a
grand way through worship during the four weeks of Ad-
vent; the 15th
annual Christmas cantata, “Hope!,” per-
formed at two services; the 37th
annual Living Nativity
staged in the Sanctuary and also performed at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway; Christmas Eve worship services which
included for the first Christmas the Tongan choir and the
Praise Ensemble led by Music Director Linda Mazo; and the
Angel Tree ministry, which served children from nearby
Hancock Elementary School and other needy families.
Cantata
HeartStrings Multigenerational Choir Director Carol
Bumgarner chose the cantata by composer Joel Raney for
the second time and utilized the voices of the HeartStrings
and the Chancel Choir, Trinity’s adult group, along with
narration and a professional band of artists from the Las
Vegas community to tell of a gospel Christmas celebration
in music and story.
Traditional and favorite Christmas songs were per-
formed during the Dec. 17 event, including a beautiful solo
by Linda Mazo, who sang despite battling a cold, as all en-
joyed the beautifully decorated Sanctuary.
Trinity Chancel Choir performers included Linda Mazo,
Bob Beasley, Sumi Joachim, Richard Jost, Sally Jost, James
Lemmons, Jelin Mazo, Cathy Morgan, Emeline Savou, Ofa
Savou, Sione Savou and Lois Shivers-Wynn.
HeartStrings singers performing included Beth Britt,
Curtis Britt, Montana Britt, Alyssa Ferrari, Emma Hinkson,
James Lemmons, Lorene Lorenzen, Alex Morgan, Sarah
Morgan, Cathy Morgan, Autumn Phelps, Helen Rounds, Ofa
Savou, Sione Savou, Sarah Watson Swan, Caleb Swan and
Scott Watson. Sharon Watson served as accompanist.
Among the orchestra included Alan Lewis on bassoon/
alto saxophone and Doug Beasley on keyboard. The com-
bined choir greatly appreciated the expertise offered by
Doug Beasley in preparing for the cantata.
Narrators were Christy Ferrari and Darlene Goldstein
and sound and technology technicians for the services
were Steve Goldstein, Tony Wynn, and Richard French.
Living Nativity
Gillian Kabat and a busload of performers from Trinity
and the Centennial High School JROTC cadets braved cool
temperatures to participate in a Nativity scene at the
famed Las Vegas Speedway as part of the Glittering Lights
display.
For the fourth year, Trinity was among several Desert
Southwest Conference North District churches
to portray the Christ birth. Gillian directed two
casts at the Nov. 30 event.
The former Las Vegas dancer and actress
also directed the church’s annual Living Nativity
Continued… page 4
Soloist Linda Mazo performs during cantata.
Sarah Morgan (left) and Lois Shivers-Wynn.
Narrators Helen Rounds (left) and Lorene Lorenzen.
PAGE 4
Advent Review
held in the Sanctuary on Dec. 13.
Afterwards, Gillian said about the longevity of the play,
“It’s never been a chore, it’s been a mission. I like working
with the children being in show business and a teacher.”
Sarah Watson Swan, who has played various roles in the
past 15 pageants, and Caleb Swan played Mary and Joseph,
respectively. The two are recent newlyweds. An infant from
one of the members of the Tongan community portrayed
the newborn child.
Other adult roles were filled by Sean Sheehan, James
Lemmons, Asti White, Jerry Magner, Bob Beasley and Ofa
Savou. Many of the children of the church, including from
the Tongan families, were also part of the cast.
In addition, Linda Leonard assisted the production with
wardrobe along with Amanda Ford.
Angel Tree
Over 200 needy children from the community had a
brighter holiday as the Trinity family went all out and do-
nated money and brought in Christmas gifts for distribu-
tion. Gift tags for Christmas gifts were attached to the An-
gel Tree during Advent for those wanting to participate.
People also had the opportunity to submit a request of
gifts for their children.
Nikki Smith and Donna Zbierski coordinated this yearly
mission as volunteers wrapped the gifts for parents to pick
up on Dec. 16. Nikki ensured appropriate-age gifts were
being distributed and parents were able to review selected
gifts for their children prior to them being wrapped by
adults and volunteers. Volunteer wrappers included cadets
from Centennial High School’s JROTC. Maria Young pro-
vided translating for Hispanic parents.
The church also provided a craft room staffed with vol-
unteers to keep this project a surprise if parents came with
their children.
Hanging of the Greens
Over 25 adult and youth volun-
teers unpacked upwards of 35 con-
tainers of decorations to
dress up the Sanctuary and
classrooms for Advent. The
worship area was also lined
with red poinsettia plants.
The five-hour Dec. 2
event included fellowship
among all of the volunteers
with holiday music filling up
the entire Sanctuary. Two
decorated trees were set up
on both sides of the altar,
including a Chrismon, along
with an Angel Tree filled
with tags requesting gifts.
Continued from… page 3
Above,
Sarah and
Caleb
Swan get
ready for
start of
the 37th
Living
Nativity
held in
Sanctuary.
Below is
the entire
cast.
THE W ORD
PAGE 5 VOLUME 18, I SSUE 1
Other Advent Activities
December was a busy time as adult and youth volun-
teered to wrap the gifts given to deserving clients of the
Angel Tree ministry. At left, Nikki Smith is over-
whelmed by the amount of gifts awaiting to be wrapped.
Below at left Mike Whitten (in cap) is shown with one of
the families. Above, Tony Hobbs prepares to hang decora-
tions in the Sanctuary during the Hanging of the
Greens. Below at right, Yvonne Gaines and Linda Leo-
nard get their table ready for a Christmas Fair for last-
second shoppers in the Fellowship Hall.
Facebook - "DSCUMC" “Trinity United Methodist Church Las Vegas”
PAGE 6 THE W ORD
Legend:
ESL = English as a Second
Language
HSE = High School Equivalency
O.A. = Overeaters Anonymous
N.A. = Narcotics Anonymous
TOPS = Take off Pounds Sensibly
FH = Fellowship Hall
MR = Music Room
S = Sanctuary
1 Church Office Closed
Have a
Happy & Blessed
New Year!
2
2–4 pm Blessing Bag Lunches
5 pm Korean UMC, Chapel
5:15 pm N.A., Room 9
7 pm Tongan Worship, Chapel
3
4 – 6 pm Soc. St. Stephen,
Potter’s Place
7
8:45 am Announcements
9 am Worship Service
9:15 am Children’s Sunday
School, Rm 9
10:15 am, Youth Ministry, Rm 10
12 pm LV Korean, Sanctuary
8
10 am - 2 pm Society of St.
Stephen, Potter’s Place
7 pm OA / Monday, Room 9
9
2–4 pm Blessing Bag Lunches
5 pm Korean UMC, Chapel
5:15 pm N.A., Room 9
7 pm Tongan Worship, Chapel
10
10 am UMW Board, Rm 3
4 – 6 pm Soc. St. Stephen,
Potter’s Place
5:30 - 8 pm WOW Wed.
Café, Sanctuary
14
8:45 am Announcements
9 am Worship Service
9:15 am Children’s Sunday
School, Rm 9
10:15 am, Youth Ministry, Rm 10
10:30 am Bible class, Rm 7
12 pm LV Korean, Sanctuary
12:30 pm Missions, Rm 4
15 Church Office Closed
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Holiday
16
2–4 pm Blessing Bag Lunches
5 pm Korean UMC, Chapel
5:15 pm N.A., Room 9
6 pm Trustees, Rm 4
7 pm Tongan Worship, Chapel
7 pm Welcoming Team, Rm 3
17
4 – 6 pm Soc. St. Stephen,
Potter’s Place
5:30 - 8 pm WOW Wed.
Café, Sanctuary
21
8:45 am Announcements
9 am Worship Service
9:15 am Children’s Sunday
School, Rm 9
10:15 am, Youth Ministry, Rm 10
10:30 am Bible class, Rm 7
12 pm LV Korean, Sanctuary
22
10 am - 2 pm Society of St.
Stephen, Potter’s Place
7 pm OA / Monday, Room 9
5 pm Finance, FH “A”
23
2–4 pm Blessing Bag Lunches
5 pm Korean UMC, Chapel
5:15 pm N.A., Room 9
5:30 pm Caring Min., Rm 3
7 pm Tongan Worship, Chapel
24
4 – 6 pm Soc. St. Stephen,
Potter’s Place
5:30 - 8 pm WOW Wed.
Café, Sanctuary
28
8:45 am Announcements
9 am Worship Service
9:15 am Children’s Sunday
School, Rm 9
10:15 am, Youth Ministry, Rm 10
10:30 am Bible class, Rm 7
12 pm LV Korean, Sanctuary
1 pm Church Council, FH “A”
29
9 am CSN-ESL, Rm 4, 5, 6, “C”
10 am - 2 pm Society of St.
Stephen, Potter’s Place
7 pm OA / Monday, Room 9
30
9 am CSN-ESL, Rm 4, 5, 6, “C”
2–4 pm Blessing Bag Lunches
5 pm Korean UMC, Chapel
5:15 pm N.A., Room 9
7 pm Tongan Worship, Chapel
31
9 am CSN-ESL, Rm 4, 5,
6, “C”
4 – 6 pm Soc. St. Stephen,
Potter’s Place
5:30—8 pm WOW Wed., S
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
January
VOLUME 18, I SSUE 1 PAGE 7
4
11 am - 1 pm
Food Rescue Program
6:15 pm TOPS, Room 9
7 pm Adult Choir, MR
5 Church Office Closed
12 pm Crafters for Christ,
Room 7
7 pm Korean Choir Practice,
Chapel
6 Church Office Closed
6 am Korean Prayer Time,
Sanctuary
2 pm Funeral Service for
Matt Azhikakath
followed by reception
11
11 am - 1 pm
Food Rescue Program
6:15 pm TOPS, Room 9
7 pm Adult Choir, MR
12 Church Office Closed
1 pm Crafters for Christ,
Room 7
7 pm Korean Choir Practice,
Chapel
13 Church Office Closed
6 am Korean Prayer Time,
Sanctuary
18
11 am - 1 pm
Food Rescue Program
6:15 pm TOPS, Room 9
7 pm Adult Choir, MR
19 Church Office Closed
1 pm Crafters for Christ,
Room 7
7 pm Korean Choir Practice,
Chapel
20 Church Office Closed
6 am Korean Prayer Time,
Sanctuary
25
11 am - 1 pm
Food Rescue Program
6:15 pm TOPS, Room 9
7 pm Adult Choir, MR
26 Church Office Closed
1 pm Crafters for Christ,
Room 7
7 pm Korean Choir Practice,
Chapel
27 Church Office Closed
6 am Korean Prayer Time,
Sanctuary
8:30 am Men’s Fellowship, Cafe
2018
Sunday Worship
8:45 am
Announcements
9 am
Worship Service
9:15 am, Sunday School
for Kindergarten through
5th grade in Room 9.
10:15 am, Youth class, for
grades 6 to 12th,
in Room 10.
Childcare for toddlers up
to 4 years in Room 8 all
morning.
Please pray for the
following UM pastors,
their congregations and
communities throughout
the month of January:
Needles Ministry
Needles, AZ
Pastor Gene Stouffer
Boulder City UMC
Boulder City, NV
Rev. Sandy Johnson
Hope UMC
Bullhead City, AZ
Pastor Robin Lee
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Read the latest church news at: http://www.tumclv.com/
Connect with North District office at
http://dscumc.org/districts/north/ OR http://dscumc.org/north/ and subscribe for the latest news.
Connect with Desert Connection
The Desert Southwest Conference’s “The Desert Connection” is available at both
http://desertsouthwestconference.org/desertconnection and at
http://desertconnection.org (web site version).
TUMC website free phone app
PAGE 8 THE W ORD
Missions – Looking Back & Forward
Editor: We would like to thank
Bob and Pat Williams for their sup-
port of the church and in leading
the Missions ministry. They will be
missed and we wish them well in
their new adventure.
In 2017, thanks to TUMC
members who contributed well
over $1,000 to UMCOR, $211
to Africa University Scholar-
ships, $100 to Fairfield Chil-
dren’s Homes, and $470 to
support Axel Gomez Infa, the
Peruvian child sponsored by
the church.
Much more was given di-
rectly to other recommended
mission projects. Mission edu-
cation was provided through
The WORD newsletter, the bul-
letin board, Narthex displays,
and other activities, including
sponsoring the National Day of
Prayer, promotion of Peace
with Justice programs, and ob-
servance of Mission Sunday in
September with Dr. Marion Bell
speaking about Africa Univer-
sity.
Bob and Pat Williams are
moving to Bakersfield, Calif.,
late in January to be closer to
family, so a new Mission Coor-
dinator will be needed. There
will be a Missions meeting
Sunday, Jan. 14 at 12:30 p.m.
(right after adult class), in the
Library, Room 4. Everyone in-
terested in Missions is invited.
In 2018, proposed activi-
ties include:
Ash Wednesday Pancake
Supper on Feb. 14. The
goal for this event is to
fund Axel’s sponsorship for
one year.
UMCOR Sunday with offer-
ing on March 11 to support
Disaster Relief. Also see the
Bulletin Board and Narthex
for advance projects. Hurri-
cane relief is still badly
needed.
World and/or National Day
of Prayer of observance in
April or May.
Peace with Justice emphasis
in June with special offering
June 3.
Mission Sunday observance
with speaker in September.
Offering alternative Christ-
mas giving suggestions the
first three Sundays of Ad-
vent.
Conduct a Mission Work
Week at the UMCOR Depot
in Salt Lake City, Utah. Con-
tact Jerry and Jo Ann Mag-
ner for more information.
Continue to provide infor-
mation on Mission opportu-
nities.
Let's make 2018 a great
year for TUMC and for our Mis-
sion Outreach!
Bob Williams, TUMC Mission
Coordinator
E-mail address is:
or call 702-489-9241.
Charter members Doug and Greta Medberry re-
cently celebrated their 60th wedding anniver-
sary with refreshments in Café Trinity.
Fellowshipping at Trinity’s annual Thanksgiving dinner are
(from left) Mike Whitten, Pat and Bob Williams, Rhonda Miller,
Donna Zbierski and Lorene Lorenzen.
VOLUME 18, I SSUE 1 PAGE 9
New Christian Education Director
Donna Zbierski, who became
Trinity UMC’s office manager in
March 2017, has been named
by Rev. Khalif Smith as the
church’s new Director of Chris-
tian Education.
She will continue to also
serve as the church’s day-to-day
operations manager as well as
being responsible for the devel-
opment of the Education pro-
gram, which includes such areas
as the nursery, Sunday school
children’s classes, the Vacation
Bible School summer program,
Spring Break Camp, Easter Egg
Hunt, Spring Fling, Trunk or
Treat, the Angel Tree minis-
try, Bible studies on Wednes-
day evenings, and many
more events taking place on
campus.
The Education position
under Donna actually back-
dates to November 2017
when Ericka Grimm-Campf
resigned from the position to
spend more time with her
family. Since that time,
Donna has been ensuring the
Sunday school program, in-
cluding the securing of vol-
unteer teachers, and all fac-
ets of the Education depart-
ment are being realized.
Mike Ford, who joined
Trinity in September along
with his wife Amanda and
sons Hunter and Austin,
serves as the church’s Youth
Director and will continue to
plan activities and the cur-
riculum of the Youth program
in 2018 with Rev. Smith.
If you have any questions
about the Education depart-
ment, Donna can be reached
in the church office Monday
to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. at 702-870-4747.
WOW Series Continues
Rev. Khalif Smith has an-
nounced the midweek worship
program WOW Wednesday will
continue on Jan. 10. The Bible
class will be a continuation of
the “Covenant Bible Study —
Creating, Living and Trusting”
series.
The first course study used
the “Creating the Covenant”
book and accompanying DVD
supplemental video. The next
series in a continuous course
of insightful religious study
will be using the “Living the
Covenant” book and will
cover such topics as faithful
love, leadership, discern-
ment and doing the right
thing. The cost of the book
is $10 and will be available
in the church office or the
first class session.
If you thought the first
series was interesting, you
will want to participate. It
will charge your spiritual
muscles and get you ready
for Wonderful Wednesday,
which follows in February
Emmaus Elects Board
Six new board members were announced at the Southern Nevada Walk to Emmaus annual
Christmas party and meeting held at the Boulder City Senior Center.
At the Dec. 2 event before the luncheon began, incoming unanimously elected board mem-
bers serving a three-year term included Joe Vescio of Advent UMC; Dave Vandamark of Green
Valley UMC; Jeff Redman of University UMC; Bob Andrews of Desert Spring UMC; Phyllis Murray
of Desert Spring; Ida Hansen of Boulder City UMC; and Robyn Mayer, who will head the Spiritual
team.
New members will know their responsibilities serving on the board at the next executive
board meeting on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Board members continuing on the board to complete their three-year term are
Beth Hardouin; Kelly Moshman, who will be leading the Community Lay Director position;
Cheryl Marsh; pastors Ida Easley and Sandy Johnson of the Spiritual team; Trinity UMC’s June
Deley, secretary; Kathy Beall; Trinity’s Sherri French, praying team; and Gordon Hammond.
For additional information, the Emmaus organization can be reached at Facebook, by e-mail
at [email protected], or at its web site at http://www.snwec.org.
under the direction of facili-
tator Carol Bumgarner.
Dinner with a $5 dona-
tion being requested to
cover expenses will be
served at 5:30 p.m. in Café
Trinity, the Bible study with
Rev. Smith will be from 6:30
to 7:30 p.m. in the Fellow-
ship Hall and praise and
singing in the Sanctuary led
by Music Director Linda
Mazo and a revamped Praise
Band will close out the eve-
ning starting at 7:30.
PAGE 10 THE W ORD
UMW Parties, Elects Board
Trinity’s United Method-
ist Women gathered in the
Fellowship Hall for their an-
nual Christmas Party.
The Dec. 13 event
wrapped up the activities for
the year with a delicious
brunch of egg casseroles,
apple French toast bake,
croissants, mini-muffins,
fruit salad, mixed fruits and
cheese and crackers enjoyed
by 21 women of the church.
The meeting was called to
order by President Donna Can-
field. The group decided from
their Mission Giving to donate
to three areas of the church:
$200 to the Society
of St. Stephen minis-
try, $200 to the
church’s revamped
Youth Group led by
Mike Ford and $200
to the Pastor’s Dis-
cretionary Fund.
Officers were
elected for the 2018
term: President
Donna Canfield, Vice
President-Alene
Unger, Secretary
Donna Zbierski,
Treasurer Jo Ann
Magner and Commit-
tee on Nominations
Darlene Gold-
stein and Ema
Herbert.
After the
business
meeting, the
ladies enjoyed
a wonderful
Christmas Gift
Exchange
while listening
to a reading
by Ema Her-
bert.
UMW is
open to all
women of the
church. The
2018 calendar
of events will
be available af-
ter the start of
the New Year.
The cabinet will
have an Execu-
tive Board
meeting on
Wednesday,
Jan. 10 at 10
a.m. in Room 3.
PAGE 11 VOLUME 18, I SSUE 1
Birthdays
Wiley Thomas 1/01
Arnett Cooper 1/03
Hunter Ford 1/04
Tony Koffi Zotchi 1/04
Deborah Zotchi 1/04
Eun Lau 1/05
Alan Lewis 1/10
Tom Deley 1/11
David Dunn 1/11
Kirstey Thomas 1/11
Larry Canfield 1/12
Nikki Smith 1/12
Jennifer Kabat Bartlett
& Ben Bartlett 1/16/2010
Jerry & Linda Mazo 1/19/1989
Tim & Barbara Cegavske 1/26/1980
Jerry Magner 1/13
Jean Schultz 1/14
Samantha Rounds 1/18
Frances Bower 1/19
Dan Sahagun 1/22
Amber Thacker 1/23
Frank Spencer 1/25
Carol Bumgarner Lewis 1/26
Jerry Mazo 1/27
Elaine Bickford 1/29
Adam Cegavske 1/31
Anniversaries
All information was obtained from indi-
vidual members. If we've missed your
birthday or anniversary, we apologize for
the omission. To ensure accuracy, please
call the church office with your update or
write the information on the worship pad
on Sunday. Thank you.
In Remembrance
Betty Jane Billingham, a for-
mer preschool teacher at Trinity
United Methodist School’s Chris-
tian school for several years and
a church member with her hus-
band Ed, passed away on Nov.
30, 2017 at the age of 81 at The
Wentworth of Las Vegas, an as-
sisted living and memory care
center.
The former Betty Jane Black
was born in Sept. 6, 1936 to
Beulah and Robert Black in
Lebanon, Pa. Betsy was gradu-
ated from Lebanon High
School in 1954 and from
Marion, Va., College in 1957.
In the 1950s, she taught
violin and played in the
Greenville, Pa., Community
Symphony Orchestra from
1962 to 1965. She married Ed-
ward J. Billingham, Jr., on June
8, 1958 and they moved to
State College, Pa., where she
was a food tester at Penn State
University and her husband Ed
graduated from the university.
The couple lived in
Greenville, Pa., from 1960 until
May 1965 when they moved to
Las Vegas while she taught at
the Trinity UMC school, while
Ed taught college classes at
UNLV. They enjoyed traveling
and motorcycling throughout
the U.S. and had great affec-
tion for their pet cats.
Both were very active at the
Howard Lieburn Senior Center
since it opened in Las Vegas in
2003. Along with husband Ed,
she is survived by her sister
Barbara Shirk of Holland, Pa.,
and nieces Elizabeth, Debra
and Martha.
Betty was interned at Davis
Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
There was no service.
Betty Jane (Betsy) Billingham
Mathews Azhikakath
Family and friends will
celebrate the life of Mathews
M. Azhikakath at his home
church, Trinity United Method-
ist Church, on Saturday, Jan. 6
at 2 p.m. He died Nov. 22,
Matt Azhikakath
Continued… page 12
The WORD Staff
The publication The Word is published monthly by Trinity United Methodist Church for its congregation,
families and neighbors. Submissions are welcome and can be submitted to the church office or electroni-
cally at [email protected] by the 10th
of the month, unless otherwise noted.
Bulletin information should be emailed to [email protected]
Staff members and volunteers:
Rev. Khalif Smith — [email protected]
Donna Zbierski, Staff — [email protected]
Dan Sahagun, Editor — [email protected]
Richard French, Staff — [email protected]
Newsletter Deadline Policy
This newsletter is by you and about you, the family of Trinity. If you have an event planned, or if your event
has been held, please share it through The WORD. The publishers and editor produce the newsletter
… but it is your articles we want to produce. We also reserve the right to use all or part of your submissions.
2017 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Rev. Larry Gerber, retired
minister and former Trinity
senior pastor, will officiate at
the service. The church’s UMW
will provide refreshments in
the Fellowship Hall following
the service.
Matt, who was born May
14, 1938 in India to Ann and
Mammen of Chengannur, Ker-
ala, was educated in England
at Harrow and Oxford universi-
ties and worked around the
world before immigrating to
the United States in 1961 and
becoming a U.S. citizen four
years later. While in Seattle, he
received a Nuclear Engineering
degree from University of
Washington. Upon graduation
he worked as an engineer for
Boeing. He then briefly worked
at the Nuclear Test Site in Rich-
land, Wash.
In 1971 he accepted a job
at the Nuclear Test Site in
Southern Nevada, where he
worked until his retirement in
1995 as the Manager of the
Engineering Department at
U.S. government contractor
Reynolds Electrical and Engi-
neering (REECO).
His entire life, Matt was a
faithful Christian. He was al-
ways involved at his church in
India and England, at First
UMC in Seattle and at Trinity
UMC. He served in many lead-
ership roles, as well as partici-
pated in numerous Bible stud-
ies and small groups.
He also served as a con-
In Remembrance
Read the newsletter on-line at http://www.tumclv.com/
sultant to launch the National
Atomic Testing Museum in
Las Vegas.
Matt married his wife,
Connie, in 1965 and they
raised two children together.
Matt is welcomed in the after-
life by his wife, his parents
and his siblings Susan
Varghese and Cheryian Azhi-
kakath who all preceded him
in death. His life is remem-
bered and survived by his two
daughters, Debbie Azhi-
kakath-Gilbert of Reno, NV,
and Dee Dee Lombardi of
Phoenix, Ariz., his two grand-
daughters, and nieces and
nephews both in the U.S. and
in India.
Donations can be made to
Trinity UMC.
Continued from… page 11
Trinity Continued from… page 2
The financial picture at Trinity is actually positive overall.
“Overall the health of our finances is much healthier than we’ve done in the past. Basically right now our
last finance meeting report came out saying we are operating $23,000 under our budget from the beginning
of the year,” he explained.
Three paid staff positions were eliminated during the year. The janitorial and maintenance positions
were consolidated. The new hire of the one new position was let go. Then the Christian Director of Educa-
tion position became vacant late in the year.
“We are $40,000 operating less than our budget in staff compensation salaries we usually pay through-
out the year. So we’re close to $65,000 under of what we actually spent last year. That same finance report
also reflected an increase of $15,000 from over our budget in maintenance.” said Rev. Smith.
The special meeting was part of the concluding Church/Charge Conference in which church leaders ap-
proved the pastor’s compensation package for 2018.