The Rev. Lisa Rygiel Installed as Zion's Lutheran Pastor

On Sunday, Aug. 10, the Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelagouni, Bishop of the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod ordained and installed Lisa Rygiel as pastor of Zion's Lutheran Church in Trinidad. The Rev. Rygiel has served Zion's for more than three years as a lay leader and vicar before being ordained as its pastor.

Born and reared in Tennessee, Pastor Rygiel has lived in many different places including Oklahoma, Texas, New York, Louisiana, and now Trinidad. She has served as a lay leader in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since 2015.

Explaining that the Holy Spirit put in motion for her a series of improbable events that brought her to enter the ministry. Pastor Lisa explained that she spent most of her working life as a Certified Safety Professional only recently retiring to dedicate herself to full-time ministry.

Pastor Lisa admits, “Yes, I can look back and see how God, through the Holy Spirit, was acting and orchestrating God’s plan for me. Thanks be to God!”

In 2021, Pastor Lisa received a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Liberty University. Then on Oct. 30, 2022, Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia (now retired) installed her as the vicar for Zion’s. A vicar is a formally installed (but not yet ordained) minister who serves a congregation with the consent of the synod while continuing seminary education and training. She began seminary studies at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) of California Lutheran University, a program she completed earlier this year.

And, she shared her vision of Zion’s Lutheran and its role in Trinidad saying, “We are strong and resilient and hopeful for the future of Zion’s. In the past year, we have grown in energy and in enthusiasm and I truly believe that we are to be a congregational home that will continue to grow in joy and hope towards the new kin-dom of God!”