Meet us

James Gerber, DMA

Organist and Worship Coordinator

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James is a life-long church musician and organist and has served congregations as a minister of music in his home state of Wisconsin as well as in Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. James holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Wisconsin; a Master of Arts degree in Liturgical Music, with an organ emphasis, from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota; and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University. An active member of the American Guild of Organists, he enjoys performing, presenting music-related lectures, accompanying choirs, and musical theater. In 2014, he was the organist for Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s choir summer residency in the U.K. and in 2015 for All Saints’ Episcopal Church’s choir tour in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

Janet MacDonald

Choir Director and Worship Planning

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Janet began music studies at the age of 8 with Dr. Ardath Paul in Morrison, Illinois and started playing for church services at the age of 12.  She has been involved in church music ever since and considers it her calling.

Janet attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, as a Horace Alden Miller Scholar. There she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal and Instrumental Education with a Major in piano and minors in voice and clarinet . She graduated cum laude and was inducted into the Mortar Board National Honor Society. She pursued post graduate work in education through St. Catherine University.  Janet completed her 37-year teaching career in 2016 in various public  school settings, private studios and as adjunct professor in voice and piano at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

MacDonald remained active in professional organizations, was appointed to serve on various MN State boards, and served as clinician, judge and administrator for various music exams and festivals — elementary through college level — in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  She remains a member in good standing of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA.)

Janet is blessed and truly grateful to have served as choir director/organist in Iowa and Minnesota most recently at Concordia Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN, with the Revered Dr. David Tryggestaad.  In addition to her present duties at American Lutheran (Choir and Ah-Men Singers Director) Janet sings with the Arizona MusicFest Chorus in Scottsdale and the newly formed Lyric Opera of the North core chorus in Duluth, Minnesota.

George Zoske

Director of Christo Bells

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The Christo Handbell Choir has been a part of the music program at American Lutheran Church for over twenty-five years. The choir is fortunate to own five octaves of handbells and five octaves of hand chimes. The Christo Handbells begin rehearsal in September every year and participate in worship services once each month from October through May and for festival services. George Zoske, a former music educator, is the director of the Christo Handbell Choir.

Cathy Thweatt

Interim Ministry Operations Coordinator

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Cathy was born in Phoenix, Arizona where she went to Scottsdale Community College to receive her Associates in Business Administration.  During this time she felt called to work in the mission field through the Assemblies of God.  She did Bible study and Missionary training before working in Mexico for several years and assisted in establishing a church in Argentina.  Later she married and moved to Cary, Illinois for ten years and New Jersey for five years while caring for her three children before returning to Arizona where she grew up.  She received her Arizona Realtor License and work as a real estate agent for 15 years.  Cathy took a break from work to care for her elderly siblings as a caregiver and as a Care Coordinator helping very elderly receive care.  She loves being outdoors with her dog, hiking, exploring, and going to museums.  Cathy is a big Phoenix Suns fan.  GO Suns!!

Mary Crowson

Communications Coordinator/Administrative Assistant

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Familiar with ministry setting, Mary moved to Arizona to be near family and found that she missed working after more than 3 decades of leading music ministry. She holds degrees from Wilmington College of Ohio and Asbury Theological Seminary and served churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Georgia. Newspaper work coupled with graphic design and a love for people gave her a unique skill set and eventually became a great fit for American Lutheran Church! Mary is the youngest of five siblings who were raised in Ohio, four of whom now reside in the Sun Cities. In her spare time, Mary enjoys making new friends, hiking, biking, walking, and sewing.

Ron Helton

Accounting Coordinator

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Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, Ron grew up in an Air Force family. He and his wife of more than 4 decades have three children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren. When their daughter moved to Phoenix , they visited and soon took the plunge to relocate from Florida in 2020. With degrees in System Analysis and Design as well as Accounting Technology, he was a 30 year veteran at Primus Pipe and Tube when he chose to start a landscaping business. Ron says, “It has been a learning experience and I appreciate all the help the staff and the parishioners have given me; I  feel welcome.” When he’s not at ALC, Ron enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors, especially golfing!

Sherry McGlynn

Administrative Assistant

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Sherry was born in Portland, Oregon and her family moved to California where she spent her next 17 years. After her time in California she spent much of her life in various states in the Midwest before returning to Arizona. Sherry earned her GED and then while she was in the Midwest, she attended Detroit Business College where she studied business for 9 months.
 Sherry’s favorite color is blue. Her favorite food is “anything Mexican, just not too spicy”. She loves listening to audio books; fiction-romance is her favorite. Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 23:4. She is learning an array of tasks which include Altar Flowers, phone and computer system, bus transportation, transcription and the catch-all “other duties as assigned”. She enjoys working with the individuals who order flowers, the florist, and the people who deliver flowers to the shut-ins. When asked, “What would you like to say to members of the ALC congregation?” Her response was, “So far, everyone is so nice, kind, and very helpful.”

Annette DeJesus

Resource Minister Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

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Annette is part of ALC’s new Resource Ministry/Care Ministry team. She’s also employeed by Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS) as their Community Engagement Coordinator. Annette has been working in the social services field for over 40 years and she says “this is her passion.” Before LSS, she served in the Air Force for 20 years, working in the field of Behavioral Sciences. Annette has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She has been married for 42 years, has 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and 3 grandchildren. She enjoys lifting dead weights at least twice a week, and is active in her church, Word of Life Christian Center in Avondale. Annette is available to help you with health needs, utility assistance, food, housing, financial needs, phone and transportation services, and so much more. Annette wants ALC members to know that “I am here to meet your needs. I will try and if I don’t have all the answers I will work towards finding them.” She is available at ALC on Thursdays and Fridays from 10-3. If you need to make arrangements for another meeting time, please call the ALC office or email her.

Dave Tigges

Property/Grounds Manager

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Dave has been Property and Grounds Manager since 2009, overseeing all things maintenance and custodial. Because he loves his position and the ability to work with members, volunteers and staff, he stays busy! Dave even assists at ALC events with AV when needed. Like everything else—from AV to custodial tasks– it is done with Dave’s trademark conscientious and ready smile as well as with kindness. Raised in California, Dave moved to the Midwest as a teenager. Through his long history with American Lutheran Church, he is a fixture on the church campus. His favorite part of the position is the daily variety of tasks and responsibilities around campus.

Rory Vasquez

Facilities Assistant

Kevin Murray

Worship Technology Assistant

Ilya Tate

Worship Technology Assistant