Cross of Life Staff Members

We'd like to introduce you to our current staff members!

In addition to their e-mail addresses, all staff members can be reached at Cross of Life at 262-785-9420.


Pastor John Horner-Ibler can be reached at john@crossoflife.org. John has been a pastor at Cross of Life since December 1996. He previously served as Pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in New Holstein, Wis., as Youth Director at Hopewell Reformed Church in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., and on the staff of the National Council of Churches / Interfaith Conciliation Center in New York City. Besides John, the only other known "Horner-Iblers" in the  world include his wife Barbara, their sons David and Michael, and their dog Taz. Barbara is a physician in private practice in Brookfield as well as the Medical Director of the Bread of Healing Free Clinic in Milwaukee. David is a sophomore at UW-Madison studying Spanish and Michael is a freshman at Brookfield Central High School. As a family they enjoy sports, reading, and throwing Taz the frisbee (which can be an indefinite endeavor!).
 

Pastor Sherrie Lorbeck can be reached at sherrie@crossoflife.org or at home at 414-477-7762. Sherrie has been at Cross of Life since August 2006. It was when she was in 7th grade that she began to feel a call to ordained ministry. She is the 7th person (and the 4th woman) ordained from her home congregation of Grace Lutheran in Tomahawk, Wis. Sherrie majored in Religion at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and received her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Through seminary, she served at Capitol Drive Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and at Bethany Lutheran in Escanaba, Mich. Her husband Matthew is a Master Electrician and owns his own electrical business. Matt and Sherrie have a one-year-old son, George. 

 


Our Director of Christian Education is Jo Ann Tomm at joann@crossoflife.org. Jo Ann began her career at Cross of Life as the volunteer Sunday School Director in 1989 when the job description was little more than recruiting teachers and ordering supplies! Over the years it has evolved into a full-time staff position overseeing programming for young learners through Confirmation. Jo Ann continues to recruit the Sunday School staff and works closely with them throughout the school year. She also works with the Education Committee to organize special learning and fellowship events, including Winter Lock-in’s, Vacation Bible School, Summer Sunday School and Lent School. A teacher at heart, Jo Ann also teaches a Sunday School class on Saturday evening and is part of the Confirmation teaching team. She has discovered over the years that she loves to write and enjoys rewriting and fine-tuning curriculum for all of our various programs. As much as she loves the classroom, Jo Ann is totally energized (and she redefines "energized!") by the adventures with our kids that bring her outdoors, espeically camping with the Confirmation class and spending a week at Lutherdale Bible Camp. Jo Ann is the proud mother of three grown children and enjoys taking brisk walks with her husband, Kevin, to enjoy the Wisconsin seasons!

 
Our Director of Youth and Young Adults is Joshua Young at josh@crossoflife.org. Josh is a graduate of Arizona State University and began at Cross of Life in October 2009. One who holds a Parks and Recreation Management degree, he previously worked with the YMCA, Youth for Christ, and other youth ministries. Joshua has a heart for all youth and a vision for each one of them to experience God. As our Youth Director he is passionate about establishing connections within -- as well as outside -- our church. He looks forward to the new year and all that God has planned. In his free time Josh loves playing sports and playing guitar. He welcomes any and all questions about our youth programs and our sports activities!


 

 
Our Director of Adult Programs is Susie Hilgart at susie@crossoflife.org. She and her husband Mark have been members of Cross of Life since 1987. Susie began working at our church in 1998 for a few hours a week while she was raising her two children, Matt and Molly. Over the years, Susie's job description changed and she now coordinates our Adult Programs and Servant Ministry opportunities. Susie feels that the best part of her job is meeting and building friendships with our members and our servant partners, and coming up with new and interesting events and speakers that energize our congregation. (She's another one who redefines "energized!") In her free time Susie loves walking, gardening, spending time with family and friends, and simply floating in the pool. Susie is the one to contact if you have any questions about service opportunities, adult opportunities or any of our Small Groups at Cross of Life.
 
 
Our Director of Music Ministry is Christine Standley at chris@crossoflife.org. Before coming to Cross of Life in 1999, Chris served congregations in the Pewaukee area and in California. She enjoys working with people of all ages and strives to engage as many people as possible in the musical life of the congregation. Chris also serves as accompanist for the choirs at Wisconsin Hills Middle School and has taught pre-school, working primarily with 3-year-olds. She is married and has two grown daughters, and enjoys working in the yard, doing crossword puzzles and taking walks with friends and family.





 

Our Director of the Senior Choir is Rebekah Wickert. Read more about Becky and her time at Cross of Life soon!







 

 

Our Director of the Gloria Dei Adult Handbell Choir is Christine Bjorklund. Chris can be reached at 262-894-9177 or via e-mail at tbjork33@gmail.com. 

 

 
Our Organist at Cross of Life is Lynn Key.  She can be reached at lynn@crossoflife.org. Read more about Lynn soon!





 


 

 



Debbie Riederer is one of our part-time Administrators and can be reached at debbie@crossoflife.org. She has been at Cross of Life since December 1999 and thoroughly enjoys working with the staff and members of Cross of Life. For Debbie, one of the most enjoyable aspects of her job is meeting and welcoming new people into our faith family. She performs a variety of administrative tasks, such as providing pastoral support for the Church Council and the Confirmation program, coordinating weddings, assisting our newsletter publisher, and overseeing our phone system.  Debbie also provides administrative support for the New Member classes and our Lutherdale Camping Ministry program. In her free time she likes to walk, do yoga, bike, read, visit with friends, and go to Home Depot ... because her house is always in some state of being remodeled!

 

Holly Sorenson started at Cross of Life in 2003. Still our Bookkeeper, her position has since expanded to include Administrative and Program Support for Christian Education, Stewardship, and Worship & Music. Holly and her husband Jon live in Brookfield and have two children. During her time away from work Holly likes to read mysteries, cook, take long brisk walks and go to coffee with friends. As one who grew up in Nebraska, Holly admits she still misses the plains sometimes. She can be reached at holly@crossoflife.org.
 
 

 

 


Pastors John Horner-Ibler and Sherrie Lorbeck lead hope-filled and joy-full worship services preaching the good news and helping people to reflect on the Bible's message for the life of faith. The staff at Cross of Life work together as a a team, eager to share in the mission of the congregation alongside members to Worship, Learn, Serve, and Invite. Please feel free to contact any one of them if you have questions or have news or information you would like us to know.