TLC Staff

I grew up in Fargo, ND and attended Concordia College, majoring in Religion and History. I worked in a pastry shop after college and delighted in it! But something was missing. I attended seminary at Luther and was ordained in 2017. I served Trinity Lutheran and First Presbyterian in Crookston, MN for my first call and then Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis from 2019-2023.

​

I am married to the most hilarious and faithful man, Andy Pokel. He serves as worship & music director at Spirit Garage. We have two sons that are the loves of our lives. We all enjoy music, singing, dancing, reading, and going to museums. 

​

As a pastor, I enjoy community-building, preaching, teaching, caring for families in milestone moments, and renewing or building good governance structures and policies. 

​

Email: pastorelise@tlcmn.com

Prior to joining Transfiguration as an Interim Pastor in June 2025, Pastor Joe served as the Associate Pastor at Peace Lutheran in Bloomington from 2019-2025. He received degrees from Luther Seminary and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. During his time in seminary, he also served congregations across the Twin Cities, including Peace, Coon Rapids; Faith-Lilac Way, Robbinsdale; and St. Andrew, Eden Prairie.

Pastor Joe loves his vocations as a husband to his wife, Reilly, and father to his two sons. Together, they live in Chaska with their two golden retrievers. Outside of ministry, Pastor Joe enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, watching movies, disc golfing, cheering on the Vikings and Badgers, and enjoying the outdoors. He is passionate about empowering young people, building relationships, creating community in authentic and meaningful ways, and walking alongside others throughout all of life’s joys and challenges.

​

Email: pastorjoe@tlcmn.com

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:30am-4:30pm       

                           Sunday - Worship and Fellowship​

My husband Larry and I have lived in our home in West Bloomington for over 40 years.  I am a retired CPA and have worked in public accounting for most of my career.  I have been a member of TLC for more than 50 years.  I was confirmed and married at TLC.  I have been a Sunday School Teacher, the Sunday School Supervisor and served on the Church Council at TLC.     I have two daughters who were baptized and confirmed at the church and two beautiful little granddaughters.  I enjoy being outdoors whenever I get the chance, and I love a good mystery novel.

​

Office Hours - Works offsite. At church on an as

                            needed basis.  

The Twin Cities has been our home since the fall of 2021. Shortly after moving to Bloomington from Sioux Falls, my husband, Paul, and I worshipped at Transfiguration Lutheran. Just a few weeks later they asked me to assume an interim position on the Worship/Music Team. This has evolved into leading the Worship/Music Team, accompanying worship once or twice a month, and directing the adult choir. I work closely with pastors and musicians to create and implement meaningful worship. I feel deep joy in serving God and neighbor by making music.  There is even greater joy when others catch the Spirit.

The lake and farm country of Otter Tail County, Underwood, MN is my childhood home. I attended Concordia College, majoring in Elementary Education and Music. My master’s degree is in Guidance and Counseling from SDSU. While I have held leadership roles in the church all of my adult life, I was officially ordained a deacon in 2013.   I served as a worship leader in Lake Preston, SD, Sioux Falls, SD and New Ulm, MN. I also have devoted decades to educating children through music, movement and drama. 

When I’m not at church, I enjoy being active outdoors: walking, hiking (especially in the mountains), cross-country skiing, and biking. Being with family and caring for grandchildren, going to plays and concerts, cooking, entertaining and traveling bring me great joy.

​

Email: swoldrohde@tlcmn.com

Office Hours: Monday & Tuesday, 9:30-4:00

                         Wednesday, 9:00-noon or 1:00-4:00,

                                     6:00-8:00 (September – May)

                         Rehearsal throughout the week

Phetsamone has been playing piano at Transfiguration since 1997 when she started accompanying the Imago Dei youth choir.  She started playing piano as a young child and her piano teacher was Aunt Patricia who generously gave of her time and resources to provide free piano and organ lessons.  Phetsamone played for the Kennedy High School JB Singers, performed at the Grand Stand talent contest at the Minnesota State Fair and is now our Praise and Worship pianist.  

Outside of church, Phetsamone is a Real Estate Broker and has been helping  customers buy, sell and build homes for 25 years and is currently a New Home Consultant for one of the largest private Builders in Minnesota.  She is married to Dan and has 3 children, Kayla, Noah and Micah, who have all been confirmed here at TLC.  Phetsamone and her family live in Lakeville and their home church is here at Transfiguration.

​

Office Hours: Sunday Worship, Special Events

Born and raised in Northern Wisconsin, Christine Walberg had limited early exposure to music but found lasting inspiration through the public radio program Pipedreams, which fostered a deep appreciation for organ music. In 2010, she moved to Minneapolis and began formal organ studies with Dr. David Cherwien. This passion led to undergraduate work at Luther College under the guidance of Dr. Gregory Peterson.

​

While at Luther, Christine served as Organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco, Iowa, gaining valuable experience in church music leadership. Upon graduation, she returned to Minneapolis and spent several years serving as an interim organist across the Twin Cities metro area, exploring a wide range of worship styles and traditions.

​

Since 2022 she has served as the Organist at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in Saint Paul. With a particular passion for improvisation and a lifelong love of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Christine brings creativity and depth to every performance.

​

Outside of music, Christine works full time for Allina Health and enjoys life with her husband (Chris) and two young children, Liam and Luke.

I was warmly welcomed into this beautiful faith family in October 2016, after working in Human Resources at local University.  I graduated from The College of St. Benedict with a degree in Business Administration, focusing on Management, with a minor in Art. From years of homeownership, I have learned many skills in the trades, which have come in handy for the facilities management side of my responsibilities here at TLC.  For the times I am not at TLC, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, the crosswords & Sudoku, walking, and exploring what’s new in the Twin Cities.

​

Email: mreber@tlcmn.com

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-5:00pm, 

                         Friday, 9:00am-Noon

I grew up in Red Wing, MN, and moved to the Twin Cities metro in 2010. I earned my business degree through St. Cloud State University and the University of Phoenix. Currently, my wife Suzy and I co-own StroketoSuccess, a business focused on photography and sales coaching.

​

Suzy is the most passionate and generous person I know, and we were married in one of our favorite places—Mexico. We’re incredibly grateful for our son, Knox, our Rainbow baby and greatest blessing. As a family, we love camping, traveling, and sharing a good cookie. I’m thrilled to bring my experience and passion to TLC and help support its mission and community!

Email: bsimonson@tlcmn.com

Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30-5:00pm

                         Sunday, 8:00-12:30pm

I have been a member of Transfiguration my whole life. I was baptized and confirmed here. I went to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, where I received my Bachelors in Accounting. I work full-time for Dorsey & Whitney as a tax accountant. I’ve been working
part-time on the financial team at TLC as counting supervisor since 2015. 

When I’m not at church, I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend Ryan, playing Pickleball, spending time with family & friends, playing Pickleball :P, reading, doing crafts, and watching tv/movies. During the school year you’ll find me volunteering on Wednesday nights with the confirmation/youth programs.

​

Office Hours: Sunday, 9:00-12:00pm

I grew up in Minnetonka, attending All Saints Lutheran Church. I attended Augustana College earning degrees in Deaf Education and Secondary Social

Studies. After graduation in 1975 I married my wonderful husband, Dave. 

We then moved to Dallas and attended Christ for the Nations.

We lived on the Iron Range for 13 years. I worked in the schools, had 3 kids, was

in charge of the preschool area of our church and drove to Duluth for all my classes for my Masters in Communicative Disorders and Early Childhood education (long before on-line classes). I later transitioned from teaching in the public schools to directing and teaching in the daycare that our church owned.

In 1989 my family moved to this area as I took the position of Director of TLC

Early Learning Center. Over the years here I have been blessed by a strong and caring staff, wonderful families and a supportive church body in the membership

of Transfiguration Lutheran Church.

My hobbies include reading, history, visiting museums and photography. God holds my first and foremost affection and I feel truly blessed to be able to combine my passions in my years at Transfiguration.

​

Email: bwigstadt@tlcmn.com

Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,

                         8:00-6:00pm

Mark and I are excited to return to TLC to worship, enjoy fellowship and serve once again with our beloved congregation. As Director of Volunteer Ministry, I will reintroduce the Life at TLC bulletin insert and help coordinate and support the many faithful volunteer ministries that bless this congregation. While we are away, our daughter, Kristen, has grown up and works as a hospital-based Nurse Practitioner. She and her husband, Steve, live in Bloomington and have blessed us with two lively grand boys, Peter (10) and Alex (8). Alex has visited TLC with us and fervently exclaims, "TLC is my church home!"

​

Office Hours: Tuesday, 10:00-3:30pm

Pastor Paul is a native of South Dakota and has served parishes in his home state and New Ulm, MN.  From 2001-2020, he was campus pastor at Augustana University in Sioux Falls.  He began service at TLC in March, 2022.  He and his wife, Susan, are parents of 3 grown daughters, grandparents to 4 brilliant and beautiful children, and enjoy travel, camping, concerts, plays, hiking, biking, backgammon and cribbage.

​

Email: pastorpaul@tlcmn.com

I grew up in Glyndon, MN and attended St. Olaf College, majoring in Psychology, Family Studies, and Women’s Studies. I completed Tentmakers Youth Ministry Leadership Training fresh out of college, and served as Youth Director at Oak Knoll Lutheran in Minnetonka for 15 years. After leaving Oak Knoll, I received my Master’s Degree in Congregational Ministries and Leadership from Luther Seminary, with an emphasis in ministry in daily life. For 12 years I served as the Director of Faith Formation at Lake Nokomis Lutheran in Minneapolis.

​

For several years, I was the e-News editor for Cherish All Children, a ministry that equips congregations with educational tools and resources to prevent child sexual exploitation. While on sabbatical in 2021, I had the privilege of working with National Director Joy McElroy to write a four-session Safe & Healthy Relationships Youth Guide.

​

I began my joy-filled journey at TLC in September of 2022, and can honestly say that I’ve never been happier in my life! I love the families and children at TLC, am energized by our youth, feel uplifted by our beautiful worship services and strong preaching, and am thrilled to lead chapel for our Early Learning Center children on a regular basis. I serve on the Board of Directors for  ELC, and am passionate about continuing the strong partnership between TLC and ELC.

​

I am usually reading at least two books at any given time, love being with friends and family, look forward to snuggling with my cat Simon at the end of the day, and occasionally dabble in Bible art journaling and watercolor painting. If I could, I would travel the globe!

​

Email: elarson@tlcmn.com

I have been a member of transfiguration my whole life. I was baptized confirmed, and married here.
My husband Steve and I have been married 43 years. We live in Savage. We have two adult children, Dan (Susan) and Molly. We have two grandchildren Natalie and Carson.

I recently retired after 26 years in a dental office. In my free time I love to spend time with family, do crafts, read and seasonally decorate my home.

​

Email: office@tlcmn.com

-