Pastors, Staff & Council

Pr John Gabrielson and his family live in Sartell, MN, just a few miles from where he grew up and was confirmed. He has served Atonement since 2016. He previously served as pastor, interim, or intern/vicar at congregations in St Joseph, New Ulm, Gaylord, and Minneapolis, MN. He is the current (but not for much longer, God willing!) dean of the Great River Conference of the ELCA’s Southwestern MN Synod and member of the synod hunger team and policy council for Lutheran Advocacy for the state of MN. If you want to talk
to him about something other than Jesus’ inexhaustible love for you, he’s been known to ramble about hunting, downhill skiing, coaching youth sports, and habitat/wildlife conservation.

Pastor Tim Lindhorst and his wife Paula live in south St Cloud. Paula is a physician who serves as the director of the St Cloud Hospital Hospice program. They have two grown children. Vera is an Optometrist in Maple Grove, MN and Luke is a CPA who works for EY in Minneapolis, MN. Tim was ordained in the SWMN Synod and has served various congregations in Montevideo, Clearwater, St Joseph, and St Cloud as a pastor and interim pastor for 29 years. Tim grew up in Detroit, MI and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He’s an avid football fan and runner, completing 9 marathons and contemplating if he can do more. He loves sharing the presence and promise of Christ and is a practitioner and teacher of Bowen / Friedman Family Systems theory.

Laura is our Office Administrator and has been working at Atonement Lutheran since 2022. She has a AAS in Business Management. She is a native of Sauk Rapids. She enjoys spending time with her family, her dog and learning to play piano.

Mata has been a member of Atonement since 1970. She graduated from Lutheran Bible Institute of Golden Valley with a certificate in Parish Work. She went on to work at Bethany Lutheran Church in Duluth with youth and home and hospital visitations.  Mata then continued her education with a BA in Organizational Management and Communication from Concordia College Saint Paul. For 20 years Mata worked for District 742 Community Education as a Program Coordinator and has served on several community boards.  She believes it is very important for all children and youth to know they are loved, are important, and know that Jesus loves them and cares for them.  Mata has 4 adult children, 6 adult grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  She lives with her two cats in Sauk Rapids along the Mississippi River.  She enjoys watching the river and reading.

Marcia has served Atonement since 1998 as the Director of Music Ministries/Organist, after starting at the age of 15 in Fairmont, MN. A graduate of St. Olaf College, she earned a double major in Biology and Health Studies, while also being involved in choir and organ lessons. Marcia was involved since its inception with Great River Chorale, served on the Board and was their accompanist for 15 years, stepping down in 2015. She taught Human Anatomy & Physiology and a Health Careers Internship class for 26 of her 28 years at Apollo, where she also regularly accompanied the Apollo High School choir before retiring in 2021. She enjoys time with her 3 daughters, their families & 9 grandchildren. Favorite pastimes include pickleball, golf, biking, gardening, reading and travel.

Eric is director of the Atonement Choir and leads congregational song. Prior to this position, he was with Celebration Lutheran Church, Sartell; Grace University Lutheran Church, Minneapolis; and the Worship and Music editorial and marketing teams of Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, where he studied music and English education. A classical baritone,
Eric has sung with Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Anchorage Opera, Skylark Opera Theatre, and Theater Latté Da. Eric is also Emergency Services program manager with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud. He enjoys music, gardening, cooking and baking, canoe camping, and cross-country skiing. Eric and his husband, Jon, live in St. Cloud’s Lake George neighborhood where they enjoy daily walks with their dog,
Emma.

Jordan grew up in the handbell world, literally. He was with his mother Jackie during her handbell choir rehearsals and performances. He started his ringing career in 2nd grade. Jordan has had a very successful career on both sides of the table as both a ringer as well as a conductor. Jordan has had the opportunity to work with choirs in 3 states in religious, community, and educational settings. His last position was Director of Handbell Choirs for The Princeton Ringers, the joint handbell choir of Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. Jordan resides in Staples with his husband, Robert who is the Interim Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Staples. As a musician, Jordan is the Handbell Director of Bells of Atonement, St. Cloud, MN, Great River Resonance Handbell Ensemble, St. Cloud, MN, as well as a substitute
organist, pianist, and substitute handbell conductor and ringer for various churches in the region.

Jason is a singer/songwriter, producer, studio engineer and musician from St. Cloud, MN. Best known as a founding member of Justin Ploof And The Throwbacks, Sellout Stereo and Mason Dixon Line. Jason comes from a musical family. He learned and honed his craft by playing with his family in the church worship team, where his father was the music director. Jason has been a professional musician for over 20 years. He has backed up such Rock N’ Roll greats as Bobby Vee, Tommy Roe, Brian Hyland, as well as other oldies acts, and shared the stage with artists such as Soul Asylum, Bret Michaels, Tracy Byrd, Sawyer Brown, Tanya Tucker, The Brothers Osborne, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, to name a few… Jason’s years of dedication and passion to his craft show in everything he does. His love of music and great ability to work with others make him one of the most sought after musicians in Central Minnesota.