Church Staff

Pastor Pam Wellons
Interim Pastor | pastorpam@poplargo.org

Pastor Pam has served as a parish pastor, interim pastor, chaplain, and supply pastor for the synod. She has also served as a conference dean and a member of the Synod Assembly Worship Committee. A former librarian, she graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia, SC. She currently resides in St. Petersburg. Pastor Pam will be taking on the roles of Worship Leadership and Pastoral Care while she is with us and her days in the office will be flexible.

Dr. Shawn Thomas
Director of Music & Organist | shawn@poplargo.org

Shawn oversees a music ministry comprised of the parish adult, children’s, and handbell choirs, and is the Artistic Director for the Art For Faith’s Sake concert series. He currently serves as Dean of the Clearwater Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Shawn holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas. Graduate and undergraduate work was completed at The University of Florida (Gainesville) and The University of West Florida (Pensacola), respectively. His past teachers include Michael Bauer, Laura Ellis, James Higdon, Lynne Lauderdale, and Kevin Vogt. Shawn has performed in masterclasses with renowned French organists Michel Bouvard, Vincent Dubois, Daniel Roth, and Olivier Latry, and American organists Marie Rubis Bauer, Marilyn Keiser, and Tom Trenney. Shawn is married to Michelle, the Cathedral Administrator & Associate for Christian Formation at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter (Episcopal) in St. Petersburg, FL.

Priscilla Luster
Preschool Director | Preschool@poplargo.org

Priscilla began her teaching career in a 2-year-old classroom and moved from there to VPK. She received her Childcare Staff Credential in December of 2020 and her Director Credential through the State of Florida in 2024. Priscilla focuses on the whole child and the whole family as an Early Education Teacher, believing that each child can reach their fullest potential by families and teachers working together cohesively. She assists teachers in classrooms daily and strives to build relationships with each child and staff member. She is excited to help our preschoolers grow their minds through literacy, math, science, creativity and faith, as well as develop socially and emotionally into well rounded children ready for Kindergarten. Priscilla is a Boston native who has found her happiness here in Florida, where she treasures being a mom of two with a busy house and loving family.

Gidget DiRienz
Parish Secretary/Receptionist | gidget@poplargo.org

Gidget accepted her position at PoP in the summer of 2023. Her background includes the previous 12 years as a Parish Administrator at another church. The rest of her career was in the legal field as a paralegal in both law firms and corporations. Gidget is originally from Toledo, Ohio, moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2008, and is the adopted mom of her two now adult grandsons. She feels being called to Pop was a gift from God.

Sharon Bower
Parish Bookkeeper | bookkeeper@poplargo.org

Prior to joining the PoP team in April 2024, Sharon spent the last 20 years working for a privately held commercial real estate development and management company.  While there she held a variety of roles including bookkeeper, property manager and office manager allowing her to anticipate the needs of staff, tenants, vendors, as well as the management team.  Sharon has also worked for a variety of other companies to include; residential property management, Space and Strategic Operations accounting, and Waste-to Energy facility.  She earned her Associates of Arts degree in General Business from St. Petersburg Junior College, attended the University of South Florida studying Business, is a Certified Apartment Manager and has completed the training program to become a Community Association Manager.