Clergy & Staff
Priest-In-Charge
Rev Beverley Rader, PhD
Affiliated Clergy
Rev Janet Gooltz
The Reverend Janet R. Gooltz, DMin began theological studies while raising four children. She is a graduate of Vassar College and Weston Jesuit School of Theology and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Following ordination in 1984 she became the first Director of Pastoral Care at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. She is board certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
She describes herself as being of “Missouri farm stock” and has a large backyard garden in which she grows much of her own produce. Janet’s four children, her deceased husband’s four, and her surrogate daughter have given her 21 grandchildren. Her user name is Retired Sorta!
Rev Janice Watts
Janice joined the Episcopal Church in 1998 after being a lifelong Catholic. She had always felt called to ordained ministry. She graduated in 2007 from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston IL with a Master of Divinity and spent 3 years at All Saints in Western Springs, IL. After ordination in 2010, Janice was called to All Saints of the Desert here in Sun City as the Associate and later spent six years as Assisting Priest at St. Andrew’s Glendale. In October 2019, she and her husband Patrick joined Advent. They have enjoyed every day of serving and celebrating here in this wonderful community. Patrick and Janice have been married for 51 years. They have two grown children and a grandson in Denver CO.
Rev Canon Geoffrey Dibbs
When Canon Geoffrey Dibbs and his wife Margaret came to Sun City West in late 1992, Canon Dibbs had already retired from the Anglican Church of Canada in 1988. The story is told that Margaret was adamant that when they first attended Church of the Advent, Geoff was not to wear his clerical collar or divulge his occupation. That lasted just two weeks.
Canon Dibbs was born in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Manchester University, Oxford University and the London School of Journalism. He holds a Doctor of Theology degree and is a Fellow of the Philosophical Society (England). After moving to Ontario, Canada, he graduated from Ryerson College, Toronto, in TV Production and produced radio and television programs for the diocese. He also performed as a professional magician. His sermons were always notable for his sense of humor and great collection of clerical jokes.
Among his notable rector positions was his call to be Rector to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in the parish of Burton Agnes, a position he held for 8 years. Canon Dibbs served as Associate Rector for Pastoral Care for 22 years at Advent, including regular participation in worship services and preaching.
Deacon
Deacon Meg Lewis
Deacon Meg Lewis remembers thinking in November 1983 as her class of deacons stood to be ordained that her feet hurt ... forewarning of future ministries on the streets. She walked the streets of Honolulu to work with prostitutes – lost souls looking to be seen and heard, and then the streets of Seattle working with hungry teenagers, too young for adult shelters to help them. The food program for teens involved 23 churches, many civic groups and organizations. As full-time assistant for St Andrew’s, Seattle, Meg learned more about Pastoral Care. Forming support groups for Cancer and Death and Dying gave her experience and training with her parish family. Meg's current volunteer work is with grief support groups. She helps people see the wounded world and ease their many concerns.
Licensed Lay Pastoral Care Minister
Sharon Mather
Sharon Mather is a "cradle Episcopalian". She is a graduate of Education for Ministry (EFM), serves as a lay minister, and belongs to the Order of the Daughters of the King, Clare of Assisi Chapter. Other parish involvement includes Advent's ECW, Helping Hands for Children in Crisis, Advent's Neighborhood Link Coordinator. She is licensed by the Diocese of Arizona as a Pastoral Care Leader and as such will be doing pastoral home and hospital visitations offering the comfort of anointing, healing prayers and Eucharist.
Other Directors & Administrators
Music Director - Eldon Wold, Jr
Eldon Wold, Jr., was raised on a farm in Ottawa, Illinois. In elementary school he began piano lessons and began playing for Sunday school services at his family Lutheran church when he was 10 yrs old. Organ lessons were added and he began playing for church services at age 13. In high school, he received the Chopin Award given annually to an accompanist. He continued organ and piano in college (Southern Illinois University), was a member of the Dean's College Scholar Program and completed a double major in Music Education and Piano Performance. After 35 years of teaching music, he retired to Surprise in March 2017. Shortly after, he attended a service at Advent and found he enjoyed many things about the service and the acoustics. Thus began a new adventure!
Sexton David Booth
David Booth is our new (2022) Sexton. David is originally from Waukegan, Illinois, but moved to Phoenix in 1980. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 35 years of service. David is married to his wife Marygrace. They have 3 adult children and 4 beautiful grandchildren. He enjoys traveling and spending time with family.
