Jody Topping

Jody Topping, who is also serving as a Pastoral Intern at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, has been providing clerical support in the church office since October 2010 and is now sharing the position of Office Manager with Suzanne Jacobson. She is currently working on her Masters of Divinity Degree at Iliff School of Theology and will graduate in June 2012. She is working toward becoming an Elder in the United Methodist Church.

Suzanne Jacobson

Suzanne has been the Office Manager at GCUMC since December 30, 2003. In 2008, she began studying for her Master’s in Divinity. Making the commute to California weekly during the school year, in addition to beginning her own internship at Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida in Central Phoenix, makes for a very busy week. In order to accommodate the hectic schedule, she has opted to share her position as Office Manager with Jody Topping. Suzanne will graduate from Claremont School of Theology in May, 2012. Suzanne lives East Mesa and is the mother of three children. Betsy is doing her student teaching at a nearby junior high school, Heidi is studying at Mesa Community College and Ian is in high school. In September, 2011, Suzanne married her friend Bill Cherry after a “whirlwind courtship,” though the two had been friends for 20 years.

Cheryl Hall

Cheryl grew up on a ranch in Montana.  She and her husband Rick have two children, Rod and Lindsey.  The Hall family moved to Arizona in the winter of 1991-92.  Cheryl has been the Treasurer for Gold Canyon UMC since 1994.  In addition to paying the bills at the church, Cheryl works in the District Office of Mesa Public Schools.  Her hobbies are traveling, sewing and reading.

Lovena Warren

Lovena was christened as a baby in the Catholic Church, later baptized in the Baptist church, then as an adult was “sprinkled” in the Methodist Church and “dunked” in the Christian Church! “Now the way I figure it,” Lovena says, “if I can learn to play a harp, I may have one foot inside the Pearly Gates !”  Lovena has held various jobs, from being a secretary, an accountant, and an internal auditor (for a meat packing plant. In Dubuque, Iowa she was active in the Methodist Church and was their treasurer for 18 years.  She was also a Stephen Minister for several years.  In GCUMC, Lovena has been the Financial Secretary for 14 years. During her time here, she has taught Tai Chi for relaxation, served as a member of the Finance Committee, and has been a greeter and communion server for the morning worship services.  She and her husband Harry currently co-chair the church newsletter team, on which they have both worked for the past 8 years.  Lovena truly enjoys being a volunteer and hopes she can further her service whenever possible.  In 2010, Lovena joined a small group from the church on a mission trip to build church pews Chili.

Jane Hayes

Jane grew up in Litchfield, Illinois.  She attended  Eastern  Illinois University for her Bachelor’s  and Master’s degrees.  She then made a major move to Arizona; living and teaching in the Paradise Valley School District for 26 years and teaching part-time for Ottawa University as well.  At this point, Jane, Jeff, and JJ Hayes moved to the Superstition Mountain Foothills.  Within a few months, they became members at GCUMC.  Jane benefits from volunteer work and encourages others to do the same.  If you would like to participate at GCUMC or at other places, please give her a call.

Rick Ceynar

Rick was raised and schooled in Montana, the “Big Sky Country,” which he still calls home.  He served in the Navy from 1964 to 1968.  In June of 1972, he went to work for Hill County Electric Cooperative.  In July 2002, he retired after 30 years of service as a journeyman lineman.  Rick and Kay, his wife of 46 years, moved to Gold Canyon in 2004, leaving friends and family behind.  Rick and Kay have two sons, one daughter and ten grandchildren, who are spread from east to west coast.  In January 2011, Rick was hired at GCUMC.  He says he’s very grateful and can’t get over how friendly the people are.  Rick also likes to go to car shows and putts in the yard when he is not working on the “honey-do” list.

Cynthia Hoff

Before moving to the southwest, Cynthia was a Vocal Performance student at Oberlin Conservatory. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Grand Canyon University and holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance Pedagogy at Arizona State University. Her performances include various roles in Lyric Opera and Musical Theatre. Among her repertoire, as the soprano soloist, is the Bach Magnificat, Rutter Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Vivaldi Gloria and the Mozart Coronation Mass.  She has performed in prestigious choirs that have toured the United States and Europe with whom she has soloed in Carnegie Hall, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Cynthia has sung the National Anthem at Chase Ball Park, composed and recorded two original songs, as well as a full length CD of inspiring hymns. Recent awards include, First Place in the 2010 United Methodist Southwestern Regional Conference, “Got Talent” Contest and 2nd place National Winner in the American Mothers Association Vocal Competition in 2006. She has also performed sacred and patriotic concerts in various community events, including during a recent trip to the Ukraine.

Cynthia is an active sacred soloist performing throughout the valley and beyond.  She also sings soprano as a member of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus, and the Gold Canyon United Methodist Chancel Choir, where she is also the Assistant Director of Special Music.  She is a member and currently on the board as past President for the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, (NATS),

Cynthia joined the Chandler Gilbert Community College Music Department as Adjunct Music Faculty in the spring of 2007 in addition to her private studio in Mesa. Cynthia’s students have been NATS Winners, Arizona Regional and All State Choir participants. Several of her students continue on with vocal pursuits at the college level and have performed leading roles in local community musical theatre.

Along with her family she loves to golf, bike, and enjoy the mountains. She and her husband have lived in Arizona now for over twenty seven years, and have a daughter at ASU and a son who is an Air Force Engineer, married and expecting our first grandchild!