The Clergy & Staff

Father Rick began his ministry at St. John’s in 2025 after serving 15 years as Rector of St. John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church in Stowe, Vermont. Ordained for more than 25 years, Father Rick has dedicated his vocation to building strong, welcoming communities of faith, nurturing spiritual growth, and guiding congregations through times of change with creativity and care.

During his tenure in Vermont, Father Rick helped lead his parish into new models of ministry, including hybrid worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, stewardship renewal, and a revitalized commitment to outreach. His community involvement included co-founding a children’s enrichment fund, supporting the creation of a county-wide emergency shelter, and serving on multiple nonprofit boards. He also spent over a decade as chaplain to the Stowe Mountain Chapel, where he provided pastoral support to residents and visitors alike.

Father Rick’s ministry extends to interfaith engagement, including co-leading a 2023 pilgrimage to the Holy Land with clergy and laity from across denominations. He brings a love for preaching, teaching, and pastoral care, grounded in both scholarship and lived experience. He earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from the Bexley-Seabury Seminary Federation, his Master of Divinity from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, and his Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Studies from California State University, Northridge.

Outside of parish life, Father Rick and his spouse, Tim Heath-Swanson, co-owned and operated the Swanson Inn of Vermont, a bed & breakfast and bakery that became a hub of hospitality in their community. They are joined by their beloved corgi, Kirby. Rick enjoys ice hockey, skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, golf, woodworking, and choral music, and in 2016 he and Tim hiked Vermont’s 272-mile Long Trail, raising nearly $12,000 for youth education grants.

Father Rick brings to St. John’s a deep love of liturgy, a heart for community, and a vision for how the church can be a place of hope, welcome, and renewal in today’s world.

Sue was born and primarily raised in Annapolis, Maryland.

She was baptized in the Lutheran Church of America, now known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, and was confirmed there as well.  She was received into the Episcopal Church in 2011.

She felt compelled by the Spirit to be a beacon of light for all who cross her path.  Guided by the Spirit, she was active in youth leadership throughout her adolescence and young adult life.  While being a volunteer in the Church, she earned an Associate’s degree, Bachelors of Science and a Master’s in Divinity. 

Sue felt a call to be a pastor in the Lutheran Church.  She completed her degree with faculty approval to move forward with her call.  The Synod committee, however, did not see these same gifts.  Sue then worked toward a better understanding of her vocation and participated in two yearly resident chaplaincies in pastoral care. 

Deciding against furthering this pastoral call, Sue went to work at Barnes and Noble, T Rowe Price, and today she works for Walmart. 

The Spirit continued to compel Sue into ordained ministry where that call was developed and confirmed in the role of a vocational deacon.  Ordained to the Diaconate in June of 2019, she brings the gifts of the chaplain listener, the beacon of compassion and mercy, having a hand in hospitality, servanthood, and a desire for justice.  She looks forward to the challenges ahead with God leading the way.

During her ordination service at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, Bp. Eugene Sutton announced her placement at Saint John's, Hagerstown.  The people and staff of Saint John's are pleased to have her with us, and we look forward to developing our relationship together.

She lives in Hagerstown with her wife, Vicki, and one fur baby, Mattie.  Her favorite hobbies are gardening and reading (Jack Reacher novels).

Mr. Sabine comes to us from Atlanta, GA, where he served as Organist and Choirmaster for Christ Our Hope Lutheran Church, and Pre-school Music Instructor for Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.  He has served extensively in churches and schools, and has a wealth of other musical knowledge.

He has a Bachelor of Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and a Master of Sacred Music from Emory Universty, Atlanta, GA.

When not playing or teaching music, he enjoys time in the gym and watching Star Trek.