The Clergy & Staff

I was born June 29, 1948, in Cumberland and grew up there.  My father, now deceased, was the oldest of 10 children and a proud veteran of World War II, worked for 50 years as a newspaper reporter, columnist and editor for The Cumberland Times-News.  He also served for several years as a Trial Magistrate and District Court Commissioner for Allegany County.  My mother, also deceased, had been a telephone operator during the war, but stayed at home during the years my younger brother (Bob) and I were growing up.  In 1972, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree from Frostburg State University, majoring in Speech and Communications and minoring in Philosophy.  I had originally intended to make my career in broadcasting, and, during college, I worked part-time for two Cumberland area radio stations.  I did news, sports and other announcing and served as a disc jockey.  However, during that time, I also found that God was drawing me to the possibility of a Call to the Priesthood.  My family are 5^th generation members of Emmanuel Episcopal Parish, Cumberland.  As I shared this possible Call with my Rector, he offered me a part-time position as Youth Director for the Parish, a post I held for three years of my college time.  This wonderful experience “sealed the deal”, and, in the Fall of 1972, I entered Virginia Theological Seminary.  I graduated in 1975 with the degree of Master in Divinity.  My first Call was as Assistant to the Rector at Epiphany Church, Timonium.  After two years, I became Associate Rector here at St. John’s, Hagerstown, serving from 1977 to 1980.  In January, 1980, I became Rector of St. Thomas’ Parish, Hancock, serving there for 41 years, until retiring in June, 2021.  At that time, we bought a home in Westminster, in Carroll County, Maryland, to be close to our children and grandchildren.  Bishop Sutton asked me to serve as Interim Rector of the Church of the Ascension, Westminster, which I did from August, 2021 until August, 2023, when their new Rector arrived.  Ascension is a strong, healthy Parish very similar to St. John’s. 

My wife, The Rev. Anne Orwig Weatherholt, was born November 11, 1952, in Lansing, Michigan.  She grew up in the Appalachian college town of Berea, Kentucky, where, for many years, her father was a Philosophy professor and Dean of Men at Berea College.  Her mother, Katharine, was also a teacher.  Anne is the youngest of three girls.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from St. Olaf College, a Lutheran school in Minnesota.  Like me, she is a lifelong Episcopalian.  She attended Virginia Theological Seminary and earned her Master in Divinity degree in 1977.  We met in Seminary and dated briefly.  Anne returned to Kentucky and began her ministry as an Assistant Chaplain at the University of Kentucky, Lexington.  In 1979, she was Called to become Chaplain at Hood College, Frederick.  With her move to Maryland (God’s plan!), we resumed dating and were married about a year and a half later, in December, 1980.  After 4 years at Hood, Anne became an Assistant Priest at All Saints’, Frederick.  She served there for eleven years, focusing much of her ministry upon Christian education.  In 1993, she was Called as Rector of St. Mark’s, Lappans, just outside Hagerstown, and remained there for over 26 years until her retirement.  Anne was among the first three women Ordained to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Maryland.  We were among the first Clergy couples in the Episcopal Church nationwide.  Anne currently serves as Interim Rector of Epiphany Church, Odenton, near Fort Meade, Maryland. 

In addition to serving our Parishes over the years, Anne and I have each developed other special interests.  During her years in Frederick, Anne counseled several women who were victims of domestic violence.  This is a tough issue not always openly addressed in the Church.  She began teaching workshops on the subject and eventually wrote a book, Breaking the Silence, published by Church Publishing.  For many years, she authored a weekly news column for The Hagerstown Herald-Mail.  Entitled “Around Hancock”, the column featured news especially from the Hancock community.  Anne is an excellent musician with a beautiful singing voice and also plays the guitar, dulcimer and recorder.  We are both great lovers of history and have worked to promote our Churches as historic sites.

In addition to my Parish ministry, I served for 27 years as a Volunteer Chaplain for the Maryland State Police.  Besides working with Troopers in the tough task of notifying family members when a loved one dies in an accident, my work included serving as a Pastor and friend to the Troopers and other Barrack personnel.  This work led me to also volunteer time with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Hancock Police.  I have many friends in law enforcement and have enormous respect and admiration for those who “protect and serve”.  In 1989, I and other Clergy and community leaders in Hancock, founded a non-profit outreach organization known as the Interfaith Service Coalition.  This Church-related agency provides food, rental and utility assistance and many other forms of help to low-income people in the Hancock area.  It also provides programs for children and youth and for senior citizens.  I was privileged to serve as their Board President, working closely with their Executive Director for over 20 years.  In my free time, I occasionally enjoy hunting, fishing and bicycling. 

Anne and I are the proud parents of two sons.  Daniel, 39, is Minister of Music at St. Peter’s Church, Poolesville.  Daniel is divorced and now has a very nice apartment in Washington, DC, directly across from Washington National Cathedral, where he is active in his free time.  Stephen, 35, was a Health and Physical Education Teacher at Century High School, Sykesville, for several years but recently became a Health Coach for a private agency.  His wife, Jaclyn is a Math Teacher at Century High.  Stephen and Jaclyn are the parents of our two grandchildren.  Barrett is 4, and Carter is 2.  They own a nice home in Eldersburg, just fifteen minutes from us. 

Daniel and Stephen both grew up with me at St. Thomas’ and were active in the Parish there in every way imaginable.  It is because of our sons and their families that we chose to move to Carroll County.  We love being homeowners in Westminster, and along with our dog Sammi and our cat Abby, have settled nicely into a place that we both love.  In our retirement, Anne and I both enjoy remaining active as Priests.  We enjoy interim ministry, and I greatly look forward to serving St. John’s for a time and helping you in your search for a new Rector.

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.