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Get to know more about St. Thomas, and please let us know how we can help.

Calendar

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Worship

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Staff

Meet the St. Thomas clergy and staff.
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History

Find out more about the historical roots of St. Thomas.
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Links & Resources

View some helpful resources we’ve compiled for you.
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FAQs

Check out answers to some common questions.
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Meet our Clergy & Staff

We’re happy to serve you.

Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet

Rector

Mark was born and raised in Concord, MA, the son of a fine woodworker and preschool teacher. He discovered the joy of serving others in Boston soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and local prisons. Mark graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, with a focus in International Relations and Music. While working at Equal Exchange, Inc., Mark earned his MBA at Northeastern University. Although Mark first identified his call to the priesthood at age 14, it would not be until his early 30’s that he started full-time at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. His innate learning disabilities, dyslexia, and ADHD have informed his life and ministry.

Rev. Robert Randall

Priest Associate

I am a recently retired priest of the Episcopal Church after serving as the rector of Old Donation Church in Virginia Beach for 20 years and 7 years prior in Alabama. I worked 20 years in Engineering and division management for Colt Industries, in many parts of the country, after degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic institute.

My wife, Chris, and I have two adult children and 6 grands. We hail from Rhode Island and Pensacola. We both play guitar and enjoy a wide variety of music. In retirement, I’ve taken up golf as well. But my passion is being part of a vibrant, healthy parish, so I’m happy we found St. Thomas.

Katherine Wright

Director of Music

Katherine’s broad artistic background includes work with singers, choirs, instrumentalists, schools, and churches. She holds music degrees from Wright State University and the University of Puget Sound, as well as the Colleague certificate from the American Guild of Organists. She is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano and loves composing and arranging sacred music. She also enjoys swimming, sightseeing, board games, and working in the yard. Katherine is originally from Colorado Springs. Her husband, Lee, is on active duty in the U.S. Public Health Service. They are the proud parents of three teenage boys.

Julie Heard

Associate Music Director

Julie is a collaborative pianist, piano instructor, and church organist originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in piano performance from James Madison University in 2013. Since graduating she has had the unique opportunity to live overseas in the United Kingdom where she played the organ at local parish churches and taught private piano lessons.She is an active member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and has been a presenter at both the local and state level. Since relocating to Virginia Julie has worked as a collaborative artist with the I. Sherman Greene Chorale, Symphonicity, and numerous schools in the Hampton Roads area. She now enjoys accompanying the chorus for Governor’s School for the Arts and running Tidewater Music Academy.

Amanda Ipock

Director of Communications & Ministry Support Coordinator

Amanda is a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan with a B.A. in Communications. Her experience ranges from corporate marketing and sales to a chapter executive for a professional trade organization. Amanda originally started working at St. Thomas in 2016 and is thrilled to return after a year away. She lives in Chesapeake with her husband and twin daughters who are attending college. Amanda and her family are members of Christ & St. Luke’s in Norfolk.

Donna Holub

Membership Coordinator

Donna has been with St Thomas since 2003, where she serves as the Parish Administrator and Pledge Recorder. A transplant from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Donna has made a career of working in church administration since 1995. She lives just south of the border in NC with her husband Tim. “I continue to feel blessed by both the fulfilling work and the warm relationships that I have found in the St. Thomas community.”

Paulette Lassiter

Licensed Lay Preacher

Paulette was born in Queens, New York and has lived in Virginia for 20 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from State University of New York in Political Science and Economics. She earned her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Molly College in Rockville Center, New York and a second master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Virginia. She is a retired educator of 17 years and has been a co-business owner of Wellness Behavioral Health, Inc. She has been a member of St. Thomas for 18 years and participated in several ministries at St. Thomas. She recently received a License to preach at St. Thomas and has found a new passion in delivering the Good News to our congregation.

Linda S. Minner, M.Div. APR

Licensed Lay Preacher

Linda is a Hampton Roads’ native and a member of St. Thomas for more than 20 years. Linda’s call is to preach, teach, and heal in Jesus’ name. She earned a B.A. from Virginia Wesleyan, an M.Div. with a hospital chaplaincy concentration from Regent University and is a Certified Spiritual Director. Linda worked in Public Relations for thirty-one years and remains accredited in PR. After retiring from the City of Virginia Beach, she became a hospital chaplain then the Director of Adult Ministry for a church in Virginia Beach. Her husband, Scott, is her best friend. They enjoy movies, board games, music, and art with their son, Sam.

Michele Hershberger

Bookkeeper

Michele was born and raised on Long Island, NY. She has been living in the Chesapeake area since 1998 and lives with her three daughters and grandson. Michele has an associates degree in social sciences from Tidewater Community College and is very thankful for the opportunity to work at St. Thomas as the bookkeeper.

Our Core Values

What’s important to us. View our strategic plan.

Welcoming

We are an inviting congregation that encourages participation in worship, study, fellowship, and service. No exceptions!

Inclusive

We intentionally create a safe and affirming community in which ALL PERSONS BELONG as unique children of God and are worthy of respect and understanding.
No exceptions!

Prayerful

We receive and share God’s grace through our tradition of worship, communion, and prayer. No exceptions!

Resilient

We stand strong as a church family that adapts to life experiences and unforeseen changes. No exceptions!

Servants

We seek and support opportunities to serve the Lord by helping others in need both within and beyond our community. No exceptions!