The Reverend
Sarah Hess

Pastor Sarah met her husband, Daniel, while serving as summer camp counselors at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center in Fort Valley, VA. They discerned a call to ministry together and eventually attended and graduated from United Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, PA in December 2019. They were married in the small chapel on Caroline Furnace’s property in January 2018.

Pastor Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from James Madison University and a Master of Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary. Sarah grew up in Herndon, VA, where her sister, brother-in-law, and parents still live. She worked as Youth Director at King of Kings Lutheran Church, Fairfax in the Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA, and served her first call as Pastor in the Virginia Synod, ELCA at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bristol, VA. Most recently, Sarah has served as the Director of Sales, Marketing & Communications at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center. Pastor Sarah now combines her experience in parish, youth, and communications ministry with her love and gifts for storytelling. She’s known for her warmth, creativity, flexibility, and passion for collaborative work.

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In her free time you may find Sarah wearing purple and cheering on her alma mater, the James Madison University Dukes or playing with her two rescue pups, Max and Luna!

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Education:

• Bachelor of Science, Sociology, James Madison University

• Master of Divinity, United Lutheran Seminary