I began serving as supply pastor at Hessel Valley in December of 2009 and it has been a privilege and joy to be a part of this church’s unfolding mission.  This is my 20th year of ordained ministry in the NW Pennsylvania Synod.  I currently am called to Special Ministry by the Synod Council to serve as a chaplain at the Warren State Hospital.  I have been at the hospital for 18 years as a part-time chaplain and recently began serving in a full time capacity. 
On Sunday mornings I lead worship at the InterFaith Chapel at 9:15 am and then come out to Hessel Valley at 11:00 for worship.  
I am Originally from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, I studied sociology at the University of North Carolina – Asheville and graduated with B.A. then attended Yale Divinity School, Duke Divinity School and Gettysburg Seminary for a “Lutheran year”.  I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Duke.  I served as an intern at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, New York and did a unit of clinical pastoral education at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. 
I was ordained through the New England Synod in Old Saybrook, Connecticut in 1994.  I was called to Saron Lutheran and Berea Lutheran in Warren County for 6 years until I went on leave for several years when my son was born in 2000. 
I have served as stated supply for several Warren area congregations over the years.  I have been married to David Schwanke since 1998.  David is a retired Youngsville High School biology teacher and we have two children – Paul, 13 and Anne, 11