Welcome Rev. Bill Bradbury!

As he says:

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Please call me "Bill"; little kids often call me "Reverend Bill."

I grew up in Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia (B.A. Religion) in 1973. I graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary and ordained deacon in 1978. I was ordained to the priesthood on Ascension Day 1979.

Here is a summary of my parish work:

St. Andrew's in the Pines, Peachtree City, Georgia. Vicar of this new mission south of Atlanta from 1978 to 1982. Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) around 60.

St. Paul's Church in Augusta, Georgia. Associate Rector from 1982 to 1985. ASA around 250.

St. Peter's Church in Washington, North Carolina, where the Tar becomes the Pamlico River, 2 hours east of Raleigh. Rector from 1985 to 2005. ASA around 230.

Grace Church, New Bedford, MA. Rector from 2006 to 2012 ASA around 150.

All Saints', Chelmsford, MA. Priest in Charge, then rector, from 2012 to January 2020, when I retired from full-time ministry. ASA around 170.

I was married from 1977 till 2006. I have two kids, Katie who works at Saint Mary's Episcopal School for Girls in Raleigh, NC, married to Jacob and has one step-daughter, Caroline, aged 11. Andy is a Nurse Practitioner working in a heart clinic in Chapel Hill, NC. Married to Kristin and they have three kids: Eleanor, soon to be 10, Margaret, 7, and George, 5.

I was married to Stephanie in 2010 by Bishop Shaw. Stephanie is also a priest, most recently the interim rector at St. Elizabeth's, Sudbury and just starting as the interim at Trinity, Melrose. She has two kids, Duncan who just graduated from the University of Maryland and Jax who just graduated from Emma Willard School in Troy, NY, and will be attending Wooster College in Wooster, OH in the fall.

My passion is studying and teaching on the spiritual life. My hobbies are tennis, reading, fishing, walking Charlie the dog, and in this season, politics.

I look forward to hearing your stories! In the beginning, my 10 hours will be spread over Fridays and Sundays.

Grace and Peace in Christ!

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Livestreaming

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic St. Andrew's has been livestreaming its Sunday Service and just like the regular Service the livestream starts at 9:30 AM and it's available on Facebook via this link:

https://www.facebook.com/StAndrewsMethuen/live/

You can also access previous livestreams via the above link. A copy of the livestream will also be available on YouTube later in the day.

Please note that you do not need a Facebook account to see the livestream or other posts. Go to our Facebook page and ignore the banner at the bottom of your screen. If/when a pop-up appears click "Not Now" and it will disappear.

Message from Rev. Joe

June 7, 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In May 2006, I was nearing the end of my seminary education, and waiting to be ordained as a transitional deacon on my way to ordination as priest. I remember visiting Saint Andrew’s Methuen with our then diocesan Bishop, Tom Shaw. I was assigned to be his chaplain for his official visit with you that day. I did not know that you had been through a number of difficult years during which you did not have a priest, owing to circumstances at St. Andrew’s at the time. But I did know, as Bishop Tom and I turned onto Messer Avenue to park, that you still had a huge banner across the front of the church that said, “Celebrating 100 Years of Sharing God’s Love.” It was a banner still in place after your 2004 celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Saint Andrew’s in 1904.

That Sunday in 2006 was your “Appreciation Sunday,” during which you recognized and celebrated, at great and impressive length, the many lay ministries you had accomplished as a community of faithful and committed lay people. It was awesome what you had accomplished without a priest. I remember asking Bishop Tom, “Why don’t they have a priest? This seems such an incredibly committed place for a priest to serve.” His answer was, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some time.” Later that day, in your conversation with Bishop Tom, I learned some of that story. It struck me in many ways: inspirational, heart-breaking, courageous, hopeful, and tenaciously faithful. The outcome of that day was that you and I would be given the chance to see if we might be a good match for each other, continuing together as congregation and priest to share God’s love with each other, and with people around us. Now, in June 2020, after serving you as Transitional Deacon, Priest in Charge, and Rector, the rest, as they say, is history. From my perspective, it has been an inspired history.

Next to my marriage with my wife, Karen, and the birth of our children, Caroline and David, being your priest has been the most amazing blessing of my life. It is so joyous to be part of the way you share God’s love with each other, and the increasing ways you share God’s love with neighbors near and far. Saint Andrew’s does so much with limited and part time clergy and staff, and enormous commitment by all of you. As I often say, “Saint Andrew’s is small but mighty, thanks be to God.” If my service among you has helped you achieve this, then I give thanks to God for having made me able to serve you.

As those of you who are Saint Andrew’s regulars know, I announced in January that I would retire from active parish ministry on Trinity Sunday, June 7th, 2020. That’s today. So, here we are. In so many ways, I wish it were not so. But it must be, for it is time. Karen is retiring from the clinical practice of Newborn Medicine, and we now want to be able to share more time together, and with Caroline and David. We hope to travel to many places we’ve wanted to visit, when travel becomes possible. I plan to take up a passion from years ago, fly fishing, and match my wits with fish. And, after almost fourteen years of you and me achieving much together, you deserve new clergy leadership with new ideas and new approaches to help you discern how you will live your faith to another level.

I am so deeply blessed by having been your priest since January 2007. You and our gracious and loving God have changed my life in countless, amazing, and undeserved ways. I can only hope that the countless and amazing changes you have brought about in me will be accounted in my favor by God on the Last Day. I hope, in turn, that I have served you well. Truly, I have always prayerfully tried.

I know, from my experience of you over the last many years, that you are a faithful, devoted, and loving community. Trust me, God loves you. And you have, by the grace of God, what it takes to continue to make a difference beyond what mere numbers would suggest. Please, I pray you, believe, trust, and live that. Love one another. Take care of one another. Focus. Ask God’s help to discern and pursue priorities that excite you, that share God’s love and mercy, and that bring you joy. And know that God loves you, always. So do I.

God Bless you!

Faithfully,

Joe+

Latest update: June 28, 2020