Our Staff

Reverend Mrs. Rachel L. V. Bickford

Ordained in 1995, the Reverend Mrs. Rachel L. V. Bickford comes to us with a great deal of education and experience,loves the Lord and is thrilled to be a part of such and amazing Congregation here at Union! She received her BA from Central Connecticut State University, with   a degree in Political Science and a minor in English Literature, and her Masters of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Centre, Massachusetts where she served two terms as the Student Executive Officer, and four years as a student minister in Walpole, MA.  During her education at Andover Newton, she completed a Clinical Practicum in Pastoral Education at the Saints Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, and also received the MA Bible Society Award for Liturgical Reading of Scripture. She is ordained through the United Church of Christ, and within the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. 

In addition to her formal education, Rev. Bickford has also furthered her training by completing a number of professional development certification programs including those which address issues such as: drug and gang violence prevention, boundary awareness training and training in working with children who are struggling with issues of bereavement.  She is a certified Disaster Chaplain through the National Disaster Interfaith Network, as well as certified in Youth Mental Heath First Aid, USA, and through FEMA Emergency Management Institute in in Religious and Cultural Literacy in Disaster.

Rev. Bickford works for advocacy with the homeless in our community and in Boston, works with Habitat for Humanity, and serves with the Appalachia Service Project, and the Eastward. She is on the Board of Directors for Union Towers Elderly Housing in Weymouth - and served as Chair of the United Church of Christ MA Disaster Team, and is on the Board of Directors for the South Shore Pastoral Counseling Centers.  She supports children's theatre and the arts throughout the South Shore, and served as a volunteer Chaplain for Father Bill’s Place/Mainspring in Quincy, MA. Reverend Bickford also served on the Recreation Commission, appointed by the Mayor for the Town of Weymouth.   

She is passionate about all things service, leading our congregation to serve with shelters, Schools on Wheels, Penelope's Shelter, Seafarer's Friend, Missions in Maine and so much more.  Service in the name and grace of Jesus Christ is her passion, and we are so grateful to be able to share, work and serve in the name of Jesus throughout our community and the US!

Reverend Mrs. Bickford has been married to her husband Peter since 1995 and has a daughter Emma Faith and they live in  Braintree, Massachusetts.


TO CONTACT OUR STAFF:

Reverend Rachel Bickford                                                                reverendrachelb@gmail.com

Church Office                                                                                   unionchurchministry@gmail.com 

Annetta Esselstyn, Director of Christian Music                                    esselstyn@beld.net

 Vanessa Young, Director of Bell and Junior Choir                               vjm618@yahoo.com

Darren Damon,   Director of Youth and Young Adults                          unionchurchministry@gmail.com

Don Damon,  Church Administrator                                                  uccfinance@gmail.com