Meet the Pastor

Rev. Dr. Robert M. Girard, who prefers to be called “Bobby,” is a native of our beloved New England. He began working with the terminally ill in 1986, when he worked with Mother Teresa and her sisters as a physical and spiritual caregiver for people with AIDS in Washington, DC and New York City. Bobby has many inspiring stories to tell about his many years of ministry to those often abandoned people transitioning from this world to the next.

Bobby acquired his Masters of Divinity, his Masters in Communications from American University and then his Doctorate in Theology in 2001 from the Angelicum in Rome, Italy. His doctoral dissertation was an original study of the ancient Christian inscriptions found on the Paschal Candle. Between 1998 and 2008, Bobby taught Scripture, public speaking and homiletics at the college level while continuing to minister to people approaching the end of life.

Since 2012, Bobby has been ministering in Central and Western Massachusetts as a full-time, interfaith Hospice chaplain and bereavement counselor. During the past 13 years, Bobby has made over 20,000 pastoral visits to the dying of our region. Bobby is also a tour guide at the Springfield Museums, specializing in the areas of Connecticut River Valley history and late medieval painting, sculpture and iconography.

An ordained minister within the United Church of Christ, Bobby is considered an effective story-teller who can relate profound spiritual truths to everyday life. Bobby and his husband enjoy hiking mountains and exploring new cultures while traveling overseas.

United Church of Bernardston Statement of Purpose

We, the people of the United Church of Bernardston, seek to be a community of Christians who celebrate and are receptive to the voice of God. We celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of each expression of God’s diverse family as well as our oneness in Christ. As we seek to live out our mission to live Christ’s compassion and promote justice, healing and wholeness of life, we invite and welcome into our community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability/disability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status, faith background, marital standing, and family structure. We invite all to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, missions, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family as we seek to grow together in faith and love.

Worship with us every Sunday morning in person or on Facebook Live at 10:30 am

UCB is not child-friendly. We are child-loving.

To parents of young children

• Relax! God put the wiggle in children, don’t feel you have to suppress those wiggles in God’s house.

• Consider sitting toward the front where it is easier for your little ones to engage

• Quietly explain the parts of the service and actions of the pastor, musicians and leaders

• Sing the hymns, pray and voice responses. Children learn behavior by mimicking you.

• If you have to leave the Sanctuary with your child, feel free to do so, but please come back. As Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.”

Sunday mornings children start the service with their families, enjoying music, singing, a unison prayer, and a message for all. Afterward, they are invited to go to the foyer for a child-focused story, activity, short prayer, and some playtime. Children can join their families for communion on Communion Sundays if they wish.

We hope your family will join us at our service, which begins at 10:30 AM. After the service, we have a “coffee hour” with refreshments for everyone.