The Rev. Bruce Heyvaert
Rector
Father Bruce held his first service at St. Thomas’ on October 2, 2016. He was ordained in 1984, and most recently, served as the Vicar of St. James Episcopal Church in Magnolia, Arkansas. He has also served parishes in Casper and Sheridan, Wyoming and Scottsdale, Arizona. Fr. Bruce has gained much breadth of experience serving in many diverse congregations. His mission is to help people fall in love with God and neighbor. Fr. Bruce was born in Connecticut and grew up in Bettendorf and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In April of 2016, Fr. Bruce married Deborah (Deb) Baker. Together, they have 2 grown sons, one grandson, and a granddaughter. He has restored old homes, earned his instrument-rated private pilot’s license, and served on the National Ski Patrol. Fr. Bruce plays a mellow alto sax, loves all things aviation-related, and enjoys skiing, kayaking, walking and gardening.
Beth Wood
Parish Administrator
Beth is our amazing Parish Administrator! She pretty much takes care of all the details of making St.Thomas’ run effectively. She came to work for us in August, 2015. Beth, a Moore County native, is a graduate of Wake Forest University. Beth previously worked as Administrative Assistant at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary, NC. She has lived in Sanford for 11 years. Beth and her husband, Richard, have been married for 16 years and have one daughter, Megan. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading, and going to sporting events.
June Burbage
Organist
June began her musical ministry with us on September 25, 2016. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Music in Performance from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She has also done postgraduate study in performance at Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy. June lives in Raleigh, and while her musical focus has been accompanying, she is also active in chamber music activities. June has played in the pit orchestra for both the North Carolina Opera and the North Carolina Theater. She is an Episcopalian, but has played for many different churches. June says, “My three daughters, their wonderful husbands and my grandchildren are the loves of my life! I will try not to overwhelm you with pictures of my grands!”
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church 