The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew
  • Home
  • About
    • Our History >
      • History of the Whiteman Windows
      • Who we are
    • St. James' Parish: A History of the First 100 Years 1812-1912
    • Become a member
    • Important Updates
    • In the News
    • Meet the Team >
      • Meet The Vestry
    • Parishioner Portal >
      • Annual Report
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Worship, Grow, Serve
    • Worship >
      • Worship Leaflets
      • Sermons >
        • Teaching Sermons
      • Worship Schedule
      • Baptism, Confirmation & Reception
      • Marriage
      • Burial & Legacy Giving
    • Grow & Build Community >
      • Children & Youth
      • Green Team
      • Labyrinth
      • St. Andrew's Guild
    • Serve >
      • Serve in Worship
      • Serve in the Parish
      • Serve in the Community
  • Meals & More
    • Find Help: 413 Cares
    • Housing Assistance
    • Fuel Assistance
  • Events
    • Spaces Available to the Community
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Mistletoe Mart
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • New? Tell us about yourself by filling out this welcome card
    • Submit Your Prayer Requests
    • Submit Your Memorials and Thanksgivings
    • Fill out our Online Pledge Card
    • Read the latest news at SsJA
    • Subscribe to Newsletter

Staffing Changes - Fall 2024

10/24/2024

 
Dear Friends of Saints James and Andrew,

This past spring, we hired Deb Parker as our Facilities staff to address our cleaning, event, security, on call, and other facility needs. She has done great work for us, including making several efficiencies. This fall Deb’s schedule changed, and we came to the mutual decision that her time with us would conclude on November 23, following the Mistletoe Mart & Craft Faire. Please join me in thanking Deb for a job well done. 

We’ve spent the last two years experimenting, analyzing and learning about our staffing needs. As the Vestry looked to the future, we decided to go in a new direction. We have hired our current Office Administrator, Aaron McMurray, as our new Parish Administrator, effective November 1. Aaron has a background in supporting churches administratively, as well as, in a facilities management role.  Aaron will continue to be responsible for all of their current tasks around parish administration and communication, property use, plus event set up/take down, property on call, security, minor repairs, liaising with the Property Committee around meeting contractors and keeping up certifications.  Moving forward, Aaron will have the overall responsibility, being the point person, for the day to day operation of our spaces.

We believe this change:
  • Reflects our current reality, and will lead to improved efficiencies. 
  • Expands the time and capacity of the position to match the current needs of our property use program. 
  • Fills many of the gaps that have been in limbo since our Sexton retired this past spring, and that they have the skill set and experience to do so. 

We are also entertaining the notion and weighing the pros and cons of hiring a staff person v. hiring a cleaning service. We have learned from other churches with large, active facilities how helpful it was to make such a shift. We are currently collecting the information from cleaning services, but we believe it is worth the Vestry’s serious consideration. We hope to make a decision within the next couple of weeks.

Another staffing change relates to our Missioner, the Rev. Jimmy Pickett. We hired Rev. Jimmy to serve as our Missioner for Formation, Community, and Mission as part of a two year holy experiment with our diocese and St. John’s, Athol. The position was ⅔ time, with ⅓ time in each parish, and Rev. Jimmy supplemented this work with agricultural work. He has done excellent work building a community on Wednesday mornings with those who gather for Holy Eucharist, as well as his work with our young families ministry. As we looked back on the first year together, we realized his work was heavily under the umbrella of formation. We’ve changed his title to Missioner for Formation and his work for the second year will be focused primarily on continuing the great work he has already begun. This is a time specific job, and Rev. Jimmy will conclude his time with us in late 2025.  Meanwhile, St. John’s, Athol, have increased his time to ½ time, allowing him to focus more fully on parish ministry and take a step back from agricultural work. 

As the young families ministry has experimented and grown this last year, we made the decision to shift to some Sunday morning programming a couple of times a month starting in Advent. This ministry will be run by parents, caregivers, and other parishioners excited with engaging our young parishioners.  Rev. Jimmy is currently overseeing the hiring process so we might pay for a second adult to help manage childcare (kids who need to be brought to the restrooms or require a bit of support in listening or engaging with the programming). If you know anyone who would be a good fit for this role who is over 18, please contact Rev. Jimmy at [email protected]. Likewise, if you are excited to potentially work with our young kids on a rota of other volunteers, please speak to Rev. Jimmy or myself. 

Thank you for your ongoing love, care, and support for the James and Andrew community, and your faithfulness to the mission and ministry God has called our parish into during this chapter. May God continue to bless the work happening here, and may all we do be to the glory of God.  
​

Peace,
Rev. Heather J. Blais,
on behalf of Clergy & Vestry

Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    Good News
    Lent
    Pastoral Letters
    Pledge Drive

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    November 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020

    RSS Feed

Mission

We believe God is calling us to cultivate a community of love, joy, hope, and healing. Jesus is our model for a life of faith, compassion, hospitality, and service. We strive to be affirming and accessible, welcoming and inclusive; we seek to promote reconciliation, exercise responsible stewardship, and embrace ancient traditions for modern lives.

Office Hours

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Our gardens and grounds are open from dawn to dusk for the community to pray, rest, be.
​
Please help us take care of this sacred space by following the outdoor ethic & principle of “leave no trace.”
Donate

Contact Information

8 Church St. Greenfield, MA 01301
[email protected]
413-773-3925

Worship Times

10 a.m. In-Person Worship & Livestreamed 
View worship services.

​We would love to have you join us soon!

  • Home
  • About
    • Our History >
      • History of the Whiteman Windows
      • Who we are
    • St. James' Parish: A History of the First 100 Years 1812-1912
    • Become a member
    • Important Updates
    • In the News
    • Meet the Team >
      • Meet The Vestry
    • Parishioner Portal >
      • Annual Report
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Worship, Grow, Serve
    • Worship >
      • Worship Leaflets
      • Sermons >
        • Teaching Sermons
      • Worship Schedule
      • Baptism, Confirmation & Reception
      • Marriage
      • Burial & Legacy Giving
    • Grow & Build Community >
      • Children & Youth
      • Green Team
      • Labyrinth
      • St. Andrew's Guild
    • Serve >
      • Serve in Worship
      • Serve in the Parish
      • Serve in the Community
  • Meals & More
    • Find Help: 413 Cares
    • Housing Assistance
    • Fuel Assistance
  • Events
    • Spaces Available to the Community
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Mistletoe Mart
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • New? Tell us about yourself by filling out this welcome card
    • Submit Your Prayer Requests
    • Submit Your Memorials and Thanksgivings
    • Fill out our Online Pledge Card
    • Read the latest news at SsJA
    • Subscribe to Newsletter