Dear Fellows,



JOB POSTING

SUNDAY SCHOOL COORDINATOR/TEACHER

Church of Our Saviour (COS) in Arlington, MA is looking for a Sunday School Coordinator/Teacher for an average of 7 hours a week (including Sunday mornings). Most of the work is concentrated from September-June each year, with some prep time in the summer getting ready for the upcoming school year.

COS is a small, socially progressive Episcopal church (about 49 people on a Sunday) with a growing children’s ministry. Four years ago, we had 4-10 children all together in a one room schoolhouse.  We now offer a nursery for 0-3 year olds, a monthly Eucharist designed for families with toddlers, a Montessori-inspired Godly Play Sunday School class for younger children (approximately 3 years old to mid-elementary school), and a class for older children up to age 14, plus a new bi-monthly intergenerational worship service called “Big Church”

For the remainder of the 2015-2016 program year, the Sunday School Coordinator is expected to:

o Complete Safe-Church Training and undergo a background check

o Understand Safe Church policies and ensure they are implemented in Sunday School activities

o prep for and teach Godly Play approximately 3 Sundays month

o Recruit orient and schedule volunteers for Sunday School (with support from rector and parents as needed)

o Work with Upper Room Teachers (the class for 9-14 year olds) to support the needs of their classroom

o Foster a Sunday School program that has a cohesive thread between classrooms as well as with the greater parish community. This is done through an all-Sunday School gathering time each Sunday, writing class reflection summaries and communicating them to the parish at large, and integrating Sunday School themes into Big Church and general congregational and liturgical activities.

o Manage the logistical aspects of Sunday School:

o Register children and families

o Foster communication amongst teachers, volunteers, families, COS leadership and office, and COS in general

o Order and maintain supplies

o Create and maintain learning environments that support the spiritual activities they contain: Sunday School gathering space, Godly Play classroom, Upper Room space

o Ensure the flow of a Sunday School schedule that nurtures a sense of spiritual communion: Transition time before class, Sunday School gathering, class times coordinated to promote peaceful transition to worship time

o Be a presence in the parish community

o Attend coffee hour and get to know the families as well as the congregation in general

o Be intentional about building relationships with newcomers, especially those with children

o Support children in becoming engaged worshippers:

o General services: Be attentive to the way the children and youth form a communal part of worship when they join the congregation on Sundays after class.

o For Big Church

o Attend Big Church and coffee hour, promoting it as being part of (not distinct from) the Sunday School program

o Invite families and/or children to participate in specific roles during service (acolyte, bringing up the gifts of bread and wine, lighting/extinguishing the candle, passing the offertory plate, making donations to the food pantry, partaking in music, etc.)

o Confer with the rector to see if there are other ways the coordinator or the Sunday School community can contribute to Big Church (partaking in the sermon or in music? Contributing to preparations or decoration? Learning hymns in Sunday School? Talking about Big Church themes in Sunday School, in the Sundays leading up to it? Etc.)

o Toddler services: Occasionally attend toddler services to get to know families and children who may one day join Sunday School and the 10 AM worshipping community

o Intergenerational Activities

o Promote, support, and/or attend church activities that foster intergenerational interaction

In planning for the 2016-2017 program year

o Take direction from (or be in conversation with) the rector and possibly a new Christian Education Committee to determine an appropriate Sunday School or Children's Formation program for the 2016-2017 program year

2016-2017 Program Year and subsequent years

o Implement the determined Sunday School or Children's Formation program, teaching in or leading part of the program, recruiting and forming volunteers, and coordinating administrative aspects

o Author report of the Sunday School Coordinator for Annual Meeting

 

There is an active, engaged group of parents involved in the Sunday School, so the coordinator should have strong communication skills and have experience working with and motivating teams.

Some experience in Christian education is important.  Familiarity with the Episcopal tradition a plus. Experience with Godly Play and/or Montessori education is a plus.

Safe Church Training is a requirement and time for this would be compensated.

The church is located just off Massachusetts Ave in Arlington, near the Capitol Theater.

Church of Our Saviour is a vibrant, progressive Episcopal congregation.  The people are open to new ideas. There is a great deal of creativity in the parish, including music, the visual arts, science, etc. Diversity in the congregation is valued. There are a number of lesbian and gay couples, multiracial families, and families formed through adoption.  Faith is real and rich.

Please send resume and a cover letter to the rector, the Rev. Malia Crawford at rev.maliacrawford@

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