Alumni News

Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Brookline, MA

By yaragj June 5th, 2017 in Archive

Director of Children and Youth Ministries
Founded in 1849, St. Paul’s is a vital, vibrant and growing Episcopal parish of roughly 450 baptized members, an Average Sunday Attendance of 180 and a budget of just over $500,000.  We are located just across the Boston city line and are made up of people from all over the Greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts area.  For more about St. Paul’s, please visit our website at www.stpaulsbrookline.org .
An intergenerational community of faith, St. Paul’s in Brookline celebrates God's graciousness by proclaiming in word and deed that God's love is abundant and unconditional for all people- including our youth!
St. Paul’s, Brookline is seeking a Director of Children and Youth Ministries (CYM) responsible for the oversight and direction of Christian Education and spiritual formation for children and youth of the parish. Though the position works primarily with children, youth and their families , this person will be actively engaged in all facets of parish life and will work collegially with the entire parish staff. The position is 15 hours per week over 10 months. The Director of CYM reports to the Rector of St. Paul’s, Brookline and receives regular supervision.
Personal Qualities:

  • A strong commitment to the Gospel of God’s love and grace through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • A person of prayer
  • A person devoted to the study of the Bible
  • A self-starter who is eager to reach out to the community with God’s love
  • An evangelist
  • A team player
  • A sense of humor
  • Humble
  • Compassionate
  • Familiar with and able to engage social media

Qualifications:

  • Enjoys and has experience working with children and youth and has a clear understanding of their developmental needs. Is willing to develop deep familiarity with the children, youth, and their families to give them a strong sense of being valued members of the Church and parish community
  • Has strong organizational skills; is able to coordinate a multi-faceted program involving staff and volunteer teams. Communicates effectively with parents, teachers, and staff to ensure engaging and effective programming
  • Is an experienced leader able to recruit volunteer teaching staff, provide training, support, resources, and feedback.
  • Preferably has some theological training, together with experience in Christian Education and an appreciation for the Anglican tradition.  
  • Has experience with the pastoral care of children, youth, and parents.

Responsibilities:

  • Provide a welcoming and nurturing environment to all children and youth of the parish; value and cherish a diverse and inclusive community where all are welcomed and loved.
  • Collaborate with and support families, connecting them to parish programs.
  • Design and implement the Christian Education programs from Nursery through High School.
  • Recruit, train, mentor, and coordinate volunteers, nursery providers and teachers to ensure that religious education curriculum delivery is engaging and cohesive.  
  • Act as liaison with clergy and staff to welcome children, youth, and their families into the wider life and ministry of the parish and encourage other parish members to offer same welcoming behavior.
  • Effectively communicate about our CYM programs.  
  • Publish weekly e-newsletter.
  • Advocate for the needs of children and young people in the parish, and their full participation in parish life, collaborating with all staff colleagues.
  • Recruit, train and schedule acolytes of all ages.
  • Conduct administrative duties:
  • Coordinate annual registration, welcomes, and incorporates new families
  • Keep CYM records (class lists, birth dates, safe church trainings, etc.)
  • Acquire all supplies for all CYM duties
  • Attend weekly staff meetings; additionally, attend parish Vestry meetings as needed
  • Manage CYM budget

To apply please send a cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae to:
The Rev. Jeffrey Mello
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
15 St. Paul Street
Brookline, MA  02446
jmello@stpaulsbrookline.org

STH Professor Wesley Wildman: What Computer Modeling Can Tell Us about Religion

By Kimberly Macdonald June 1st, 2017 in Archive

What Computer Modeling Can Tell Us about Religion: STH researchers introduce high tech to a low-tech discipline

School of Theology Professor of philosophy, theology, and ethics, Wesley Wildman, has adopted computer simulation to help him tackle previously unanswerable questions in the field of religion. The answers he and his research students seek might help explain potential benefits from religion, such as better mental health, to its evils, such as violence in the name of God.
View the full story on BU Today at http://www.bu.edu/today/2017/what-computer-modeling-can-tell-us-about-religion 

Children's ministry, Cambridge MA

By yaragj May 30th, 2017 in Archive

We are looking for someone to direct our children ministry next year and would hire the person late in the summer.  It is sort of the perfect job for a seminarian (even someone just entering this Fall), as it would be mostly Sunday morning, with a few hours of remote work during the week.  So, easily additive to their seminary studies.
Contact:
Rev. Herb Taylor
Harvard Epworth United Methodist Church
(617)354-0837/pastor.herb@he-umc.org

Director of Youth Choirs, Sudbury, MA

By yaragj May 25th, 2017 in Archive

Director of Youth Choirs
Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MA is a progressive faith community with the United Church of Christ that offers weekly opportunities for faith development and enrichment for young people through many avenues, including music. We are searching for an energetic and creative leader for our growing youth music ministry. This is a great opportunity to inspire children through music while working with a very supportive staff and congregation.
MCC continues to invest in our youth programs which have more than doubled in participation in the last three years with a quarter of our population currently under the age of seventeen.
This position involves three directing choirs: The Cherub Choir (age 0-5 with a caregiver/parent), The Junior Choir (elementary-aged youth), and The Gospel Choir (middle- and high-school students).  Specific experience will include demonstrated musical ability, preferably keyboard and/or guitar proficiency, and directing abilities.  Degrees in music and/or theological studies are preferred but not required.
If you understand the nuances of working with groups of children and possess the spirit and demeanor to create an inviting, loving, celebratory, directed environment to deepen children's faith and interest in music, please join us!
Check out our full job description at http://mccsudbury.org/help-wanted  and send inquiries to ministerofmusic@mccsudbury.org.  You can see some of our musical energy on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/mccsudbury/
 

David B. Seaburn (STH '75) publishes novel Parrot Talk

By yaragj May 23rd, 2017 in Archive

Parrot talk
From Amazon:

Lucas and Grinder are more than a little surprised and confused to hear that their mother, Millie, who they haven’t heard from in over thirty years, has died. Now her best friend wants them to come to Pittsburgh to take care of their mother’s effects, chief among them being Paul.
A road trip ensues with memorable stops at a Racino, a Pittsburgh landmark greasy spoon, and finally a ride on an incline trolley to meet their mother’s friend, Janice. They are taken aback when she introduces them to Paul, an African grey parrot in the depths of grief, who has things to say that will change their lives. And so a transformative adventure begins.

Also available:

Visit: www.davidbseaburn.com
Follow his Psychology Today magazine blog at:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/going-out-not-knowing

James McCobb (STH'58)

By bbrawner May 18th, 2017 in Archive

James E. McCobb, 89, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marilyn (Mack) McCobb; 6 children; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, colleagues, and many dear friends. He is pre-deceased by his son Thomas McCobb and sister Elizabeth Lazzaro.
A former Methodist minister, James went on to 50-year career as an attorney. He was an avid hiker and outdoorsman and also wrote and self-published several books of poetry. He was an active member of Rotary International. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, April 30, 3:00 P.M. at St. Mark's Church in Southborough.
 
*Obituary has been re-posted from the following site.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/telegram/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=185236132