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Job Description for
Administrative Assistant-Front-Desk Receptionist

Listing updated on November 15.

Overview:

We are seeking a dedicated Administrative Assistant-Front Desk Receptionist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for providing exceptional service and administrative support in a church office setting.

Overall Responsibilities:

• Telephone and Office Reception: – Welcome callers, visitors, parishioners, and staff with congenial and helpful attitude; – Direct calls and messages to the appropriate staff or volunteers; – Keep relevant staff informed about the progress of office projects and tasks within their areas of responsibility.
• Event Coordination: – Create and track RSVPs for church events as needed; – Act as point of contact for events between staff, volunteers, and outside contacts.; – Schedule weekly volunteers; – Write and distribute emails, letters, and forms.
• Database Management: – Ensure the computer membership database records are accurate and up-to-date, including information on new members, transfers, baptisms, funerals, etc.; – Record & track weekly service attendance.
• Office and Environment Maintenance: – Maintain a neat office environment; – Keep church entrance spaces organized with up-to-date publications and other relevant information.
• Additional Responsibilities: – Perform other duties as assigned; – Assist with general office tasks to support the team; – Assist in preparing annual reports.

Requirements:

• Previous office experience is preferred.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) or similar software.
• Familiarity with handling multi-line phone systems.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work efficiently in a busy environment.
• Understanding of basic office procedures.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Ability to treat others with kindness, and compassion, and be discrete about their needs regardless of their position in life.
• Ability to keep records, spreadsheets, and files organized.
• References required.
• Able to maintain confidentiality regarding matters of the Church, office, and other matters of a sensitive nature.

Position Type: Part-Time, 20 hours/week
Pay Range: $19.00 – $23.50 per hour depending on education and/or experience
Work Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 3 pm
Work Location: Fully in-person position at the St. Francis Office, 2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

St. Francis Church is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age (40 and over), ancestry, association with a member of a protected class, bereavement leave, cannabis use, color, disability (physical, intellectual/developmental, or mental health/psychiatric.), Family Care and Medical Leave (CFRA) related to serious health condition of employee or family member, child bonding, or military exigencies, gender identity or expression, genetic information or characteristic, marital status, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristic), military and veteran status, national origin (includes language restrictions), participation in an EEO protected activity, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions, Pregnancy

Disability Leave (PDL), race (includes hairstyle and hair texture), religious creed (includes dress and grooming practices), reproductive health decision-making, reproductive loss leave, sex/gender, and sexual orientation. Joining our St. Francis Episcopal Church team as our Administrative Assistant-Front-Desk Receptionist offers the opportunity to work in a church environment, contribute to teamwork with results, and grow professionally. If you meet the requirements, enjoy doing the overall responsibilities, and are passionate about delivering excellent service, we invite you to apply. Please submit your cover letter, resume, and references to elaine.mistele@stfrancispalosverdes.org by July 9, 2024.

The Vestry Members held Small Group Meetings with members of St. Francis to enable us to move in the best direction for our parish.  Approximately 50 members participated on a volunteer basis to answer 5 questions posed by Fr. Jason Shelby during the 2024 Vestry Retreat.  The questions are as follows:

1. What do we really love to do?
2. How has God gifted us to do those things?
3. If we focused more on doing what we love, so that we do it really well and share it with others, what are the best things that could happen?
4. What might boost our ability to achieve each of those things?
5. Where do we start?

Mary Deley and Mary Ann Cronin then gathered the information provided by the Vestry Members and created this summary.  The responses are listed in order of popularity, particularly under Question 1.  Please let us know if you have any questions or would like an explanation in more detail for any of the responses. 

QUESTION 1 – What do we really love to do?

Parishioners said the following which they enjoy and love: 

1. Fellowship – spend time together
2. Music – listening, playing, singing
3. Puzzles, games cards
4. Attend church on Sunday, enjoy the traditions
5. Exercise/Sports – playing and watching
6. Gardening, campus cleanup
7. Hiking/Being outdoors
8. Reading/Writing
9. Being/Serving in our community (outside of church)
10. Photography/Art
11. Youth programs/Mentoring
12. Adult education/Guest speakers
13. Homeless support
14. Sewing/Knitting/Quilting
15. Healing/Illness support
16. Grief group
17. Travel
18. Guilds
19. Genealogy
20. Helping the homebound
21. Technology
22. Being with our pets

QUESTION 2 – How has God gifted us to do those things?

We have the gifts of:

1. Welcoming community at St. Francis
2. Enjoy working and serving together
3. Beautiful grounds
4. Great staff to enable us to provide fellowship and joy
5. Various Guilds, Ministry Councils, etc.
6. People who see a need and do whatever it takes to fulfill it
7. Vision to make something happen (i.e. Designs for Dining, Rummage Sale, etc.)

QUESTION 3 – If we focused more on doing what we love, so that we do it really well and share it with others, what are the best things that could happen?

We would:

1. Build more connections between current parishioners
2. Bring more people to the church to do God’s work
3. Build connections with our outside community
4. By fellowship events increase opportunities
5. Build a Youth Program
6. Have more empathy towards the homeless
7. Have our passion rub off on others
8. Develop coffee hour further by adding music

QUESTION 4 – What might boost our ability to achieve each of those things?

Ideas shared include:

1. Name tags for Vestry members, Ministry Council Leaders, Sunday School teachers, etc.
2. Funding for Youth Leader
3. Music at coffee hour
4. Visiting other churches to inspire ideas for St. Francis
5. Reinstitute Acolyte Program for children and adults
6. Information page about St. Francis history for people to take in pews at weddings, funerals, etc. 
7. Use St. Francis as venue for community events and advertising them (i.e. Bag Pipe Concert, Music Concerts, Evensong, etc.)
8. Restaurant fundraisers
9. Individual discussions and/or invitations to get involved (i.e. baking for the Antique Show, decorating for holidays, singing in choir for special occasions, etc.)
10. Presentations by different Groups, Guilds, Ministry Council, etc. in church on monthly or bi-monthly basis (i.e., Loaves & Fishes, Caring Cards, Outreach, Sages, etc.)
11. Mentoring others to develop future leaders (i.e., Antique Show, etc.)
12. Sport watching parties, game nights, etc.
13. Participating on peripheral of events wearing St. Francis T-shirts or hats (i.e., passing out water bottles at Village Run, booth at local festival, etc.)

QUESTION 5 – Where do we start?

Answers to this question dovetailed with Question 4 so those replies were not included.  Other responses were:

1. Joint service with Wayfarer’s Chapel
2. Kris Kringle Christmas Show
3. More staff for Rector
4. Engage Youth Leader
5. Visitation of homebound aging population
6. Reinstitute Lay Eucharist Ministers
7. Provide Christian education to support faith and address doubts about faith
8. Humor in bulletin and/or Bellringer

Dear St. Francis Family,

As we enter the flu season, we want to ensure that everyone in our community stays healthy and safe.

If you are feeling ill or are running a fever, we kindly ask that you take care of yourself at home and join us in spirit through our livestream worship on Facebook or YouTube.

For those who are immune compromised or concerned about their health, we encourage you to consider wearing a mask during in-person worship services for added protection.

We appreciate your understanding and care for one another during this time.

Blessings,

Sue Ferme
Safety Chair

Fr. Jason Shelby
Rector

On Wednesday, August 28, the Healing Service will be at 10:00AM in the chapel, and will continue to be held at 10:00AM unless otherwise noted or announced. But why, you may be asking yourself, is it being moved? Because it will accommodate Father Jason’s schedule better if it is at ten instead of twelve. The healing service itself will remain the same, only now it will happen two hours earlier.