Clergy availability & Office hours for staff

In case you were trying to determine the best time to catch me or the office staff, here is an overview of the clergy and staff’s weekly schedule.  Since we have limited paid staff in the office, I thought perhaps a brief idea about the hours that we are usually at the church would be helpful.

Susan Carson as Registrar and Communications Coordinator is also filling in for bulletin preparation.  Other activities previously assigned to the Parish Administrator are being evaluated and reassigned to committee chair persons or will become part of the new staff position when we finalize the office needs assessment.

Susan currently is trying to be at the office Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm.  Office volunteers and those hoping to drop by should do so from 10 am to 1 pm since you will find Preschool pick up and drop off will be a challenge at other times.

Please note that this is a general idea and not specific to each week since I often have meetings on Friday or Saturday and have to adjust my days off accordingly.  Susan’s schedule is also flexible since she works to facilitate parish needs and she has gone above and beyond to step in to help cover the bulletins and other urgent needs.

Sunday – Mother Pat is at the church from 7:30 am until around 1 or 2 pm and is available for meetings after worship as the parish calendar permits.  Pastoral calls are also made in the afternoon as the pandemic allows.  No office staff are scheduled for work on Sunday.

Monday – Mother Pat works at home from 9 am until 12 pm on sermons and preparation for the weeks events.  Mother Pat is in the office from around 12 pm until 3 or 4 pm depending on pastoral calls and meetings.  Susan is in the office from 10 am to 2 pm.

Tuesday – Mother Pat works at home from 9 am until 11 am on newsletter articles, special programs, and other upcoming events as well as continued sermon work.  Tuesday afternoons work continues at the church with meetings and various projects – appointment times and opportunity for phone calls are usually available.   Once a month there is an afternoon meeting of the Deanery clergy.  Also quarterly there are meetings with the clergy, or the Bishop, or a continuing education event and those may be all day meetings.  Some weeks Mother Pat will come into the office later in order to be able to stay until 8 pm to meet with folks who work during the day and for scheduled committee meetings or worship opportunities.  Susan is in the office from 10 am to 2 pm.

Wednesday – Mother Pat arrives at the church around 9 am to prepare for preschool chapel and Wednesday Holy Eucharist & service of healing.  Worship is followed by meetings and appointments as well as outreach and other pastoral activities in the afternoon.  Susan is in the office from 10 am to 2 pm.

Thursday – Mother Pat works at home on Thursday finalizing sermon preparation, working on projects and trying to answer e-mails, voice mail etc.  This day is also for finalizing newsletter articles, working on special projects and items which need uninterrupted time to complete.  Susan is in the office from 10 am to 2 pm.  Mother Pat may be in the office if there are meetings or appointments requiring a clergy presence.

Friday – Mother Pat’s day off except for meetings of the Diocese, wedding rehearsals, or urgent pastoral needs.  Mother Pat will often work at home on sermons and other projects.  No office staff are currently scheduled to work on Friday, the office is closed to routine activities.

Saturday – Mother Pat’s other day off except for Diocesan events, weddings, and other activities which are occasionally scheduled in addition to this; but not a routine day for appointments.  No office staff work on Saturday.

The best way to get information to me is to e-mail I pick up email several times a day.  If it is urgent, please text or call the emergency cell phone at 404-754-6980.  That phone remains on 24 hrs a day, so unless you need something urgently, please email the church at the address.  You can call the church office and usually I will be able to answer, although I have been known to accidently cut off the call.  If that happens, please call back and I will attempt the complicated phone system again, hopefully with more success.  If all else fails leave a message and someone will try to get back with you as quickly as we can.  If you leave a voice message at the church on Thursday afternoon or over the weekend, we won’t get your message until Monday morning so e-mail if you can.  If we don’t answer, we are either in a meeting, worship, or working on issues which do not allow us to answer the phone.  If you have an emergency illness or family death, always try the church office during the day because that is likely where we will be; but if you don’t get a “live person” then call my (Mother Pat’s) cell phone which is always on.  Of course if your question is about the parish office operations, communications (print and electronic) or registrar function, you can e-mail Susan at and she will either provide you the information or forward your e-mail to the clergy or appropriate vestry person.

I realize this transition is difficult and I am here to support you in the best way that I can.  Please let me know how I can help you and the parish in this time of change.  We are evaluating the needs of the parish and how to use paid staff and volunteers in the best way possible.  We will finalize position descriptions for the Music Director and the Parish Administrator and then move forward with the Vestry to seek the best individuals for those positions.  St. Matthew’s has all the resources needed to move forward, so we invite you to pray for the work of discernment as we continue to evaluate what is needed now and in the future to ensure God’s work is done in and through St. Matthew’s.  God’s peace and joy, Mother Pat+

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