Childcare Team Associate

Employer Overview: 

Advent United Methodist Church is an active faith community serving Greenville, SC and the surrounding areas. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Children’s Ministry serves children from birth to fifth grade on a weekly basis, generally on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Children’s Ministry staff consists of a director(s) who works alongside childcare staff and a team of volunteers. The church and childcare is open for special holidays such as Christmas Eve and Easter as well as special events scheduled throughout the year. Additional child care may be provided at varying times as requested by church life groups with ample notice and as possible with the childcare staff in order to support church families during on-campus meeting times.

Role Overview:

The Childcare Team reports every Sunday morning to care for nursery children, six weeks to three years old. The Childcare Team also reports Wednesday evenings to provide multi age childcare for life groups or special events. Additionally, the Childcare Team will be requested to work during other special events (such as a one week evening vacation Bible school during the summer) and certain holidays.  The Childcare Team reports to the Director of  Children’s Ministry. Our vision is that the childcare team is a part of the Advent family, even if the team is not a member of Advent UMC. 

Defining Characteristics:

  • The Childcare Team Associate should have a strong background in childcare and a commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment for children aged six weeks to three years old.
  • The Childcare Team Associate should have a personality that is professional, self-starting, welcoming, and have an ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
  • The Childcare Team Associate should have strong communication skills with staff, parents and volunteers to support connection, trust and the overall vision of the church.
  • The Childcare Team Associate should be invested in Advent UMC as a place of work, even if it is not their place of worship.

Job responsibilities:

  • Professionally caring for children primarily six weeks to three years old, but on special occasions as old as 5th grade, and generally for one-to-four hour increments. 
  • Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children by maintaining a clean and organized environment.
  • Supporting an environment where parents feel confident and comfortable dropping their children off at the nursery while establishing relationships with parents to ensure trust.
  • Working with the Children’s Ministry staff, Childcare Team Lead and nursery volunteers to create an environment that encourages age appropriate faith formation.
  • Working in line with the United Methodist Church Safe Sanctuary Policies (provided upon hire). 

Job requirements:

  • One year minimum of professional experience in childcare, particularly with infants and young children. 
  • First Aid, CPR, and AED certification up to date.
    • Patience, empathy and a genuine love for working with children.
  • Experience working with individuals with disabilities is a plus
  • Background check conducted by Advent UMC upon application.

For consideration, please send your resume to Michele Francis



Financial Report 2025

As we all continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world here at Advent, the Finance Committee would like to provide a financial update as of the end of 2025. In this regard, the following is a snapshot of Advent’s financial results for 2025, with year 2024 results included for comparative purposes:

Calendar Year 2025 Calendar Year 2024
Congregational Giving (Net of Fees) $1,605,000 $1,709,000
Other Income $56,000 $9,000
Expenses ($1,922,000) ($1,982,000)
Net Deficit ($261,000) ($264,000)
Unrestricted Cash Reserves $790,000 $996,000

Turning to Advent’s 2026 stewardship campaign, AWAKEN, resulted in 177 pledges totaling $1,118,500, a quite favorable campaign compared to 2025 with 124 pledges totaling $850,500. In 2026, we have 25 new member pledges totaling $49,200. For members who pledged in both 2025 and 2026, we saw an 11% increase in their pledges in 2026. Many people are faithful and consistent givers, even though no formal pledge is submitted. We continue to be encouraged by our growth in attendance and its projected incremental giving. The Finance Committee has aggressively projected and budgeted 2026 giving at $1,850,000, a 15% increase over our actual 2025 giving of $1,605,000.

 

For 2026, our budgeted spending has been set at $2,053,000. Compared with our budgeted giving, we plan to consume $203,000 of our Operating Reserves in 2026 to cover expenses. This situation represents the third year in a row that we will use our savings to cover our projected spending.

Advent has been blessed to have Operating Reserves available. We began 2025 with $996,000 and ended 2025 with $790,000. If Advent’s 2026 revenue and expense equal the budgeted forecast, this balance will drop to $587,000 at the end of 2026. We will once again closely monitor our giving and spending as we balance the need to spend to make disciples and grow our church while also preserving as much savings as possible. We will make this journey together!

Thank you for your generosity and support of Advent UMC with your time, talents, gifts, service, and witness. We are excited about what God has planned for Advent in the coming years and look forward to working alongside each of you to make God’s plan a reality. We ask that you pray for Advent daily as we make decisions to further God’s kingdom here on earth.

Phil Pirovitz, Treasurer

Leah O’Neal, Finance Committee Chair

One-Two-One Widows Group

At first you were single, then married, now you are one again. How we can help each other, and how can the church and God’s word support us as we now begin to walk solo. Although the walk is steep and usually uphill, sometimes holding hands is helpful. 

Meeting Time:  11:00 Second Tuesday of the month

Location: Education Building, E113

Who: Widows of all ages

Young Professionals

Young Professionals are for those in their 20s-40s starting their careers, their families, and their communities. We meet in various houses across Greenville/Simpsonville. Join us for a meal and fellowship

Meeting Time: Tuesdays at 6:00 pm
Location: Off Campus
Who: Ages 20s-40s

Childcare Team Lead

Employer Overview: 

Advent United Methodist Church is an active faith community serving Greenville, SC and the surrounding areas. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Children’s Ministry serves children from birth to fifth grade on a weekly basis, generally on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Children’s Ministry staff consists of a director(s) who works alongside childcare staff and a team of volunteers. The church and childcare is open for special holidays such as Christmas Eve and Easter as well as special events scheduled throughout the year. Additional child care may be provided at varying times as requested by church life groups with ample notice and as possible with the childcare staff in order to support church families during on-campus meeting times.

Role Overview:

The Childcare Team Lead reports every Sunday morning to care for nursery children, six weeks to three years old. The Childcare Team Lead also reports Wednesday evenings to provide multi age childcare for life groups or special events. Additionally, the Childcare Team Lead will be requested to work during other special events (such as a one week evening vacation Bible school during the summer) and certain holidays.  The Childcare Team Lead reports to the Director of  Children’s Ministry. Our vision is that the childcare team is a part of the Advent family, even if the team is not a member of Advent UMC. 

 

Defining Characteristics:

  • The Childcare Team Lead should have a strong background in childcare and a commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment for children aged six weeks to three years old.
  • The Childcare Team Lead should have a personality that is professional, self-starting, welcoming, and have an ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
  • The Childcare Team Lead should have strong communication skills with staff, parents and volunteers to support connection, trust and the overall vision of the church.
  • The Childcare Team Lead should be invested in Advent UMC as a place of work, even if it is not their place of worship.

 

Job responsibilities:

  • Professionally caring for children primarily six weeks to three years old but on special occasions as old as 5th grade, generally for one-to-four hour increments. 
  • Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children by maintaining a clean and organized environment.
  • Supporting an environment where parents feel confident and comfortable dropping their children off at the nursery while establishing relationships with parents to ensure trust.
  • Working with the Children’s Ministry staff and nursery volunteers to create an environment that encourages age appropriate faith formation.
  • Lead and mentor new nursery staff and volunteers on best practices and management of each gathering.
  • Working in line with the United Methodist Church Safe Sanctuary Policies (provided upon hire). 

 

Job requirements:

  • Two years minimum of professional experience in childcare, particularly with infants and young children. 
  • First Aid, CPR, and AED certification up to date.
    • Patience, empathy and a genuine love for working with children.
  • Experience working with individuals with disabilities is a plus
  • Background check conducted by Advent UMC upon application.

For consideration, please send your resume to Michele Francis



Mommy and Me

Mommy & Me meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10am on the children’s hall. This group, which is intended for parents and their young children, provides an opportunity for the little ones to play with one another while adults can offer each other support and companionship. Please note, childcare is not provided as this time is meant for children and their parents to participate together.

Meeting Time: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 10:00 am
Location: Children’s Hall, Advent United Methodist Church
Who: Parents or Caregivers with Children aged preschool or younger

Contact: [email protected]

Congregational Vote

Dear Advent Family,

Most of you know that our congregation held a church-wide vote earlier this afternoon concerning our connection to the United Methodist Church. The vote came after we held two informational meetings for our congregation in January, numerous Lifegroup meetings, and after we had been providing materials through the eNews since September 2023. After much prayer, discussion, and discernment, our congregation voted 410 (49.8%) in favor of separating, and 414 (50.2%) against separating from the United Methodist Church. Since this was less than the 2/3 majority that was required under the conference process, the motion to separate was not approved.

Clearly there were members of Advent who held different opinions about this issue. And while those who voted to remain in the conference are surely pleased with the decision, we recognize that there are those who are deeply disappointed. Whether you voted for Advent to stay in the United Methodist Church or leave, our prayer is that you will stay at Advent and be a part of its future. It is the people of Advent, each seeking to make disciples, that has made Advent the wonderful church that it has been and is.

Advent will now remain a United Methodist congregation. Pastor Tim and Pastor Rachel will remain as pastors until the end of June. The cabinet will be projecting new appointments for clergy the last week of February. They will decide on a new senior pastor for Advent and will decide if Pastor Rachel will be re-appointed to Advent for another year.

It has felt like a long process. But the universal desire has been to keep Advent, Advent. That is our desire today. It is our intention to remain the church that we have been. There will be no major changes in our worship services, Lifegroups, mission effort, or our committee structure. Our mission will continue to be fishin’. We will still strive to be a church where disciples Gather for Worship, Grow in Groups, and Go to Serve and to Share. Please join us in our continued ministry.

Pastor Tim and Pastor Rachel

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers – called Stephen Ministers – to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.

Stephen Ministers are laypeople who have trained 50 hours to provide one-to-one care to people experiencing a difficult time in life. The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private.

Meeting Time: Varies Monthly
Location: Zoom
Who: Men and Women, All Ages

Me and My Parkinson’s

You are not alone. Me and My Parkinson’s is a support group for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their spouses to share their experiences with one another. Join us at Advent from 6:30-7:30pm on the first Thursday of each month. For more information, click here to email the group.

Meeting Time: 6:30pm, First Thursday of the month
Location: Education Building, E112
Who: Those with Parkinson’s and caregivers of those with Parkinson’s