Minister of Music Position

Woodridge Congregational Church

Job Description

Position Title: Minister of Music

Employment Type: Part-time. 15 to 20 hours per week combined onsite/off site. 

Job Summary:  The Minister of Music will support the mission of the congregation by co-creating worship that is inspiring, transformative, intergenerational, and fun—inviting everyone to encounter the Sacred.  The Minister of Music will direct the adult choir and adult chimers, coordinate with the Prime Time Chimers director, and engage people of all ages and stages in opportunities for making and appreciating sacred music together.  The Minister of Music will provide accompaniment on the piano and/or organ for congregational worship and for the choir/soloists.  In all facets of their ministry, the Minister of Music will collaborate with the Pastor and Worship Team in accordance with our Open and Affirming covenant and to practice extravagant welcome.  Woodridge also seeks to support and encourage the vision and interests of our future Minister of Music.  Schedule, outside of Sunday mornings and rehearsals, is flexible in agreement with the pastor.

Ideal Candidate:  An individual with excellent interpersonal skills, a compassionate heart, and an enthusiasm for deepening our walk with God through music and art.  The ideal candidate would be committed to intergenerational efforts, embrace multicultural music and genres, and be open to innovation and community partnerships.  They will also be proficient at both piano and organ.  At Woodridge, we seek participation over perfection and are hoping to find a minister of music who would sustain and expand opportunities for engagement across all ages and skill levels.  Our congregation includes several instrumentalists who find participating in worship deeply meaningful.  Musically, we blend a love for traditional hymnody with an eagerness to learn new songs and hear new voices.  The ideal candidate would help stretch us beyond what is comfortable and familiar, while appreciating the significance of memory and music.  There is a lot of talent, both visible and hidden, at Woodridge and we look forward to making music with you!

About Woodridge:  Woodridge Congregational Church is an open and affirming church welcoming everyone no matter where they are on life’s journey. We are passionate about God’s word, our community, and social justice issues. When you enter Woodridge, you can feel the fellowship, faith, and community. We believe our most important work happens after Sunday morning worship, in our day-to-day lives. The community at Woodridge can’t be described but can only be felt; seldom do we have a visitor who leaves and doesn’t return.  Woodridge has one service on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. The choir has approximately 6-8 members – a warm, enthusiastic group that rehearses one evening (historically Thursdays) and Sunday mornings before worship.  We have two chimes groups–Prime Time Chimers (PTC) and the Woodridge Chimers.  PTC is an intergenerational ensemble of developing musicians directed by a lay person.  Our Woodridge Chimers have been directed by our Minister of Music and is a more advanced group that rehearses at 6:30 PM on Thursday nights.  In addition, candidates should be aware that a current member of our congregation is an organist and can substitute when available.  Our organ features 13 ranks built by the Wicks Organ Company.  Woodridge owns a set of Suzuki chimes that covers 4.5 octaves.

Salary:  Salary negotiable commensurate with qualifications and experience.  Up to $20,000.  Four weeks paid vacation.  

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Worship leadership:
      1. Oversee and coordinate all aspects of the church’s musical worship experiences, including Sunday services, weddings, funerals, memorial services,special occasion concerts, and special services which currently include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Christmas Eve.
      2. Play piano and/or organ for weekly worship, conduct choir, instrumental ensembles (currently chimes)
      3. Collaborate with the pastor to create meaningful and engaging worship experiences
      4. Select music for preludes, anthems, and postludes as appropriate to the Christian calendar to accent the themes of worship and in consultation with the Pastor.
      5. Work with the office administrator to provide inserts/music for the bulletin as necessary.
  • Music education:
      1. Incorporate music education into rehearsals for all ages, children, youth, and adults
      2. Engage children and youth in age-specific and intergenerational opportunities with an eye to developmentally appropriate faith formation
  • Mentoring and music ministry development:
      1. Foster a vibrant and inclusive music ministry that reflects the church’s mission, vision and values
      2. Lead rehearsals for musicians and choirs as well as coordinating with worship participants
      3. Help choir members to develop their own musicianship 
      4. Maintain healthy rapport among choir singers and musicians
      5. Develop musical ministry and choir opportunities outside of the church
      6. Maintain connections between the music ministry and the broader community through community outreach
      7. Develop relationships with other church musicians, local musicians and musical organizations
      8. Respond to the requests and needs of choir members
      9. Pursue professional development
  • Administrative duties:
    1. In collaboration with the Worship Team, manage the church’s music budget and resources
    2. Maintain the church’s music library and supervise the maintenance of church’s instruments and audio equipment
    3. Coordinate with staff, worship team, choir members, and volunteers to ensure smooth operation of the music ministry
    4. Attend collaboration meetings with Pastor (weekly to bi-weekly) and Worship Team Meetings (Monthly, virtually).
    5. Arrange for substitutes in your absence

Qualifications

    • Education: Bachelor’s degree in music or a related field preferred or equivalent relevant experience.
    • Experience: Proven experience in leading and directing choral and instrumental ensembles.
    • Skills: Strong skills in both vocal and instrumental music, organ and keyboard. Proficiency in guitar or other instruments is a plus. A strong familiarity with both hymnody and the modern praise music genre is preferred. 
    • Communication: Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
  • Independent Action: Ability to work independently and exercise proper judgment.  Refers challenges to Pastor, Worship Team, or Pastoral and Staff Committee
  • Spiritual qualifications: Deep commitment to God in alignment with the UCC’s theology and mission

Additional considerations:

    • Worship styles: Familiarity with a variety of musical styles, including traditional and contemporary
    • Technology: Familiarity with notation software
  • Physical Requirements: Lift up to 20 pounds. Ability to sit for up to an hour at a time. Dexterity of feet and hands 

Application Instructions: 

Applications should be emailed to woodridgeuccsearchcommittee@gmail.com and include cover letter, resume, as well as names and phone numbers of three references, including at least one professional reference.  The interview process will include a demonstration of musical proficiency.  

 

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