Description

Job Posting for Choir & Handbell Director – 12.5 hours/week
Good Shepherd is a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It is an active 350-member congregation in Westborough, Massachusetts. Our Choir & Handbell Director must have a passion for proclaiming the gospel through music and an appreciation of the importance of music in the ministry of a diverse and vibrant congregation. Good Shepherd is seeking a musician with a focus on Lutheran ministry for a 12.5 hour per week position. We are seeking a leader to plan and direct music for our Hymn-based 9 am service, special programs and community events. The Choir & Handbell Director is a member of the staff team for ministry. This team works joyfully together, supports one another and prays with and for each other. Our other paid church music staff include a Praise Band director for our Contemporary Service, and an Organist for the hymn-based service who also accompanies the choir. The staff is bolstered by several lay leaders and musicians. Interested individuals may apply or obtain additional information, such as a detailed job description, by email at music@goodshepherdcares.org

Requirements

12.5 hours per week 

Core Responsibilities

Participate fully in the life and ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, working with the pastors, church staff, and lay leaders to facilitate congregational goals and assume responsibility for tasks as mutually agreed upon with the pastors.  
Direct and support special music for the Hymn-Based worship service on Sunday mornings. This will generally be the adult choir supplemented by handbell choir, children’s choir, children’s chimes and individuals/small groups (choral or instrumental) from the congregation. 
Direct and support special music for Christmas Eve services and Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday). 
Provide instrumental accompaniment for singing during Wednesday services during Advent and Lent. This could be on piano, guitar or another appropriate instrument.  
Direct the Chancel Choir (adult choir).  This includes rehearsal time, selecting and planning musical offerings, and helping our musicians grow in musical competence and spiritual understanding of their role in worship and leadership. Recruit, nourish, motivate, encourage, inspire, and build community.
Direct the Gospel Ringers Hand Bell Choir.  This includes rehearsal time, selection and planning of music, and creating opportunities for the Choir to grow in their skills. Make arrangements for adjusting and repairing the bells and chimes as needed.
Lead and coordinate the Children’s Music program.  Good Shepherd nurtures a learning environment in which our children can grow in musical skills and musicianship while they are growing spiritually through worship and song. To this end, the Choir & Handbell Director will:
Provide music education for Sunday school children in their large group gathering time during 9 am worship service and at the start of the 11 am service.
Direct (or support and coach congregation volunteers who direct) our two children’s choirs: Joyful Noise (grades 1-5) and Allegro Chimes (grades 4-high school). 
Help enrich our current programs so that children will grow through age-appropriate music and activities.  
Schedule the children’s musical offerings in worship.  
Provide opportunities for children and adults with musical gifts to share in our worship services.  This involves finding instrumental music appropriate for their skill level for them, as few have musical arrangements for worship settings.

Additional Responsibilities

Annual Budget: Determine and submit, with the help of the Worship & Music Committee and Altar Guild, the annual budget requirements for the music program, and administrate the expenditures of the approved budget.   
Music Library: Maintain the music library, purchase appropriate licenses for performance and streaming of music, scheduling piano tuning (twice per year), and purchase music and other supplies for adult choir, handbell choir, children’s ensembles and individuals/small groups as needed.
Worship Planning: Meet with the pastors, church staff, and lay leaders as needed for worship planning, working together to provide worship and music that helps people to connect with God. This includes coordinating weekly with the organist and working with the congregation’s contemporary music team, New Direction, for planning music for Sundays with only one worship service, as well as for any blended holiday services. Advise pastors regarding the accessibility of hymns and service music. Teach new hymns to the congregation as needed.   
Work with the congregation’s Worship & Music Committee when they seek input for matters relating to music at Good Shepherd. The committee meets in the evening approximately once per month with a longer meeting in May to discuss the upcoming year. 
Recruit, facilitate & communicate.  Support and educate all musicians participating in the program; recruit and facilitate participation from all age groups within the congregation.  Communicate with participants and parents of children about schedules and upcoming music. Provide information for the church newsletter about music ensembles and ways for people to participate in music.    
Maintain professional competency by practicing, performing, attending continuing education opportunities, and reading professional journals. The person in this role is particularly encouraged to seek out the collegiality and support available through the Boston area Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM).
Be available to assist with funerals when a family requests the presence of a choir or special music.  Facilitate a Resurrection Choir when requested.
Participate in community ecumenical and synod events hosted by Good Shepherd.  These typically include an ecumenical Good Friday or Thanksgiving service once every few years.
Perform other tasks as needed: Currently these involve participating in newcomer gatherings to explain Worship & Music ministry here at Good Shepherd. 
Participate in annual staff evaluations.

Expected Schedule

September to mid-June

Sunday 9 am Hymn-based service with children’s music to follow, 
Chancel Choir rehearsal as needed prior to service  

(generally 8:15 am - 11:15 am - extend to 11:30 am if singing with the second service)

Wednesday evenings 6 pm to ~8 pm during Advent and Lent
Thursday evenings 6 pm to 8 pm Chancel Choir and Gospel Ringers (handbell) rehearsals
Worship & Music committee meetings (2 hours/month or every other month)
Planning and communication as needed

Mid-June to August

Sunday 8:30 am Hymn-based service 
Choir optional - organize special music contributions from congregation

No Thursday rehearsals
Plan for upcoming program year in August
Planning and communication as needed