Organist and Director of Music

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 500 Pearl Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, is seeking to fill two part-time positions – an organist and a director of music. We are open to these positions being filled either by one person, or by 2 people working in collaboration. Our church is located in an urban community with a commitment to serving that community, is a welcoming RIC congregation, with a wealth of musical talent.

As an organist or accompanist, qualifications would include commitment to the development and nurturing of all aspects of worship and music and having the necessary academic, supervisory, and performance skills. Responsibilities include (1) playing for scheduled rehearsals and our once weekly Sunday morning service and for additional services agreed upon by the pastor and the Worship and Music committee, (2) compiling and maintaining a list of substitute organists, obtain their services and negotiate their pay when needed, (3) the “right of first refusal” for weddings (payment arrangements made by the wedding party) and funerals (Payment by the funeral home or family).

Qualifications of the director of music include the above commitment to the nurturing of the church’s music and worship, and academic and supervisory skills for directing that music. Responsibilities could include (1) developing, planning, scheduling, and evaluating a regular program for the once weekly and any additional worship services, selecting hymns for worship along with the pastor, providing those titles to the church office and reporting them to the Licensing Service if necessary, and coordinating a schedule of all musical organizations within the church and any invited outside musicians, (2) supervise and nurture the vocal choir, hand bell choir, youth choir and praise choir, (3) identify, recruit, nurture and develop musical groups within the church, (4) direct or coordinate all special music presented at the church, (5) reporting music to the licensing service if necessary and keep subscriptions up to date, (6) prepare an annual report with a listing of expected expenditures and (7) oversee the church’s musical assets, maintain its instruments, and provide a report of those instruments’ status to the Worship and Music Committee (who must approve all repairs).

Further specifics, including salary, are dependent on the qualifications and skill set of the applicant and which of the above responsibilities the applicant will be assuming, and can be discussed during the interview process.

Interested parties should submit name, address, phone # and/or email address, record of education and training, employment history, references and ability to do the job to the above address or email to sjhaldeman@gmail.com.