Music Facilitator
A bit about us:
Faith United is a congregation in a partially rural, partially urban community. In September 2000, the congregation moved into a new church home that they planned, financed and constructed. There are currently approximately 200 families with an average weekly attendance of 160 worshippers. This is anticipated to continue growing. Faith United is primarily middle age and older with a small but growing complement of younger families. The Courtice community is, for the most part, younger families. Demographics show a mixture of denominations. We are looking to continue to nurture and further develop a healthy and growing music program in the life of the congregation and the community.
At Faith United, we offer hybrid worship experiences: both in person and online (livestream and on demand) on YouTube each Sunday morning. Each week our Minister and Music Director select music and prepare worship services. Volunteers provide leadership in worship through welcoming everyone to Faith United, reading scripture, providing special music, ushering, and caring for the worship space. Worship feeds us body and soul to share God’s love with the world. This area of ministry includes leadership in worship, preaching and music as well as technical and clerical supports for inhouse and livestream presentations.
There are faith development programs for children, youth, and adults. As we make opportunities to discuss our faith with one another, our faith grows and we are equipped to live as God’s people in our world today. This area of ministry includes learning opportunities for all ages and stages of life.
We offer fellowship and ongoing pastoral care to people in our congregation, responding in times of crisis such as illness or bereavement. We make calls, send cards to families going through a hard time, visit parishioners in their home, in seniors’ residences, and in hospital. We also offer fellowship in all of our many programs and activities building a community of care. Through these practices, we share and experience the love of God. This area of ministry includes:
Reaching out to others, sharing God’s love, telling others about Jesus, is all part of our calling as Christians in response to the Gospel. Here at Faith United we seek to show God’s love in tangible ways that make a difference in people’s lives and give glory to God. This area of ministry includes financial and practical supports to our own communities and around the world.
All of our many ministries could not happen without the many volunteers who support by contributing their time and talents to committees, organizational tasks, managing our finances and communications and keeping our property running smoothly. We also contribute to the wider United Church structure as part of our denominational mission.
Our Mission Statement
We believe in a loving and forgiving God, shown to us through Jesus Christ, creation, the bible, and the community of believers. Therefore we will:
• strive to provide a spiritual home that is openly welcoming, nurturing and safe whatever a person’s ability/disability, age, ethnicity, exceptionality, gender identity, sexual orientation, or social or economic circumstance;
• seek to become disciples of Christ growing in faith through worship, study and prayer;
• risk sharing our resources with local and global neighbours in response to God’s call;
• be committed to the responsible use and care of all that God has entrusted to us;
• encourage all who gather here to participate freely in the life and work of this church.
Let our actions reflect our faith.
Our Vision for Music
Our vision is for a ministry of music that is ‘Alive in Christ’, that touches the hearts, minds and souls of each of us, connecting us with God and the mystery of the Holy Spirit, thereby uniting us as a rich community of faith that carries God’s message day to day.
Music Mission Statement
We will work towards our vision for music by being inclusive of all and responsive to the changing times and cultures. We will build on our heritage and traditions while offering a balanced variety of musical styles in our worship and other programs. We will strive to be a centre for musical development in the community.
The Role of Music in the life of Faith United
Music provides support for congregational singing and serves as a medium for the teaching of our faith. It augments the key themes of the service in the sermon, the prayers and the scripture readings while offering a variety of music styles. Music also occurs outside of worship and is included in our vision as a component of the life of the congregation and the community.
There is an established adult choir, a men’s gospel group and musical talent both vocal and instrumental in the congregation. The church also contains the following instruments: two upright acoustic pianos and a Heintzman grand piano, a three manual Casavant Freres pipe organ, a digital piano, a drum kit and a number of other percussion instruments.
Areas of Responsibility for the Music Facilitator
In co-operation with volunteers, the Music Facilitator will:
• build on the music program at Faith United, continuing the strategy of introducing a range of music styles that support worship and building an inventory of musical talent and interest (choral, instrumental, conducting) from the congregation and invite and assist those willing to share these talents.
• meet regularly with staff and volunteers contributing to planning and coordination of music for worship and other occasions.
• prepare an annual budget and be responsible for scheduling maintenance of the church instruments and requisitioning payment for all music licenses.
• rehearse and lead the choir(s), provide musical accompaniment for worship services, enable and train others to share in offering music for worship, initiate new musical groups and assist in their development, facilitate other musical activities such as concerts, provide/facilitate accompaniment for weddings and funerals, and prepare virtual anthems when required.
Job Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in music and/or ARCT, CRCCO, ARCCO, with relevant experience
• Demonstrated ability to play the pipe organ and acoustic/digital pianos and a willingness to utilize other instruments including percussion
• Demonstrated ability to play traditional and current music styles
• The ability to create virtual anthems would be an asset or the willingness to learn how to perform this task
• Demonstrated ability to lead, teach and conduct choirs
• Demonstrated experience showing initiative, creativity and interpersonal skills working with
volunteers and ministry staff
• The ability to play other instruments would be an asset
• Involvement in additional activities such as regional or national events would be considered an asset
Employment Specifics
Hours per week:
Permanent part-time position – requires an average of 14 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
Salary:
To be negotiated at time of hire using the United Church of Canada’s current salary guidelines for Ministry Personnel.
Benefits:
The church may be used as a location for the Music Facilitator to teach music (vocal and/or
instrumental) for additional income using the sanctuary organ, grand piano, other pianos and rooms. Use is scheduled in coordination with overall church activities and subject to space availability. This would offer the Music Facilitator an opportunity to expand business avenues and also meet Faith’s vision of serving others and being a central place in the community. Professional development support available.
In addition, the Music Facilitator would be eligible for paid sick leave, vacation, medical/dental coverage in accordance with the United Church of Canada’s benefit plan for part-time employees, as well as participation in the UCC pension plan.
To apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter to faithunitedmusicsearch@gmail.com by July 19, 2022.