Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is a 70-year-old congregation in Palos Heights, a southwest suburb of Chicago. We currently have two services on Sunday morning with an average weekly worship attendance of over 200 people. The current sanctuary and pipe organ were constructed and installed in 2001.

Vision Statement for Position

The Organist provides the congregation with the gift of music by playing the organ, Clavinova and the grand piano, on an as needed basis, for regular and special worship services. The Organist also acts as a performance and rehearsal accompanist for the adult choir and, as needed, for all of the other church choirs.

General Position Description

The Organist at Good Shepherd works with the Senior Pastor and the Director of Music to enhance the worship experience for all members of the congregation by providing us with the gift of music. This is primarily achieved via music staff meetings that are held quarterly.

The Organist is responsible for working with the Pastor to select musical pieces to be performed at regular and special worship services.

The Organist will coordinate the playing schedule for all worship services and obtain approval for this schedule from the Senior Pastor.

This is a part time, salaried position that reports to the Senior Pastor.

Additional information found in the full position description can be found below, after the information for applying.

Application Process

To apply or with questions about the position, please contact or submit your resume to Pastor Chris Buresh through mail (7800 W McCarthy Road, Palos Heights, IL 60463) or through email (pastorchris@good-shepherd-church.com).

FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION

The position can be broken down into several broad areas with the following major activities:

Administrative

-Attend music ministry staff meetings with the Director of Music and all other choir directors.

-Coordinate the playing schedule and musical choices for all worship services and obtain approval for these choices from the Senior Pastor.

-Monitors and maintains the organ, notifying the Senior Pastor or Director of Music immediately of any issues.

-Monitors and maintains the humidity control system for the piano in the sanctuary, notifying the Senior Pastor or Director of Music immediately of any issues.

Performance

-Cooperate with the worship leader to select the music to be played during regular and special worship services and provide the selections to the church office in a timely manner prior to the service.

-Selects, prepares and plays preludes, postludes and offertory anthems each week.

-Act as a performance and rehearsal accompanist for all choirs. This includes full-time accompanist for Adult Choir and accompanist for other choirs at performance and rehearsals as needed.

-Act as a performance and rehearsal accompanist for all soloists as required.

-Plays, as requested, at funerals and weddings, with first right of refusal for additional compensation.

-In consultation with the Director of Music, arrange for qualified substitutes for rehearsals or services as necessary.

General Schedule of services and rehearsals

Sunday worship weekly at 9 am and 11 am. Service times shift to 8:30 am and 10 am beginning Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day Weekend.

Adult choir rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm beginning in September and ending before Memorial Day. Several weeks of rehearsals are cancelled immediately following the Christmas holiday.

Special services are held during the season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, on Wednesdays at 10:30 am and 7:30 pm.

Special services are held during Thanksgiving (eve and day), Christmas (concert, eve, day), Maundy Thursday (evening), Good Friday (day and evening) and Easter Sunday (sunrise service along with regular Sunday services).

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $10,000.00 - $23,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 10 – 20 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Evening shift
• Holidays
• Weekends as needed
• Weekends only

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus opportunities
• Commission pay

Ability to Relocate:

• Palos Heights, IL 60463: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person