Cantor (Chicago, IL)

Job opening: Cantor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, (ELCA) 1500 W. Elmdale Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 

 

Our Mission

The community of Immanuel strives to be a living sanctuary of hope and grace.

 

Our Vision 

We are united in God’s love for us in Jesus, poured out for the world through our service to Christ. Our faith made active in love opens doors for all people to encounter God’s love hidden in Christ, the source of our hope.

 

About Immanuel

Immanuel Lutheran is a progressive, liturgical, urban congregation, that strives to fulfill its mission to be a living sanctuary of hope and grace. This part-time position offers a competitive salary (pension and benefits negotiable). The ideal start date is January 1, 2023. 

 

The Cantor we seek will be able to help all of us—children, youth, and adults, with many levels of ability, and across a range of musical genres and styles—to praise God in song and lead us in our shared liturgical life.

 

Apply by sending a resume to churchonelmdale@gmail.com or mail it to: Immanuel Cantor Hiring Team, 1500 W Elmdale, Chicago, IL 60660. Video links of recent performances are welcome. To be considered, a resume must be received by October 31, 2022. Following review by the Hiring Team, candidates asked to continue in the process will participate in an interview, keyboard (organ and piano) audition, and choral conducting audition. 

 

Title: Cantor

 

Position Summary:

The primary responsibility of the Cantor is to intentionally plan, together with the pastor, all liturgies of the congregation based on the Revised Common Lectionary and the Church Year, with the primary goal of proclaiming the good news of God in Jesus Christ. To that end, the Cantor will develop and oversee the musical leadership of the congregation, and support the full, active and conscious participation of the assembly in the liturgical life of the congregation as a faith-forming practice.   

 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

·      Continue the rich liturgical traditions of the congregation through seasonal and weekly worship planning in partnership with the Pastor.

·      Chooses all musical elements to be used in worship.

·      Coordinate and implement Immanuel’s music program.

·      Create the weekly service folder with the Parish Administrator.

·      Provide leadership to the volunteer Worship Team. 

·      Serve as the primary musician (organ and piano) for the congregation.

·      Rehearse and conduct the adult choir for weekly worship leadership. 

o   Select appropriate anthems and liturgical music for the choir(s).

o   Develop and distribute a schedule for choirs and other musicians as appropriate for weekly liturgies.

o   Recruit musicians and instrumentalists for special celebrations and liturgies. 

o   Oversee the paid section leaders.

·      Recruit participants of all ages for the music ministry program, including children and youth.

·      Make available new resources and ideas for participants in the music and worship ministry.

·      Attend relevant congregational meetings as well as weekly staff meetings.

·      Determine and submit the annual budget for the music program and administer the expenditures of the approved budget.

·      Maintain and administer the Immanuel Music Fund, including fund-raising.

·      Be well-versed in Lutheran liturgical practices and have a thorough knowledge of ELCA worship resources.

·      Energize and enliven congregational singing through a variety of means and cross-cultural sources, e.g., organ, piano, percussion, and paperless music.

·      Re-envision outreach to the community through music e.g., drama, concerts, and special worship services.

·      Connect with the musical and arts community of the neighborhood.   

·      Maintain the music library and resources of the music program.

·      Oversee the maintenance of the organ and all instruments used by the congregation.

·      Participate with the pastor, church staff, and other leaders to facilitate congregational goals and assume responsibility for tasks mutually agreed on with the pastor.

·      Maintain professional competency by practicing, performing, attending continuing education opportunities, teaching workshops or seminars, and reading professional journals.

·      Retains the right of first refusal to provide and perform music for weddings and funerals.

 

Resources:

3-manual 46-rank Schantz pipe organ, 1976

-       recently upgraded with a multi-level combination action

2 octaves of Whitechapel Handbells

Samick Grand piano in the nave of the church

Samick upright in the choir loft

Knabe grand in the choir room

An array of hand percussion

Shruti box