Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the Minister of Music is to plan and execute the musical component of Sunday worship. This means choosing music, under the supervision of the Rector, as well as leading it. We have one service at Sunday mornings at 10.30 a.m. Almost all our Sunday morning liturgies are the Book of Alternative Services Eucharist (page 185 and following). We follow the Revised Common Lectionary as well as the Anglican Church of Canada's Liturgical Calendar. On most Sundays congregational music is found in the Common Praise hymn book, however we often print music from other sources in the leaflet and are open to expanding this practise.
Additionally, the Minister of Music is responsible for music at principal feasts of the Christian year (most notably: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Day). Traditionally the church has offered at least one concert for the community, usually around Christmas time. Special services such as evensong and carol services may be required on occasion.
Children are a very important part of worship at Messiah, and we would expect that our Minister of Music would be comfortable working with children to enable their full participation in worship.
We do employ a Cantor to assist the Minister of Music in leading music on Sundays, and the Minister of Music is responsible for supervising that person. A volunteer choir has traditionally been organized to sing from September through June, and the Minister of Music would be expected to recruit and train them.
The Minister of Music is responsible for a weekly Thursday evening choir practice and a 20 minute warm-up on Sunday morning.
The Minister of Music is responsible for making sure the music library of the church and the organ and piano are kept in good repair. The Minister of Music provides materials needed for the Sunday leaflet to the Parish Administrator and makes sure reports on music reprinting are made to the appropriate licensing agencies.
The Minister of Music has the right to play all funerals and weddings in the parish and receive the customary fee. If a wedding or funeral party requests another musician, the Minister of Music is entitled to receive the fee from the parish.
When the Minister of Music is unavailable to lead worship on a particular Sunday (due to vacation, illness, etc.), he or she will still be responsible for planning the music and recruiting and supervising a replacement. The church will pay these musicians a standard amount. The number of Sundays off given to the Minister of Music can be negotiated, but typically is at least six Sundays a year.
We church will pay for additional musicians to support music in the parish for special feasts such as Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, and the Minister of Music is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and supervising these individuals.
In sum, these responsibilities take approximately 12-15 hours a week to complete, though some times of the year are busier (Christmas and Holy Week) and others more relaxed (the summer).
The essential skill necessary for this position is the ability to lead people in worship with music. That means making music with the congregation and not just for the congregation.
The Rector (Incumbent) is ultimately responsible for liturgy and music in the parish, however, we strive to work collaboratively as a team to take advantage of people's differing gifts. To do this we have weekly staff meetings (including the Parish Administrator, Rector, Director of Children's and Youth Ministry, and the Minister of Music). In these meetings we discuss the previous Sunday's worship and plan for future events as well as strategise about the ministry and mission of the church more generally.
We are a funky church in the heart of Toronto eager to explore God's love and mission through music. If you would like to join our team, please e-mail or snail-mail your résumé by August 10 to: