JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Rejoice Worship Music Director, Trinity Lutheran Church (Grand Rapids, MI)

Posting Date: Summer 2026

Anticipated Start Date: September 2026

Job Purpose:

The Rejoice Worship Music Director will have practical musical skills combined with a theological understanding of leading worship through music with the purpose of empowering the voice of the congregation as led by the Rejoice Worship Band.

The Rejoice Worship Music Director is someone who leads the Rejoice Worship Band as its primary vocalist along with a guitar or keyboard as their secondary source of musical leadership.

Education: Degree in music from an accredited college or university is preferred

Experience: A minimum of 3 or more years as the primary leader of a church worship band A proven track record as a worship planner guided by a robust theology of worship

Expectations:

Choose worship music that empowers the voice of the congregation in 3 to 5 songs each Sunday. Collaborate with pastoral and music staff on choices of music for Rejoice Worship services.

Lead weekly rehearsals of the Rejoice Worship Band (Currently on Monday evenings)

Be present and lead in the Rejoice Worship Services on Sunday mornings (warm up rehearsal at 8:00 and service at 9:15 a.m.)

Empower, teach and lead congregational singing with band

Create lead sheets, transcriptions, and chord charts as needed. Distribute to band members. Recruit and schedule band personnel

Manage and oversee band instruments and equipment owned by the church

Hours: Approximately 15 hours per week

Communication and Leadership Requirements:

Team Builder:

Lead band members so that they develop a sense of community and group purpose. This includes a time of devotion and prayer.

Pastoral Leader:

Teach band members how individual songs connect with the liturgy and the themes of worship

Help band members understand their role as leaders of worship

Team Ministry:

Have regular meetings with worship planning staff (senior pastor; director of music ministries)

Direct tech team to support worship music plans

Collaborate with pastoral and music staff on worship music selections and be liturgically aware of themes of worship

Submit music selections and texts to office coordinator each week by Tuesday at noon for inclusion in worship slides on Sunday mornings

Personal:

Be committed to leading Christian worship in the context of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Exhibit a love of Christ and a faith that resonates with a warm, vibrant community of faith where all are welcome

Accountability: Director of Music Ministries

Vacation Time: 4 Sundays per calendar year (and arrange for leadership while away)

Study Leave: 2 Sundays per calendar year (and arrange for leadership while away)

Description of Trinity Lutheran Church and its Worship:

Trinity Lutheran Church is part of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America).

Trinity Lutheran Church is a vital, warm congregation of 1500 members. It is located on the east side of Grand Rapids (near Reeds Lake). Each Sunday morning, Trinity has three worship services. The middle service is held at 9:15 a.m. in Centennial Hall. This service incorporates music led by a variety of instruments that are band focused. The flow of the service is more casual in style but still follows ELCA worship identity.

The other two services are held in the vibrant acoustical space of the church sanctuary (8:00 and 10:45 a.m.) Those services are liturgical with music leadership by piano, pipe organ, vocal choir, bell choir, cantors, and a variety of instruments.

Application Materials:

Please submit Resume (including 3 references) and Cover Letter to: darlene.kuperus@tlcgr.org