to oversee Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir

ROCKFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Director of Choirs - Chancel Choir and Adult Bell Choir

Title

Director of Choirs - Chancel Choir and Adult Bell Choir

Ministry Area

Music

Time Requirement

Part Time – Maximum of 16 hours per week

Ministry Description: The Director of the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir is an integral part of the music ministry team at Rockford United Methodist Church. We recognize and encourage the volunteer nature of our music program. The person is responsible for directing the adult chancel choir and the adult bell choir. This individual is a member of the Worship Design Team and is responsible administratively to the Senior Pastor and the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Plan and select choir music for all worship services consistent with the style and nature of each service, after consultation with the church ministers and in agreement with the Senior Pastor and with input from the Worship Design Team.
2. Develop, plan, and supervise comprehensive vocal choir and bell choir programs for adults.
3. Supervise the selection and rehearsal of choral music for worship services from September through May of each year. Plan, coordinate, and supervise volunteers for special music during summer worship services, including practicing and preparing the participants, as necessary. Music selected shall be in agreement with the Senior Pastor and/or Worship Design Team.
4. Actively encourage and recruit participation in the church choirs and encourage other persons in the church who play musical instruments to participate in worship services or other events, when appropriate.
5. Coordinate with the church organist, pianist, and choirs, and arrange as necessary, in consultation with Senior Pastor, for substitutes during absences of those persons.
6. Select, maintain, and care for music supplies in the choir programs, in consultation with the Worship Design Team within the constraints permitted by the church budget.
7. Maintain and improve skills needed to fulfill these responsibilities through participation in seminars, conferences, courses of study and other educational opportunities.
8. Qualification - Degree in Music or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

1. Exhibits a personal life-style and confession that demonstrates that Jesus is Lord of his/her life.
2. Is able to articulate a testimony of personal faith. Desiring to pursue creative approaches to teaching God’s Word in ministry.
3. Must have a vision for music ministry and a personal philosophy of music ministry.
4. Must have a desire for excellence, be a self-starter, be able to anticipate the future with planning and preparation. Must be eager to learn and grow in ministry.
5. Accepts the vision/mission and philosophy of ministry of Rockford United Methodist Church.
6. Demonstrates the ability to work well with others, be a loyal team player, and serve cooperatively with other staff, coordinating his/her respective department ministries with all other church-related programming.
7. Must be “approachable” with an open-door policy.

Resumes should be emailed to foundhow@hotmail.com, or sent to the church office c/o Howard Paulson.

faithful, creative, energetic individual desired

ROCKFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Praise Team Director

Title

Praise Team Director

Ministry Area

Music

Time Requirement

Part Time – Approximately 6 hours per week

Ministry Description: The Praise Team Director is an integral part of the music ministry team at Rockford United Methodist Church. The ministry calls for a person who will be responsible for directing the Praise Team, while recognizing and encouraging the volunteer nature of our music programs. This individual is a member of the Worship Design Team and is responsible administratively to the Senior Pastor and the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Plan and select music for all worship services consistent with the style and nature of each service, after consultation with the church ministers and in agreement with the Senior Pastor and with input from the Praise Team and Worship Design Team.
2. Develop, plan, and supervise all praise music programs.
3. Communicate music schedule and make song sheets, lyrics and recordings available to the Praise Team.
4. Supervise music rehearsal for worship services and special events. Plan, coordinate, and supervise volunteers for special music, including practicing and preparing the participants, as necessary.
5. Actively encourage and recruit participation in the praise band and encourage other persons in the church who play musical instruments to participate in worship services or other events, when appropriate.
6. Maintain and improve skills needed to fulfill these responsibilities through participation in seminars, conferences, courses of study and other educational opportunities.
7. Manage copyrights of all music used in worship.
8. Qualification - Degree in Music or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

1. Exhibits a personal life-style and confession that demonstrates that Jesus is Lord of his/her life.
2. Is able to articulate a testimony of personal faith. Desiring to pursue creative approaches to teaching God’s Word in ministry.
3. Must have a vision for music ministry and a personal philosophy of music ministry.
4. Must have a desire for excellence, be a self-starter, be able to anticipate the future with planning and preparation. Must be eager to learn and grow in ministry.
5. Accepts the vision/mission and philosophy of ministry of Rockford United Methodist Church.
6. Demonstrates the ability to work well with others, be a loyal team player, and serve cooperatively with other staff, coordinating his/her respective department ministries with all other church-related programming.
7. Must be “approachable” with an open-door policy.

Resumes should be emailed to foundhow@hotmail.com, or sent to the church office c/o Howard Paulson.

Our Rockford United Methodist Church Family is providing care, prayer, support, and fellowship through the Care Ministry Team. The Team also develops and maintains ministries which welcome, assimilate and support visitors and members of RUMC. These groups are always open to new participants. For more information, contact Care Ministry at (616) 866-9515 or care@rockfordumc.org for information on the following groups:

Prayer Ministry Team

Prayers requested for church members, their families, and others who seek God's healing and understanding love. We have an email and prayer chain. If you’d like to become a member or have a prayer request please contact care@rockfordumc.org

Casserole Patrol (Martha Ministry)

This ministry team provides short-term and emergency meals for the RUMC family. This ministry team provides occasional meals. In general, the services offered are meant to meet emergency and short-term needs. If you or your family needs help, contact care@rockfordumc.org

Driving Team

This ministry team provides short-term and emergency transportation for the RUMC family. This ministry team provides occasional meals. In general, the services offered are meant to meet emergency and short-term needs. If you or your family needs help, contact care@rockfordumc.org.
People Needed: If your feel called to drive individuals to appointments or the store either on a on call basis or have a person that you always help, please contact Susan – care@rockfordumc.org

Visitation Ministries

This ministry team provides visitations, phone calls and support to those individuals who no longer driving, who shut-in, whether permanent or temporary. We do this through listening, talking, and praying with and for these individuals. The Pastors and Staff visit the sick that are known to us in area hospitals each week. It is very important for our members to indicate their church preference upon admission to the hospital in order for us to know of your hospitalization. We very much want to care for you, so please call.
People Needed: If your feel called to work with individuals who are aging and can no longer get out and about. Home Bound ministers visit in homes, assisted living centers and nursing homes please contact Susan – care@rockfordumc.org

Card Writers

This ministry allows our members to write notes with caring hearts and willing hands to special people-those who are homebound, those who have babies, those who are in the hospital, those who have experienced a death and the list goes on. If you would like someone to get a note, or you would like to write notes yourself, please contact Susan, Care@rockfordumc.org Note cards and postage are provided. If you have note cards that you’d like to provide for this ministry, please bring them to the church office.

Food Sharing:

Bring your food items and place them in the barrel in the narthex. We are a drop-off site and regularly bring food to the North Kent Service Center. All items must be non-perishable (cans of soup, vegetables, boxes of cereal, muffin mixes, etc). This is an easy way to help our community members.

Ministry to the Bereaved

Our pastors are on call to care, comfort, offer consolation and compassion to the dying and their families. They also are available for assistance with funerals. There are two lay ministries within the church, Barnabas and Good Samaritans which offer assistance and encouragement during time of grief. Good Samaritans often assist families with a prepared meal given by lay persons in the church.

Kids’s HOPE

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Whether they are called Prayer Shawls, Comfort Shawls, Peace Shawls, or Mantles, etc., the shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient. The intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way. Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God! Directions to knit. (*The shawls can also be crocheted, quilted, woven or machine knitted as well!)

Friends to Friends

Friends 2 friends has been organized as a way for women of our church to get to know each other a little better and for each of us to get to spend a little time each day in devotion and prayer. This is a no pressure group, it is up to each person to do as much or as little as they want to develop friendships and time in devotion. Call Judy Mayhak at 540-1099 or e-mail judy@judymayhak.com for more information.

If you have a need that you believe the Congregational Care Ministry can meet, please feel free to call our church office at (616) 866-9515

If you have a suggestion on how our church can serve you or your family, please email the Care Ministries Director at care@rockfordumc.org

• Prayer Leaders lead the congregation in prayer during the worship service and read scripture.
• Prayer Warriors pray for the pastor and service before and during each worship service.
• A Prayer Ministry Leader is needed to watch over the Prayer Ministry. We have a good ministry in place and have several willing and able members, but need one or two persons lead them.

If you are interested in any of these areas, please contact the church office.

Prayer Leader Schedule

• January 3
  • Pastor Riley
• January 10
  • 8:15: Gene Berry
  • 9:30: Jackie Decker
• January 17
  • 8:15: Paul Little
  • 9:30: Carol VanderZanden
• January 24
  • 8:15: Kris Hassan
  • 9:30: Cheryl Martin
• January 31
  • 8:15: Greg Jones
  • 9:30: Carol Sue Cook

Prayer Warriors Schedule

• January 3
  • 9:30: Judy Mayhak
  • 11:00: Howard & Jan Paulson
• January 10
  • 9:30: Brooke & Maureen Kaule
  • 11:00: Lisa Abbott, Peggy Berta
• January 17
  • 9:30: Bill & Linda Parker
  • 11:00: Charlene Terranova
• January 24
  • 8:15: Kris & Dave Hassan
  • 9:30: Brooke & Maureen Kaule
  • 11:00: Brooke & Maureen Kaule
• January 31
  • 8:15: Greg Jones
  • 9:30: Carol Sue Cook
  • 11:00: Jan Riley, Merry Gamm

Greeters

Greeters help fulfill our mission statement by welcoming members and visitors to our church. If you are interested in greeting our congregation members a Sunday or two during the month, please contact Kathy Green at 863-8605 or the church office.

• Jan 3
  • 9:30: Amy & Eric Smith
  • 11:00: Harvey DeGood
• Jan 10
  • 9:30: Steve & Jackie Decker, Brad & Claudine Bukowski
  • 11:00: Aimee & Brian Paul
• Jan 17
  • 9:30: Ron & Sandy Radunzel
  • 11:00: Charlene & Alex Terranova
• Jan 24
  • 9:30: Carl & LaVonne Stamm
  • 11:00: Ginny Mikita, Greta Kruse
• Jan 31
  • 9:30: Tom & Cindy Breen
  • 11:00: Jim & Louise Baker

Ushers

Ushers distribute bulletins, collect the offering, and help with worship as necessary. If you can usher a Sunday or two during any of the worship services, please call Laura Schultz at 866-3711 for the 8:15 service, Becky Pierce at 866-3320 for the 9:30 service or Kathy Green at 863-8605 for the 11:00 service.

• Jan 3
  • 8:15: Phil Schultz family, Gene Berry
  • 9:30: Dick & Cathy Davies
  • 11:00:
• Jan 10
  • 8:15: Phil Schultz family, Gene Berry
  • 9:30: Dick & Cathy Davies
  • 11:00: Jack & Carol Sue Cook
• Jan 17
  • 8:15: Phil Schultz family, Gene Berry
  • 9:30: Becky Pierce, David Fox
  • 11:00: Scott & Robin Bright
• Jan 24
  • 8:30: Phil Schultz family, Gene Berry
  • 10:00: Becky Pierce, David Fox

Center life consists of morning devotions, breakfast, making sack lunches, showers, dinner, chores, evening gatherings (singing praise songs, doing devotionals, culture night, and family picnic), ice cream!, playing Euchre, writing notes for Warm&Fuzzy Bags, socializing, etc. Some of these pictures depict such events.

In addition to five crews, RUMC also had two floaters (Ruth Reickard and Bob Shoemaker standing in front of Brooke Kaule's truck). They delivered supplies to each crew every day, made hardware store runs, took pictures, worked at a different site each afternoon, etc.

Each Center has 4 or 5 staff members who help coordinate the volunteers for eight weeks each summer. Centers typically are in schools (so school cooks prepare the meals for the volunteers), but this last year was a year-round ASP Center (Guyan Valley, WV). There were two crews from Illinois and three crews from North Carolina also at the Center.

ASP is a week spent serving in God's country - making Disciples for Jesus Christ

Thank you everyone for supporting such a worthwhile ministry!!

ASP Crew #5 - Mike Walden, Maureen Kaule, Alicia Dickinson, Olivia Kacsits, Andy Schultz, Morgan Gross

Crew #5 worked at a home of a disabled mother with two daughters (the two daughters worked right alongside our crew members!). The mountain had literally come down right on/under the home. The floor had given way and the tub fell right out onto the ground. This crew installed cement foundations under the home to support the floor and then replaced the floor, reinstalled the tub, toilet, sink, etc.

Jump to Center Life and Floaters

ASP Crew #4 - Dave Sheasley, Priscilla Walden, Mitch Caywood, Melissa Kaule, Jacob Schemmel, Sloan Oulette, Haley Lindemer

Crew #4 dug and installed a double-decker retaining wall for an elderly man who is a descendant to the Hatfields (and very anti-alcohol). They were double-crewed with a team from Chicago. Besides digging, they had to cut railroad ties, drill holes in the railway ties for rebar, pound the rebar through the railroad ties, shovel dirt back in behind the railroad ties, etc.

This site had a dog that was hit by a car one day. It crawled off and they assumed he had died. Three days later he came limping back, so they renamed him Lazarus!

Jump to Crew 5

ASP Crew #3 - Brooke Kaule, Pam Lindemer, Brittney Golsteyn, Becky Caywood, Gavin Sheasley, Collin Thomas, Scott Kaule.

Crew #3 remodeled a bathroom for an elderly woman who had just recently become wheelchair bound. They installed a handicap tub, toilet, etc. They installed the wiring and ceiling tiles, etc. This crew also built a pump house for the home of the elderly gentleman that Crew #4 worked at.

Jump to Crew 4

ASP Crew # 2 - Mike Bettinghouse, Cindy Caywood, Chris Maloney, Tom Schultz, Jake Worden

Crew #2 erected a "rooster roof" over an existing mobile home that was leaking everywhere. The roof also extended over a new room addition.

Jump to Crew 3

ASP Crew #1 - Jerrad Reickard, Gene Paskiewicz, Sarah Abbott, Michelle Morgan, Michelle Plumstead, Logan Sheasley, Troy Paskiewicz

Crew #1 finished an addition for a young family that had too many children living in a house with only two bedrooms. They insulated, drywalled, shingled, sided, installed underpinning, etc.

Jump to Crew 2