SUMMER SEARCH CONTINUES
Through the summer months, the Personnel Committee will be reviewing resumes for the positions of Adult and Youth Choir Directors, interviewing candidates as appropriate, with the faithful intention of having our music program fully staffed come September. Working with members of the Diaconate and Music Committee, this process is one that needs support and prayers. The pastors asks the congregation to join us in hoping, trusting, indeed knowing, that our worship and education team will be strong this fall!

As it was reported at the Annual Meeting in January, we continue to struggle with balancing our budget; the plans that were passed on that day showed a $97,000 deficit. We know we can’t continue managing our church this way, just as we would not live so far beyond our means at home with our fami-lies. The Personnel Committee has been meeting regularly since Annual Meeting to address budget issues in the areas of staffing, looking especially at our music program. Having worked so hard as a commit-tee and congregation last spring and summer to develop a music program we could afford, we’ve rec-ognized the need to make further cuts. Going from a near $90,000 program to one close to $45,000 was a big start, but we now need to decrease spending more. In addition to the monetary aspects of our music programming, we also realize that the single job that was created may not be an effective way to continue, for the staff person and for the choirs.
With that information, and in conversation and collaboration with the Music Committee and the Di-aconate, two job descriptions have been developed: one for an Adult Choir Director and one for a Youth Choir Director. The cost of both of these positions will add up to less than our current expenses. This, we know, is yet another change, but it’s why we’ve been careful to name our current position one of ―interim‖ status. We are so grateful for all the ways Frances Burmeister, Interim Music Director, has worked so hard and offered such great music for the choirs and congregation this year, and hope she will consider applying for one of these positions. We’re also grateful for the patience and perseverance of the members of our adult and youth choirs and their par-ents. Please let me know if you have questions about these ongoing conversations. We hope to hold a church forum later this spring to offer a chance for us all to talk together. Al Gledhill, Moderator and Personnel Chair

PAYSON PARK CHURCH, Belmont MA
Contact office@paysonpark.org
Job Description for the Youth Choir Director

OVERVIEW

The Youth Choir Director will work approximately eight hours a week under the direction of the Pastor and with the guidance of the Diaconate and Music Committee, overseeing and implementing the youth music programs of the church which express and celebrate the congregation’s religious faith. The Youth Choir Director have strong keyboard skills and must be able to work within and be responsive to a diverse congregation, creating an environment that is respectful and conducive to the spiritual growth of the community through excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Youth Choir Director will serve the church in the following ways:

Provide overall leadership of Payson Park Church’s youth music programs, rehearsal, and worship offerings, working in collaboration with the Pastor, Christian Education Director, and Music Committee as necessary, ensuring musical selections are appropriate for the skill level of those participating and engage children and youth in faith development through music.

As appropriate, attend Staff, Diaconate, and Music Committee meetings.

Communicate regularly with Administrative Coordinator regarding music to be offered during worship services. Contribute articles to the church newsletter and bulletins regarding opportunities for choir participation. Submit an annual report to the congregation.

In collaboration with the Pastor, Finance and Music Committees, and Adult Choir Director, prepare and manage the music budget.

In communication with Christian Education Director and God’s Garden programming, prepare and present annual Christmas Pageant.

Ensure appropriate music equipment, instruments, and vestments for the youth music programs are properly cared for and stored, contracting outside professionals as necessary.

Hold to standards of behavior consistent with all church staff as articulated in the Payson Park Church Personnel Handbook.

With the sad and difficult termination of our music program in the spring of 2009, we said “farewell” to Terry Halco and Cathy Meyer as our Minister of Music and Director of Music. Working within the limits of our budget in this recession and with our pledge dollars, the Personnel Committee has developed a job description for the new position of Music Director, reviewed and approved by the Music Committee and Diaconate. This job will be posted with the American Guild of Organists, the United Church of Christ and other church organizations, and at local schools and universities. Throughout the summer months, the Personnel Committee will meet weekly to ensure the search moves forward as effectively and thoroughly as possible. Guest pianists will be hired for our Sunday morning worship services. For more information about this process, please speak with our Pastor, Moderator, or a member of the Committee. We thank you for your prayers and patience in this challenging time of transition.

A Letter to the Congregation
June 9, 2009

Greetings Payson Park Church Members and Friends.

We write to follow up on our Congregational Meeting and to let you know about the community’s decisions that day as well as those made in subsequent meetings of the Church Council and Personnel Committee.

The recommendations presented on Sunday, May 31 were overwhelmingly supported by the vote of those present. This means our new music program will include the combining of the Chancel and Pick-up Choirs and a decreased spending on soloists by 50%. It also means the staffing of our music program will change.

After a long discussion of the proposals, it was decided that one professional will be recruited and hired to handle all aspects of the music program, with the added provision, “with the possibility of an assistant,” so long as the proposed cost would remain as presented (the final vote was 54 in favor; 13 opposed; 0 abstentions). The Personnel Committee, working in conjunction with the chairs and members of the Diaconate and Music Committee, are now organizing a job description and recruiting plan.

Obviously, the congregation’s decision has serious implications. It means that the current positions of Minister of Music and Director of Music will no longer exist because a new, combined position is being created. With this staffing cut we recognize we’ll not only have a pared back program, but also face the need to recruit more volunteers and students to help with the program.

It also means the work of Terry Halco, as Minister of Music, and Cathy Meyer, as Director of Music, will be ending, even though, as presented through the recommendation of the Personnel Committee at the Congregational Meeting, current staff is encouraged to apply for the newly created position. Identifying the need to terminate our current program and to celebrate the many years of dedicated service of both Terry and Cathy, the Church Council voted to recognize the end of our current music program on Sunday, June 21. After discussion in the Personnel Committee, we have decided, then, to celebrate Terry’s 16 years here at Payson Park during and after worship on that day. With her involvement in the Vacation Bible School the following week under the auspices of our Christian Education program, it was deemed appropriate to celebrate Cathy’s nine years of service at the end of VBS on Sunday, June 28.

As we all know, this is an exciting time of growth here at Payson Park Church but also one filled with loss and a sense of sadness. Change is never easy, and the need to cut our budgets in all areas of the church has challenged us to make many sacrifices through the lay off of our Sexton and Youth Minister and now in our music program. We believe this is a time that we can come together in new and dynamic ways even as we grieve. We hope you’ll be a part of our celebrations on June 21 and 28 as we express our great thanks to Terry and Cathy. If you would like to be a part of the teams organizing these events, please contact us.

We thank you for your commitment to God and Payson Park Church in this challenging time, and ask for your prayers for us all as we move forward together.

Faithfully from,

Al Gledhill
Moderator

The Reverend Lael Atkinson
Pastor

In the months of fall, winter and spring seasons, the adult choir meets for rehearsals on Sundays at 9:00AM for the 10:30 worship service.

In the fall, winter and spring seasons, the youth choirs will be meeting and rehearsing on Sunday mornings and afternoons. All are welcome! With our music program in transition, more information will be available soon. Please check these website listings then, or call our Pastor, The Reverend Lael Atkinson, or Christian Education Director, Cindy Lou Benson, for details. Thank you for your interest and support!