School-Year Music (Piano/ Organ) Intern
Our Saviour's Lutheran church is a family sized church of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Norge, Virginia. We strive to be a welcoming and affirming place for all people as we make Christ known through worship, education, and witness, serving the community and beyond. We believe that everyone has inherent worth and dignity. We celebrate the God-given diversity of humanity and stand against discrimination of all kinds, including racism, homophobia, transphobia.
We believe that following Jesus means striving to be a beacon of love and hope in the world.
Our small staff works together closely to create meaningful worship opportunities. We value flexibility, learning, and collaboration. Our hope is that our worship strengthens and feeds people to go out and share the love of God with the world around us.
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church’s (OSLC) Music Internship program is focused on supporting the next generation of church musicians. Music has always been an essential part of Christian worship, and we hope to support the wider church by encouraging and developing music leaders.
Interns are NOT expected to become members of Our Saviour's Lutheran church. While certainly helpful, applicants are NOT required to be Lutheran or Christian, provided there is a willingness to engage with respect and humility within our community's life of faith. Interns will be provided a copy of our hymnals (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, All Creation Sings) for their use during the internship and will have access to our music library to assist them in their role.
Knowing that most musicians receive little to no training in sacred music as part of their studies, this position will give musicians the opportunity to explore a career and calling in sacred music. We hope to introduce and prepare musicians for service in religious communities, especially in mainline liturgical Christian settings. While we understand that internships sometimes clarify what kind of work is not their calling, this program is intended to serve the wider religious community by supporting, encouraging, and developing musicians to serve their communities.
In providing an entry into church music and leadership, we are committed to providing hands-on learning and experience to our interns to help them grow in sacred music leadership and in their sense of vocation in this area. We know that not everyone who takes this internship will find a calling or career in sacred music. Whether or not the intern finds sacred music their calling, we are committed to providing the opportunity to grow and expand one’s musical abilities and leadership – wherever this path may take the intern in their future.
We hope the experience will provide opportunities beyond the internship – experience for their resume for their next job or their application to educational programs to further their learning. We hope to build beneficial relationships with our church, our intern, educational institutions, and the wider church community.
Internship Timing:
- The School-Year Internship will begin in September and end in May. They will allow for school breaks. Exact dates are flexible and negotiable.
- Interns may apply for additional internships (School-Year, Winter, Summer)
Time Required:
- Up to 12 hours per week, with at least 6 hours on-site each week.
- Must be available from 10am - 12pm on Sundays. Remaining hours are flexible.
Objectives:
- Develop skills in sacred/community music by providing hymn accompaniment and service music for Our Saviour's worship services.
- Partner with OSLC's pastor and Worship & Music committee to develop, plan, and lead services each week.
- Take the lead in planning one special service
- Connect with the worshipping community about the role of music in their faith life
- Learn and gain expertise in liturgy and why we do what we do.
Responsibilities:
- Play organ and/or piano for worship services.
- Select service music, including a prelude, offertory, and postlude.
- Work with the Worship & Music committee in selecting hymns.
- Coordinate with other staff members.
- Meet deadlines and schedule.
- Manage multiple projects at once.
Requirements:
- Proficiency in organ and/or piano required
- Reference from professor/ teacher required
- Recording & live audition required
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to work independently
- Background check is required before hire
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Familiarity with Christian hymns and liturgy
- Proficiency in organ
- Ability to lead singing
Approach:
OSLC’s Internship program will operate with the following principles:
· Focusing on meaningful and collaborative work (will work with church staff, church leadership & committees)
· Clearly identify work activities and timetables
· Promote learning for the intern, for OSLC and its membership, and OSLC staff
· Involve the intern in as many possible aspects of sacred music leadership as possible (e.g. music selection, leading worship, working with kids, etc.)
· Encourage intern to try new things, to be comfortable with failing, etc.
· Include short-term projects where interns may make a meaningful impact
Internship Timings:
· School-Year Internships will last from September through May, allowing for student break schedules. Availability must include Holy Week (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday).
· Summer Internships will last from June through August
· Winter Mini-Internships will last from mid-December through Mid-January (about 4 weeks) – Availability must include Christmas Eve.
Internship Pay:
Interns will be hired as wage employees and will be scheduled to work 12 hours per week at $17/ hour. Additional opportunities for extra services (e.g. weddings, funerals) are optional and will be compensated at the established rate of $17/ hr.
Key Deliverables:
· Target of 1 intern for each available internship (School-Year, Summer, Winter)
· Identification of appropriate roles and projects for internships
· Internship program components: orientation & onboarding, learning opportunities, connections with community music, and off-boarding process
Success Measures:
· # of interns hired/ in education programs post-internship
· Discernment of a vocation in sacred music ministry
· Intern Feedback
· % of those wishing to return in another internship program