Ainsworth United Church of Christ

01/28/2026

One of the best, reasoned, reactions

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05/13/2025

AINSWORTH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY

Ainsworth United Church of Christ is a multi-racial, multi-cultural, open and affirming congregation in northeast Portland. Worship is a multi-cultural experience and expression of our identity.
Responsibilities and Expectations
1. Familiarity with the Christian worship tradition and comfortable working within a progressive religious environment.
2. Lead the music ministry in a hybrid worship environment (livestream & in person).
3. Provide musical direction for the AUCC Choir and/or ensembles for rehearsals and worship
services throughout about 40 weeks/year at the music director’s discretion. The director will lead
& direct the hymns for worship services for up to 50 weeks per year.
Sunday morning time required: 9:00am – 11:30am (average) for rehearsal and worship.
Rehearsals also include 1 1⁄2 hours per week as scheduled from mid- August - June.
4. Specific presence is required at rehearsals and services for Christmas Eve, MLK Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, and Easter Sunday.
5. Be responsible for musical selections for the choir, special ensembles, and musical guests in consultation with the pastor, and with assistance from the accompanist, based on the scriptural/
theological/ thematic focus.
6. Supervise and support the accompanist and the choir.
7. Coordinate with the Faith Formation Ministry Team, attend periodic staff meetings and be accountable to the Pastor.
8. Provide leadership in developing the music ministry of the church, recruiting congregants for the choir and special services.
9. Provide direction and/or music for special choir and church events such as funerals, as able and needed, for additional compensation.
10. Schedule special music and guest musicians in addition to or in the absence of the choir.
Minimum Qualifications
● Choral music experience as a director.
● Proficient in working with music by ear and teaching choral parts.
● Ability to work with a broad diversity of music & languages, especially jazz, gospel & spiritual.
● Ability to work with people having a wide range of musical skills and talents.
● Ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the church community and different worship styles.
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience working in a multiracial/multicultural setting and with collaborative leadership.
● Ability to play the piano.
● Proficiency in reading music.
Salary & Benefits: $12,000-$14,000/year, depending upon experience and skills.
Apply by: May 23, 2025
Please send a resume and cover, with a list of references to: Ainsworth United Church of Christ; Attn.
Music Director Search Committee, 2941 NE Ainsworth St., Portland, OR, 97211 or
[email protected].

01/05/2025

Daily Devotional For January 5, 2025.
Train children in the right way, and when old they will not stray. – Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)

: God, thank you for the babies and kids in my life. Help me to truly notice, truly understand, and truly love them into greater becoming.

01/04/2025

Daily Devotional For Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. – Psalm 80:3 (NRSV)

Scripture says that God’s face can kill you. Yet the same Bible that says, “Beware God’s face!” also urges us to seek it. The psalms beg God to shine the divine face on us to save us.

01/03/2025

Daily Devotional for January 3, 2025.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. – Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Now that Christmas is in the rearview mirror, let’s be honest: Santa Claus has totally messed up our understanding of God. How many people conceive of God as a bearded man with a naughty-nice list?

01/02/2025

01/01/2025

Daily Devotional For January 1, 2025.
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil. – Isaiah 64:1-2a (NRSV)

The Christmas glow (yes, it’s still the Christmas season!) is the dawning of earth-shaking liberation and the embers of a watchfire around which we gather in wonder.

12/28/2024

Daily Devotional For December 28, 2024.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us. – John 1:1 & 14a (NRSV)

At Christmas, this is what we celebrate: that bodies are good, and flesh is a gift, and our God put them both on for us. Be sure you take some time to use yours to praise God today.

12/26/2024

Daily Devotional For December 26, 2024.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For God has looked with favor on the lowliness of her servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” – Luke 1:46-48 (NRSV adapted)

This life with God is hard. Being hard is a sign of your commitment. It may be one part miracle to ten parts mess. But it’s worth it.

12/25/2024

Christmas Eve Service 2024.

Morning Worship Ainsworth UCC

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas!!

12/25/2024

Christmas Day reflection, prayer, music, and praxis.