MUSIC

United Methodist Church of Anacortes

2201 H Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221
Job details: $525 a month, Part-time

The United Methodist Church of Anacortes is seeking a skilled and experienced Choir Director. This individual will:

Develop and direct the choir under the supervision of the Pastor to enhance the worship service and contribute to the spiritual development of the congregation.

Prepare choir for and direct the choir during weekly worship service, September through June.

Rehearse once weekly with the choir or as otherwise necessary, including any preparation required for special holiday program.

Coordinate with the Pastor, Worship Committee, and accompanist in the area of general planning and leadership of the music program and attend appropriate committee meetings as called.

Select appropriate music from the current library or purchase music within the budget.

Call the church office at 360-293-0604 for more information. Resumes may be sent to office@umcanacortes.com

Do you enjoy making music? We do, too!

Church Choir

We rehearse Wednesdays at 6:30 PM and Sundays at 9 AM in the sanctuary (off for the summer). We prep each week’s anthem and explore a fun mix of classical, gospel, and contemporary music. Some pieces are simple, others are rich and challenging—sometimes a cappella, sometimes with piano, organ, or percussion.

Love to sing? Love to learn? Come make joyful music with us!

Praise Team

We rehearse Sundays at 9:25 AM before leading 10 AM worship. Our music blends contemporary and traditional styles, and musicians of all ages and abilities are welcome. Depending on who’s there, our group might include piano, guitar, vocals, bass, drums, brass, woodwinds, strings, handbells, ukulele, and more. Together, we lift our voices and instruments to uplift the church and inspire worship.

Handbells

Our handbell choir is a friendly, fun group that brings a bright, unique sound to worship. Whether you’re new to ringing or already experienced, you’re welcome to join. We rehearse regularly in the sanctuary at 3:30 on Wednesdays and work together to create meaningful, beautiful music for our services.

Musical Adventurers

Musical Adventurers are creative, flexible people where, when they gather, anything can happen—from casual jam sessions to campfires to concerts. Whether you’re exploring a new instrument, sharing a favorite song, or collaborating on something totally fresh, there’s always room for fresh new sounds and ideas. No matter what we plan, there’s always space to grow spiritually and build community together. See our next adventure!

A choir of seniors singing during a church service, led by a conductor, inside a wooden-church with candle decorations.
Group of nine people, mostly women, standing behind a table with hymn books, holding small bells and wearing white gloves inside a church.
Fabulous choir director who is getting ready to retire. We will miss her.
An elderly man and woman standing behind a microphone, both holding open books, possibly singing or reading at a church or religious service. The man has a beard, glasses, and is wearing a suit jacket; the woman has gray hair, glasses, and is wearing a patterned jacket. They are in front of a decorated wood altar with a carved branch and leaves design.
An elderly woman in a red sweater with a surprised expression and a man with gray hair and a beard holding papers, standing in a dining room. There is a table with food, a yellow jacket on a chair, and books on another chair in the background.
Four musicians playing string instruments on a church stage decorated with a Christmas wreath and candles.
The choir is getting special recognition for sharing their special music with us
An elderly man with gray hair, glasses, and a beard, wearing a cream-colored shirt with a black and cream vest, playing a wooden violin with a bow.
A musical performance inside a church, with five musicians playing instruments including a flute, violins, and a piano, in front of seated audience members.
Three people playing string instruments in a cozy wood-paneled room, one woman with a flute, one man with a violin, and another man with a violin, with music stands and sheet music.
Always uplifting when the choir sings
Music at a member's home. Music is such a central part of UMCA
Having fun while playing her trumpet
A man with headphones and a beard playing a violin, and a young girl playing a recorder, standing in a room with wooden walls and a bookshelf.
A group of older adults gathered in a living room, enjoying a musical performance by a woman playing the flute and a man on a keyboard. The woman on the left is reading music, and a younger girl with blonde hair is playing the trumpet. The room is decorated with framed photographs and a large television screen displaying song lyrics with a nature scene.
Five people sitting around a dining table in a kitchen, with food and drink on the table, smiling.
A group of elderly people engaged in a music rehearsal in a cozy living room. One woman plays the flute, while others read sheet music, with some sitting on a sofa and others standing or sitting nearby.
Three people playing musical instruments on a stage: an elderly woman playing the flute, a man playing the violin, and a young girl playing the clarinet, in a room with wood-paneled walls and a red carpet.

Original Hymn written and composed during Covid by group with United Methodist Church of Anacortes

“A Hymn, For Such a Time as This” is more relevant today than ever. It was conceived during the great, global pandemic of 2020 by several people from a small church in Anacortes, Washington. Churches closed, and the choir director began online meetings for anyone who wanted to sing. Naming this time together “Musical Connections,” the group examined and discussed the origins of various songs shared. It was observed that some songs were written during times of tragedy and despair.

“Why don’t we write a hymn?” the director suggested. One participant said he had thought the same thing.

During the next few weeks, ideas were gathered from group members. Sara Elizabeth Joy penned lyrics derived from collected ideas; music was composed by the church's choir director at the time, Mary P. Feagin.

“A Hymn, For Such a Time as This”