It’s About Worship

by Nathan Carter

head role of Minister of Worship and Music. His talent and personality make him exceptionally easy to work with. “St. John’s stands for musical excellence,” says Miller. “There isn’t one person at St. John’s who isn’t pleased that he is our new Minister of Music. He works well with just about anybody.”

It was back in 2017 that Heide approached Guebert to be the new Assistant Minister of Music, a position created specifically for him. Thanks to a donation from an anonymous donor, the position was fast-tracked rather than having to go through the channels of approval that would normally be required.

“The donor gave a lot of money to fund that part-time position for me so the church could just make it happen rather than having to add it to the budget for the following year,” Guebert says. “I don’t know who that person is, but they were a big part of this. The donor also helped me pay for the Director of Parish music certificate, which you need to be called as a Minister of Music in the Lutheran Church.”

Guebert learned a great deal from Heide during those four years in the assistant’s position. Now he strives to lead his team and congregation as his mentor did before him.

“Dr. Heide was a strong leader, but he definitely didn’t make it all about him,” Guebert says. “For him, the primary goal is worshiping God. It’s very admirable. I always try to be that way about my work.”

Now that Guebert holds the highest music position in the church, he enjoys learning how to use the position to make the best events possible.

“Much of the work is administrative rather than actual music,” he says. “The music part of it fills my soul, but the administrative part is very fulfilling. It’s more about me leading a team. We have a large enough staff here that I can delegate really big things so that we can make big things happen.”