LCMS Disaster Response is sponsoring a contest for original wording of a hymn.
Dec. 31 is the contest deadline. Multiple entries from the same individual will be allowed.
The applicant whose text is chosen will receive $500.
Hymn-text entries should be suitable for use by congregations that have experienced natural or man-made disasters and for other congregations to use as they remember or empathize with congregations hit by disasters.
Applicants also must identify a tune with which each submitted text may be sung — a tune that is both familiar to LCMS congregations and in the public domain.
A downloadable flier for the contest notes that hymn texts:
- “should serve to remind God’s people of His mercy, in spite of what has happened.”
- “should point the suffering to the objective comfort of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as delivered through the Means of Grace.”
- “should strengthen our church’s understanding of the body of Christ (i.e., when one member suffers, we all suffer).”
- “may encourage God’s people to show mercy to those who are suffering.”
- “should refer to natural or man-made disasters.”
- “should be general enough to apply to many types of disasters.”
Applicants should send submissions (along with their contact information) by mail to the Rev. Michael Meyer; LCMS Disaster Response; 1333 S. Kirkwood Road; St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; or email michael.meyer@lcms.org.
Those with questions about the contest may contact Meyer.
Posted Aug. 14, 2014
