HYMNWRITERCHALLENGE

This is an interesting idea...

Can you write a hymn text (i.e. sacred poetry in a regular meter) about false doctrine? If you can, and it is the winning entry picked by a panel of judges, you could win $300!

The purpose of the HYMNWRITERCHALLENGE contest is to "develop new hymn texts on Bible teachings not typically found in hymns in our WELS hymnal."

"The theme for the contest is false doctrine; we would like a hymn text that teaches these two contrasting truths:

1. Even the "smallest" false doctrine is a great danger to a person's saving faith.
2. Even churches that tolerate plenty of false doctrine can bring people to saving faith through the gospel of Christ."

The contest runs from October 8 - December 14, 2007. Only hymn poetry should be entered, no melodies. See the HYMNWRITERCHALLENGE website for a contest entry form and additional references to help you get started.

40th National WELS Choralfest at Wisconsin Lutheran HS Nov. 9-11, 2007

Every year since 1967, the high schools of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod have gathered for either a regional (East/West) or a national choral festival. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first WELS choral festival hosted by Luther HS, Onalaska, WI. On the weekend of November 9-11 over 400 high school students from 23 WELS high schools will descend on Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, WI to present two concerts, one sacred and one secular, under the theme "From Age to Age"

The Pops Concert will be Friday, November 9, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Wisconsin Lutheran High School gymnasium, 330 North Glenview Ave., Milwaukee, WI.

The Sacred Concert will be Sunday, November 11, 2007 at 2:00 PM, also in the Wisconsin Lutheran High School gymnasium.

Both concerts are free of charge and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken at each concert to help defray the costs of hosting.

The 16 members of the WLA Academy Kids will represent WLA at Choralfest this weekend. They will be performing a medley of songs from High School Musical for the Pops Concert. For the Sacred Concert they will be in the Exultation Choir under the direction of Mr. Adrian Smith, one of the weekend's three clinicians (Mike Goede and Mary Prange are the other two). Their host families for the weekend are the members of Woodlawn Lutheran Church, West Allis, WI, where they will be singing on Sunday morning for the second service.

Manitowoc Lutheran Plans New Music Center

God's blessings are everywhere. It's just nice to keep getting good news from around our synod.

This morning I got an email from my college classmate, Joel Ungemach, who is the choir director at Manitowoc Lutheran High School in Manitowoc, WI. He sent me a link to the local newspaper's front page story on the plans for MLHS's new music center. Read the story and help me rejoice in God's blessings on Manitowoc Lutheran's music program!

Way to go ALA!

Prepare for goosebumps! Click here for a video of the Arizona Lutheran Academy choir singing the National Anthem at the AZ Diamondbacks Baseball Game on Sept. 7th. The choir is directed by a good friend of mine, Jon Pasbrig. Outstanding job!

You will be redirected to Motionbox and will need Adobe's Flash Player to view the video.