Macalester Plymouth United Church Hymn Contest

The Macalester Plymouth United Church Hymn Contest is a highly regarded annual search for new hymns instituted by a leading Minnesota congregation which is a union of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Presbyterian Church (USA).[1]

History

Since 1996, Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, has sponsored a hymn-writing contest seeking new hymn texts that "can motivate the church to be more actively involved in social reform." The St. Paul contest is funded with an endowment by A.A. "Al" Heckman, a church member who was widely known as Minnesota’s “Dean of Philanthropy” who died in 1994.

The longest-running English language hymn contest attracts entries from the United States and the rest of the English-speaking world, including Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. In church hymn circles, the hymn contest has acquired a level of importance capable of elevating a previously unknown artist to international prominence and providing deserved recognition of established hymn writers.[2]

Annual Themes and Winning Hymns

Chronological list includes co-winning hymns and honorable mention hymns.[3]

1996 Theme: Hymns that call the church to work for social justice

1997 Theme: Hymns that call the church to nurture and care for children everywhere

1998 Theme: Hymns that speak to the role and ministry of the church in addressing social concerns faced by our communities, our nation and our world as we enter a new century

1999 Theme: Hymns which address environmental stewardship at a time of conflicting national / tribal interests

2000 Theme: Hymns based on the Hebrew prophets’ calls for justice

2001 Theme: Hymns which call the church to greater inclusivity

2002 Theme: Hymns which call the church to affirm gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and to celebrate their gifts and ministries[11]

2003 Theme: Hymns which call the church and its people to work for peace

2004 Theme: Hymns which celebrate religious diversity and encourage interfaith cooperation, with the understanding that many of the world’s social problems are rooted in religious intolerance

2005 Theme: Hymns which call the church and its people to greater awareness of the plight of the homeless, and to the need for affordable housing for all people

2006 Theme: Hymns that call the church and its people to practice the forgiveness of enemies and to commend to the nations as practical politics the search for cooperation and peace.

2007: Theme: New hymns to use on Mother's Day, sensitive to the changing nature of family life, and affirming feminist calls for equality.[17]

2008: Theme: Hymns which will enable the church and its people to lament, to cry out in anger and frustration to God.

2009: Theme: Hymns to be sung on Labor Day, with words that especially address the plight of the unemployed.

References

  1. ↑ Contest At Minn. Church Brings New Hymns, The Associated Press; Mar. 5, 2008
  2. ↑ See: http://www.macalester-plymouth.org/
  3. ↑ For more information see: An Historical Overview of the Macalester Plymouth United Church Hymn Contest
  4. ↑ see: http://www.selahpub.com/SelahPeople/Leach.html
  5. ↑ see: http://www.selahpub.com/SelahPeople/Robb.html
  6. ↑ see: http://www.hymnsetc.com/keithahn.html
  7. ↑ Connecticut Pastor Wins Hymn-writing Contest; Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 13, 1999
  8. ↑ see: http://www.damonstuneshop.com/aboutdan.htm
  9. ↑ see: http://www.giamusic.com/bios/mary-louise-bringle
  10. ↑ see: http://www.reformedworship.org/about/bio.cfm?person_id=105
  11. ↑ Shower of Stoles Project website: http://www.welcomingresources.org/sospWorshipRes.htm
  12. ↑ see: http://www.wlp.jspaluch.com/338.htm
  13. ↑ see: http://www.williams.edu/chaplain/staff.php
  14. ↑ see: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7559/is_200807/ai_n32306989/pg_2/
  15. ↑ see: http://www.adammltice.com/
  16. ↑ see http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/itemcontributor.jsp?contributorcode=5565
  17. ↑ Presbyterian Association of Musicians May 2007 newsletter
  18. ↑ see: http://www.macalester-plymouth.org/documents/Quest_For_Hymns_About_Social_Justice_MacalesterPlymouthUnitedChurch.pdf
  19. ↑ see: http://www.jannaldredgeclanton.com/music.php
  20. ↑ see: http://www.pres-outlook.com/reports-a-resources/lent/9619-lenten-hymns.html
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