The first- and second-place winners in the Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund Annual Hymn Competition were announced recently at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The competition was created in June 2000 by Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Prevallet in remembrance of their daughter. It also serves to foster the creation of new liturgical hymns of the highest caliber for the church.

Seminarian Jonathan A. Clausing was the first-place winner of the competition. He wrote the hymn, "O Holy Spirit, Keep Your Children in Your Care," during his vicarage at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Medford, Ore. The hymn, "Blest Are We Who Hear God's Word," composed by seminarian Jonathan D. Meyer received the second-place award. The tune is "Concord," written by Ruth Meyer, wife of Jonathan. Jonathan Meyer served his vicarage at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Richland, Wash.

The annual hymn competition is open to students of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, who are serving their vicarage as part of their preparation to serve in the pastoral ministry. In its inaugural year, entries were received from 21 vicars in the United States and overseas.

"Concordia Seminary is grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Prevallet for their generous gift to support this annual competition," commented Dr. James Brauer, professor of practical theology and dean of the chapel at Concordia Seminary. "I am confident that this competition will encourage vicars to employ their talents in creating many new hymns for the church."

The Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, holds the copyright to the texts of the winning hymns in order to facilitate the usage of these hymns in congregations.

For more information, contact Communications, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314.505.7374.