The Melheimian Sabbatiblog

The Coveted "Penquin"

The Pengies

For Immediate Release

The Penguin Awards

The Faith Inkubators Endowment is pleased to announce the creation of a series of new awards for outstanding young artists, musicians, writers and dramatists who share their gifts and talents in worship in their local congregations.

The first award, a 12" crystal penguin and a check for $1000, will be presented to the "Outstanding Young Musician" at Faith Inkubator's outdoor Christian Rock concert in Stillwater, MN, on July 14. The riverside concert will begin at 7:00 pm with the Peter Eide band, and kick in later with the awards ceremony where singer/songwriter Lauren Redpath will receive the "pengy" and be featured with the Faith Inkubators' Music Guild band. The concert is free and open to the public.

In 2005 the plans are to award ten "Crystal Penguins," along with ten checks to further young worship artistic endeavors. Awards will be given to youth from 13 - 20 years of age who share their worship arts in the following ten categories:

1. Outstanding Young Musician (Singer/Songwriter)
2. Outstanding Worship & Praise Song (Lyrics from the NRSV Bible verbatim)
3. Outstanding Quiet Prayer Song (Lyrics from the NRSV Bible verbatim)
4. Outstanding Worship Band (Worship leading ability musical quality)
5. Outstanding Painter (Three paintings on Christian themes)
6. Outstanding Video Godmercial (30 seconds on a Christian theme)
7. Outstanding Photographer (Three collages on three themes)
8. Outstanding Drama Writer (One comedy skit, one serious skit, 5 - 7 1/2 minutes each)
9. Outstanding Writer (One faith story, one prayer journey, one parable)
10. Outstanding Dimensional Artist (Sculpture in at least two media)

By 2006, the Faith Inkubators Endowment hopes to announce an expansion to 25 worship awards categories, including dance, puppets, cartooning, poetry, video shorts (5 - 7 1/2 minute movies), along with more writing and music categories.

By 2007 and beyond, as the endowment fund grows, the awards are scheduled to include four $10,000 scholarships to the best worship musician, visual artist, writer and dramatist in the country. Top winners will be offered summer internships at Faith Inkubators, where they will work with some of the nation's top Christian artists, writers and musicians and oversee a worship arts camp to polish the gifts of aspiring young creators who want to share their artistic talents to enliven and enhance worship.

"We hope to launch a Renaissance in worship arts," says Rev. Rich Melheim, a Luther Minister and founder of Faith Inkubators "We envision a day when tens of thousands of young people are pounding on their pastors doors every week, demanding to share their gifts and talents with their local congregations." "Len Sweet says, 'there was once a day when the church saved the arts. There may be a day when the arts save the church.' We are hoping to place that vision into motion and capture the energies and creativity of a whole generation of young people for God."

The Faith Inkubators Endowment Fund in managed by the Lutheran Community Foundation. All donations are tax deductible. If you wish to know more, or would like to make a contribution to the fund, call 1-888-55FAITH or check out (www.faithink.com) For details on submissions, deadlines, and entry requirements, keep checking that website also.

FSSU Last Morning

Good morning from the wonderful people who are completing the FSSU in beautiful Victorian downtown Stillwater. Here's a quotable quote from each person:

Roger: "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got!"
Leann: "Change is good!"
Pam: "Live like you're full of grace!"
Sarah: "Stepping Stones is going to put a church in every home!"
James: "Hello from Canada!"
Art: "I don't think you can go that way, Pam!"
Rich: "Don't throw candy. Ouch!"

FSS U & Climbing

I'm back for three days doing a Faith Stepping Stone University. Here's a shot of lunch from the deck with some fine folks from around the country who care about family ministry. And speaking of family, here are two shots of the kids at "Garden of the Gods" only 45 minutes from our door when you come to see us in Colorado this year.

Rich

The Week that Disappeared

We made it to Colorado and, thanks to a visit from FINKtechmeister Tom Collins, we're finally online. Here's a report of the week that disappeared.

Sabbatical Day 1
The FINK staff, the He Qi family, our neighbors and some of Kathryn's friends stopped over to give us a formal send-off. We handed the keys to the house to He Qi and hit the road. By 8:45 we arrived in Grand Island, NE, in time for a movie. The boys saw "Riddick" and the girls saw "Stepford Wives." The boys enjoyed their movie more.

Sabbatical Day 2
Kathryn took the wheel for a day of driving in the rain. Half way to Colorado we stopped at "Ole's Big Game Steak House" in Paxton, NE, for lunch with Stillwater friends Brian & Sonja Larson, who were heading in the opposite direction. Kathryn and Joseph enjoyed seeing their friends Anders, Annaka & Hans while dining under the heads of elk, moose, deer, and a rather out-of-place stuffed elephant. We made it to Franktown, our new home, and enjoyed a wide Colorado sunset by the pool.

Sabbatical Day 3
Our host, Arlen, showed us how to clean, heat, PH, chorinate, and work the pool and waterfall. (We video taped the instructions, knowing that our over 40 brains wouldn't remember more than three of the 38 instructions.) The rest of the day was spent helping the Nordhagen's pack for their Puerto Rico year.

Sabbatical Day 4
We worshipped at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian and enjoyed a powerful father's day sermon before a nice lunch with the Nordhagens, then it was back to packing.

Sabbatical Day 5
Nordhagens left at 5:30 am. We slept in after that, then started unpacking the cars.

Sabbatical Day 6
Today was a day to explore the "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado Springs. We walked beneath towering red and white plates of stone set on their sides and felt very small. Kathryn and Joseph want to take rock-climbing lessons and go back ASAP.

Sabbatical Day 7
Tom Collins appeared and started our official home office FINKification process. It took us six trips to Office Depo, but we're online!

That's it for now. Some new pictures are posted in the photo album to the left to let you in on what the set-up looks like here.

Tomorrow I head back to Stillwater for a Faith Stepping Stones University.

I'll post some thoughts on why mainline preaching is contributing to the death of the mainline soon. They came to me while I was cleaning the pool yesterday morning.

Rich

Slight Delay

We had a surprise visit from He Qi's friends and collectors, Rev. Liz Heller and Rev. Jerry Evenrud. It was Jerry's 75th Birthday, so seeing He Qi was part of his surprize. Jerry is the worlds largest collector of "The Prodigal Son" paintings, and a big He Qi fan.

A slight delay in our departure caused by having 48 hours worth of things to do in 24 has allowed us to stick around until tomorrow morning. But in the meantime...

A beautiful cruise on the Jubilee II riverboat with our Head to the Heart University (25 folks) and the He Qi family, a chance to teach "The Experience Economy" to the group and a leisurely stroll through our neighborhood with the new residence of our house filled the night.

Tomorrow it's move the family in, then take off.

See you in Colorado.

Rich

PS He Qi passed his written drivers' test today!

Slight Delay

We have a surprise visit from He Qi's friends and collectors, Rev. Liz Heller and Rev. Jerry Evenrud. It was Jerry's 75th Birthday, so seeing He Qi was part of his surprize. Jerry is the worlds largest collector of "The Prodigal Son" paintings, and a big He Qi fan.

A slight delay in our departure caused by having 48 hours worth of things to do in 24 has allowed us to stick around until tomorrow morning. But in the meantime...

A beautiful cruise on the Jubilee II riverboat with our Head to the Heart University (25 folks) and the He Qi family, a chance to teach "The Experience Economy" to the group and a leisurely stroll through our neighborhood with the new residence of our house filled the night.

Tomorrow it's move the family in, then take off.

See you in Colorado.

Rich

PS He Qi passed his written drivers' test today!

Ray Charles

So I'm wearing dark glasses today in memory of Ray Charles.

Actually, over the weekend I picked up some kind of eye infection and have to get out of the glare.

Appreciate your eyes and take care of them.

The dark world isn't as fun.

Ciao!

RAM

"To love what you do and feel it makes a difference, how could anything be more fun!" - Kathryn Graham

Ain't Life Grand?

New Confirmation Service

I'm just finishing the final wording on the new promises for Faith Stepping Stone 7 - Confirmation.

Any suggestions?

Promise 1:
Children of the Promise, will you continue in
the covenant God made with you in Holy Baptism?
Will you stay close to your Christian friends in this
place, supporting and strengthening them even as they
do the same for you? And, one day when you leave this
place to launch out on a life of your own, will you
remain in fellowship with Christ’s family and the
church that has nurtured you for as long as you live?

Promise 2:
Children of Grace, you have worshiped, listened, loved,
and learned of Christ in your homes, in your small groups,
and in this holy place. Here, in this place, you have been
nourished by God’s Word. Here, at this table, you have feasted
on the forgiveness of sins through our Lord’s Supper. Will you
continue to put yourself into these sacred spaces where God can
reach you and teach you? Will you continue to carve out ample
times and places to hear the still, small voice of God and taste in Christ’s forgiving presence from this day forward for as long as long as you live?

Promise 3:
Children of Light, you have been graced with the
knowledge of God’s amazing plan to set the world free
from sin, death, and bondage to all the dark powers!
What will you do with this good news? Will you be
bearers of the light? Will you share the grace of Christ
with a broken, hurting world? Will your words and
actions give praise and glory to God so others may taste
and see the goodness of the Lord through your loving
example every day of your life for as long as you live?

Promise 4:
Children of Humbleness, you have learned from Christ
that the greatest of all is the servant of all. Will you be a
willing servant in your family? Among your friends
and enemies alike? In your school? In this church? In a
world that demands to be served rather than serve, will
you humble yourself, put others’ needs before your
own, and serve all according to the example of Christ
from this day forth for as long as you live?

Promise 5:
Children of Peace, Jesus was called the Prince of Peace.
Yet, he met a violent death. He lived the life of a prophet,
speaking out for God; standing up against oppression and
the racism of his day; and even challenging the religious
establishment when it forgot God. In a world of hatred and
injustice, will you speak out for God even if it costs you?
Will you use your power on behalf of the powerless; your
voice for those who have no voice? Will you work for peace
and justice in your home, in your school, and in all God’s
world from this day forth for as long as you live?

Promise 6:
Will you continue to share Highs & Lows as a family
each night? Will you continue to read a verse from God’s
Word; to reflect on God’s Word as it speaks to you;
to confess and forgive; to pray for your parents’ Highs &
Lows; and to bless one another before you turn out the lights
on each day? Will this special time with your parents and
with God remain your top priority for as long as you live
under your parents’ care? If this is your intention, please
answer: “Yes, and I ask God to help and guide me.”