A NEW HMONG LUTHERAN HYMNAL
Executive Committee Rev. Kou Seying (Thao) Rev. Yia Vang Rev. Faivneng Her Dr. Lang Yang Mrs. Susan Vang Mrs. Kalia Lo
INTRODUCTION The essence of Christian (Lutheran) worship is Word and Sacrament. God’s grace comes to us through these means. God’s people have been responding with thanksgiving throughout the ages. The HMong people have been blessed to be a part of this rich worship tradition in the past two decades. With a new HMong hymnal, God’s people from the HMong heritage will be able to cultivate the rich tradition of Christian worship. They will enjoy the presence of God in a new meaningful way that is explicitly grounded in Scriptures. And also, it will enrich the future worship life of the church expressing it through the HMong language.	WHY A NEW HYMNAL? A new HMong Lutheran hymnal is necessary at this juncture of HMong Ministry. The first and present hymnal is inadequate in many ways. It does not encompassing the full spectrum of Christian liturgical worship the way it ought to be. It did serve the incipient days of HMong ministry because there were no other resources. The time has come for a new hymnal that will include the full range of HMong Christian vocabularies and theological themes that have emerged and developed in the last three decades in the HMong context. The first hymnal did not have any musical notation making it very difficult to use with the new generation. The new hymnal will consist of all the necessary musical notations that will make it possible for a wider usage of the hymn.
WHAT IS THE COST? The cost of this hymnal project is estimated to be $200,000 with the following breakdowns: Printing (5,000 copies) $150,000 Print Setting $ 10,000 Committee Expenses $ 20,000 Multimedia Development $ 5,000 Website/Copyright/Communication, etc. $ 15,000	WHO IS DOING IT? This hymnal project involves many people from all level of HMong ministry such as ordained pastors, deacons/vicars, laity, and special experts in various areas of worship including non-HMong individuals. This project has an executive committee that ensures its overall development. Furthermore, there are several subcommittees that are working on the actual writings, translations, compilations, arrangements, copyright, fundraising, communication, etc. The field testing phase will involve many HMong congregations throughout United States of America and the world.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? 2004 Preliminary Discussions and Organization. 2005 Research, Writings, Translation, Fundraising, etc. 2006 Copyrights and First Drafts. 2007 Field Testing and Revisions. 2008 (December) Dedication of the New Hymnal.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT As the fundraising chairperson, I am asking you to pray and make financial contribution toward this important project. I thank you for your prayers and contribution to the Hmong Hymnal Project. Your gift is tax deductible and greatly appreciated. The task of working on this Hymnal and finding funds to support is enormous. Yet we know that through our Lord Jesus Christ anything is possible. We ask for your prayers and support for this most important project. This project will enable the Hmong Ministry members to have an up-to-date Hymnal that will be in their own language. Sincerely, Mrs. Kalia Lo 956 Meadow Avenue Shoreview, MN 55126 (651) 765-9257 Email Mrs. Kalia Lo
Send your contribution to: St. Michael Lutheran Church Attn: Noulang Yang PO Box 98 Richville, MI 48758	“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you people.” Psalms 117:1
For more information, please contact Rev. Kou Seying Thao