2012 ELCA Youth Gathering - Citizens with the Saints

The 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering – a triennial gathering for high school youth and their adult leaders from across the ELCA – will be held on July 18-22 in the beautiful, lively city of New Orleans. 

July 18-22, 2012, ELCA youth will gather—again—in New Orleans. Why go back? Because New Orleans has more to teach us about fresh starts made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. New Orleans has more to teach us about generosity and about how to be good neighbors. New Orleans has more to teach us about the house that God is building. Please join us in the summer of 2012 in New Orleans. There is more to be done, and more to learn. Go to www.elca.org/gathering and become part of the movement, ELCA for NOLA! 

Below is information we hope you will find helpful!

• The Gathering website has been recently updated. Check it out at www.elca.org/gathering.
• The Gathering Facebook page is a great place to share ideas and stay informed. http://www.facebook.com/youthgathering
• “We were in New Orleans in 2009. Why are we going back?” As the Gathering website says, “The decision to return to New Orleans was an easy one.” Read why here.
• Minneapolis Area Synod Gathering Informational Meetings (alongside free youth ministry training!*) will be held on Saturday, September 24, 8:45 a.m.-Noon and Monday, September 26, 5:45-9:00 p.m., Oak Knoll Lutheran Church, 600 Hopkins Crossroad, Minnetonka. Same content at each.
  • Coffee/treats/gathering from 8:45-9:00 on the 21st  (5:45-6:00 on the 26th)
  • Gathering information from 9-10 a.m. on the 24th (6-7 p.m. on the 26th)
  • Free training session* on “Youth Ministry Events as Faith Formation” from 10:15-noon on the 24th (7:15-9 p.m. on the 26th)
• The Gathering Theme – “citizens with the saints” – is drawn from the 2nd lesson for Sunday, July 22 (Ephesians 2:14-20), paraphrased here: “Jesus is our peace. In his life and death on the cross, Jesus broke down the dividing walls so that we are no longer strangers and outsiders, but we are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. The foundation of God’s house was built of apostles and prophets, and Jesus, the cornerstone, holds it all together.” The theme blends the rich faith history, diverse cultures, and arts of New Orleans with the communion of saints that is present whenever and wherever God’s people gather.
• Registration opens on October 9! New this year: you can go online and fill out the information for each of your participants ahead of time…save the file…then log back in and submit on the 9th! 
• Also on October 9 – the “citizens with the saints tour” is coming to town! Fire up for the Gathering and raise some funds for ELCA World Hunger! Join Rachel Kurtz and Agape – along with special guests Tay Wilson and Redeemer Jump Crew – for an evening of learning and celebration.  Where: Augsburg College, Hoversten Chapel. Time: 5:00 p.m. More info here:  www.citizenstour.com.

*The free trainings offered at our face-to-face synod informational meetings are part of the Practice Discipleship: The ELCA Youth Ministry Training Project. The ELCA Youth Gathering in partnership with the ELCA Youth Ministry Network is investing in youth ministry leader training across the country through this initiative. More and various training options will be offered in the coming year as well! More information>

Please feel free to contact our synod gathering coordinator, Dannica Montplaisir and/or our synod gathering coach, Kris Bjorke with questions or concerns.

Looking for a Ride to New Orleans?

If you are interested in joining a caravan of (luxury) coach buses, please contact Matt Fleming from University Lutheran Church of Hope. Departure would be on Monday morning, July 16 with arrival in New Orleans on Tuesday, July 17. Departure back to Minneapolis would start after closing worship on Sunday, July 22, arriving back in Minneapolis on Monday. (There is a possibility to include a strategic stop for a few hours on the way home for reflection and to plan for next steps.) Deadline to sign up for this shared transportation opportunity is November 1!  Send Matt your name, church, contact info, count (including adult volunteers) and your interest in an intentional reflection stop on the return trip.