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2009 ELCA Youth Gathering E-News
October 2008 ► Issue 6

The Gathering E-News will be sent to you each month and deliver Gathering information and news to you on New Orleans and beyond. Previous issues of the Gathering E-News are archived.

God's Word is powerful stuff, and we'll be immersed in it!


Watch Bishop Mark Hanson's
invitation to service and deepening faith during the Gathering in New Orleans.		During the 3 days of the Gathering you'll be guided through:
  • A day assigned to explore God's Word
  • A day assigned to contemplate God's Word, and
  • A day assigned to live God's Word.

We will be guided as a community and in small groups in worship, learning experiences, service, Bible study, prayer, building relationships... all centered in the gospel and living Jesus Justice Jazz.

Registration for the Gathering is still open

Over 32,000 youth and adults have registered so far!

Online registration for the Gathering is open through January 15, 2009, or until it is full. Go to registration information on the Gathering Web site. Registration is also open for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE).
 

Some things you should know about registering for the Gathering...
  1. Registration may close before January 15, 2009. When it closes, congregations will only be able to make substitutions; they won't be able to add to their group.
  2. If registration closes and we have to turn people away, we will look at our adult-to-youth ratios. There are some congregations with a very high number of adults. We want to support them in their work with young people, but if we have congregations on a waiting list we want to be fair to them as well.
  3. Housing assignments will be made at an earlier date if registration closes early.
  4. When registration closes and hotel assignments are made, the registration Web site will no longer be live; online changes or substitutions will no longer be possible. The Gathering office will give sufficient notice so that you have the opportunity to make sure your group's information is complete and up-to-date.
Interested in serving as a communion assistant?


Christ has died.
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.		Jesus Justice Jazz! It will be a full, faith-building week, and come Sunday morning, we will celebrate together God's presence and grace through Communion. We need help with distribution, and are looking for youth groups of 1 person to 100 persons to help serve communion.

If your youth group would be interested in serving communion on Sunday morning during worship in the Superdome, please send an email to Pastor Chris Marien at pc@redeemerboise.org. Include the following information:

  • Congregational ID #
  • Name of congregation
  • Full address of congregation
  • Primary Leader name
  • Primary Leader email & phone number
  • Estimated number of youth and adults interested in assisting with communion
Join the ELCA Youth Gathering Facebook group
1,100 people have joined the ELCA Youth Gathering Facebook group. You'll find discussions and ideas for fundraising, service opportunities before and after the Gathering, volunteer opportunities for young adults, and more. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12679517425 
 
Needed: 450 energetic youth and adults to be part of the "mass cast moments" in the Superdome

Have you always wanted to dance in a Superdome? The Dome Creative team is hard at work preparing the evening mass gathering events for each night in the Superdome in New Orleans. As in Gatherings past, we are looking for youth groups of all shapes and sizes to participate in "mass cast moments" during our evenings together. Mass cast participation is limited to a total of 450 Gathering participants.

If your youth group would like to serve in this way during the Gathering, please send an email to Alison Bondy at Drumbondy@live.com. Include the following information:

  • Congregational ID #
  • Name of congregation
  • Full address of congregation
  • Primary Leader name
  • Primary Leader email
  • Primary Leader contact phone number
  • Estimated number of youth and adults interested
2 forms you need to bring with you to New Orleans
1) Medical & Emergency Form (PDF) for each participant. Must be completed and signed.

2) Agreement & Release of Liability Form (PDF): Youth form / Adult form. Each youth and adult participant must read and sign.

It's always a good idea to make multiple copies of each completed and signed form and:

  • Leave a set of copies at the church office before you leave.
  • Have a back-up set of copies with you in New Orleans.
  • Bring the signed forms to New Orleans so you can provide them to the service experience leaders. These forms are your "ticket" to being able to participate -- don't forget them!
Jesus Justice Jazz... wear boldly!

Gathering shirts and gear are available from Old Lutheran.

Use the Gathering logo files for your own creative ventures.

Talk about the Gathering logo and what it means.

Did you know?
  • "God's work. Our Hands." is the new ELCA tag line.
     
  • New Orleans was named best city for dining and live music
    in the United States in Headline News and Travel + Leisure Magazine's annual "America's Favorite Cities" survey.

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering E-News.  Unsubscribe from or subscribe to this Gathering E-News list.  For general questions contact the ELCA Youth Gathering office at gathering@elca.org or 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2100.