soooooooooo close!

Good Morning! We’ve just entered Louisiana and are only about an hour away from New Orleans. That night’s sleep on the bus floor was…well…not quite awesome…but at least I did sleep for a few hours. God is good! This morning I’ll be registering our group at the Convention Center and then we’re all hoping for some nap time before the evening festivities begin! We’ve run into bus loads of youth going to the Gathering at every stop we’ve made so far except for one. Just outside of St. Louis, when we stopped for dinner, we even ran into a bus full of folks from the other Rochester churches. We’ve realized since starting this blog that some of our friends don’t really know what we’re doing. Here’s a brief description of what this year’s ELCA National Youth Gathering is all about. We’re ready to join 36,000 other Lutherans!!!

Jesus Justice Jazz, the theme for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering, draws from the rich faith history, diverse cultures and arts of New Orleans. It will stretch our understanding of what it means to live in relationship and service with each other in the manner of Christ... for life... wherever we are!

The Gathering program will be different than Gatherings before. Planning teams are working with local congregations and organizations, young people and the city to pay attention to what makes the city of New Orleans unique, as well as better understanding the changes it is going through as the entire Gulf Coast region continues to recover after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The focus will be on service and justice as we live our shared reality as Christians: Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world.

What remains the same about the Gathering is that youth and adults are immersed in worship, music, Bible study, service, learning, play, prayer, the witness of faithful leaders from around the world, reflection, caring for others and new friendships. The Gathering is a time of change and growth because we gather in the presence of God's Spirit with others who journey with Jesus.