REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

ELCA youth and adults from across the country will descend on New Orleans for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering and five days of worship, music, Bible study, service, learning, play, prayer, witness, reflection, and new friendships.

The Gathering will be a time of change and growth, and deepening awareness of God's call to servant hood.

The 2012 theme is "Citizens With the Saints" from Ephesians 2:14-20. Three programmatic days are planned for each congregation:

• A day to Practice Peacemaking - Interaction Center

• A day to Practice Justice - service project

• A day to Practice Discipleship - contextual learning about Lutheran identity, vocation, and mission

Getting Ready Sessions

The Getting Ready materials are an opportunity to dive deep into the Gathering themes, the Bible and the lives of your youth. The months of preparation will help deepen and extend your experiences and learning — during and after the Gathering — into your home, community, and for life!

Getting Ready User's Guide

Session A

It would be completely impossible for me to overstate how important these pre-event sessions are.  These study sessions will prepare your group to get the most out of the event!|

--Pastor Mark Anderson, Assistant to the Bishop

Synod Resources:

Food and Things to Do in New Orleans

Interactive Map of Hotels

How to write a Covenant

Pictures of Gathering Landmarks

"When the Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts"
From HBO Documentary Films, directed by Spike Lee, 2006
One of the most important parts of being an effective adult leader during the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans is to be well prepared for the discussions concerning hurricane Katrina and the social/political/racial implications of the levee breach. 

In this documentary, Spike Lee gives a clear view of how the displaced residents view the breach. The film is four hours long on three DVDs. 

Act 1 is about the levee breach; Act 2 is about the housing of the displaced in the dome; Act 3 is about the storm; Act 4 is more about FEMA. A bonus contains more interviews of survivors.

Adult leaders may want to watch all or at least most of the film, then use decide to show parts of the film to the youth, such as the first portion of Act 2 due to its focus on the Dome. The film is rated TV-14 because some of the survivors interviewed and one army general use some naughty words.  

A copy of this documentary is available for check-out from the Northeastern Iowa Synod office.

Fundraising Ideas:

Sell Shares of Stock for people to "invest" in your trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering
Selling Stock Script
Stock Pledge Card

Open a Youth Ministry Mission Plus Account through the ELCA Mission Investment Fund to earn interest on funds your congregation's youth raise for the 2012 Youth Gathering and other events.
Download Flier

Find more fund-raising ideas at the website below.
http://www.neiasynod.org/youth/fundraising.asp

Share Transportation

If your congregation has transportation seats available or if your congregation is seeking seats, check out the Transportation Chart.

Discounted Airport Shuttle

Round-trip airport shuttle service is available for the discounted price of $25 per person. The service must be booked at least 24 hours prior to the flight's arrival time.

Schedule airport shuttle service.

Forms & Publications

Gathering Information Letter

Youth Registration Form

Youth Agreement and Release of Liability

Primary Leader and Adult Registration Form

Adult Agreement and Release of Liability

Choosing Adult Leaders

Adult Leader Guide

Medical & Emergency Form

Youth Gathering Flier

Youth Gathering Poster

Gathering Overview

Official Tourism Information

New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Official Tourism Site of the City of New Orleans

Sign up for free New Orleans visitor's guide and monthly newsletter

Maps and public transportation information

New Orleans weather forecasts and current conditions

Free New Orleans Coupons

ELCA 2012 Youth Gathering Web Site:

ELCA Youth Gathering website
www.elca.org/youth/gathering

ELCA Youth Gathering Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/youthgathering

Giving Opportunities:

Four giving opportunities are connected with the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering:

1. Sunday Offering - This offering will be collected during the Gathering's closing worship on July 22, 2012, to support four domestic and international ministries supported by the ELCA. Learn more...

2. 100 Wells Challenge - This special offering during the Gathering will help to build wells in places around the world where clean water is not readily accessible. Cost to build each well is $2,500. Learn more...

3. In-Kind Giving - Bring books to support literacy. Literacy was an issue in New Orleans pre-Katrina, and it is re-emerging as a major stumbling block to living healthy lives. Teachers and administrators in New Orleans' schools will tell us what books they need. Learn more...

4. Giving to Service Experiences - ELCA youth will participate in service experiences throughout the city of New Orleans. You can support these hands-on service experiences by giving toward specific equipment and project needs. Learn more...