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2009 ELCA Youth Gathering
New Orleans
July
22-26, 2009
Some 37,000
Lutheran youth and adults attended the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering “Jesus,
Justice, Jazz” in New
Orleans for five days of worship, music, Bible study, service, learning,
play, prayer, witness, reflection, and new friendships.
More than 700 of the gathering
participants were from congregations in the Northeastern Iowa Synod. On the
first evening, members of the synod gathered at the New Orleans Super Dome for a
large group photo and pictures with Bishop Steven Ullestad. He thanked the youth
for their leadership in our synod in service and in Bible study.
Based on
Philippians
2:1-8, the Gathering was a time of change and growth, and deepening
awareness of God's call to servant hood. To prepare for
the event, Youth groups were asked to engage in six months of prayer and Bible
study.
During the event, youth participated in
worship, Bible study, workshops and service projects. In addition, some 100,000
books were donated and beauticians were overwhelmed by youth donating their hair
to “locks of love.”
Attendees donated
1,023 units of blood, the most given for a Blood Center event in its 50-year
history. The combined
service of all the participants exceeded 200,000 person hours.
High-school-age Lutherans contributed $154,488 at the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering
to support the . "Change
the World: 2009 Lutheran Youth Challenge" to raise $1 million for the ELCA
World Hunger Appeal.
When
added to an additional $33,000 in gifts that have been mailed and
$68,000 raised as part of the 2009 "Souper Bowl of Caring" effort
earlier this year, the total for the challenge stands at $255,489 as of
Aug. 7, according to Laury Rinker, associate director for marketing
communication, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. Gifts
to the challenge are accepted through the end of the year.
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