Saturday Evening and Closing Worship

On Saturday, our final full day at the ELCA Youth Gathering, the group went out to breakfast at IHOP.  Our time together has created a tight bond as we sometimes struggled to find restaurants with space for us.  We persevere and learn to lean on each other and on God. 

Saturday night at the closing worship featured a Christian rock band called Skillet.  The youth truly enjoyed their music, but for Pastor John it was a bit on the loud side.  Below is a short you-tube video that describes some of the impact the Gathering has had on Detroit

Sunday morning was closing worship.   The house band continued to lead us in joyous singing, but an added treat was a Gospel Choir from Detroit.  Worship included confession and absolution, scripture reading, a sermon by Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and communion for 30,000 participants.  At the end of the worship they announced that next Youth Gathering will be in Houston, TX in 2018.  

After an exciting morning, our youth packed up our two vans and headed to Chicago for the second part of the mission trip: a week of service with YouthWorks in the Hemosa Neighborhood of Chicago. 

Leslee Donovan, one of our adult chaperons, reflected  "Grateful to help be apart of the work that connects teenagers to God, each other and to communities through a life-changing Christ-centered mission trip. It's been a privilege to come work and travel with these awesome people!! I see God working in them and in me!! I am just so thankful to be able to join them on this trip."