Rise Up Together - A Student's Perspective

Initially going on the trip I was very anxious and tentative but I quickly got comfortable with everyone. I guess a 10 hour car ride will do that to people.

The first day in Detroit was very overwhelming; it was the first night of the ELCA Youth Gathering and we got to see what state the city of Detroit really was in. What I thought was very interesting and inspiring, was everyone still seemed very proud of their city. My favorite part of Detroit was moving 51 water-filled tires with Leslee Donovan. 

We then trekked to Chicago and it was so much different than Detroit. I never thought Chicago had 2 such distinct sides. There is the tourist side, ya know - Navy Pier, Lake Michigan and Millennium Park - which is obviously not where we were helping out. I also thought the place we helped was a richer more wholesome side of Chicago; one that does have more crime but also more pride in their city. They love their city! Working at the homeless shelter was a very eye opening experience. It made me change the impression I have of homeless people forever. Everyone always thinks that all homeless people are either crazy, drug addicts, or criminals. That's not the case at all. Obviously some are, but there are plenty of homeowners that are also crazy, drug addicts, or criminals. 

I was hugely impacted this trip with my faith, friends and just thoughts on life.  For example, what am I doing to make today better than yesterday? This trip really showed me the power of friendship and God, and with them both you can conquer anything you set your mind too. I had so much fun and I think my favorite parts of Detroit were the spoken word artist Natasha T. Miller.  She was so powerful and real and overall just amazing! I also loved the member of The Temptations who came with a few others and sang some classic Mo-Town songs. 

My favorite part of Chicago was just all my friends who were there to care for me when I needed their help and support - Thanks Squad. My other favorite part of Chicago was working with Johanna at the homeless shelter in the musty basement. 

After all of this, I would definitely recommend going on the next mission trip to anyone who's even marginally considering it. Do it!  I promise you, it will change your life for the better. 

Written by:

Adrian Schmalz

Third Day and Night

On Friday we gathered with the other congregations from the Saint Paul Area Synod. With about 300 Youth we did an interactive Bible Study based on the story in Mark 2.  Four men carry a paralytic friend to Jesus for healing and they had to dig through the roof and lower his mat to reach Jesus.  We talked about what lengths we would go to in order to bring someone to Jesus.

As a pastor, I am so proud of what lengths our congregation goes to help our youth experience the healing love of Jesus. We call great staff like Hannah Koehler and Sarah Storvick, we equip dedicated volunteers like Leslee Donovan and John Moore, we provide challenging mission trips, and we financially support our children and youth ministry. 

The youth have shared many highs and some lows this week. But also lots of "God sightings", events where they felt God's guiding hands.  God has been active in our Rising Up Together. Thanks be to God.

The Journey

The youth mission trip group bonded as we traveled across Wisconsin and Illinois, around Chicago at rush hour, and on to La Porte, Indiana.  One van shared stories while the other grooved to the entire score of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Last night we stayed at Bethany Lutheran Church in La Porte.  Thanks for the great hospitality!

Today we finish our journey to Detroit, check into our hotel, and gather with 30,000 other youth at Ford Field for our opening Gathering this evening. We are filled with joy, gratitude and excitement.

And They're Off!

These two vans are filled with luggage, laughter, expectations, anxiety, hope, energy, and ten students, four adults, all fired up to rise up together. On their way to the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering, this group will immerse themselves in worship and work under the theme Rise Up Together. The gathering website explains the theme: We were meant to be together, and we are a church that believes God is calling us into the world—together. So every now and then, we gather young people and adults together to share their unique stories and to experience the larger story that makes up the ELCA; we gather to be inspired, encouraged, strengthened, connected and sent out to do God’s work in the world—together!

Please pray that the Resurrection group, and the thousands with whom they will gather, will indeed be inspired and called to rise up in praise and in service. We believe each participant will know God’s presence and grow closer to Jesus Christ in varied and amazing ways this week.

Youth Mission Trip upcoming

This Sunday, July 12, ten of our congregation's youth will be commissioned at our 10:30 outdoor worship. They will leave on Tuesday for the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit. 30,000 Lutheran youth from across the nation will be there. Every evening (July 15-19) all will gather in Ford Field for worship, music and speakers. During the day we will scatter to various service and educational events. After the Youth Gathering Resurrection youth will head to Chicago for a service mission week with YouthWorks.

Please pray for our group and the four adult companions: Hannah Koehler, Leslee Donovan, John Moore and Pastor John Keller. Check this blog for further updates throughout the trip.

Youth Sunday and Special Offering

I grew up in a church smaller than Resurrection. Our high school youth group (called “Luther League”) had 6-10 active youth. We had game nights and occasional Bible studies. We went on camping trips and hikes.  But our biggest events was when we went to the special youth gatherings in Seattle where several hundred high school youth would sing, shout and experience God’s love and grace together. At these gathering, I felt connected to something bigger, deeper, and wider than my small Luther League. Jesus came alive for me at these mass gatherings. The seeds for my calling as your pastor were sown at these events. 

This summer the youth of Resurrection will have the opportunity to experience God’s love in such a setting.  Every three years our national church body organizes a national youth gathering where over 35,000 high school youth and adults come together to worship and serve, play and converse. This year’s ELCA Youth Gathering is in Detroit starting July 15. During the day we will participate in various service opportunities; in the evening we will gather at Ford Field for special speakers and music. You can read more about the ELCA Youth Gathering here.  I plan to attend with Hannah Koehler (Director of Family-based Youth Ministry), John Moore, Leslee Donovan and our ten youth. 

On Sunday, March 1^st, the Resurrection’s youth will be a vital part of our worship as they speak to why they feel called to attend the National Youth Gathering. They will share how they hope this will impact their walk with Jesus. They will be asking for your prayers and encouragement as they prepare for the event. They will also be asking that each member of Resurrection contribute to a special offering that will help pay for the trip.

The registration cost for the Gathering is significantly more than the youth’s annual mission trip. Your generosity will help to make this event happen for our youth. As a congregation we make a covenant with each baptism that we will help our children and youth grew in faith in Christ. Their trip is an outreach of our entire congregation as we seek to call our youth to the Vibrant Life of Faith in Christ. It is your opportunity to plant and water God’s seeds of faith in their lives. Who knows?  Someday, one of them may be your pastor! 

 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. Psalm 71:17

Pastor John Keller