Growing Through Serving

I have had the privilege of spending countless days at Camp Wapo over the years. It has been a joy to experience hours of campfires, field games, chapel times, and skits. All range from the silly to the ridiculous, and also from the poignant to the profound. This morning the counselors presented the story of the Good Samaritan in a wordless, contemporary skit. Jesus’ words, “Go and do likewise” came alive. Today’s focus, as part of the week’s broader theme of running the race of faith God sets before us, is running the race through the care of our neighbors. 

Each summer, campers and counselors express, explore, exclaim, and examine their faith, wherever each finds him or herself in this walk with Jesus. The years change, the specifics of camp schedules evolve, and yet, there are so many constants. One is the incredible faith maturity that many of the counselors reveal through their actions and their devotion. Their schedule is demanding, the mix of campers they meet is wide and complex, their pay is less than they’d earn in most summer jobs, and their lodging is, well, not the most comfortable bed in the world. And yet, the joy of the Lord is so evident in their smiles, their playing, their singing, and their leading. They love God and love kids. Each would tell you how much he or she has grown through life as a camp counselor, as their chosen way to serve Christ. It is such a powerful testament to these words from Luke 22—I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  Each day, these young people are impacting what lies ahead, by ‘turning back’ to help those younger than they, those who are coming along behind them on this journey of faith. And their powerful witness is a striking reminder that it is in serving that we receive and we learn. We give and we grow. 

By: Sarah Storvick 

Minister of Congregational Life

Service Week in Chicago

At the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, our youth heard how they can make a difference in our world.  They did not wait until their return to Woodbury and Cottage Grove to act on the call for justice.  Instead, they stopped in Chicago to participate in a Youth Works service camp in the Humbolt Park/Hermosa neighborhoods. (The stop was a planned part of the trip.)  With thirty other youth, they served at neighborhood childcare centers, food shelves and clothing distribution sites. They lived out what they had heard in Detroit.

Enjoying a selfie in Chicago

Nick H, a participant, reflected, "This mission trip showed me that having a community of friends in faith is the best way to grow your relationship with God."

One evening the group took the train to downtown
Chicago to see Millennium Park

Leslee Donovan, one of the chaperons, wrote this about the week, "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."

Our youth return on Friday, tired and yet transformed by the power of God.

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."

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.

Night Two

Proclaim Justice

Each full day at the ELCA Youth Gathering has a special theme. Today's theme is Proclaim Justice and we are involved in that service project in central Detroit. We spent several hours clearing an overgrown sidewalk, helping an organization called Hope For 100.  Its mission is to revitalize a 100 block section of Detroit. Today close to 400 Youth in bright orange shirts cleared brush, cleaned abandon lots and reclaimed overgrown sidewalks as an expression of our love of Jesus and all of God's people.
 
One of the special joys of this event is working with Lutherans from across the nation.  Two youth we served with were Matthew and Christopher from Salem Arab Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York. They told us a bit about their unique congregation that serves several new immigration groups.  They invited us to come to visit and to serve with them sometime. God is good.
 
And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

First Night

Ford Field in Detroit was transformed into a House of God as 30 thousand Youth and adults sang, shouted, danced, prayed - all to the glory of God. Adrian says "The unity of all the people was so sweet." Libby says, "Seeing Agape at the end was great because we see him at Wapo." The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery preached a powerful sermon on how we are to be Resurrection Revolutionaries.

Today is our service day. Thanks for your prayers.

We have a room!

We have our first room for the ELCA Youth Gathering. Three more to go. Excitement building for the event!

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.