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.

Giving Your Gifts, Giving Your Best

"Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it."   1 Peter 4:10  (The Message)  

God blesses each and every one of us with different abilities, skills, and talents. Our job is to discover what we have been endowed with and how we might better serve our congregation and God's creation as a whole. Many of you are blessed with the gifts of hospitality, teaching, and evangelism. Others are blessed with creative or organizational talents. We have all been gifted different abilities so that together we may work whole to build a community of believers. As the Director of Music Ministries, I feel it is my duty to inspire, conspire, and participate in anything and everything that has to do with the creative side of worship and church life.

I am a firm believer in the idea that many have untapped creative talents that could and should be used in the life of the Church. We have so many opportunities to use these talents to better our community, to serve one another.  Here are just a few examples of how your talents may be used in our Church. 

"I can sing or play an instrument, but the Worship Team doesn't seem to be my cup of tea."  Awesome! Let's get you to play some special music. Or let's organize another group of musicians that meets regularly and participates in worship (Hint: Choir/ Flute Ensemble/Brass Choir/ Harmonicas for Jesus)

I have a musical ear, but I can't play an instrument and I am not comfortable singing in front of people."  Great! We can train you to run the sound board. Not only would this fulfill the use of your musical ear, you are helping the entire congregation worship. We are planning an official training session this summer! 

"I can't sing a lick, but I can draw or paint."  Wonderful! We are starting a worship design/ creativity co-op. We want your ideas on colors, pictures, themes or graphics that will enhance our worship.

"I can't sing or draw, but I can dance."  Amazing! We have plenty of space in our worship area if you want to worship God through dance. Choreograph something for yourself or a group. Share it with us during worship.

"I love acting."  Me too! Let's get a group together and find some sketches that match with the sermon series. Maybe God will use our acting to connect with some people at a different level.

"I really love working with computers, graphics, and making videos."  You have a spot on the video team. Let's use this great technology that we have and move our worship experience to the next level. Let's create videos to make scripture relevant. Hint: Connect with the acting folks above.

"I can build things."  We want you! Let's create installations that might coincide with the sermon series, something that people can touch and connect with.

"I can't sing, play, act, or draw, but I really enjoy organizing things."  Excellent! Us creative types come up with some great ideas, but are unsure of how to go about actually executing these ideas. We need your brain!

"How do we start?"  Contact Jeff by calling the church office. We can meet and get the ball rolling. All of these things are possible at Resurrection. You have permission to be creative and to use your talents here. Let's talk, let's have coffee, let's draw some sketches, make some videos.

In all of these things, may we serve our Savior and Lord, that He may be pleased with our work. May we serve His people and His Church.

Until next time!

In Christ, 

Jeff Martin, Director of Music Ministry