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.