Every three years, the youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are invited to participate in the ELCA's National Youth Gathering. Students from Holy Trinity, Gethsemane, Good Shepherd, Lord of Life, and St. Paul Lutheran Churches in the Columbus area, and youth from other central Ohio churches, left today on buses traveling to this year's Gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Approximately 37,000 people are expected to attend the 2009 Gathering. The daily schedule includes mass gatherings for worship in the Louisiana Superdome, service and educational opportunities, and community life activities. The Morial Convention Center will house the Interaction Center, which will include a sports center, an inflatables area, a ropes course, an art area, and even bumper cars. Some of the more low-key activities may appeal to those looking for a break or a time of quiet contemplation, such as a prayer labyrinth, knitting circle, and the Green Café.
There will also be opportunities to learn more about the mission of the church and the theme of the event -- "Jesus Justice Jazz" -- at the Interaction Center. Classes take place every day of the Gathering and participants are invited to attend any that pique their interest. The classes this year align with the overall themes of justice and diversity and include such offerings as Art and Culture, Wealth and Poverty, Health and Wellness, Housing, Literacy, and the Environment. Also, the ELCA shares information about its ministry and mission to the world through exhibits, videos, and demonstrations.
An especially meaningful aspect of the Youth Gathering is the Servant Life projects. These projects offer Gathering participants a chance to put their sense of mission and social justice into action. In preparation for the Gathering, youth and their group leaders made choices about where they felt most called to serve. Participants will be building homes, assisting with public events, working at reading fairs and community centers, clearing public parks, and helping churches with their individual ministries. The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering Servant Life experiences will impact 82 schools in the New Orleans area. It will also provide every K-3 student in New Orleans public schools with a school supply kit.
It's not just the young people and their sponsoring churches who will make the 2009 Youth Gathering a success. The wider community is invited to participate too. Add the 2009 Youth Gathering participants, leaders, and supporters to your prayers. Add all the youth from your own community to your prayers. Investigate ways to live out the Servant Life experience in central Ohio by making a donation of your time, expertise, or resources to someone in need.
Comments
While there is definitely some good reasons to go to New Orleans, I must wonder how many of the kids parents know that their children are staying on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, and have been touring through the sex areas, and hobnobbing with the drunken revelers while they are there. Oh and they are definitely doing just that as my wife and I were there last night and saw the groups of them eyeing the naked women, peering into the seedier bars and such - with all the places in New Orleans to stay, having the young teens stay on bourbon street is something that everyone in New Orleans is wondering WHY? WHY? - I wouldn't take my own teenagers there, much less encourage a youth religious group to stay there - absolutely crazy
Of course New Orleans has the French Quarter and all it is known for, but the parents should be well aware of where their kids are staying. There are several dozen hotels available for the Gathering -- most NOT in that area -- and individual church groups chose the one that best suited their needs.
I have been to New Orleans and my teen aged daughter went to the Youth Gathering in New Orleans. It is a wonderful event and the "kids" from our youth group are so busy with the activities, I doubt they had time to see the "seedier" side but if they did, they would be surrounded and supervised by adults. Bourbon street also has its own beauty and characther.
I am currently a volunteer Servant Companion (college age volunteer) at the Gathering, and although it is true that some of the tens have been to Bourbon street to experience the environment, very few have actually been out there. It is probable that the people you saw out there were Servant Companions such as myself, who are 20-25 years of age, and likely used to such things, being from college towns. That being said, utmost care is being taken to keep everyone safe; there are night life events going on at the major 'hub' hotels such as dances and karaoke bars in order to provide the kids with a fun, safe experience.
BeenToNewOrleans, I agree that supervised exploration of even the more questionable elements of New Orleans could be valuable and good learning experiences. When I took kids to Atlanta for that Youth Gathering, they had a really moving response to the homeless and destitute people that were in evidence -- our discussion about it was at least as meaningful as any of the planned activities.
And, thanks, AtTheGathering, for the good work you and the other Servant Companions did to help create a meaningful, safe, and fun experience for all the participants! And for reminding readers of the planned night life activities.
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