Download this game here. It's a large file and will take a while to download. But the game is worthwhile as you learn the challenges of feeding the hungry around the world.

Dates to remember:

May 16: Garage Sale
Proceeds to help with youth attending ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. 

Donations can be placed on the stage in the parish hall beginning May 3 (after PADS and the spaghetti dinner). For questions, contact Carrie Lavorini or Emily Ishida. 

Matching funds will be provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

2009 ELCA Youth Gathering
- New Orleans -

In 2009, youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have the opportunity to enter into the stories of God’s activity in New Orleans, and recognize themselves as participants in God’s story. Youth will have the opportunity to be public witnesses of their faith by learning about and practicing compassionate justice. Compassionate justice includes studying scripture, praying, knowing the world around us, actively helping, and truly caring about others.

As with each Gathering, the most important part of the experience is the blessing and sending that happens at the end. While the goal of our presence and service in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is to be part of the ongoing recovery of the community and people’s lives, what happens in New Orleans will not stay in New Orleans—we are sent home and into the world jazzed for justice, for kindness, and for humble walking with God.

By exploring God’s Word together and serving in New Orleans, young people will mature in faith, grow more confident in their witness of the gospel, and find themselves part of God’s unfolding story. They will make it their own story wherever they are and throughout their lives.

Shop for your Gathering t-shirts and polo shirts at Old Lutheran.

Some websites for you to check out

Foundation of prayer – to encourage our youth to turn to God in prayer in all they do: "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be give n you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10)

Service/Missions – to foster awareness of the needs of those around us and encourage youth to participate in service and mission projects and to be open to the gifts they can receive by serving: "And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’" (Matthew 25:40)

Mentoring/Inter-generational ministry – to encourage members of all ages to both share and learn values of life as experienced in different generations: Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7) The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair. (Proverbs 20:29)

Team approach – allows for congregational ownership and diversity of gifts and conscience of direction: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Save, affirming environment – create an environment where each youth feels important, valued, save and respected: But immediately [Jesus] spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. (Mark 6:50b-51a)

Christ-centered ministry focus – everything we do must ultimately help to achieve our mission statement, which is "To inspire youth to be alive in faith and share Christ with the world": As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Student leadership – recognizing our youth as growing in faith, we will provide opportunities and encouragement to use their creativity in leadership: Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Impact events – impact events provide opportunities for a "mountaintop experience" which can bring our youth closer to God: O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (Psalms 95:1-2)