Holy Trinity at the Gathering

I guess I didnt write when I got home I didnt forget I just didnt know what to write…. Have been to New Orleans I must say this it was AMAZING! There were so many people. When we say the houses that had the numbers it was a different story for each house what they lost who they lost, things like that. All I can think now is why did this happen.. What was the reason that the Gathering was in New Orleans other then to help and serve but there are other places that need help too. I’m glad that I got the opertunity to go with my group to experience what I did and given the chance I’d go again to make a even bigger difference. Thank you all who supported us and helped us raise money. Thank you for helping make a difference.

Gratitude for the Lutheran teens who visited New Orleans

One really cool moment in the mass Gatherings at the Superdome was the wave of light — starting from the stage, the MC opened her phone and “handed” the light to a helper, who “handed” that light to the front row, and on back throughout the whole Superdome, while the House Band played a version of “Let My Little Light Shine.”  With the lights low, all those waving lights were beautiful.  I tried to capture a bit of the scene; here’s what came out.  As for the singing — it’s hard not to join in on “Let My Little Light Shine”!

Little Light at the Gathering

Sunday we went to worship. It was so beautiful. Seeing the big wave we did with 38000 people was awesome! The props were cool; doves on sticks and umbrellas symbolizing the holy Spirit reigns. 38000 people taking communion, sharing God’s peace. It was very memorable. Afterwards we had some lunch once more in NO, then we did some last minute souvenier shopping. I got the usuals, tshirt, cookbook, etc. But once I got home, I realized the best souveniers I came home with would be the bruises on my arms, from moving boxes and desks, (I’m okay, I bruise easily! ); helping to make a difference at their schools. The blisters on my feet from walking to each activity; learning why we were there and meeting others, getting closer to God through worship and service. The pinhole on my inner elbow from getting over my fear and giving blood to those who may need it. Finally, the fading “faux” tatoo on my arm of The Fish that reminded me how many Christians I was with all under the same beliefs, and the same cause. Thank you to all of you that help make this wonderful experience happen. Again, Mamma Bear Peggy, I still can’t thank you enough!

Lutheran volunteers descend on New Orleans – video

It’s Raining Lutherans! – blogofneworleans.com

Some 30,000 Lutheran Teens Hit New Orleans for Jesus, Justice, Jazz – The Christian Post

Something’s afoot in New Orleans with biggest convention since Katrina – WWL News Talk Sports

Biggest post-Katrina convention visits New Orleans – Forbes.com

LIFTING, LOVING, LEARNING – The Times Picayune

Teens will attend youth gathering in New Orleans – The Ogle County News

Youth groups heading to New Orleans – Red Wing Republican Eagle

Biggest convention since Katrina hits New Orleans – WXVT

City flooded with teens giving their time to volunteer for N.O. – WWLTV

‘Army’ Of Young Lutheran Volunteers Flood City – WDSU

“Jesus Justice Jazz”: 2009 ELCA National [sic] Youth Gathering – Examiner.com

There is a big collection of pictures at Gatheringpics.

Our final day was filled with worship — we shared Communion with 37,000 people! — and last-minute shopping, before heading for the airport.  The closing worship had some fantastic touches.  After a week spent talking about — and acting out — service and working for justice, the processional brought in worklights, traffic cones, and building materials.  The altar was four doors, brightly painted, set on sawhorses, with a green tarp for a parament.  A very nice touch.

Bishop Hanson preached, and did an excellent job of hammering home the thought that these young people can change the world, and that they can and must continue the work they’ve begun.  Oh, and he led a wave, which rippled from the front all the way to the back of the 3rd balcony and back — a very cool sight with 37,000 people!

When we arrived at the Atlanta airport, I had warned our group that, despite a 2-hour layover this time, we were going straight from our arrival to our departure gate, so that we would know immediately and completely where it was, and then, and only then, could they get something to eat.  So that’s what we did — and of course, the departure gate this time was right nextdoor.  Figures. 

We arrived at Holy Trinity at 2am, to find a marvelous “Welcome Home” sign on the front entryway.  Thanks to everyone for your prayers and for your support to make this happen.  For me, it was a fulfilling and transformational experience; I will leave it to the youth to tell you what it meant for them.  So be sure to ask them when you see them.

Oh, and watch for August’s Parish Visitor (newsletter) for more reflections to come…

Peace,

-Pastor Tim

well not much really happened yesterday. we went to the interaction center and played some games. i made a rock sculpture and a mosaic. it was pretty neat learning how to do the mosaic. while we were there pastor and dee dee gave blood. i wanted to as well but i didnt weigh enough so i couldnt. when that was all over we went to eat. nothing happened to my food this time. thankfully. we went shopping for a little while and made our way to the dome. the dome was all bout jazz so it was pretty cool that you got to hear all of it. its a very different type of music. but now today our day is pretty much about airplanes.

Went to the Interaction Center today. It’s like a big state fair but every booth is an activity to describe what changes need to be done in our world, and how to do it. The games gave the kids experience to go through what others go through. For example, one was trying to get into a bathroom door in a wheelchair. I gave blood today. That’s alot for me, since I’m scared of needles! We went for lunch and shopping at the river walk. What more to say, food and shoppiing-next to a river even?–Awesome! Then we went to the superdome for another great concert, the Katina’s. We heard from a speaker that started a program Back On Our Feet; running for the homeless. What do ya’ think Fit and Faithful? This has been a great Learning experience, and great fun!

We spent much of today in the Interaction Center, fully a half mile of activities, booths, things to do, bumper cars (pedaled, of course), and at one point a parade down the center.  In keeping with the theme of the Gathering — Jesus, Justice, Jazz — there were lots of things to do and learn about justice issues like hunger, poverty, clean water, and the like.  We sent a postcard to Rep. Joe Donnelly to call on him to vote to end hunger; signed postcards to be delivered to President Obama encouraging him to address climate change at the world summit in September; and enjoyed time together.

Then after a *very* late lunch, it was time to shop at the Riverwalk.  Tonight’s Mass Gathering was fantastic — Don Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz; Anne Mahlum, who as a teenager started Back on My Feet, an organization to promote health and recovery of homeless people through running; and a letter to the Gathering from President Obama!  The band tonight was the Katinas, who played a lot of praise and worship songs that the whole superdome sang along with.

Tonight for our reflections we talked about the things we learned today that surprised us — that 40 million American adults are functionally illiterate (that’s 1 in 4); that Louisiana loses a football field’s worth of wetlands every 30 minutes; and more.  But what we talked about most was a sense that we can, and must, do something.  Again our youth said it — “We want to make a difference in the world.”