Hurricane Katrina whacked Gwennyth Thomas twice.
First, Katrina washed away or ruined everything in her home. Not a sock or piece of tile could be saved.
Then, as Thomas tried to put her house back together, she fell victim to one of the bad Katrina contractors.
The crowd outside of the Superdome resembled Black Friday.
That’s the phrase used for the day after Thanksgiving. Shoppers crowd outside of malls in the wee hours of the morning for the door-opening bargains.
It was like that Saturday in New Orleans. Masses of Lutheran teens crowded around the doors of the ‘Dome hours before they were scheduled to open.
But the teens weren’t looking for bargains. They were standing in the blazing sun willingly for a chance at the best seats at a program all about Jesus.
“It’s like a concert,” explained Jack Pike, 18, of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Dana Point, Calif. “But it’s much more than that. There’s talks, skits and speakers. The kind of speakers that you want to listen to — who really get you to think about your values.” (more…)
The 2009 Youth Gathering is over, and the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is only days away.
Many teens wondered if the harmony and goodwill generated from their work in New Orleans will be undone by dissension among the church’s adults in Minneapolis.
The denomination’s national assembly is Aug. 17-23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Voting members of the ELCA may consider whether to allow gays and lesbians in committed partnerships to serve as clergy. The denomination presently allows for celibate gay and lesbian clergy.
Jenna Goldenne voiced what many teens at the Youth Gathering in New Orleans this week said about the issue.
“People should be able to love who they want,” said the 14-year-old Chicago area teen. “It shouldn’t matter if they are gay or straight. It’s not really an issue for people my age. ” (more…)
Meet Seth Moland-Kovash (standing), a funny and thoughtful pastor from All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine, Ill. He led a group of youth from the congregation to the 2009 Youth Gathering in New Orleans July 22-26. (more…)
Brittany Mata, 14, of Palatine, Ill., joined her youth group in prayer today at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans.
Mata was among the 37,000 youth and adults attending the 2009 Youth Gathering. The event was themed on “Jesus, Jazz and Justice.”
At the airport, Mata’s group prayed for justice and the people of New Orleans as they continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
The deadly hurricane struck the city four years ago and killed an estimated 1,100 people.
Britney Lintner sported her new Youth Gathering headwear at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans today.
Lintner, 17, of Albany, N.Y., played cards while waiting for a flight home.
She was among the 37,000 youth and adults in New Orleans for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering.
She attends Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Albany.
Bishop Mark Hanson was among the last to board an American Airlines flight out of New Orleans that left shortly before 5:30 p.m. today. He rode in coach seating.
Hanson, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was mobbed by teens when he arrived at the airport. He posed for photographs with several of them.
The bishop and teens had been in New Orleans for several days for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering. Nearly 37,000 youth, leaders and chaperones attended the gathering, which is held every three years.
The bishop’s flight landed at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago a couple of hours later. He was last seen in baggage claim. (more…)
Heidi Hagstrom is the Director of the ELCA Youth Gathering. 
The people of New Orleans as well as the ELCA are sending her their thanks . The July 22-26 gathering drew nearly 37,000 youth, their leaders and chaperones.
For the first time, a significant portion of the gathering focused on justice work. Twelve thousand youth were taken across the city daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery. Their work included painting schools, planting wetlands and cleaning up overgrown cemeteries.
The theme of this year’s event was Jesus, Jazz and Justice. The community service projects drew the praise of New Oreans citizens, Mayor Ray Nagin andU.S. President Barack Obama.
Thanks to Heidi and all those behind the scenes who made the week about serving others in Christ’s name. You are wonderful examples of “God’s Work. Our Hands.”
Banners from various ELCA youth groups were displayed around the Superdome during the 2009 Youth Gathering, which ended at noon day. Here are a few:
St. Louis, Missouri
(Gateway to Christ) (more…)
