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…)
…is an experience to behold. Lutheran worship is sometimes considered a restrained event. Not so in New Orleans. Sunday worship was as energetic an event as any of the evening mass gatherings earlier in the week, with youth arriving several hours early in an attempt to get a seat on the floor level.
One of the outstanding moments was the morning’s Communion. Communing with 37,000 Lutherans at once is no mean feat, but the youth volunteers at the Superdome carried it off with grace. Stations were set up throughout the Dome on the floor and in the balconies to guide thousands of youth, leaders, and volunteers through Communion with remarkable efficiency, distributing bread, wine, and the sign of the cross on foreheads. Taking communion after a whirlwind time of learning and service in a space where so many once took refuge after Katrina was an awe-inspiring and humbing experience.
LutherTube has a burst of new videos available: “Jesus, Buses, and Blisters,” “Welcome to JusticeTown,” “Interaction Center Fun,” and “Joe Brown Park Cleanup.”
Click “Continue Reading” below to see them, or peruse the whole gallery. (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.”