Living Savior Lutheran Church

Youth News

 

2/4        Super Bowl Sub sandwich making – time TBD

2/5        Sub distribution after both services

2/10      Lock – in at Klein Hall – 8:00 pm arrival, depart 10:00 am Saturday morning

2/12      Sr. High Youth Group - 5:30 - 7:30 pm

2/19      Jr. High Youth Group - 5:30 - 7:30 pm

3/11      Youth Mystery Dinner - 5:00 - 8:00 pm

 

2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering

On Friday, July 16, 2010, 7 members of the Living Savior Youth Group and 3 adult leaders flew to New Orleans, LA to attend the National Youth Gathering. It was the first time for everyone in the group but after talking with the members who attended the last Youth Gathering event in Orlando, FL three years earlier we were expecting a truly uplifting and spiritual journey. That is exactly what we got. We left the day before the conference started to ensure we got settled in and some time to relax before the schedule started getting really busy. On Saturday we took a private tour of New Orleans and learned about the history and traditions of the New Orleans area as well as all the details about what happened when Hurricane Katrina hit the region 5 years ago. Our tour guide also talked about the Mardi Gras celebrations, the uniqueness of their cemeteries and how the New Orleans culture is so unique from any place else in the country. After completing the 3 hour tour I think everyone had a much greater appreciation for the hardships these people experienced with Hurricane Katrina but understand that they are proud people and are doing everything they can to bring their city back to the way it was. They also are truly grateful for all the kindnesses and help that people from all across the country have shown and given them while they have working to put their lives, and their city, back together.

 

The National Youth Gathering itself kicked off on Saturday evening with a Mass Event at the Superdome and continued through Wednesday morning with their closing ceremonies, also at the Superdome. During the whole 3+ day period we were pretty much on the go non-stop. We usually had some free time in the mornings before the seminars started at noon so this was the time to eat breakfast, and sometimes lunch, visit some of the booths put up by Lutheran colleges, regional districts and other religious organizations, do some of the fun activities like the inflatable obstacle courses, twister, laser tag etc. or just do a little shopping for souvenirs along the Riverwalk, which linked our hotel with the Convention Center. The seminars were at 12, 2 and 4 Sunday through Tuesday. All of us tried to attend as many of these as we could and everyone attended at least 5 of these classes over the three day period. In the evenings there was always a Mass Event at the Superdome that started around 8 PM and lasted about 2 hours. These events included live music, the Gathering News segment, different skits and special guests, an ongoing story call The Network and then there was always one speaker at the end that had a specific message and would usually share stories and experiences from their own lives to support and drive their message home. On Tuesday evening there was a mass Worship Service that included a youth choir and concert orchestra as well as a mass Communion that all 25,000 attendees took part in. One of the most enjoyable parts of the trip was after the Mass Events had completed in the evening, and we returned to the hotel, we all gathered in one of the leaders rooms and just reflected on what had gone on that day. These would sometimes last 2 hours but it was just a way for everyone to unwind and for us to share and talk about how the trip was going.

 

In the end, it was an extremely rewarding experience for all the participants. The speakers at the Mass Events and the seminar leaders were inspirational, the activities throughout the week were enjoyable and we all bonded and got to know each other better over the course of the week. I know a few of the attendees this year will still be eligible to attending the 2013 National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX and each of them were already on board to be there in three years. The National Youth Gathering was a truly great experience and it is such a great way to meet fellow Lutherans not only from across the country…but from around the world. It also provided everyone an opportunity to get away from their busy schedules and simply take time to reflect and grow in their faith. So if anyone has the opportunity to attend one of these gatherings, either as a teenager or as an adult, take it...and I promise you it will change your life.

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