Service opportunities
Lutheran Disaster Response is in the process of arranging to sponsor a special work service opportunity in Joplin, Mo., in the days immediately before and the days immediately following the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering. Groups may have the opportunity to work on building projects underway in Joplin and stay in a dormitory at Joplin’s Missouri Southern State University.
This opportunity will be for a limited number of groups, and participation will be by selection through a process that will be advertised in February's gNews. Strong preference in the selection will be for groups that can demonstrate advanced building skills amongst the youth and/or adult counselors. Think now about whether your group may be right for this job and look next month for information about how to apply.
Bulletin board
Director's blog -- What are you looking for? (blogs.elca.org/youthgathering)
"What are you looking for?"
Jesus asked that question of John’s disciples (John 1:38) and he is asking that of us, too. I have thought about that question when making my New Year’s resolution(s). I invite you to do the same. Answering that question may be the most important resolution you and I make for 2012. Another way of putting it is this: How do you want your relationship with Jesus to grow?
That might be a great question to ask young people, too. How do they want their relationship with Jesus to grow as a result of their participation in the ministry of the Youth Gathering? You have several months during which you can ponder that question together. You can create a safe and sacred space for confession and forgiveness as you meet with your group to prepare for the summer experience. | Read more »
Next Adult Training Webinar
Topic: "Lutheran Theology: God at Work in the World"
Leader: Dr. Jeremy Myers
Date: Sunday, January 22, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Central time)
Description: How does Christ forgive my sins? How does the Spirit call us into faith and service? Does God cause bad things to happen? The way we describe God and God’s work in our world matters. It communicates a certain understanding of God to our youth. This workshop will introduce you to a few of the tenets of Lutheran theology that can help us notice, interpret and profess what we think God might be doing in the lives of our youth.
This webinar will be facilitated by Dawn Trautman.
Space is limited to 500 participants. Please register early!
● Cost: Free!
● To Register: http://www.elcaymnet.org/Webinar1
● Library of past webinars: http://www.elcaymnet.org/elcatraining
Topic: "Lutheran Theology: How Lutherans Read the Bible"
Leader: Dr. Jeremy Myers
Date: Sunday, February 5, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Central time)
Description: No, this is not an oxymoron. Lutherans actually do read the Bible and they often read it in a particular way. This workshop will introduce you to the various ways the Bible is often interpreted and will lay out the tools or concepts Lutherans have used for many years while interpreting Scripture.
This webinar will be facilitated by Dawn Trautman.
Space is limited to 500 participants. Please register early!
● Cost: Free!
● To Register: http://www.elcaymnet.org/Webinar2
● Library of past webinars: http://www.elcaymnet.org/elcatraining
Connecting to the congregation
A website that is guaranteed to save you money
Remember This site will knock $13-15 per person off what you'd otherwise pay. It's not Groupon or some other Deal of the Day website. It doesn't have a fancy name at all, but just a cryptic URL which is posted below. But if you're going to the ELCA Youth Gathering -- citizens with the saints -- and you're flying, you need to know about this site.
Normally a trip from the New Orleans airport to any of the downtown hotels is $20 each way. If you prepay for your round-trip ticket when you buy it, they knock $2 off the price of two one-way tickets. But, thanks to the fine work of the Gathering's Transportation Team, there is a special rate of $25 round-trip available to us.
Visit the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Special Discounted Airport Shuttle page to sign up for a shuttle for yourself or your group. There are a few simple rules that you must follow to get this discounted rate:
- In order to book your discounted airport/hotel shuttle reservations online, you must book no later than 24 hours prior to your flight arrival time.
- Changes to an existing reservation can be made by phone (866-596-2699) only if you made your original reservation online.
- The round trip ticket discount is only for tickets bought through this web page.
There you have it, a website absolutely guaranteed to save you money -- http://airportshuttleneworleans.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=ELCAYG0712&LOGON=GO.
Gathering registration is still open and still $315
Gathering registration fees were set to increase by $50 in January. But because our hotel blocks are larger, we still have ample space for participants. So the registration fees won't increase until AFTER the 2012 ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza, (February 12)! The Gathering is sponsoring a Gathering Genius Booth at the Extravaganza, and we'll be there to answer your questions, help with registration issues, and assist you in finding your hotel if you'd like to do a site visit.