ELCA YOUTH HAVE `HEARTS ON FIRE'

     NEW ORLEANS (ELCA)-- Youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America remembered their Baptism on the Mississippi River and explored Christ's gifts of hope through activities and conversations at "Hearts on Fire," a "trek" at the ELCA's Youth Gathering here July 23-27.  The gathering theme was "River of Hope."
     About 4,800 high-school-age teens, boarding in shifts of 800, took a river boat ride and celebrated Holy Communion out on the water.  The Rev. Theodore Schneider, bishop of the ELCA's Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, presided for the services.
     Back on shore, the young people were "empowered to explore issues related to friendship and peace and how they can make a difference," according to co-organizer Jason Reed of Springfield, Va.  Reed, a youth director at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, worked together with Gary Dittman of Lincolnton, N.C.
     The teens entered a maze of activities, videos, music and conversation circles. A 90-foot "Wall of Hope" portrayed centuries of struggle for justice and peace.  There were newspaper clippings, personal testimonies and portraits of heroes, including some non-Christians.
     Youth interacted with the wall's pictures and quotes from the civil rights, anti-war and anti-weapon movements, pacifism and conscientious objection, work for immigrants' and refugees' rights, and the effort against apartheid.  They used markers to name contemporary heroes and add their own ideas about land mines, peace, child soldiers, civil war, materialism and other concerns.
     The young people sat in circles talking about what it means to take a risk, to take a stand, to make a commitment.  "I don't know how to back up with action the feelings I have about things I care about.  Here I've been exposed to so many hard problems," a girl from Denver said.
     Adriaenne Kreps and Carie Hansen from Moorhead, Minn., said they "heard other kids talking about `Hearts on Fire.'"  They found it "intriguing to talk about our faith, then to see the works of God, nature and the river, and to take Communion."  The girls are members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
     In one circle 16 teens talked about commitment and working for peace. Each was given a key chain and three "keys" of colored plastic.  "I asked them to come up with three ways they can make change happen," said Glen Gersmehl of Lutheran Peace Fellowship. "They didn't have to write them down, just remember them when they see their keys," he said.
     Youth talked for a videotape about what friendship means.  Others wrote letters to Senators and Representatives about refugee issues and welfare reform.  Others talked about what their faith has to do with economics, their family's livelihood and how they spend their money.
     Reed said the "trek" was designed with two parts.  "At the activity center we looked at where there is division, where friendships are tested, the absence of God, when the world is hungry, poor are neglected, races are prejudiced.  There we discover Christ's gifts of hope and healing, justice and peace."
     On the river boat, Reed said, "We remember our Baptism and rejoice in the presence of Christ in Word and water, bread and wine."  There the young people affirmed their Baptism and sang songs of praise and were sent forth to serve.

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For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director, News and Information
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html