A message from the Director of the ELCA Youth Gathering, Deacon Tammy Jones West, on how the upcoming ELCA Youth Gathering theme was chosen.
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Announcing the city of the ELCA Youth Gathering, Multicultural Youth Leadership Event and the tAble is a fun and somewhat interesting task. In this blog post, we’ll give you a behind the scenes look at the process of selecting a city to host this life changing faith formation event in.
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The ELCA Youth Gathering is planned and led by amazing, dedicated volunteers who serve on 10 different teams and a small staff from the ELCA Churchwide Office. Applications to serve on one of our planning teams will close on June 24, 2022. Learn more, and apply now!
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A message from Deacon Tammy Jones West, 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering Program Director…
First, there is no curtain but for a peek into the behind-the-scenes happenings of the ELCA Youth Gathering, let me start with my first few months on staff. Let me introduce you to the people who are called to serve this ministry at the ELCA.
Hello world. My name is Tammy Jones West. I am a Deacon in this church, from North Carolina, and I am serving as the Program Director for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering. I am honored to have been asked to serve in this way and a little terrified at the responsibility and scope of the work.
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We are very excited to see you next July for the 2022 Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and happy that we get to lead the brand new MYLE team called Cultural Awareness.
We have heard stories about microaggressions and other harms that have happened at past MYLEs. These stories break our hearts, and we are working hard to help people do better and for everyone to have a better experience at MYLE, in their faith communities and in the world.
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This Gathering webinar provides information about one of the program days at the Gathering, Synod Day. For more information about the 2022 Gathering, “boundless: God beyond measure,” visit elca.org/Gathering.
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I am thrilled to share with you that at the close of our early-bird registration we crossed over the 10,000-person mark for the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering. It’s exciting and hopeful to know that even during an unusual and tough couple of years, thousands of you are preparing for the Gathering next summer.
Questions? Our Grand Canyon Synod Gathering Coordinator is Pastor Shari Bernau, with Living Water Lutheran in Scottsdale: pastorshari@lwlcaz.org.
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This Gathering webinar provides information about preparing your group for the 2022 Gathering. Information includes fundraising ideas, tips and resources.
Questions? Our Grand Canyon Synod Gathering Coordinator is Pastor Shari Bernau, with Living Water Lutheran in Scottsdale: pastorshari@lwlcaz.org.
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Many congregations are just now getting ready to attend the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering, so you aren’t behind! We’ve put together a list of 10 things you should know as you prepare to get your group together. For more information, go to elca.org/gathering.
Pastor Shari Bernau, with Living Water Lutheran in Scottsdale, is also happy to answer questions from those who are attending the Gathering from the Grand Canyon Synod: pastorshari@lwlcaz.org.
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“boundless love” was written and performed by Sam Noble and Faith Bartelt to serve as the Official Theme Song for the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering. The music video was filmed and edited by Ankos Films. For more information about the 2022 Gathering, visit: elca.org/Gathering.
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Similar to how God brought Jonah to Nineveh, I felt dragged to the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit. I loved church, but doubted whether the ELCA was right for me. I was one of the only young Lutherans regularly active in my congregation and community. Older members dominated the conversation. Could I be a leader in this church?
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This year has challenged all of us — some have adapted to new learning environments, some to new workspaces and others to new methods of worshiping and communicating.
May you and your loved ones feel the presence of God’s boundless love in your homes and communities in this season and always.
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The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering is a trip I will forever remember. Becoming a leader in the church is a true gift from God and I cherish my ability to share those gifts with the people of God.
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The first thing that comes to mind when I think about volunteering with the Youth Gathering is stepping outside of my comfort zone.
It was an unexpected invitation that pulled me out of my day-to-day cycle and reminded me of the variety of talents and gifts God creates in me to love, support and connect to my neighbors.
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Michaela Shelly writes, “Walking off of the Mass Gathering stage after speaking at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering, I don’t think I fully understood the magnitude of what I had just done. I stood up on stage to show others how you can take some of your worst moments, such as my terminal diagnosis, and use them to help remind others they do not have to feel alone in all of this.”
In this post, read her letter and watch her heartfelt Youth Gathering talk. Read her blog here.
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After much prayer and consideration, next summer’s ELCA Youth Gathering was moved to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held July 24-28, 2022, in Minneapolis. For all event info and FAQs, visit elca.org/YouthGathering/COVID19.
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