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I am a Lutheran Pastor offering reflections on what it means to be faithful in a changing world.

Friday, August 3, 2012

2012 ELCA Youth Gathering serves as a Lutheran Revival

"Citizens with the saints" was the theme, and throughout the week, we practiced Justice, Discipleship and Peacemaking.

This was certainly a mountain top experience that is extremely hard to put into words.  Imagine a gathering  with over 33,000 youths and adults from Lutheran congregations all over the country being one loud voice in the Mercedes- Benz Superdome, and collectively embodying our call to ministry in the city of New Orleans.

This Youth Gathering  invited us to see the church and the world more clearly through a "Lutheran Lens".

We are a church that defines itself by what we are FOR and NOT by what we are against.

We are a church that is radically inclusive proclaiming that this Good News of Jesus is for ALL people.

We are a church that needs to be reminded of our sinfulness and brokeness, but get to hear how our God continues to forgive us, renew us and uses us to be the body of Christ in the world.

We are a church centered in Word and Sacrament, reminded of our baptism, marked with the cross of Christ, fed and nourished and the table.

Rev. Nadia Bolz Weber is the Pastor of the House of All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado.  Grounded in Lutheran theology and tradition, Pastor Nadia made a theology of grace and Christian vocation accessible to people of all ages at this Youth Gathering.  She knows what it means to be a Saint and a Sinner at the same time.  Here is the video of her speech!

Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber at 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

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