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

St. John Lutheran (Windfall) 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

The theme for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering is "citizens with the saints."

"For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconicle both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:14-20)

Youth and adults from St. John Lutheran Church (Windfall) Cardington, OH are getting ready to travel to New Orleans, LA for the 2012 ELCA youth gathering.

I pray that the Holy Spirit transforms us through this experience! We have checked our bags and gone through security. Our fellowship on this trip has begun! Christ our conerstone with lead through some joyful surprises as this journey unfolds.

Keep us and the over 30,000 other Lutherans who are attending this gathering in your prayers.

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