ELCA Youth Gathering
Early Monday morning, the group from Grace flew out of Des Moines, headed to New Orleans for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering! They will join thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders from across the ELCA, who gather every three years for a week of faith formation. Because the Gathering in 2021/2022 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first Gathering in 6 years!
Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives. They will experience new perspectives, ponder their vocation, bond with their group (and the Southeastern Iowa Synod), and learn more about the ELCA and our partners. Participants will rotate through different activities over 3 days:
Accompaniment Day – hands-on service, culture & story, or social justice & advocacy
Interactive Learning – "holy playground" with tons of different activities, utilizing multiple learning styles
Synod Day – worship, fellowship, and exploring New Orleans with participants from the SEIA synod
Each evening is the "mass gathering" with tons of great music and inspiring speakers. On the final morning, they will gather for closing worship.
The theme “Created to Be” is based on Psalm 139:14 - “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” Participants will explore and reflect on what it means to be created by God to be brave, authentic, free, disruptive disciples, transformed by the Gospel to love and serve in Jesus’ name.
You can connect with the Gathering! Follow along on Grace’s Facebook page or on any social media with the hashtag #elcayg2024. A livestream and blog will also be available on the Gathering website.
We hold Shasta, Annika, and Mckinley in prayer for a wonderful week together!
