Today's guest blog is by young people from First Lutheran Church in Jamestown, NY. They reflect on the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering held recently in New Orleans.
From Jeremy Hatfield: "New Orleans was a fantastic experience. You could feel the energy almost instantly when you entered the dome and saw it lined with thousands of people. The many high fives and hugs happened no matter where you went and someone was always singing camp songs. Not only were the people vibrant, the city was as well. The different plants, strange stores, and smells (good and bad) all had a part in making the experience. It was a great trip to both explore our faith and a new culture."
From Nigel Eastman: "First of all, I would like to say how thankful I am that we were able to take 12 local youth to the city of New Orleans. Thank you to those who have helped us to get there. What really resonated with me about the gathering was first of all the city--interesting culture, the genuine hospitality of the locals, and how well the Youth Gathering was organized. Two of the dome speakers really impacted me. Shane Claiborne related how he saw God's work happening with honesty and selflessness. Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber brought a new perspective to the Lutheran faith as she wasn't born into it and joined later in life. Lastly, we all made new friends, and grew closer to the ones we already had."
Thank you to everyone who supported Chautauqua Area Lutheran Youth's participation in the Youth Gathering!
Chautauqua Area Lutheran Youth gratefully acknowledges the support of the Karl Peterson Funds & Lynn Foundation Fund of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation in making this project a reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment