 
|
Latest News
June 23, 2010
What to bring:
The Gathering has a rich history in providing resources for those in need in the host city. The 2010 National Youth Gathering will offer this same opportunity for youth groups and youth/adult participants. To learn more about opportunities to bless the New Orleans community check the Items to Bring for the New Orleans Community page on our Web site. 5k Run Information:
We are impressed by the number of people asking about the (optional) 5K run on Sunday morning. About 1,000 people participated in 2007 and we hope to have the same number or more in 2010! Although not required, was ask those participants interested in the run to pre-register so that we might serve you better.
We have posted more information about the run at http://www.lcmsgathering.com/youth.
New on the Web site:
A ton of new information regarding the Gathering program has been posted on the Web site. Check out the Mass Events page to download pages from the Gathering Guidebook that will tell you about the Mass Event speakers. Visit the Program page for information on Bible studies, the WE BELIEVE Academy, and Night Life. While you’re there, check the pages for the tracks to see a lists of Interest Center speakers and topics. And check the Resources pageto download the FGAL Information section of the Gathering Guidebook!
Mass Event Streaming Reminder:
Do you know parents, grandparents, Bible study groups, or friends who are not able to attend the Gathering but would like to experience the Mass Events and worship service?
Remember to let them know that the Mass Events and worship service will be streamed live during the Gathering. You will be able to find the live stream on www.lcms.org. A link to the stream will be provided on the Gathering Web site.
A Reminder From the Registration Office:
Participant substitutions and cancellations must be IN the Gathering Office BEFORE 4:00pm on June 30, 2010. After that, substitutions and cancellations will not be accepted. Substitutions will not be accepted onsite at the Gathering.
Gathering Store Reminder:
Have you purchased your official Gathering t-shirts, polo shirts, and buttons? Only 6 shopping days remain for The Gathering On-Line Store! The store will “close” online after June 30, 2010, for transfer of our remaining inventory to New Orleans. These items along with many new ones will be available at The Store hosted by the National LCMS Youth Gathering and Concordia Publishing House. The Store will be open in various locations at the Gathering starting Saturday, July 17
June 16, 2010
Gathering Commissioning Service: As your group prepares for the Gathering, consider using the commissioning provided by the Youth Ministry Office as part of a worship service, a special service, or another congregational setting. You can download the PDF of the service here, or visit http://www.lcmsgathering.com/Family_Life.
Mass Event News: Do you know parents, grandparents, Bible study groups, or friends who are not able to attend the Gathering but would like to experience the Mass Events and worship service?
We are excited to announce that the Mass Events and worship service will be streamed live during the Gathering. You will be able to find the live stream on www.lcms.org. A link to the stream will be provided on the Gathering Web site.
The Gathering thanks the LCMS Commission on Worship for providing video streaming services for Gathering Mass Events.
Important Update Regarding Substitutions and Cancellations: From the Registration Office
Participant substitutions and cancellations must be IN the Gathering Office BEFORE 4:00pm on June 30, 2010. After that, substitutions and cancellations will not be accepted. Substitutions will not be accepted onsite at the Gathering.
To substitute a participant, the new person needs to complete the appropriate participant worksheet which can be found on the Registration Page of our Web site. Be sure to check the box that says this person is a substitute, and write in the name of the person for whom they are substituting. Send the participant worksheet to the Gathering Office by fax or post mail.
Cancellations must be made in writing, and you can email the Gathering Office at nygregistration@lcms.org to submit your cancellation. Include your congregation ID number and the names of people you wish to cancel. You will be charged the full registration fee for all participants still registered as of July 1, 2010. Refunds are no longer issued for cancellations.
Off-Site Servant Events The Servant Event Team is finalizing details for off-site Servant Events. If you expressed interest in an off-site servant event when your group originally registered, you will receive communication on whether you will or will not participate in an event. For a group that is selected to serve in an off-site Servant Event, the Primary Adult Leader will be told prior to the Gathering what kind of event it is (human care, construction, or environmental). There will also be Servant Event opportunities on-site at the Convention Center available to all groups.
Have you purchased your official Gathering t-shirts, polo shirts, and buttons? Only 14 shopping days remain for The Gathering On-Line Store! The store will “close” online after June 30, 2010, for transfer of our remaining inventory to New Orleans. These items along with many new ones will be available at The Store hosted by the National LCMS Youth Gathering and Concordia Publishing House. The Store will be open in various locations at the Gathering starting Saturday, July 17.
The Road to the Gathering:
June 8, 2010
Oil Spill Information
Many of you have asked about the effect of the Deep Horizon Incident on the Gulf Coast, the City of New Orleans, and the National Youth Gathering. We thank you for your concern and prayers for the people of the Gulf Coast. Please continue to lift locals and workers in prayer as many see their lives and careers impacted and try to bring relief to the area. This summer, we have a wonderful opportunity to show our love and concern for others in the way we serve in the area and bring our business to the Gulf Coast Region. If there are any major changes in the situation, we will update information on the Web site and through these Gathering updates. Despite the tragedy, New Orleans remains a safe place in terms of water and air quality. Although New Orleans is dependent on the Gulf for much of its industry, it is miles inland on the Mississippi River that is flows towards the Gulf. We will continue to monitor the situation through local officials and local LCMS planning teams. LCMS personnel will also be making trips to New Orleans in the upcoming weeks. Here are links to a couple of on-line resources that track the news and events: If you have plans to visit a Gulf Coast beach (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, etc.), we suggest you connect directly with the area you intend to visit regarding beach and other information. Contact your hotel, or most cities have updated safety and beach closure information on-line. If the situation is safe, we ask that you keep your reservations intact. Your visit is a great way to show your support to local business people and residents. The local servant event team has inquired about service opportunities in the area. We are not planning to have oil clean-up projects. This decision is made for these main reasons: 1. Many of the current clean-up positions are paid positions. Many Gulf Coast residents need these jobs because their usual means of income have been affected or destroyed by the oil flow. 2. Most clean-up projects are a long distance from the Gathering location in New Orleans. 3. Most clean-up projects require training and then a long-term commitment. These projects do not work within the Gatherings five-day schedule. Prayers:In lieu of a prayer from the Youth Workers Prayer Book, we encourage you to spend some time in prayer for the Gulf Coast area. We also encourage you to spend time praying for the community of New Orleans as they prepare for the arrival of the Gathering.
May 24, 2010 In New Orleans getting a little something extra — extra pickles on a po’boy or extra remoulade sauce with an order of shrimp, for example — is called lagniappe.
For the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering the Lagniappe strives to give some extra information, a few more tips, and a little more encouragement for the Family Group Adult Leaders (FGALs). You’ll meet Boudreaux, who is ready to give advice, and Officer Thibodeaux who has safety tips to share. The Lagniappe will be distributed to FGALs daily at the morning hotel meetings, with other editions being published prior to the Gathering.
Look for the Lagniappe to cover a variety of topics including daily schedule notes, tips for navigating the city, suggestions for leading a group through the Gathering, and previews of Gathering events. Start each day with The Lagniappe. You’ll be glad you did! Get the first edition of the Lagniappe here as a pdf.
How Far From Home?
We want to know where home is for your group! Design a 24” x 12” foam core board (please do not use poster board—foam core board can be found at craft supply stores).
Include on your sign: - Congregation Name
- City
- State
- How many miles it is from New Orleans to your congregation.
Each board must have a hole in each corner (4) approximately 1” from the edge. Completed “How Far to Home” boards will be dropped off during Gathering Registration at the “Drop-Off Spot” located in the lobby of the Morial Convention Center. Please carefully pack your board so it won’t bend for your trip to New Orleans! Samples of signs from the 2007 Gathering can be found on the Gathering Facebook group. We encourage you to take a picture of your group with your sign before you leave for the Gathering and post it to the Facebook group.
May 7, 2010 The Gathering Offering - Where will your gifts go?At the Tuesday night worship service at the Gathering, we will give thanks to God by offering our gifts and treasures. Youth groups attending the Gathering are encouraged to consider how they will support the Gathering Offering. Many groups tithe from their fundraising efforts and support the Gathering Offering or another project of their choosing. The Gathering Offering is one way to say thanks to God for the blessings He has provided in a group's Gathering preparation and for the spiritual experience the Gathering is for participants. The Gathering Offering will support several projects and ministries. It will be divided in the following way: The first $50,000 will support community renewal and reconstruction projects in and around New Orleans. Supplies will be purchased in collaboration with Camp Restore and RAI Ministries, and will initially be used in conjunction with Gathering Servant Event projects. Tools, supplies, and equipment remaining at the end of the Gathering will be donated to Camp Restore for use in its continuing effort to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The second $50,000 will be used to provide grants to congregational youth groups for programs developed with the goal of reaching un-churched youth. Grants may range from $250-$5,000. The goal is to bring the Gospel to teens and to support church youth groups in developing ways to do so.
Of any remaining balance in the Offering, 20% or up to $15,000 will go to a local mission project in the Southern District. 40% or up to $45,000 will be dedicated to providing future youth ministry leadership training opportunities for youth, lay volunteers, and professional church workers. 20% or up to $15,000 will be used to support the Youth Ministry Eutychus Project to reach un-churched youth in the spirit of the LCMS Ablaze effort. 20% or up to $15,000 will be used in support of LCMS Young Adult Ministry to post high school youth and young adults, including support of the LCMS Young Adult Web site and LEAD Servant Events. Any remaining funds from the Gathering Offering will be added to the grant program.
Of the grant program, Dr. Terry Dittmer, Director of LCMS Youth Ministry, says, "We are truly excited about these projects, especially the focus to reach un-churched young people. There are large numbers of teenagers and young adults who have no idea about who Jesus is. The grant project in particular will support local and congregational efforts, helping youth reach their peers and share the Gospel message of what 'we believe.'" In order to receive a grant, youth groups must apply for them. The application and instructions will be online by June 1. The fist grants will be awarded in October 2010 by the Gathering Executive Team, who will direct the grant review process. All LCMS church youth groups are encouraged to apply. One emphasis for the grant projects selected will be how youth themselves are involved in the leadership and design process. When the grant application is available it will be posted on the Gathering Web site. April 29, 2010
Last call for all Singers, Musicians, and Dancers:
Youth have just a few more days to apply to be part of the Gathering Choir, Wind Symphony, or Dance Troupe. The deadline is May 1, 2010, so if you have youth who want to be a part of any of these groups, send them to www.lcmsgathering.com/youth to get applications and information on how to apply. Don't let your youth miss this amazing opportunity to be involved with the worship service at the Gathering!
District Events
The Gathering is a great time to connect with other youth from your district! Several districts will host special district events throughout the Gathering. Depending on your district, you could cruise the Mississippi River, visit the aquarium, hear Cajun music while feasting on Cajun food! As you make your plans and figure out your schedule, take a look at the District Coordinator page of the Gathering Web site to get information on when your district is meeting.
Gathering Store:
Are you looking for ways to promote the Gathering at your church? A Gathering button worn on your collar, pocket, backpack, or lanyard can do just that! Visit the Gathering store and order just one button for yourself, or for each member of your family group. You can also purchase "official" Gathering t-shirts and polos when you order your buttons. And, don't forget to add free Gathering posters to your order.
April 14, 2010
We know that you have been
eagerly awaiting your hotel assignment for the 2010 National LCMS Youth
Gathering...and the wait is finally over!!! Assignments were mailed to Primary
Adult Leaders on April 6 and you will receive a large envelope that contains important
information for your stay in New Orleans.
Once you have received your
housing mailing, what are you going to do next? Visit the Adult Leader home
page for all the information you need on housing. While
you're there, you'll also find important new information on registration, as
well as servant events, shuttling, and sightseeing.
Your hotel assignment also lets you know the
order in which you will encounter each full day of the Gathering (Sunday,
Monday, Tuesday)! Check the mailing for your group track assignment (A, B,
or C). Participants are divided into these three groups with all
participants housed in each Gathering hotel property assigned to the same track
group and following the same daily schedule. Visit the program program life page
to receive more information
about your group’s Gathering Schedule.
Calling all
Singers, Musicians, and Dancers:
The application deadline for
the Gathering Choir, Wind Symphony, and Dance Troupe has been extended until
May 1, 2010. And, youth can now apply using a variety of recording formats.
Check out the updated applications at www.lcmsgathering.com/youth
for more details. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to be involved in the
Worship service on Tuesday night at the Gathering. To get more information and
apply, visit the Gathering Web site.
February 22, 2010
The city of New Orleans continues to celebrate the Saint’s Super Bowl victory. We celebrate the opportunity we will have to be in New Orleans in July to gather as HIS saints and celebrate what WE BELIEVE.
Thank you to all the groups (representing 46 states and 8 international countries) who are registered for the Gathering and busy getting ready. If you have youth interested in joining your group they can still register. An invitation to join your group at the Gathering can also be a great way to reach unchurched youth who may be connected to your church or community. And if you know of a church in your circuit that hasn’t registered, encourage them to do so.
Reminders:
March 1 is the date the Gathering registration fee will increase to $325 a person.
Whether you are adding additional participants to your group or are new group registering, you can retain the $275 rate and take advantage of these savings by completing on-line registration by February 28. The Registration Account Form, signed Pastoral Affirmation Form, and payment must be postmarked on or before March 1.
Housing assignments will be sent via post mail to Primary Adult Leaders in spring 2010. This mailing will include a form to complete and return to the Gathering Office.
Your hotel deposit is also required at that time and will be sent to the Gathering Office (NOT the hotel). Congregations can and are encouraged to use their church or a personal credit card to cover hotel deposits.
Outreach at the Gathering:
If every congregation currently registered for the Gathering brought one unchurched youth with their group, that would be over 1,500 youth hearing the saving message of Jesus' love.
To help you in your planning we have prepared the following resource:
Inviting the Unchurched
Tips:The Family Group is the core group at the Gathering. It is the primary place for learning, sharing, growing, and fellowship before, during, and after the five-day onsite experience. Family groups are made of a small number of youth connected directly to an adult leader. You can find more information on what a Family Group is on the Gathering website Family Life.
Knowing the importance of Family Groups we continue to provide tools for groups as they prepare for their Gathering experience. These resources are designed to help you get to know your Family Group:
Tips for Adults in Youth Ministry
And
Community Building Tips
Spending time in worship, God’s Word, prayer, and song can strengthen the bonds you have started with your Family Group. We will be singing many familiar hymns, songs from previous Gatherings, and some songs and hymns that may also be new to you. We will continue to list songs that you might hear at the Gathering here.
What has your group done to build community with one another? Share this idea with the LCMS Youth Gathering Facebook Group by posting it on the group's wall.
Gathering Store:
Are you starting or in the middle of your fundraising and need some decorations? We have Gathering posters we would like to ship to you for FREE. Head over to the store and let us know how many you need.
You can also purchase Gathering T-shirts, buttons, and polos when you order your posters.
The Road to the Gathering:
DCE Brian Steward continues to blog about the Road to the Gathering on thESource. Check out his latest post How am I going to Pay for This ?.
February 8, 2010
What do Stellar Kart,
Remedy Drive,
Lost and Found,
The Skit Guys,
Mike Lewis (the Jesus Painter), and
Andrew Witt (formerly of Rough Draft)
have in common?
They will all be at the 2010 Gathering!
Our teams continue their work to bring outstanding speakers, artists, performers, and bands to the Gathering. In the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing more, so stay tuned and watch the performers page for when and where groups will be at the Gathering.
And, if there is a favorite band you would like to hear, share your suggestion with our Concert Team on the Facebook Group.
Also, our Servant Events team is working to prepare the city of New Orleans for thousands of LCMS servants to serve the city! Thank you to those who requested Servant Events. The team is also working to assign servant events and will notify groups at a later date.
Registration Dates You Should Know:
Today: We still have room for groups to register! If you know of a group that hasn’t yet registered, encourage them to do so. And if you have additions for your group, there’s room for them, too. Consider inviting an unchurched youth or two to join your group at the Gathering.
March 1: The registration fee will increase to $325 a person after this date. The $50 late fee per person will be added to any registration (addition or new group) that has not registered online AND postmarked the registration forms and payment to our office by that date. The Registration Account Form, signed Pastoral Affirmation Form, and payment must be postmarked on or before March 1 to retain the $275 rate.
Spring 2010: Housing assignments will be post mailed to Primary Adult Leaders.
Something else NEW from the registration office…
When PALs receive the housing mailing in the spring, it will include a form that will need to be completed and returned to the Gathering Office. A hotel deposit is required at that time (sent to the Gathering Office, NOT the hotel). Congregations are encouraged to cover hotel deposits with a credit card. This can be a church or personal credit card.
December 22, 2009
Young Adult Volunteers: (*Update - YAV applications are no longer being accepted.)
If someone you know is 19-25 years old and wants to help with the Gathering, they can apply to be a Young Adult Volunteer. YAVs serve as role models for the teen participants while working in specific areas of the Gathering. These include Experiential Centers, Mass Events, Interest Centers, Bible Study, Traffic/Safety Support, Hotel/Night Life, and Servant Events.
YAV applications must be completed online. Please note that there are multiple pages to be completed. The application process is open until January 1, 2010. Applications and references are reviewed by Gathering staff, and applicants will be notified in February about being selected to serve as a YAV at the Gathering.
If you have further questions about being a Young Adult Volunteer, please contact our office at 800-248-1930 x1155 or email us here.
New in the Gathering Store:
2010 National LCMS Gathering Polos
The "We Believe" Basic Mesh Polo in two different blues have the three color logo embroidered on the left side chest. The 50% cotton/50% polyester fabric is machine washable. To see the polos and order yours today check out the Gathering store.
The Road to the Gathering:
November 19, 2009
Registration Remains Open for the Gathering
The first batch of confirmation emails accepting your group to the Gathering has been sent out to Primary Adult Leaders. If you sent your registration to the Gathering Office within the priority window and have not received your confirmation email, please first check your junk email folder or spam folder. Please contact our office if you think you should have received the email and have not: nygregistration@lcms.org. Please include your congregation ID number when contacting the office.
We’d like to remind all those who will be 19-25 years old at the time of the Gathering that Young Adult Volunteers need to apply online before January 1, 2010. Go here for more information.
November 5, 2009
The two-week Priority Window for registering for the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering ended on November 4. However, registrations will continue to be accepted beyond that date. Those who register after November 4 must still register online.
Late Night Prayer and Praise Bands:
Do you know of a youth praise band or are youpart of a youth praise band and would like to play for Night Life Prayer & Praise?
October 20, 2009
THE PRIORITY WINDOW IS HERE!
Who: Congregations that plan to participate in the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering
What: A two week time frame to POSTMARK your registration documents: Registration Account Form, Pastoral Affirmation Form, and payment.
When: October 21, 2009 through November 4, 2009
Where: Send your paperwork to us here:
National LCMS Youth Gathering
1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122
Why: The groups that send their required registration materials to us during the priority window are given first consideration for acceptance to the Gathering as well as hotel choices.
RSVP: If you have any questions, please contact our office at nygregistration@lcms.org or 800-248-1930 x1155.
October 15, 2009
Youth Participants can share their gifts in a variety of ways at the National Youth Gathering. A few of those opportunities are now highlighted on the Gathering website.
Tuesday Evening Worship Service:
On Tuesday evening, we will join together for the Gathering Worship Service. Youth have the opportunity to be involved in sharing their artistic gifts and talents with the Gathering through participating in the Gathering Choir, Wind Symphony and Dance Troupe.
Late Night Prayer and Praise Bands: Each evening will end with a corporate time of prayer and reflection in some hotels and locations.
September 25, 2009
Want to know more about the history of the Gathering? Watch the Gathering Overview video.
Have you joined any of the discussions on Facebook?
Looking for a Gathering T-Shirt for your planning meetings? Head to the Gathering Store and get your T-Shirt today.
Haven't started registering for the Gathering yet? Start here.
Already started entering data but not quite finished? Go here.
If you have any questions regarding the data entry process, please do not hesitate to contact us: 1-800-248-1930 x. 1155, or nygregistration@lcms.org. The Gathering Registration Office hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday thru Friday.
September 11, 2009
Registration data entry for the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering will officially begin on September 14, 2009!!!
Here are a few tips as you go through the process of online Gathering Registration:
- You will need your congregation ID#.
- Have a copy of the 2010 Registration Book on hand.
- You can save your information and come back later for more data entry fun.
- Say a prayer for each person in your group as their information is entered.
- Double check your work.
August 31, 2009
It is finally here. Head to the Young Adult Volunteer tab on the Website and register to be a Young Adult Volunteer.
Don't have time tomorrow to fill out the application?
That is okay. The application will be on the Website until January 1, 2010.
August 10, 2009
Tools to help you with a group covenant, setting timelines and other planning needs are now available on the Family Life page.
Check out the tentative schedule for the Gathering on the program life page.
The Gathering store has officially opened!:
The Official Gathering Tee Shirt - $10.00
July 9, 2009
A new Fundraising page was created to help foster creative ways to raise funds for the Gathering.
With fundraising can come the headache of knowing how fairly disperse the funds to participants. Two DCE’s who have set up effective dispersion methods are Jeremy Becker at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, MO and Brent Howard of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO. If you are interested in learning how Brent or Jeremy divvy up funds to their youth, look them up on the LCMS Church Workers Directory and send them an email.
June 18, 2009
A few things of note on the Gathering website:
- New FAQ: When should my group plan on arriving and departing from New Orleans for the Gathering?
- Need something to do this summer? Check out the links under Service Opportunities. There are still some open LCMS Servant Events.
http://www.lcms.org/ca/dcs/SERVevents/sehome.asp
- Find your District Coordinator and email then at the District Coordinators page under the adult leader tab. Uncertain what LCMS District your church is a part of? Look up your church here.
Adult Youth Leaders:
Looking for a way to see New Orleans (before you pull into the Gathering) and get your learn on?
Hoping to stay in a gathering hotel without your youth group before July 2010?
Interested in meeting your District Coordinator sooner than later? **
Seeking ways to enhance your Youth Ministry skills?
If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, it is not too late to register for the National Lutheran Youth Worker Conference, July 16-19, 2009. Check out http://www.nlywc.com/for more details.
** District Coordinators from Central Illinois, Florida-Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Mid-South, Missouri, New England, North Wisconsin, North Dakota, Northern Illinois, Northwest, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Southern Districts are currently registered and will be standing by to greet you in New Orleans.
Facebook is making it easier to find us! Many of you know we have a Gathering Facebook group online but for those of you who were not aware, check us out:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6376465727&ref=ts.
May 28, 2009
The Gathering poster is being mailed this week! It includes information on registration and the “We Believe” program. Once you have the information you need, display the poster in your church, youth room, or anywhere youth in your church meet or hang out!
We have just finished a great training for all our District Coordinators. District Coordinators are individuals who are able to help congregations navigate through registration, getting to the Gathering and the Gathering experience itself. We will soon have a full listing online, but in the meantime, if you would like to connect to your district coordinator, contact our office.
May 20, 2009
Recognizing the role that service to others plays in a youth's life, the Gathering planning team encourages groups to build a Servant Event into their Gathering experiences. Service will be a part of the Gathering's LIVE track, but groups are encouraged to find a service opportunity before or after the Gathering. LCMS Servant Events offers events all over the country so you can make a stop on your way to New Orleans or on your way home. Camp Biloxi, Camp Restore, and LINC Houston offer opportunities to serve areas effected by hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. Check out the new Service Opportunities page for links to these groups.
April 30, 2009
Additional questions have been added to the FAQs.
March 19, 2009
We are no longer accepting applications for Community Life Builders. Watch for Young Adult Volunteer applications to come out in late summer.
|
|
