2010 ELCA Northeast Regional Youth Gathering

Is anyone planning to go to this?

2010 ELCA Youth Gathering

July 22-25, 2010

West Chester University, West Chester, PA

Gathering Theme Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

(The Transfiguration)

Come with Jesus and others at the gathering…be transformed.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

- Matthew 17:1-9

Nurture faith journeys of all ages so participants will be better equipped the gap between the gathering experience and reality through prayer, sharing of faith stories, worship, learning experiences, building community.

From Pastor Laurie Carson-Nelson, Adult Advisor for LYO:

Walking Together
Many congregations around the synod have small numbers of youth interested in participating in activities such as the Regional Youth Gathering. It's normally more fun and meaningful-and maybe financially helpful-- to attend these things in a larger group.

Let's join forces around the synod to plan for the gathering and travel there together. I'm not sure how this might look; it will depend on where in the synod everyone is coming from and our specific needs.

If you're one of those "onlies" or if you have a larger group and want to incorporate others into the process, please contact me at youthgath@gmail.com. We'll make sure everyone who wants to be gets connected.

Winter Weekend Registration Deadline is near!

February 8th is the deadline for Winter Weekend registration packets - don't be late! Registrations received after that will cost $25 more per church!

Advisor and chaperone training is February 6th at 9 AM at Atonement Lutheran Church, 1900 Westfall Road in Brighton.

Haiti Earthquake - how you can help

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12. The quake struck 10 miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince, leaving the city and homes in ruins. Powerful aftershocks, some as strong as 5.9 in magnitude, continued throughout the night and into the morning.

Initial reports from Haiti are bleak, and the number of victims continues to rise. With no water or electricity, immediate needs are food, water and shelter. Cash gifts are the most effective way to quickly provide these much needed services to the people of Haiti.

The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is prone to natural disasters and ill-equipped to respond to such disasters. In 2008, the country was battered by four successive tropical storms and hurricanes that flooded the island, destroyed crops, and left thousands homeless.

The United States has pledged its full support to Haiti, dispatching emergency response teams to help with search and rescue efforts. This earthquake is the most powerful to strike Haiti in more than 200 years.

How can you help?

You can donate through Lutheran World Relief -information is on the home page at www/lwr.org or through the ELCA at Haiti Earthquake Relief

You can also help by donating to the Red Cross with a text from your cell phone.
Subscribers of participating wireless carriers can donate $5 to American Red Cross disaster relief efforts simply by text messaging the keyword “GIVE” to “2HELP” (24357). Donations will appear on customers' monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance. Message and data rates may apply. To opt-out, send "STOP" to 24357.

Participating Carriers:

Alltel
AT&T
Sprint-Nextel
T-Mobile
U.S. Cellular
Verizon Wireless

(http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_nolnav_text2help)

Winter Weekend

Hey - Be on the lookout! Winter Weekend registration packets have been mailed out to churches and also sent electronically.

If you don't have a registration packet ask your pastor or church secretary or call 442-1010 and we'll mail a packet directly to your home.

Don't miss out!

Registration deadline is February 8th!

Interfaith Youth Service Corps

Sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Nazareth College Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, Commission on Christian Jewish Relations, Jewish Community Federation, and Interfaith Forum.

The Interfaith Youth Service Corps will consist of a core group of young adults—9th-12th graders—who are empowered to plan service and activism projects based on or complementing the existing service programs of their faith communities. They will act as leaders and recruit peers to participate in the implementation of these projects.

The projects will be followed by a group “debriefing” time, during which participants will discuss how elements of their respective faiths are related to the particular project and the larger ideal of service. The discussion should provide a chance for personal spiritual reflection as well as the opportunity to learn why peers of different faiths are driven to serve others.

Our goal is that collective service work followed by interfaith dialogue will allow for community building, interfaith understanding, and personal spiritual growth among young adults.

Read more here.

Check out their Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=411092760216&index=1

Volleyball

Hey, thanks for coming!

Despite a snowy Rochester night, about 35 youth (and about 6 advisors/ pastors) from 6 churches joined us for volleyball, card games, snacks and devotions on Friday night (Jan. 8th)

In addition to fun and fellowship, we collected food, hats, gloves and mittens to be donated to Maggie Harris at Community Lutheran Ministries.

Thanks for your support!

(pics coming soon)

don't forget! LYO Volleyball and Games Night

Are you coming?

Join us at Reformation Lutheran Church (111 North Chestnut Street in Rochester)
for a night of Fellowship, Volleyball and other games.

We'll meet at 7:30 PM until about 10 PM. Come with your Youth Group, bring a friend!

Catch up with old Winter Weekend friends or make new friends.

Please bring a donation of a canned food item or a warm winter accessory (hat, mittens, scarf) to donate to the Food Cupboard and to Maggie's Kids - a Lutheran Urban Ministry on Joseph Avenue that we support in this conference.

We look forward to seeing you there!