ELCA Youth Gathering--Practice Justice

"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God."

The magnitude of the disappointment surprised me.  A number of the youth of our synod were unable to participate in their planned Practice Justice service projects in New Orleans because of the torrential rain that we experienced on Friday.

Meghan, Minnette and Anna

I accompanied the youth and leader from Freedom (Oregon, IL).  Together, we participated in a Literacy Matters project, which meant we worked indoors.  We traveled with a bus load of others to a school in the city where a summer day camp was being held.  We read to the children, presented books to them as gifts, and helped them with art projects.  I also had the opportunity to speak to a teacher of the school, not involved with the day camp, who was setting up her classroom.  School there starts in just a couple of weeks.  She is the first Katrina with whom I have had an extended conversation.  It was a great day for us.

The day began with worship and some introductory information at the Superdome.  We got wet running through the pouring rain to the bus.  The weather was so bad and the streets so flooded that we were held on the bus for quite a while.  I think our bus was floating as we left downtown!  After we returned to the Superdome, we walked through ankle deep water to get back to the hotel.  We were lucky.  Some of the groups that were assigned to do outdoor projects never left the dome.

I knew that the service component of the youth gathering was important to the whole youth gathering experience, but I underestimated its importance to the youth.  On Saturday morning, I spoke to some who had missed the opportunity.  They were really sad because they had looked forward to being out in the community.  I was pleased to know that one disappointed group had already developed a plan for a service project at home.

Gathering volunteers wore distinctive orange shirts

Service to the community is a significant component of living out one’s faith and it is one that our youth expect.  Our Lutheran youth understand that loving like Jesus means service to our neighbor.  We serve in response to the Gospel.  We do not need to travel far to serve.  There are needs to be addressed next door, down the street and around the corner.

If we wish to make the church relevant to our youth, we must offer opportunities for service.  We need to work side by side with them.  Our youth can be an example to us and we can learn from them.

What opportunities already exist in your congregation?  What new opportunities might your congregation explore?  How will you allow youth to lead?

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