2024 ELCA YOUTH GATHERING
COMMITMENTS DUE OCTOBER 1ST
Do you have a youth, in 8th-12th grade, that is interested in attending the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering or learning more about the ELCA Youth Gathering? Please fill out the initial interest form below. Are you an adult that would like to be considered to serve on the Youth Gathering Planning Committee? Please email Alyssa at alyssa@firstlutheranec.org if you are interested or with any questions. To learn more about the ELCA Youth Gathering, visit elca.chuch/gathering
Commitments are needed by October 1st with a deposit of $150.
Please fill out the interest form if you would like more information or to be added to the registration list.
Expectations for Participation
- Attend at least 70% of Youth Group sessions – held on the first Sunday of every month from 11am-12noon in the Youth Room.
- Plan and participate in Fundraising throughout the next year.
- Attend family planning meetings (dates and times TBD)
About the ELCA Youth Gathering
What is the ELCA Youth Gathering?
Every three years, thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. 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.
An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, a gathering that brings together, blesses and empowers youth with disabilities.
The ministry of the Gathering is excited to partner with Young Adult Ministries to host the first-ever ELCA Young Adult Gathering for individuals who will be 18-35 at the time of the Gathering.
Created to Be Theme
We have been created to be ourselves. Created by the Holy One. Since the last time the ELCA came together for an ELCA Youth Gathering, our young people have experienced several major life events. Still today, we are experiencing an ongoing public health crisis mixed with an economic and political crisis. However, we can rest assured that we are created to be in relationship with one another.
We are created to be brave, to show up with an open mind and heart, willing to be challenged.
We are created to be authentic, to bring our whole selves and know that we are loved by our Creator.
We are created to be free, to be transformed by the gospel.
We are created to be disruptive, to work for justice for all our siblings.
We are created to be disciples, to be sent out into the world to love our neighbor just as we are loved by God.
Our host city, New Orleans, has always been its true, authentic self. Our theme, “Created to Be,” highlights the arts, music and soul of this beautiful, vibrant and resilient city. New Orleans was built to host and be a city where all God’s children come together.
We plan to dive deeper into justice, mental health and anti-racism conversations throughout the Gathering. These are hard conversations, but our church desperately needs to have them. We also hope to foster relationships and be a sanctuary for one another. We are saint and sinner simultaneously, and we need forgiveness when we aren’t or can’t be brave, authentic, free, disruptive disciples.