The South Dakota Synod at the Youth Gathering
The South Dakota Synod is heading to New Orleans this summer to participate in 2024 ELCA Gathering, July 16-20, 2024. Over 900 youth and adults will hear the Gospel proclaimed in Mass Gatherings and Worship, while learning to live in Christian community and sharing the love of Christ in Accompaniment and Interactive Learning.
What is the 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.”
The Goal of the Gathering, “Our goal is to create environments and opportunities for faith formation through worship, interactive learning, Bible study, service and fellowship.” The Gathering is a place for young people to encounter the Body Christ in a place unlike any other.
We are so excited to travel to New Orleans to experience the third expression of the church! And, for youth and young adults to see the breadth and depth of God’s love for them and for the whole world!
Find the Gathering on Social Media:
Synod Day T-Shirt for the South Dakota Synod
Exciting News!
The South Dakota Synod is providing a t-shirt for Synod Day at the 2024 ELCA Gathering in New Orleans! You can see a sneak peek of the shirt on the left.
These shirts are for the whole Synod. Anyone who is registered for the ELCA 2024 Gathering will have a shirt. For free! No need to order or pay anything.
UPDATE:
Exciting news! The all t-shirts for the SD Synod are printed and ready to go. This means you (Or someone you designate to) can pick up your shirts on May 31st and June 1st during the SD Synod Assembly at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.
The shirts will be in the Youth Room on the lower level of Our Savior’s, so if you have a big crew, plan accordingly. You will be responsible for selecting your shirts. Someone will be in the room with a list of shirt sizes for your information, AND to double check your sorting before departing with the shirts.
Shirts can be picked up between 9 and 4 on Friday or between 10:30 and 11 on Saturday (if still needed).
AND! We have some button giveaways for your group. Each participant will receive 3 South Dakota buttons for sharing and trading in NOLA. It’s up to you how you distribute them with your youth (i.e., if you would like to split them evenly between the youth but not adults, you are free to do so).
Here are a few quick updates from SD Synod Champion, Mara Stillson:
If you are going to NOLA, that is wonderful and exciting! I hope you are well underway in your preparations for the trip. The Gathering has put together amazing resources for you. Be sure to utilize the gLearn platform. (https://glearn.elcagathering.org/) This online training hub is key to a faithful and meaningful trip.
A couple things to note:
- Most importantly – Get ready.
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- Walk
- Hydrate
- Do the materials
- Have conversations
- Listen
- Accompaniment shirts will be picked up at Registration. And, Adult leader training required for ALL adult leaders to get into the gathering.
- Synod Day this Cycle will be a combined group, including Eastern and Western North Dakota Synods. It will include Worship together, then breaking out to explore the city. The timing is still TBD. If you have student leaders interested in musical leadership or reading in Worship, please contact Mara@losd.org.
- If you have any questions – please reach out to me at mara@losd.org or 605-321-4557. I won’t have all of the answers, but I will gladly talk through them with you. I am here to help.
For those of you who are not attending the Gathering, here are ways you can participate:
Pray for the travelers, share your Gathering stories, Listen to the stories of youth, Support financially, Donate in-kind gifts (Region 3 is bringing Phone Banks for emergency kits.), Learn about the Gathering and follow online at www.elca.church/gathering.
Bus Sharing Opportunities
(contact the congregation directly for more details)
Claire City/New Effington/Veblen – has 24-30 spaces available on their bus. Please contact Pat Schubert at patschubert63@gmail.com for more information.