Here is a taste of the energy and music in the Superdome during Friday's worship. -Pastor Jon
Monday, July 27, 2009
Photos
Here are a few photographs I took during the trip. -Pastor Jon
United in Grace
Lunch at the Gumbo Shop
"Make Your Own Garden"
Pastor Jon with volunteer at service site
Kate and Kelly at our service site
Nate and Ted at our service site
Mingling with the crowd outside Superdome
At the Interaction Center
Jackson Square
Superdome Worship
On our way
Day 5 Reflection by Pastor Jon
“The Washing and Feeding of the 37,000”
Today’s main event was closing worship at the Superdome. Going through the flow of gathering, hearing the word, being fed and being sent along with so many people at once was truly uplifting and empowering. This sight is truly a vision of the “church right now”, a church made up of youth who have voices and hands and faith that trust in the power of Christ in their lives. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson preached and presided at the service.
Looking back I am struck by the two sacraments being part of this service in very powerful ways. At the beginning, we remembered our baptism, recalling God’s forgiving, renewing bath that washes us clean from sin. As part of the processional, hundreds of youth processed in carrying huge yellow umbrellas, evoking the image of water pouring down upon all of us. This simple touch to the service reminded us all that, as Bishop Hanson said in his sermon, “we matter to God”!
The bishop also spoke about the Gospel text for today, the feeding of the 5000 from the sixth chapter of John. One of the youth said today, “I always thought that the feeding of the 5000 was a lot of people, but when I see 37,000 getting fed…wow, that makes it even more miraculous.” Somehow, despite all the logistics, bread and wine was broken and shared among all those gathered at the superdome. We are blessed to be witnesses to such a feeding that only Jesus could provide in this kind of abundance.
We are going home washed and fed. We go home filled with inspiration to share an ethic of justice and self-giving service upon our return. As the bishop said, “God is not done with you yet”! We go home looking for opportunities to serve, to learn more about Jesus’ care for the needy, and equipped to improvise the jazzy work of discipleship. Even though we don’t know where we will go or where we’ll be led, we go knowing God is leading, guiding and supporting us.
Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Today’s main event was closing worship at the Superdome. Going through the flow of gathering, hearing the word, being fed and being sent along with so many people at once was truly uplifting and empowering. This sight is truly a vision of the “church right now”, a church made up of youth who have voices and hands and faith that trust in the power of Christ in their lives. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson preached and presided at the service.
Looking back I am struck by the two sacraments being part of this service in very powerful ways. At the beginning, we remembered our baptism, recalling God’s forgiving, renewing bath that washes us clean from sin. As part of the processional, hundreds of youth processed in carrying huge yellow umbrellas, evoking the image of water pouring down upon all of us. This simple touch to the service reminded us all that, as Bishop Hanson said in his sermon, “we matter to God”!
The bishop also spoke about the Gospel text for today, the feeding of the 5000 from the sixth chapter of John. One of the youth said today, “I always thought that the feeding of the 5000 was a lot of people, but when I see 37,000 getting fed…wow, that makes it even more miraculous.” Somehow, despite all the logistics, bread and wine was broken and shared among all those gathered at the superdome. We are blessed to be witnesses to such a feeding that only Jesus could provide in this kind of abundance.
We are going home washed and fed. We go home filled with inspiration to share an ethic of justice and self-giving service upon our return. As the bishop said, “God is not done with you yet”! We go home looking for opportunities to serve, to learn more about Jesus’ care for the needy, and equipped to improvise the jazzy work of discipleship. Even though we don’t know where we will go or where we’ll be led, we go knowing God is leading, guiding and supporting us.
Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Day 5 Reflection by Ted Mitka
“Giving Time to Serve”
The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering has been the highlight of my summer. This experience has definitely had a positive influence on the youth and the people of New Orleans. There was so much to take away from the experience, but I have learned an important lesson. Through powerful speakers and seeing the poverty and depression of the people I have learned that time is the most necessary resource that needs to be used to help. All people that are able need to give some of their time back to their communities. Those that are blessed need to show people the golden brick road that everyone can follow. The superdome had been a sign of despair and chaos [after Hurricane Katrina], however the youth were able to light up the dome and transform it into a powerful place of scripture. Everyday during this experience had some type of fun or exiting event. The best in my opinion were the worship services, the site seeing, the culture, and the people… or everything. I would like to especially thank every speaker, Bishop Mark Henson , [friend and Grace Lutheran-River Forest member] Mark Carioscio, and a shout out to [Christian band] Skillet [who played as part of the worship service Friday night]. Rock on!!!! The gathering has changed my lifestyle and I will be more involved within my community. To end a quote from Batman, “the night is darkest just before the dawn, and I promise you, the dawn is coming.” This quote represents the future of New Orleans.
The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering has been the highlight of my summer. This experience has definitely had a positive influence on the youth and the people of New Orleans. There was so much to take away from the experience, but I have learned an important lesson. Through powerful speakers and seeing the poverty and depression of the people I have learned that time is the most necessary resource that needs to be used to help. All people that are able need to give some of their time back to their communities. Those that are blessed need to show people the golden brick road that everyone can follow. The superdome had been a sign of despair and chaos [after Hurricane Katrina], however the youth were able to light up the dome and transform it into a powerful place of scripture. Everyday during this experience had some type of fun or exiting event. The best in my opinion were the worship services, the site seeing, the culture, and the people… or everything. I would like to especially thank every speaker, Bishop Mark Henson , [friend and Grace Lutheran-River Forest member] Mark Carioscio, and a shout out to [Christian band] Skillet [who played as part of the worship service Friday night]. Rock on!!!! The gathering has changed my lifestyle and I will be more involved within my community. To end a quote from Batman, “the night is darkest just before the dawn, and I promise you, the dawn is coming.” This quote represents the future of New Orleans.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Day 4 Reflection by Pastor Jon
"Gumbo"
Today was all about New Orleans: the culture, the people, the water and Earth here, the music, the food...all New 'Awlins, all the time! After such a rewarding but exhausting day yesterday we needed some space to have fun and get to know the city more, and today we did just that. We saw signs of God's creation, signs of Christ's presence active and alive in this culture, and felt signs of the stirring of the Spirit among the interactions between locals & guests. Among the many gifts that made up today's "Gumbo" experience:
*the animal life in the waters of the Gulf and in the Louisiana wetlands that we saw at the New Orleans aquarium (at worship tonight we learned how they are eroding by a football field every 30 min and need to be restored to act as a barrier to future hurricanes)
*the food of this place that we experienced at a lunch stop in the French Quarter at a place called the "Gumbo Shop" (highly recommended!), including jumbalaya, gumbo, creole, red beans and rice, and praline sundaes
*learning that Louisiana is the birthplace of Tabasco sauce
*the beautiful, colorful murals adorning public spaces all over
*the arists and artisans displaying their wares around Jackson Square
*the buzz of the French Quarter, full of artists, musicians, business people, tourists, homeless, and more
Before leaving for the trip, I watched the first episode of the Ken Burns' documentary "Jazz", the title of which is "Gumbo." Wynton Marsalis, a native of New Orleans, spoke at the beginning of the episode about playing jazz being like making Gumbo--an improvised mix of ingredients taken from diverse places. This week, including today, we have seen that improvisation in action and in person. It is tasty, and it is rich, full of soul that has fed me, at least, with a sense of joy and hope in this city, and in the people here. This is a beautiful place. Katrina did rear a head of ugliness but that could not keep the soul of this place down-- it is alive and well. It's alive and well because Christ is still working his way through this culture--this jazzy culture whose improvisational nature parallels the improvisational nature of our life of discipleship in Christ.
We are ready to give thanks in Eucharist tomorrow morning for these and the many gifts given to us during our time here--including giving thanks for at United who have made this trip possible for us!
I'm looking forward to returning. But until we leave, we'll be taking in as much of this God-Gumbo as we can get.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Today was all about New Orleans: the culture, the people, the water and Earth here, the music, the food...all New 'Awlins, all the time! After such a rewarding but exhausting day yesterday we needed some space to have fun and get to know the city more, and today we did just that. We saw signs of God's creation, signs of Christ's presence active and alive in this culture, and felt signs of the stirring of the Spirit among the interactions between locals & guests. Among the many gifts that made up today's "Gumbo" experience:
*the animal life in the waters of the Gulf and in the Louisiana wetlands that we saw at the New Orleans aquarium (at worship tonight we learned how they are eroding by a football field every 30 min and need to be restored to act as a barrier to future hurricanes)
*the food of this place that we experienced at a lunch stop in the French Quarter at a place called the "Gumbo Shop" (highly recommended!), including jumbalaya, gumbo, creole, red beans and rice, and praline sundaes
*learning that Louisiana is the birthplace of Tabasco sauce
*the beautiful, colorful murals adorning public spaces all over
*the arists and artisans displaying their wares around Jackson Square
*the buzz of the French Quarter, full of artists, musicians, business people, tourists, homeless, and more
Before leaving for the trip, I watched the first episode of the Ken Burns' documentary "Jazz", the title of which is "Gumbo." Wynton Marsalis, a native of New Orleans, spoke at the beginning of the episode about playing jazz being like making Gumbo--an improvised mix of ingredients taken from diverse places. This week, including today, we have seen that improvisation in action and in person. It is tasty, and it is rich, full of soul that has fed me, at least, with a sense of joy and hope in this city, and in the people here. This is a beautiful place. Katrina did rear a head of ugliness but that could not keep the soul of this place down-- it is alive and well. It's alive and well because Christ is still working his way through this culture--this jazzy culture whose improvisational nature parallels the improvisational nature of our life of discipleship in Christ.
We are ready to give thanks in Eucharist tomorrow morning for these and the many gifts given to us during our time here--including giving thanks for at United who have made this trip possible for us!
I'm looking forward to returning. But until we leave, we'll be taking in as much of this God-Gumbo as we can get.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Day 4 Reflection by Kelly O'Meara
Today was our last full day in New Orleans. This morning we went to the Aquarium, and took our time. We saw jellyfish, and sea otters. There were exhibits to touch the stingrays and sharks. While I was nervous to touch one of the stingrays, the lady assured me that there was no danger to it. It was surprising to feel that the shark felt like sandpaper. The whole aquarium was really cool and a good plan. We went to The Gumbo Shop for lunch today. Worship was amazing like usual. No one is excited for the long bus ride home, but we are ready to be back!
-Kelly O'Meara
-Kelly O'Meara
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 3 Reflection by Pastor Jon: Growing Hope through Christ-like Service
Today was our day for service. This is a big reason we came here—not to come just to make new friends and eat beneighs (sp?) and take this experience in for ourselves, but to also give back and “empty ourselves” for others as Christ did I did not see Christ in any big way during our project today, but I did in small ways. Looking back, I myself was expecting to see Christ in big ways during our service today. We have been building to this moment since last September! But at the k-8 400 student charter school in central New Orleans where we were at today, it was the little things that needed to be done where I saw Christ most. Our small acts today were acts that planted seeds of change, seeds that we planted in hope of what God will grow in this broken and cracked pot called New Orleans.
Our overall goal was to prepare the school for their August 10th start date. Jonathan, the school’s business manager, helped to coordinate our day. Before we began, he spoke of the long school day this particular school has during the school lyear: from 7:30am-5pm every day. He said the kids in this area needed such attention in order to reach the school’s goal of every graduate going to college. Jonathan said many students’ learning was severely disrupted by hurricane Katrina, since it created huge blocks of time when students were not in school. The hurricane put 2 feet of water into the school, requiring $12 million in repairs. Our role today was to do the little things to get read for this school’s start. When that new year begins, the school will start a new year again carrying out their important mission of building up the lives of these students so they can hopefully return to become leaders for changing the climate of poverty and violence in their neighborhoods. Doing the things we did today did not seem to have a big impact: raking the wood chips in a playground area; weeding a garden; cleaning donated tricycles for kids to have fun on; cleaning desks; organizing office supplies; moving boxes… We will not get to see the impact our work had on the lives of the students, but we know that because of our work today, teachers and staff will better teach and empower their students as the new year begins. But, because we hope in Christ , because we do the service we did today in his strong name, we can walk away having hope. We can hope that the same Christ who walked with us today, who inspired us today as we used our hands in service to God, we hope that the same Christ will also walk with the these teachers and students when school reconvenes. One thing I thought about as I weeded was how having a clean and well-kept school environment can go a long way towards helping students take their task of learning and developing seriously and responsibly.
We have hope because Christ will be with the teachers and students at this school, even if we might not see that interaction happen. We have hope in Christ who will bless them and feeding them with inexhaustible mercy and who will also challenging them to strive for excellence as their gifts and skills are grown and developed for the greater good.
United's youth are exhausted tonight, and so we give thanks for some down time we will have tomorrow morning to sleep in and explore the city. We ask for your prayers as we begin to look towards the conclusion of our time here, that God would give us a a passion and a vision for what we will take with us from this gathering and serving experience.
Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Good night, and peace be with you from New Orleans!
Pastor Jon
Our overall goal was to prepare the school for their August 10th start date. Jonathan, the school’s business manager, helped to coordinate our day. Before we began, he spoke of the long school day this particular school has during the school lyear: from 7:30am-5pm every day. He said the kids in this area needed such attention in order to reach the school’s goal of every graduate going to college. Jonathan said many students’ learning was severely disrupted by hurricane Katrina, since it created huge blocks of time when students were not in school. The hurricane put 2 feet of water into the school, requiring $12 million in repairs. Our role today was to do the little things to get read for this school’s start. When that new year begins, the school will start a new year again carrying out their important mission of building up the lives of these students so they can hopefully return to become leaders for changing the climate of poverty and violence in their neighborhoods. Doing the things we did today did not seem to have a big impact: raking the wood chips in a playground area; weeding a garden; cleaning donated tricycles for kids to have fun on; cleaning desks; organizing office supplies; moving boxes… We will not get to see the impact our work had on the lives of the students, but we know that because of our work today, teachers and staff will better teach and empower their students as the new year begins. But, because we hope in Christ , because we do the service we did today in his strong name, we can walk away having hope. We can hope that the same Christ who walked with us today, who inspired us today as we used our hands in service to God, we hope that the same Christ will also walk with the these teachers and students when school reconvenes. One thing I thought about as I weeded was how having a clean and well-kept school environment can go a long way towards helping students take their task of learning and developing seriously and responsibly.
We have hope because Christ will be with the teachers and students at this school, even if we might not see that interaction happen. We have hope in Christ who will bless them and feeding them with inexhaustible mercy and who will also challenging them to strive for excellence as their gifts and skills are grown and developed for the greater good.
United's youth are exhausted tonight, and so we give thanks for some down time we will have tomorrow morning to sleep in and explore the city. We ask for your prayers as we begin to look towards the conclusion of our time here, that God would give us a a passion and a vision for what we will take with us from this gathering and serving experience.
Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Good night, and peace be with you from New Orleans!
Pastor Jon
Day 2: "What will we be doing next?"
“What will we be doing next?”
This has probably been the question that the youth have asked most often during our time here—and rightfully so! Throughout our day there have been so many unknowns—from what will happen at the next event, to what our next experience has in store for us, to our schedule for the next day. More often than not, I can only simply answer, “I don’t know.” Of course I do know the general schedule, but the hidden truth behind what the kids are asking is that we cannot always know what experiences God will unfold for us—even if we do have a set plan of what we will be experiencing. Such surprises are the work of the Spirit, active among us and making God present to us. One surprise I was struck by today was the presence of street musicians all throughout the city. Chicago is known for its musicians on the subways, but the performers here are on a whole other level! Whenever they appear I am always struck by their soulfulness and often their honest proclamation through such songs as “Study War No More” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”. It’s these kind of surprises that our trip is all about: Christ breaking in to reveal grace to us that may not have been in our plans of what is next.
Peace, and good night,
Pastor Jon
This has probably been the question that the youth have asked most often during our time here—and rightfully so! Throughout our day there have been so many unknowns—from what will happen at the next event, to what our next experience has in store for us, to our schedule for the next day. More often than not, I can only simply answer, “I don’t know.” Of course I do know the general schedule, but the hidden truth behind what the kids are asking is that we cannot always know what experiences God will unfold for us—even if we do have a set plan of what we will be experiencing. Such surprises are the work of the Spirit, active among us and making God present to us. One surprise I was struck by today was the presence of street musicians all throughout the city. Chicago is known for its musicians on the subways, but the performers here are on a whole other level! Whenever they appear I am always struck by their soulfulness and often their honest proclamation through such songs as “Study War No More” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”. It’s these kind of surprises that our trip is all about: Christ breaking in to reveal grace to us that may not have been in our plans of what is next.
Peace, and good night,
Pastor Jon
Day 3: United Lutherans service project in New Orleans
Today, we hopped on the buses at 9:00 a.m. to go down to a school that was in need of our help. The bus ride wasn't that long and we got to see some other parts of the city. In the bus Teddy, me and all of the other people at the front of the bus met a man named Mike, who was one of the coordinators of the service we did. We walked into the school and into the lunchroom and all got assigned jobs. Teddy and I were leveling the mulch on the playground, Kate and Kelly were organizing a closet and Pastor Jon was getting rid of weeds in the garden area. After helping with the playground we changed jobs and helped clean up tricycles for little kids at the school.
After finishing the tricycles we all went to the lunch room for some lunch. They were serving turkey, and cheese subs. After our lunch brake we separated into several teams to clean the whole school. Three other people and I were in charge of cleaning off desks. We got it done fairly quickly so I went to help with Pastor Jon and Teddy, they were doing the same thing just in a different room. At the end of the day we helped this school out a lot by letting the teachers and staff focus on other things than a few fixes here and there. All in all we made a difference in this little school that needed our help.
-Nate Mitka
After finishing the tricycles we all went to the lunch room for some lunch. They were serving turkey, and cheese subs. After our lunch brake we separated into several teams to clean the whole school. Three other people and I were in charge of cleaning off desks. We got it done fairly quickly so I went to help with Pastor Jon and Teddy, they were doing the same thing just in a different room. At the end of the day we helped this school out a lot by letting the teachers and staff focus on other things than a few fixes here and there. All in all we made a difference in this little school that needed our help.
-Nate Mitka
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Day 1 Reflection by Pastor Jon: Tired Arrival, and hearing the call to Change the World
The group arrived very tired in New Orleans after the 17-hour bus ride on Wednesday afternoon. We were restless and curious about what this new, strange city had in store for us. Despite the weariness, our first day here has had its share of surprises and gifts, and as I sit here at the end of the day, I am overcome with hope and expectation that God is going to do something great in the next several days.
The main event of the day was worship in the Superdome, whichi was nothing short of spectacular. Big, magnanimous music set the tone, but the real bright points of the night were the speakers. First was a woman who volunteered in New Orleans after the Hurricane in 2005, and who decided to never go back to her home but stay here and volunteer to help with relief. She stayed and founded a non-profit that has now helped more then 200 homeowners back into their beloved homese. This simple small act of saying "no" to the neglect of the needy, and saying "yes" to the amazing people of th is community was a subtle but palpably powerful lesson spoken in this humble woman's quiet but firm voice.
For closing devotions tonight we used the text from Mark 8 about Jesus asking the disciples, "who do you say that I am?" We turned the question around and aked the youth to say how they would ansewr the question if it were asked by someone here at the gathering: "who do you say you are?" One of the youth said, "being here makes me proud to be a Lutheran." Indeed, being here with so many other youth reminds me that yes, this is a church I also love, and that these are the people with whom I want to live with and grow as a community in Christ. I spoke of my role here as partly being one of cultural anthropologist, seeking out where Christ is at work in the mnidst of the Big Easy.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
The main event of the day was worship in the Superdome, whichi was nothing short of spectacular. Big, magnanimous music set the tone, but the real bright points of the night were the speakers. First was a woman who volunteered in New Orleans after the Hurricane in 2005, and who decided to never go back to her home but stay here and volunteer to help with relief. She stayed and founded a non-profit that has now helped more then 200 homeowners back into their beloved homese. This simple small act of saying "no" to the neglect of the needy, and saying "yes" to the amazing people of th is community was a subtle but palpably powerful lesson spoken in this humble woman's quiet but firm voice.
For closing devotions tonight we used the text from Mark 8 about Jesus asking the disciples, "who do you say that I am?" We turned the question around and aked the youth to say how they would ansewr the question if it were asked by someone here at the gathering: "who do you say you are?" One of the youth said, "being here makes me proud to be a Lutheran." Indeed, being here with so many other youth reminds me that yes, this is a church I also love, and that these are the people with whom I want to live with and grow as a community in Christ. I spoke of my role here as partly being one of cultural anthropologist, seeking out where Christ is at work in the mnidst of the Big Easy.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Day 2 Reflection by Kate McCole
Today, we spent the afternoon in the Interaction Center. There were many fun activities including: dodgeball, soccer, volleyball and basketball. However, there were many other events besides all the sports. One particular station was the literacy area where I read letters written by the homeless youth of Iowa. The letters had a large impact on me. They discussed their difficult lives, which made me appreciate mine. It was a very eventful day.
-Kate McCole
-Kate McCole
Friday, July 17, 2009
Welcome!
Welcome to the "United in Jesus Justice Jazz Blog"! This is a space for the youth and Pastor (me!) of United Lutheran Church in Oak Park, Illinois to share our reflections, stories and experiences from our time at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's 2009 Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA. We leave bright and early on Tuesday, July 21st, and we'll start posting then. Thank you for your prayers and support. May we be open to what God has in store for us to discover as we worship, serve others, meet new friends, and grow together in our faith in Christ.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
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