Jesus

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Jesus Justice Jazz A new design for the
ELCA Youth Gathering
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Destination Its more than New Orleans. It is
your home town. Even your own home! And its
global. Purpose Serving like Jesus Christ
recognizing the humanity of every person. It is
about living a life of compassionate
justice. Mission Christians are called to a
life of compassionate justice
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ELCA Youth will enter into Gods presence in New
Orleans to receive the witness of others and
practice their faith. It is entering without
intent to fix or make better, but to be made open
to new ideas about our environment, our
experiences, and our lens for living biblically.
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others. Let the same
mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus
(Philippians 24-5).
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Serving like Jesus Christ ...invites ...nudges ..
.challenges ...even compels us to compassionate
justice
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Yes. We will serve the people who are victims
of Katrina.
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No. Each Gathering participant will not be on
the street serving every day.
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36,000 people out in the city each day is not
realistic! That is about 1/6 of the population
in the city of New Orleans.
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We are guests in New Orleans in 2009. We will
enter with respect. Are you aware that thousands
of people are still displaced from their
homes? Its been more than 2 years.
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The first point of the New Gathering Design is
that we are not the priority. This is more than
a fun trip to a new city. More than encountering
a huge Lutheran community. And more than
stirring consciousness about Jesus and living
Christian in the world. Sure, it will be fun.
There will be Lutherans everywhere. We will know
more about Jesus and what Jesus has done for us.
We will know more about the world God created.
Yet there is something deeper in 2009. Think
about improvising... we are creating a new sound,
adding to the basic beat of your own
congregation. We believe the young people are
ready for this jazz.
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Re-cap The 2009 Youth Gathering will invite
everyone who attends to mature in their faith by
encountering Jesus in the humanity of New Orleans
and returning home to practice compassionate
justice.
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Now, for the HOW part of this design.
It is 5 steps. So...Step
1 Everyone will prioritize their Interest
Area. That means using an Assessment Tool for
discerning your passions and gifts,
congregational assets, local neighborhood needs
and sense of call during the registration
process _Art Culture _Housing _Literacy _Health
Wellness _Wealth Poverty _The Environment
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Step 2 After using the Assessment Tool and
registration, you will receive your Interest
Area assignment. You will get ready to come
through lots of different activities in your own
congregation and neighborhood. Choose from a menu
of activities or think of your own so you come to
New Orleans with basic knowledge about _Your
assigned Interest Area _Your own
neighborhood _Your own congregation _Yourself
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Step 3 Everyone will enter their Interest Area
by rotating through three days of compassionate
justice. That means serving is more than hands-on
help. (That is only one part!) Compassionate
justice includes studying scripture, praying,
knowing the world around us, actively helping and
truly caring about others. Compassionate
Justice is less about what we want to do and
more about accompanying people Gods Work, Our
Hands. We have three days designed for you
focusing on _ JESUS _JUSTICE _JAZZ
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Servant Companions 800 college students and
young adults will lead the way. Each Interest
Area (approx. 6000 people) will be divided into
Serving Teams of approximately 45 people Each
Serving Team will have a Servant Companion with
them throughout the gathering. Pass the word to
young adults you know... Applications available
in April 2008!
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JESUS Day Whos Jesus and how do we believe in
and follow him Expect a cafeteria of choices,
tons of learning centers, conversations and safe
places to ask questions, wonder about God and our
world, discover Biblical perspectives, engage in
theological reflection and pray. These are BIG
IDEAS ABOUT GOD, YOU AND OUR WORLD! Relax. It
wont be boring. If you already know a lot you
will be challenged to think bigger. If you are
new at reading the Bible, you will get the basics
and a lot more. Either way, this day is going to
help you understand Compassionate Justice through
engaging, new activities!
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JAZZ Day The music becomes part of our very
being The world is a messy place and most of the
time we dont even know the half of it! Your
Jazz day will make you aware of new things! You
will learn some unknowns about your Interest
Area, including facts and current concerns in our
world. You will hear great music, stories, and
speakers. The Interaction Center will be your
playground as you encounter a new understanding
of your baptismal identity. This will be a day
with a bit of listening, tons of conversations
and interactive learning so you are wiser and
challenged in your compassionate justice.
Embrace your power as a Christian!
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Justice Day serving like Jesus, making the
world holy whole Imagine this New Orleans
will have three solid days with 12,000 Lutherans
making an impact each day! You will be assigned
for a particular Compassionate Justice Project in
the city within your Interest Area. The city is
expecting us to show up! Your day will include
driving to from a project site, working on a
project and being part of the recovery in New
Orleans. (A transportation plan is in the
works!) There is a plan to these projects that is
bigger than any one person or that any one
congregation can complete. We are using our
power as a Christian community to seek justice in
our world this will feel big and small at the
same time.
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Step Four Reflection Each day at the Gathering
you will be filled with new things to think
about. You might disagree with things you hear,
you might have your heart stirred in ways you
didnt expect, you might figure out more about
who God created you to be... Whatever happens, we
know youll need to de-brief! Throughout the
day in your Interest Area and each evening in
your congregational group we encourage you to
reflect ponder, talk, listen and pray.
Reflection is an essential part of
compassionate justice.
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Step Five Go and do likewise! The Gathering
isnt over when you leave New Orleans. Actually
in many ways it is just starting. Think of the
Gathering as the metaphor for serving, not the
destination. Now you get to use your new ideas
and deepening faith to discover your own
neighborhood. How will you live out
compassionate justice at home, at school, at
work, at church...? The Gathering is really more
of a sending!
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• 5 Step Re-cap
• Discern your Interest Area using the Assessment
  Tool.
• Get ready at home learn, pray, serve!
• Journey through a rotation of three days immersed
  in JESUS, JUSTICE AND JAZZ!
• Reflect on the journey.
• Go home and practice compassionate justice!
• This new design is hugely different you are
  part of
• more than an event. This is a movement of
• compassionate justice. The invitation into New
  Orleans
• will launch you into the world in the name of
  Jesus in
• new ways. We are already praying for you.

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New language Interest Areas Prioritize Art
Culture, Health Wellness, Wealth Poverty,
Literacy, Housing or Environment. Servant
Companions Young adults trained to journey with
your Serving Team for all 3 days. Serving Teams
A group of 45 people together all 3 days.
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Jesus Day Interactive Biblical theological
thinking to go deeper in your faith
quest Justice Day Interest Area projects
serving the city of New Orleans Jazz Day
Expanding your awareness in your Interest Area
and embracing your own power as a Christian in
our world. Compassionate Justice Serving like
Jesus.
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Compassionate Justice is a Paradigm Shift From
occasional service to a way of life, way of
making decisions, etc. From helping the poor
to seeking justice, advocacy, challenging
oppression From looking out for 1 to looking
through others eyes From service as building
projects to service as a accompaniment,
learner, partner, friend
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Mass Gathering You can look forward to the
privilege of participating with the whole
gathering community each evening in the Super
Dome. Community Life Hotels will be
expecting you. The Gathering provides teams of
trained leaders to host and support you for a
quality stay in New Orleans. Other Gathering
Teams Literally thousands of volunteers make up
the leadership for 2009 Youth Gathering. This
includes everyone from Bishops to Operations to
the Tech Team. Dont forget the Info Line and
Safety Security Team, the Transportation Team,
the Gathering Volunteer Corps, musicians,
performers, and behind-the-scenes office staff!
The ocean of people who are preparing for you to
come is amazing!
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new design renewed witness
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Jesus Justice Jazz 2009