Lutheran Teens to New Orleans

LUTHERAN TEENS TO NEW ORLEANS

The Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will bring together 35,300
Lutherans in New Orleans, making it the largest five-day gathering of young people in the
United States.  The senior high gathering, "River of Hope," will take place July 23-27, at the
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Louisiana Superdome.  Hundreds of gathering
participants will arrive early for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event at Tulane University
and the Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, July 20-23.  The
maximum of 35,300 participants -- 28,400 young people (including 300 members of the Youth
Servant Corps) and 6,900 adult counselors -- was reached after 39,000 youth and adults
registered the first day, Nov. 4.  The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA's South
Dakota Synod, will preach for the opening worship service; the Rev. H. George Anderson,
presiding bishop of the ELCA, will preach for the closing worship service.  The Rev. Walter
Wangerin Jr., host of "Lutheran Vespers," will be the storyteller.  Ten "Treks -- Exciting
Journeys" will cover subjects such as technology, health and wellness, art, leadership, faith,
ethnicity and family.  Young people will be involved in three service projects throughout the New
Orleans area such as minor rehabilitation of schools and homes for the elderly and individuals
with disabilities.  Young people from across the country and the Caribbean will bring
non-perishable food items that will be given to Second Harvesters Food Bank, an agency that
collects and distributes food worldwide.  Those receiving financial gifts include the ELCA's
Braille and Tape services, providing Christian education materials in Braille and audio tape, and
House of Prayer Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission, Rock Point, Ariz.  The financial offering
at the 1994 ELCA Youth Gathering totaled more than $280,000.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html