July 15-19, 2015 is the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, Michigan! The Gathering is a five-day event where young people rotate through a variety of service learning experiences in the surrounding community. They explore and strengthen their faith by studying God’s word, serving their neighbor, sharing bread and wine in worship, participating in lively faith discussions and broadening their experience of God’s world and diverse communities through travel.
Anybody entering 9-12th grade, or just graduating from high school is invited to attend. Many of you have already expressed interest at an informational meeting earlier this year, and now the time has come to start making firm commitments. We estimate the cost to attend the Gathering to be pretty high - somewhere between $850 and $1000. That’s more than I have EVER paid or asked anyone to pay for any stateside youth event. But we flat-out reject the notion that the high cost will keep any of our students from going! Through fundraising, generous sponsors in our congregation, and maybe even some financial aid from the ELCA, we will make it happen. I urge you not to make the cost a factor in your decision to send your student. Period.
The early-bird deadline for churches to pay the $325/person registration fee is January 2015. If you plan to attend, all we are asking is a commitment of $150 as a deposit. This will add your name to the roster, and include you in all communications and fundraising. The remaining $175 is due before the end of 2014. If you would like to attend, but feel like the cost will be an issue, I strongly suggest you have a conversation with Pastor Jim, Tami Porras, or myself (J.T.), and we’ll work something out.
I’m looking forward to serving and learning with you in Detroit next summer!!
Anybody entering 9-12th grade, or just graduating from high school is invited to attend. Many of you have already expressed interest at an informational meeting earlier this year, and now the time has come to start making firm commitments. We estimate the cost to attend the Gathering to be pretty high - somewhere between $850 and $1000. That’s more than I have EVER paid or asked anyone to pay for any stateside youth event. But we flat-out reject the notion that the high cost will keep any of our students from going! Through fundraising, generous sponsors in our congregation, and maybe even some financial aid from the ELCA, we will make it happen. I urge you not to make the cost a factor in your decision to send your student. Period.
The early-bird deadline for churches to pay the $325/person registration fee is January 2015. If you plan to attend, all we are asking is a commitment of $150 as a deposit. This will add your name to the roster, and include you in all communications and fundraising. The remaining $175 is due before the end of 2014. If you would like to attend, but feel like the cost will be an issue, I strongly suggest you have a conversation with Pastor Jim, Tami Porras, or myself (J.T.), and we’ll work something out.
I’m looking forward to serving and learning with you in Detroit next summer!!
