What is the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering about?

The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering is about serving in the manner of Christ. The shaping Biblical text is Philippians 2, especially verses 5-7: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness." On any given day -- Thursday, Friday or Saturday, July 23, 24, or 25, 2009 --12,000 people will be doing service projects in the community of New Orleans; 12,000 will be in the Interaction Center for guided experiential learning; and 12,000 will be making their way through a Learning Mall. Both the Interaction Center and the Learning Mall are located in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. On the next day, each community of 12,000 will rotate so that by the end of the third day every participant will have journeyed through all three experiences designed to deepen the baptismal covenant God made with them to: • ...  more