Jesus * Justice * Jazz

First off-we need to remember that the Youth Gathering is a MINISTRY—not an event.

The Gathering is focusing lots of efforts and attention on defining “Compassionate Justice”…makes sure to talk about it with your youth before the get to NOLA…it is an important piece of this ministry.

The Gathering Text is from Philippians 2:1-8-Make sure to read it! Sit with the text for awhile…live in this text, and we will go deeper at the Gathering. This Gathering, well, every Gathering is not about us…In that same respect, watch your expectations…this is OUR opportunity and attitude is everything.

Remind your youth that boredom is a choice! Participation is defined by putting your heart and soul into it.

HOTELS

You should have received your congregation’s placement the end of January. You can get to your registration confirmation letter on the registration portal on the ELCA Youth Gathering site.

If you have concerns with your housing (too many rooms, not enough rooms, all kings/doubles) please be patient. The Gathering offices is working to iron out all of the gliches…housing nearly 37,000 people isn’t easy. If you haven’t sent your housing questions to gathering@elca.org , please do so…if you have, please be patient.

SECURITY

The Gathering has a Risk Management Plan

·         Receive alerts from National Weather Service

·         Consult(ed) with Local Police

·         Consult(ed) with Homeland Security

·         Hotels will receive copies of schedules

·         Police will receive copies of the schedules, and a list of each location of the servant event sites

·         Nurses will be on staff for emergencies

NOLA Police wanted to know how to spot our Gathering Youth:

·         Service T-Shirt – Bright Orange, and will wear on the one day of service

·         Wrist Bands for everyone (Purple, Yellow, Green) will include an emergency/info phone number hotline, and the prayer hotline.

Scenario planning was taken from hospitals for emergency situations – What if’s, and how to respond.  Plans of action have been created.

In the event of mass emergency, they are working on an e-alert messaging system.  The Y/G has cell phone numbers for all primary leaders.  Hotels will also have our information.

Checkpoints for the Dome and Convention Center will be in place.  (cannot bring glass containers within) Spot-bag checks may occur.

New Orleans has created a Level One Trauma Hospital.

#1 Injury from previous Gatherings – Toe Injuries.  Please enforce the “No Flip-Flops” Rule!

Suggestion for Dome events – create a designated meeting point with your group.  Primary Leader can bring an umbrella, or mop, to hold up over the crowd (or a cow on a long stick).  That way the entire group can spot and find the leader. Make sure to get all of your students’ cell phone numbers, have them put the adult numbers, prayer line, info line in their phone.

GETTING READY MATERIALS

Please look over ALL Getting Ready Materials, as this will really prepare your group for a life changing experience. These items are published monthly and sent via email to Primary Adult Leader. Back issues can be found on the ELCA Gathering Site, under Getting Ready Materials in the side bar navigation.

COVENANTS

Please have your students write a covenant for this experience. (Samples are on the ELCA Gathering Site). They will be more apt to stick with it, if they have input. Plus, they know what is important…you know what needs to be included. And stick to your covenant, but prepare your students to succeed. Covenants will be turned in to your community life.

REGISTRATION

May 25-Magic Day. Paid in Full payments and substitutions before then. If payment is postmarked after May 25, will have to register in “not paid in full line” at the Convention Center.

At Convention Center – Tuesday (Early Bird) 9 – 4p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m. – 8p.m.

Interaction Center opens at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday (groups can go inside while Adult/Primary Leader registers the group)

Registration - ONLY Adult Primary Leaders.  You are recommended to bring a large, empty rolling suitcase to gather supplies for your group. (Every participant will receive the new Lutheran Study Bible with the FINAL 15 Devotions included with it as well as a Back Pack/Satchels, Made by women in Lebanon, courtesy of LACE.)

Expect Registration to take 30-45 minutes. 

·         Check-in/registration

·         Counselor Orientation (required)

·         Gather backpack/satchels, t-shirts, and wristbands

Make sure to bring completed Medical Release and Liability Forms with you to registration. Make additional copies-Original for Gathering, one copy to stay at church, one copy with Leader, one copy to stay with Hotel Adult (on at the hotel)

MYLE and DAYLE

Registration and program info available on the ELCA Gathering site. $125 fee covers lodging, registration and meals.

MEALS

Suggestions have been given to the Hotels to offer Cash/Carry food carts.  Food Carts and a food court will be located throughout the Convention Center for $7-$10.  Churches can opt to bring sack lunches if they choose. The Dome with have a tailgate each night at 4pm for $10-$12.

Day of Servant Life Activity – a contract is currently being negotiated with Subway to provide sandwiches to the volunteers.  If people prefer to have more than one sandwich, they may choose to bring additional food with them.

WATER – Refill, don’t Landfill!

Water will be very important in New Orleans, afterall it is July in the South. Congregations are recommended to bring individual, durable, washable bottles for the event.  All venues will have available water stations for refilling water bottles (Dome, Convention Center, Servant Sites).

WALK!

Start walking now to get yourself conditioned.  Everything is located within walking distance.  The Convention Center to the Dome is approximately 1 ¼  miles.  Congregations are recommended to park their busses (subcontract!), and plan to walk all week.

Street Car Passes are $5/day, or $12/3 days.  However, with 36,000 additional people in the city, space availability will be greatly reduced.

DOME PRODUCTIONS

The head of production at the Louisiana Superdome was in Florida this spring, overseeing the productions for the Super Bowl.

·         5 youth emcee’s – diversity of ages and background

·         Gospel Message is to be about HOPE!!  Peace, HOPE, and Justice

·         DJ for warm-up time

·         A main stage and two satellite stages

·         Design was a major aspect.  Huge screens are needed for seeing words.

Bands – Skillet, Group 1 Crew, Katinas, Peter Mayer (?) as the opener.

Speakers – Mark Hillberger (Canadian) as seen on the Oprah Angel Network.  Focus on “Me to We”

COMMUNITY LIFE – (Creating a home away from home)

Congregations can walk to all venues, exceptions – properties in the garden district are the most distant.  They can opt to ride on a street car.

Locations (not every Hotel has the accommodations for CL, there are locations all over)

·         Intercontinental

·         Doubletree

·         New Orleans Marriott

·         Marriott Convention Center

·         JW Marriott

·         Sheraton

·         Astor

·         Westin at Canal

·         Royal Sonesta

·         Hilton Riverside

·         *Superdome – afternoons only

·         *Convention Center – afternoons only

Features

“So You Think You Can Dance?” – featuring dance instruction and nightly dance contests, judged by Gathering dignitaries.

“Jackson Square” – Live music, street artists, cooking demonstrations, and more.  All inside a hotel.

Dances

Open Mic & Coffee Houses

Fun Club venues with Inflatable games

Karaoke and Video Karaoke

Morning Worship at  various hotel properties

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR???

Reactions and Responses to daily service learning

• System for receiving texts, photos, emails, god stories, etc. are sent to a central storage
• Video booths (confessionals) in dome club lounges
• Participants can view LIVE Streaming texts, photos, videos, etc. on large screens at the Dome and Convention Center

Contemplative prayer and chill space in hotels staffed by people who want to help youth unpack their day.

Morning sending ritual designed to be utilized in hotel, at bus launch, or at servant sites

FAST FACTS ABOUT COMMUNITY LIFE

• 70+ hotel properties
• 200+ community life volunteers
• All hotels in walking distance to major venues
• Morning worship available at dozens of hotel properties at various times, with morning Eucharist at the Convention Center (every morning)
• Dome Club Lounges (club level) open for food, chill time, and other interactive activities, two hours prior to the Dome floor opening, so groups do not have to wait outside in the heat.
• New evening “concert” venue showcases Lutheran musicians, including Lost & Found, Agape (David Sherer), Peder Eide, and Rachel Kurtz.
• Final 15 returns, starts at 10:45 p.m. (new time)

3-DAY ROTATION
SERVANTLIFE-begins at Launch Sites. You will be given a specific day and time to be at your Launch Site. It is EXTREMLY important you show up at that time, and no other time. They will be sending 12,000 people out to serve each day, and have carefully planned everything. Above all-SHOW UP! NOLA is counting on you. They know the Lutherans, they trust the Lutherans, the love the Lutherans.

LEARNING CENTER-

Just as important. Each Congregation is given a specific time and will get to make a Parade! Learn more about the other interest areas as well.

INTERACTION CENTER-Given specific day to go through, but is open to everyone each afternoon from 2-5pm. Brings faith into action! All interest areas will be represented there as well.

• Blog: We plan to use the blog with continuing updates.
• Photo Gallery: In this section you can find pictures of the venues and the city of New Orleans (more will be added as we receive them).
• Forum: Use the forum to ask questions, connect up with other congregations, talk about fundraising efforts and ideas, and more.
• Documents: We'll post any helpful documents that we receive from the national office, as well as copies of any letters, postcards, emails, etc. that we may send to congregations.
• Chat: Here you can chat in real time with myself or any other users that may be online at the same time as you.  (Note: We are still trying to figure out the chat function, and hope that this is a private room.  If not, this feature may be disabled)
• Helpful Links: Just as the title suggests, these are links that may be helpful.  If you come across any other links that may be helpful to others, please pass them on to us and we'll add them here.
• About Me/Contact Me: This is just a little bit about myself and how you can contact me.  You can fill out the form and we will receive your message in my email, or my other contact information is there as well. (Note: It might be easiest to catch us on the email, as we are away from the phone quite a bit)
• Pages may be added or deleted depending upon the needs of the Nebraska Synod.