National LCMS Youth Gathering

God is going to do some awesome things as we travel to Orlando.

The theme for the 2007 National LCMS Youth Gathering is CHOSEN, taken from 1 Peter 2:9.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

CHOSEN is a powerful theme!  GOD chose YOU to be his own before the creation of the world. 

God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine!! And here is what I and our youth board have been praying:

We are praying for our youth, and the parents and for ourselves. We are praying for harmony among the 14 participants, health, safe travel, good weather, and that the unique spiritual needs of each person would be ministered to by God through the gathering speakers and events. We are praying for a sense of humor, for spiritual growth and for this gathering to make a major impact on the direction of our life. We are praying that the parents would not be anxious about teens being away and that we would feel the hand of Christ this week. We are praying for patience and for a sense of family love as we make this trip. We are praying that somehow we would be servants and a servant-like group to others at the gathering.

What a huge prayer list! But we have a huge God. Please continue to pray with us!!!   I can't wait to see how our almighty God will answer our prayers in ways greater than we imagine!!

Specifics about our travel -- departure and arrival.

Meeting dates and deadlines.

The "Group Covenant" which needs to be memorized (well, at bare minimum, read, digested and fully understood), signed by teen and parent and returned to me no later than Sunday, July 15.

General information and a checklist of very important things to pack and remember.

I am so excited, I just can't wait for our journey to unfold!!!!

Pastor Rob

1)     Travel Specifics 

Our Flight: Flight numbers and times may change at the last minute. We leave on Midwest Airlines, Flight YX 890, July 27 at 7:35 a.m. and arrive in Orlando at 11:10 p.m.   We depart Orlando Midwest Flight YX 891on August 2 at 11:55 p.m. and return to Milwaukee 1:35 p.m.    Check the status at http://www.midwestairlines.com. We have group tickets arranged by Pastor Rob through Chris at Chocolate City Travel. 

WOE BABY!!!! 5:00 a.m.!!!   Double espressos please!!!!!

(Who bought these tickets and what were they thinking???) You must be at the church before 5:00 a.m. If you oversleep and run late, please try to get yourself to the airport as soon as you can and call Pastor Rob ASAP on his cell at 262 492-0965. 

We are in need of drivers for departure and arrival. Please let Lilly or Pastor Rob know if you can drive by this Sat the 14^th. We need return drivers to be in Milwaukee on Thurs, Aug 2 at 2:00 p.m.

·        Sat and Sun, July 21 and 22 – Group Commissioning at the Worship services, (attend one of the weekend services)

·        Sun July 15^th, deadline for return of notarized medical consent forms and signed Group Covenant

·        Pre-Gathering Youth Bible Study and final pre-gathering meeting during the Sunday School hour 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 22. This is a mandatory meeting!

·        Friday, July 27, 5:00 a.m. Leave for Mitchell Airport/Orlando

Our Hotel: La Quinta I-Drive, 8300 Jamaican Court, Orlando, FL 32819; Phone 407 351-1660;

Contact Information: Pastor Robert W. Bolling, Office 262 763-3281; Home 262 763-6039;

Cell 262 492-0965; rob.bolling@oursaviorburlington.org   Call me anytime.

□Remember to bring your Photo ID. You can't leave the Milwaukee Airport without it!!!!

Please keep it light (one bag and one carry on) and pack non-perishable food items for the poor. Remember to keep sharp/prohibited items out of your carry-on bag.

□Slip in your bag some things for the poor, such as: gel pens for school kits, an extra used Bible, canned meats, evaporated or powdered milk, baking mixes, dry cereal, oatmeal, rice, spaghetti, cornmeal, canned fruits, canned juice, soups, dried fruits, boxed juice, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, etc.

□ Refrain from bringing anything valuable with you -- you may lose it.

□Be prepared for plenty of "down time." There will be lots of waiting and lines. 35,000 people have to be patient! We make our own fun, so pack a deck of cards, games, and fun stuff to do while we sit and wait. Be creative. Bring some snacks for your backpack to take the edge off the hunger, especially if we have to wait for food.

□Bring a water bottle and keep hydrated in the hot, humid Florida climate. This is a must! Bottled water in the rooms is not free and it is expensive at the convention center.

□Bring a swimsuit. Guys and girls: -- it must be a modest swim suit, nothing skimpy. We honor God and each other by wearing appropriate suits and clothing at the Gathering.   Also, bring a poncho - it rains in Orlando and we will walk from the convention center to our hotel.

□ Do you know the date on which you were baptized? This information will be necessary to participate in some of the activities in the Chosen in Christ Live It area.

□ Bring super comfortable, durable footwear.  Don’t bring flimsy footwear because we will be on our feet all day and have a 25 minute walk to and from the convention center each day.

□OFFERING   Our group will take an offering to be given at the convention. Please bring your offering in to the church on the weekend of Sat/ Sun, July 21-22. What amount should your offering be? Consider tithing (10% of your income) for the month. So, if you have a job or receive an allowance and earn, say, $300 for the month, then tithe 10% and give $30. 

The 2007 Gathering Offering will be used

·          To provide financial assistance to congregations in the Southern District that had been impacted by the 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

·          For LCMS Florida-Georgia District projects to be determined by the district office 

·          For world mission projects including support for the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, a Togo high school English-as-a-second-language outreach project and Poland Ablaze Youth Outreach Training;

·          For support of national youth leader training resources developed by LCMS Youth Ministry.

Bring non-perishable food to the Gathering and contribute to the basic needs of others in want.  Family groups are challenged to bring all they can to stock the CHOSEN Food Pantry.  Remember – on most airlines, passengers can check 2 bags, each weighing 50 lbs.  Be creative!  Bring canned goods and non-perishable food items to Orlando! Bring nesting suitcases for the return flight home.

Food collected will be distributed by the Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves the Orlando and Central Florida region.

Eyeglass Collection

Here is a project to involve our entire congregation!

Collect gently-used eyeglasses and bring them to Orlando. Bring as many as you can carry!  Eyeglasses are expensive; and are a wonderful provision for those in need!  All colors, shapes, designs, and prescriptions are welcome.

Eyeglasses will be distributed by Trinity Lutheran Church in Gainsville, Fla. to clinics in Nicaragua.

Blankets for Katrina Project

Each congregation is asked to bring one piece of fleece to be used in the Blankets for Katrina service project in the Chosen to the World Live It area.

□ For complete information about the 2007 National LCMS Youth Gathering, visit the Gathering                      Web site at http://lcmsgathering.com You can follow our group’s progress through our                   church webpage at www.oslb.org. Our web page will update pictures of our group and                  information about the trip.

Gathering Help Line Phone Number: 407-685-4040 The Helpline is staffed 24 hours a day during the gathering. The Helpline can give immediate information about events, programs or needs participants may have at the Gathering. The Helpline cannot provide personal information about participants or where they are staying.