NURTURING YOUR FAITH

The 2024 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering, themed “Created to Be,” took place in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 16–20. Shepherd of the Valley, sending five youth and two adults, participated in this longstanding tradition of young Lutherans gathering for worship, learning, and service.  

According to the ELCA website, the gathering aims to affirm and challenge faith, experience new perspectives, ponder vocation, bond with congregational groups, and learn about the ELCA and its partners. These goals are achieved through various activities, including the Interactive Learning Space, Accompaniment Day, Synod Day, Community Life, congregational devotions, and large group worship.  

Grace, a student who attended the 2024 gathering shared that, “The Gathering changed my faith in many different ways. I had always felt as if my faith didn’t fit the cookie cutter. My early church years were spent in a smaller church and because of that, I felt less developed in my faith than my peers. At the first large Gathering on the first night, it clicked that my faith doesn’t need to fit into that “cookie cutter.” I looked around and saw everyone worshipping in their own ways, coming from their own churches, with their own backgrounds in faith. After seeing  that, I realized that my feelings of being less knowledgeable didn’t matter, because I was there, worshipping in my own way, just as everyone else was.” 

 The ELCA Youth Gathering is held once every three years. Minneapolis will host the 2027 gathering! Mark your calendars!