Rivers of Lutherans

Hello from day three of Jesus, Justice, and Jazz! It’s been an incredible journey so far that has swept us up in the rhythm of New Orleans and the fast-paced pulse of The Gathering. Gathering events officially started on Tuesday shortly after we arrived; here are a few highlights…

The first time that the magnitude of this event really struck me was on Wednesday afternoon when we were walking to the first “Mass Gathering” in the Superdome. The streets were flooded with Lutheran youth in t-shirts of every color, hailing from thousands of congregations throughout the country. A As this river of bodies moved through the streets it was easy to feel the energy of the Gathering and imagine the impact it may have on this unique city. There are 37,000 Lutherans here this week. It is the largest convention hosted by the city of New Orleans since Katrina stuck in 2005. At least 70 hotels in and near downtown are filled to capacity. I hope you all saw the article that Dave posted yesterday. We picked up a hard copy at the Royal Grocery just down the street from our hotel while searching for fruit for breakfast the other day.

The Interaction Center: this is another large gathering site of the Gathering. We spent the morning here on Thursday. In this giant room the size of multiple gymnasiums are stations of almost every variety and style, all connected to experiential learning. Through the “doing” of these interactive activities, the youth were invited to learn about different kinds of social justice – from the environment, to wealth and poverty, to world hunger, to health and wellness – and to “Be the Change” in a world with so many heartaches. There we also opportunities to explore personal journeys with God, express one’s faith through art, and of course, play on giant inflatables!

Mass Gatherings: Inside the Superdome for the daily Mass Gathering is unlike any Lutheran church service you may have ever known – and it’s more than just the lack of pews! This event really caters to youth and – in my opinion – helps make our faith relevant to their lives – both through the technology and music of their generation and through the social issues that that generation knows or will come to know as they continue on their journeys of young adulthood. We have heard the sounds of various bands and the words of an amazing array of speakers at the Mass Gatherings – but I’ll let the youth give you more specifics on those later. In that time we have clapped and stomped and danced and done “the wave,” and even held aloft the modern day lighter – the cell-phone screen. Above the stage hovers a cross, gigantic but simple, illuminated by stage lights and surrounded by screens showing close-ups of the performers on stage. In the midst of all of this luster and excitement come the familiar words: “Peace be with you.”

The clusters of clapping and chatter for a moment are silenced as 37,000 people respond:

“And also with you.”