Today was a bittersweet day. We are ready to return home to our beds and lives, but we are saddened to leave. The National Youth Gathering has been such an incredible event. It has certainly been stimulating, and at times overwhelming.
This morning, the only event on our schedule is closing Eucharist with 30,000 of our closest brothers and sisters. We were selected to serve communion, which is a humbling experience. We had to be at Ford Field at 7:30 to wait in line for the sacristy where we picked up our chalice, paten, bread, wine, anointing balm, and offering bag. Communion was served in groups of 5, at about 200 stations throughout Ford Field.
Worship was fantastic. It was overwhelming to hear so many Lutherans recite the liturgy that we are all accustomed to. Everyone knew when to respond, pray, confess, and sing. It was the largest worship service of the ELCA, and it was powerful.
Bishop Eaton presided over both word and sacrament. Her sermon was filled with contextual references relating our time at the gathering to the experience of the disciples in the story. She encouraged us to proclaim the Gospel message in our home towns, to share our experiences of the Gathering, and the share the stories of the people of Detroit.
At communion time, everyone in Ford Field was fed within 10 minutes. Our youth were tasked with serving section 225, and they did a wonderful job.
Today mark's the literal end of the Youth Gathering in Detroit, MI, but there is no doubt the story and work continues beyond this place, beyond this day. The message of Detroit is not one of despair and desolation, but it is one of hope and perseverance. Detroit is Detroit, and just like any relationship or personal experience there are ups and downs, successes and failures, times of struggle and hardship, and times of great joy.
Detroit doesn't need our sympathy or our hand outs. Detroit doesn't need a push or leg-up. It doesn't need someone to pick them up or feel sorry for them. Detroit, like any of our brothers or sisters, is in need of companionship, accompaniment, and prayer. When any member of the body of Christ is in pain or need, the whole body is affected. The people of Detroit are resilient and determined. They are driven and hopeful. The goal of this Youth Gathering experience is not to swoop in, do some work for them, feel good about ourselves, and then leave them as fast as we arrived. The goal is to walk with them and accompany them in their time of hardship. To show up, work, and leave is detrimental to the experience. Rather we were called show up as promised, walk with them in hard times, listen to their stories, return to our various communities and tell the story of Detorit.
Together, as the whole body of Christ, we are called to Rise Up Together by proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in both word and action.
Thank you for supporting us. We look forward to sharing our stories.
Love,
The St. Paul's Youth.
Pictures:
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| Our communion set. |
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| The dome at 7:45am. All the white shirts are youth groups serving communion. |
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| Another 7:45am picture. |
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| Signs downtown welcoming us. |
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| The youth serving communion. |
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| When in doubt, sway it out. |
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| Bird's eye panorama. |
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| Waiting for worship to start. |
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| Sway. |
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| Elevator selfie! We're ready to pack up and head out. |
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