Survived!

Well, we all survived the NOLA heat and the fantastic speakers, music and lessons at NYG. I hope everyone had as great a time as we did!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

NYG 2013

San Antonio, TX

July 1-5 (M-F)

It's a different set of dates and a different format. Here are the FAQs as provided by YMO:

So we'll see you in Texas for the 4th of July and the 2013 NYG!

Far From Home

Being from the Northwest District, we may just be the farthest from home when we congregate in New Orleans in just a few weeks! And YMO wants to know "How Far From Home" we are:

How Far From Home?

We want to know where home is for your group!

Design a 24” x 12” foam core board (please do not use poster board—foam core board can be found at craft supply stores).
Include on your sign:

1. Congregation Name
2. City
3. State
4. How many miles it is from New Orleans to your congregation.

Each board must have a hole in each corner (4) approximately 1” from the edge.

Completed “How Far to Home” boards will be dropped off during Gathering Registration at the “Drop-Off Spot” located in the lobby of the Morial Convention Center.

Please carefully pack your board so it won’t bend for your trip to New Orleans!

Samples of signs from the 2007 Gathering can be found on the Gathering Facebook group. We encourage you to take a picture of your group with your sign before you leave for the Gathering and post it to the Facebook group.

Are YOU on the ball?

I'm certainly not but I wanted to remind you of TWO deadlines that are quickly approaching for

June 1, 2010

1) Registration & paymen for our District Event is due to the District Office (Portland)
2) Final payment for NYG Registrations is due to the Youth Ministry Office (St Louis)

How about OTHER t-shirts?

I don't know about you but my group goes crazy for t-shirts. Not only are we ordering the fabulous Northwest District T-Shirts, but we're also creating our own!

If you have artistic folk in your congregation or group, fabulous! Get them to design something fun and meaningful for your group. If you don't, there are some awesome places where you can buy pre-made, customizable Gathering t-shirts:

1. OldLutheran.com
   I just received the following flyer in my mailbox for some t-shirts that OldLutheran is offering. The prices seem pretty good and they offer other things too-- water bottles, bags, hats, beach balls, etc.
   
2. UthStuph.com
   The Youth Ministry Office is working with UthStuph to create some ready-made designs that you add your church name to. Keep an eye out on the NYG Website for more information or go peruse the items UthStuph offers!

It's always fun to see all the different t-shirts at the Gathering so be creative!

Hotel Assignments...

are in the mail!

The YMO just announced that all hotel assignments are currently in the mail. So hopefully those of us in the Northwest get them in a timely manner! Please keep in mind that since the hotels have been assigned any additions, substitutions or cancellations you may have MUST go through the Gathering Office (1.800.248.1930 ext 1155).

Once you (or your PAL) receive your housing information, you MUST return the following by April 19th:

• Hotel Registration Form
  - Verify PAL contact information
  - Verify emergency contact cell number
  - Verify or change your arrival/departure dates (hotel-wise)
  - Include credit card information to hold rooms
• Hotel Rooming List
  - List names of participants staying in each room
  - Most hotels only have FOUR SPACES AVAILABLE!
  - Do not cram 6 people into a 4 person room!

P.S. Keep in mind that if any health issues arise with your group, please contact the YMO/Gathering office. They're pretty understandable when it comes to adding necessary adults for serious illnesses-- foreseen or unforeseen. And we're not talking about the flu, we're talking about things we wouldn't want for any of our kids. Also: If you're in need of wheelchairs, crutches, etc., I know you can usually "rent" them from Walgreens with a prescription from a doc. We'll be walking ~10 miles each day (with the wandering in the convention center and the 1.1 mile walk to the Dome).

Final T-Shirt Design!

Our final mock-up of our District t-shirts has been returned and I think they look awesome! They'll be printed on black t-shirts and will be available for $20/each (more if there's a 2-3-4-xl needed). Order forms will be sent out via email shortly and will also include reservation information for the District event.

YAY!

Only 108 days 'til the kick-off in the Superdome in NOLA!

Bible Studies NOW Available

The YMO in St Louis has officially posted downloadable Bible studies to the official NYG page. They'd be very useful for the groups planning to meet in the months prior to leaving for New Orleans.

CLICK HERE
to be taken directly to the download page
or click the links below to be taken directly to the document

Study One: WHATEVER, PART ONE and LEADER'S GUIDE
To say "WE BELIEVE" begs the question: Just what exactly do "WE BELIEVE"? We cannot take the "what" of our faith for granted. What WE BELIEVE matters, because it matters to Jesus; whatever WE BELIEVE will result in either life or death. In this study, we spend some time examining Jesus' identity (who He is) and His performance (what He does).

Study Two: WHATEVER, PART TWO and LEADER'S GUIDE
This study gets more specific about who Jesus is and what He does. John records a number of personal exchanges between Jesus and individuals like Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the blind man, and others. We will use courtroom language such as "testimony," "evidence," and "verdict" to see what Jesus said and did, why people believed in Him, and how they responded in faith.

Study Three: WHOEVER and LEADER'S GUIDE
The "whatever" of the previous studies refers to Jesus--to His identity and His performance. The "whoever" of this story refers to who Jesus' message is for--everyone! The whole reason Jesus came to this earth was so that everyone would believe in Him and have life.