wfn.org | ELCA Youth Prepare to "Dance at the Cross Roads"

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 14, 2000

ELCA YOUTH PREPARE TO "DANCE AT THE CROSS ROADS"
00-060-MR

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- The Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America will bring together thousands of high-school-age and
adult Lutherans in two back-to-back events this year: June 28 -July 2, and
July 5-9.  The gathering, "Dancing at the Cross Roads," will take place
here at the America's Center convention complex.
     A capacity of 40,000 registrants will be accepted overall.
     "As of March 3, more than 30,000 young people have registered for
the gathering, said Donna Wiegel, registrar, ELCA Youth Gathering,
Chicago.  "Most of them are in the 10th grade."  About 7,000 adult
participants and counselors are registered.
     "Registration for the second is still open, with a stack of
registration materials arriving daily.  Registration for the gathering
will close April 1," Wiegel told the gathering's organizers -- team
leaders -- Feb. 25-27.  Team Leaders for the ELCA Youth Gathering met here
to receive a progress report on plans for "Dancing at the Cross Roads."
     Registration for the gathering opened Oct. 18, 1999.  Information
about the gathering can be accessed via the Internet at
www.elca.org/gathering.
     Young Lutherans from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador,
Ethiopia, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kenya,
Mongolia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Papua New Guinea,
Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe will attend "Dancing at the
Cross Roads."
     ELCA congregations from across the United States will host
international guests, said Heidi Hagstrom, ELCA associate director for the
gathering.
     Each day of the gathering will begin and end with a mass gathering
at the TransWorld Dome, part of the America's Center.  Morning mass
gatherings will feature Bible study, evening gatherings will feature guest
speakers, and both will include music, dance, drama, video, storytelling,
audience participation and worship.
     "Dancing at the Cross Roads" will feature an interaction center
called "The Beat,"  where young people can participate in the largest
indoor adventure course ever built at a youth gathering.  Located at the
Cervantes Center in the America's Center, The Beat will also feature
sports, an indoor garden, dance and music lessons, such as swing, simba
drumming, rock and country.  At The Beat young people will have the
opportunity to build walls for four Habitat for Humanity houses.
     Thousands of youth will participate in "servant events" on three of
their five days in St. Louis.  Projects include cleanup and rebuilding in
several of the city's neighborhoods, and participating in four Habitat for
Humanities projects.  Other servant events include visiting homeless
shelters, playing with children in day care, and helping deliver meals in
"senior service" centers.  Participants will also have the opportunity to
bring an "in-kind gift" such as canned foods or children's books to donate
to agencies in the city.
     Other afternoon activities include attending workshops and seminars,
and "Hip Hoppin' around St. Louis," which includes touring the city's
cathedrals, botanical gardens and theme parks.
     Breakfast, worship, exercise and dancing are some of the special
activities being planned for young people in St. Louis' hotels and the
America's Center.
     More than 500 volunteers will secure the safety and transportation
for "Dancing at the Cross Roads" participants.
     The ELCA Youth Gathering is an event where youth and adults from
Lutheran congregations around the world will gather to "invite, grow and
nurture faith" in the lives of all who attend, Wiegel said.
     A leadership event for "definitely-able" young people will take
place June 25-28, at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill.  The
event, "Here I am Lord, With My Dancing Shoes On," is open to all Lutheran
young people with physical, visual, auditory, mental and learning
disabilities or a combination of these disabilities.  Participants will
contemplate the theme through Bible studies, small group activities,
workshops and worship.  The Rev. Lisa T. Cleaver, ELCA director for
disability ministries and deaf ministry, Chicago, will lead a general
session.
     The Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) will take place June
25-28, at Southern Illinois University.  African American, American
Indian, Arab American, Asian American and Latino young people will come
together with some international guests and White youth from multicultural
congregations to "celebrate" the ELCA's commitment to embracing cultural
diversity.
     The theme for MYLE is "Let the Spirit Move You."  Participants will
gather for Bible studies, leadership development, small group activities,
workshops and worship.
     The Fifth Triennial Convention of the ELCA Lutheran Youth
Organization (LYO) will be held July 2-5 at Southern Illinois University,
Edwardsville.  Hundreds of Lutheran youth delegates from across the
country will conduct the business of the organization.
     LYO is the "umbrella" organization for youth in the ELCA.  It
represents the voice of more than 500,000 young people in the church.  LYO
is located in the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Chicago.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html