wfn.org | LCMS President Kuhn Addresses 35,000 youth

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

LCMSNews -- No. 60
July 30, 2001

LCMS PRESIDENT KUHN EXPLAINS
`CHRIST'S VICTORY' IN SERMON
FOR GATHERING WORSHIP SERVICE

NEW ORLEANS -- "It is through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism that you and I
are brought to this victory ground," Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
President Robert T. Kuhn told some 35,000 participants at the 2001 National
LCMS Youth Gathering in his sermon at the Holy Communion service July 29.

"Victory Ground" was the sub-theme of the gathering's "Higher Ground"
overall theme.

Worshiping in the Louisiana Superdome, the mammoth "congregation" later
received the body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion held in 900
custom-made chalices and patens.

"We can readily ask: `victory for what?'" Kuhn said.  As victors, what is it
that we can do?, he asked.  We can live a life of service to Christ, he
said.  We have not been created by God and redeemed by Jesus Christ merely
to take up time and space.  We are His people, we belong to Him.

"This means that on our Victory Ground we have the privilege of living in
service to Him -- living our lives so that in all that we do, He is given
glory and praise,"  Kuhn said.

"I would challenge you this morning [that] since you know that you are on
Victory Ground and why you are there ... you give some serious consideration
to becoming a full-time worker for the Lord," he said.

After the service ended, the throng formed a parade for the mile-plus walk
from the Superdome to the Morial Convention Center.  Many carried banners
they had made for their congregations' youth groups.

Also on July 29, thousands from the gathering started taking part in
workshops at the convention center and in "servant events," or activities
designed to help others.  Those servant events involved numerous
community-service projects in the New Orleans area, including the building
of a Habitat for Humanity home.

Daily news updates and photos from the 2001 National LCMS Youth Gathering
are available at http://cs.lcms.org/youth/gathering/ or through a link to
the Synod's web site at http://www.lcms.org/.

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