Wednesday, July 22, 2009
It's raining Lutherans!
Posted by Kevin Allman on Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 10:26 PM
The first time I saw them was at Rouses -- about 15 of them, cheerful and fresh-faced and pushing carts laden with food like they were on an amazing adventure and not just shopping at the supermarket ....
Lutherans! Gentle, kind, sweet, eager-to-help Lutherans, and they're all over town for their 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering, which they call "Jesus, Justice and Jazz." And the AP reports that their visit marks the biggest convention gathering in New Orleans since Katrina:
"In terms of people, this is the biggest," said Mary Beth Romig of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Previously I think about 25,000 was the most."Most of the area's 34,000 hotel rooms are full, said Mavis Early, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association.
And the young Lutherans have quite an ambitious public works schedule planned:
The Chicago-based denomination has targeted over 200 areas where they will work, said Scott Quillin, who spent the past 14 months researching and setting up the service commitments."We're working with something in the neighborhood of 80 different schools in the metropolitan area, working with Habitat for Humanity, parks, churches and neighborhoods. We tried to get as many places as we could where we felt we could make a difference," Quillin said.
This is the first time the Lutheran gathering has been totally devoted to service, he said.
"Our people are required to do service and they want to do it," he said. "We had over 20,000 people sign up right away for service projects."
Much of the work is Katrina-related and ranges from cleaning debris from neighborhoods to building houses, he said.
Have you been running into Lutherans all over town? Any interesting tales
Comments (38)
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Yes, I suddenly found myself in a mob of giggling, bubbly Lutheran Youth last night at the Walgreen's on St. Charles as they were buying copious amounts of sugary beverages and candy. It took me a minute to figure it out. Kevin, nice picture of Davey and Goliath, by the way.
My son is one of those Lutherans and is having a great time in your city. Thank you for welcoming them! God bless New Orleans!!
My two daughters are there from Hawaii. Painting a library tomorrow. Thank you NOLA!
My daughter is one of 10 kids and 3 adult leaders from our church in St. Louis in NOLA this week. Today they cleaned up a state park. We are happy to be sending our kids and our money to your beautiful city, and we thank you for sharing your spirit with them.
My daughter is part of the Lutheran horde. They mean no harm, really. They're loving the food, the music, and the chance to do something meaningful in your beautiful city.
Hello to all the proud mothers. It is really inspiring to see that there are still people in the world willing to sacrifice themselves to do something for others.
Two of my daughters are there, from Faith Lutheran in Cincinnati OH. Thanks for welcoming them into your city!
Our son and daughter are in your wonderful, welcoming city with a church group from Pennsylvania! We miss them very much, but we know that they are having a great time in New Orleans. Thank you for your hospitality!
My son is there with his youth group from Louisville, Ky. They are having a great time and enjoying serving. Thank you so much for welcoming them into your city!
I was at the last gathering in New Orleans, before Katrina, and now my daughter and husband(pastor of Jerusalem) are there celebrating and serving with the other 20 youth and adults from our church in Seville, Ohio. Not only are the youth giving to New Orleans, New Orleans is giving to the youth. God bless everyone there!
My two sons are there in your wonderful city, along with three other youth and two adults from House of Prayer in Aliquippa, PA. Thank you for welcoming them. God Bless Everyone!
My son is there from Minnesota! It was a long trip down, but he sounds happy and is having a fabulous time in your city! Thank you for welcoming him and the group from our church into your city! God bless!
Reading the warm welcome my daughter and the other 36000 Lutheran teens are getting is incrediable. Having her text me and watching her grow in faith. Watching her be excited about the service work. So proud. TY NOLA
What a thrill for my grandaughter, Kiana, from Minnesota! She has been looking forward to this for so long. These young people are AWESOME!! Thanks for the love you are showing them. About those fire ants....!
It is an amazing thing...even from PA I can feel the energy coming from New Orleans. My daughter is there with our group from Emmaus Road LC in Fairless Hills, PA. God Bless them all and may they continue to grow in faith!
Wow I wish I was there to help my son is there helping and he is have ing great time. I have attened 4 youth gatherings in my life. They are life changing thanks to New Orleans for giving my son memories for a lifetime. Gods blessings on all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Go Lutheran YOUTH !!! My daughter is there from the Uupper Peninsula of Michigan....She's excited and loving the Big Easy!
My daughter is in New Orleans from Portland,Oregon. She is loving her time there and wants to move saying she has met the nicest, most gracious people. Thank you city of New Orleans!
Colorado Youth are sharing reading skills with New Orleans,learning about Louisiana's needs and their culture. Jazz, Frog legs and gators and love of it's citizens...what a blessing and experience.
I was driving my partner home from the hospital yesterday afternoon when we ran into several hundred of these kids on Poydras and then Canal Streets. They started spontaneously waving at all of us vehiculars as they made their way to the Superdome or wherever they were going. My friend was delighted, and I couldn't help but call out my window to them, "Thank you for thinking of us." The kids are all right!
Thank you amazing City for hosting our kids, mine a Catholic(LOL) but still there for the most amazing experience he most likely will ever have. He is loving NOLA. His mom approves, Newcomb College!!!
Our daughter, Sarah,from Altoona,PA is in New Orleans with a combined group from the Altoona area churches. Thank you for welcoming our youth in your city! They are excited to gather in and lend a hand to people most of them have only read about in newspapers or heard about in the media. What a heart-touching, life-forming experience and opportunity for everyone there AND for us who are watching online and will hear so much more when our youth return home.
