REMIX: A Modern Reformation Welcome to the Southwestern Texas Synod High School Youth Gathering! This year, our theme is REMIX: A Modern Reformation. After celebrating the 500 th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation last year, it s time to take a look ahead at the next 500 years. What are the important things that the church has to offer the world that we don t change at all and what are the things we might remix a little bit to share God s love with the world? These are the questions that we will explore in this year s synod high school gathering theme. This packet has been assembled for all adult leaders to help prepare for the event. It includes a schedule of the weekend (subject to minor changes), directions to camp, a few notes about the offering, a what to bring list, and several other items. Please read through the entire packet in order to be prepared for the event! One special note: Saturday evening we will be joined by Bishop Ray Tiemann for a banquet honoring our 2018 Bishop s Award nominees. During the banquet, Bishop Tiemann will announce this year s recipients. We hope to see ALL our nominees there and look forward to finding out who will receive this honor in 2018! For any questions you may have about the synod high school youth gathering, please contact Heather Hansen, event chair, by email: pastorheatherlynn@gmail.com or phone: 210-317-8509. Blessings, Rev. Heather Hansen MacArthur Park Lutheran Church San Antonio, TX
TENTATIVE Schedule of Events Friday, 2/9 7:00 pm-8:30 pm Arrival and unpack 8:30 pm-9:15 pm Songs and Gathering Opening/Theme Presentation 1 Chapel 9:15 pm-10:00 pm Small Group Session 1 for Youth Chapel/Various Locations Adult Leader Meeting Luke s Place 10:00 pm-10:30 pm Worship 10:30 pm-11:00 pm Congregational Group Time 11:30 pm Lights Out Saturday, 2/10 8:00 am-8:45 am Breakfast Dining Hall 8:45 am-9:30 am Cabin break/gaga Ball/Sport Court 9:30 am-10:00 am Theme Presentation 2 - Chapel 10:00 am-11:00 am Small Group Session 2 Chapel/Various Locations 11:00 am-12:00 pm Workshop Session One Chapel and Sports Court 12:00 pm-1:00 pm Lunch Dining Hall 1:00 pm-2:00 pm Congregational Activity OR Rest Time 2:00 pm-3:00 pm Workshop Session Two Chapel and Sports Court 3:15 pm-5:00 pm Workshop Session Three Various Locations 5:00 pm-5:30 pm Wrap Up in the Chapel 5:30 pm-6:00 pm Break 6:00 pm-7:30 pm Bishop s Award Dinner and Presentation 7:30 pm-8:00 pm Theme Presentation 3 8:00 pm-9:00 pm Small Group Session 3 9:00 pm-10:00 pm Night Games 10:00 pm-10:30 pm Closing Worship 10:30 pm-11:00 pm Congregational Group Time 11:30 pm Lights Out Sunday, 2/11 8:00 am-8:45 am Clean cabins/pack vehicles 8:45 am-9:30 am Theme presentation 4 and Small Group Wrap-up 9:30 am-10:30 am Brunch 10:30 am-11:30 am Closing Worship 11:30 am Depart in Peace!
Offering In May 2018, the Southwestern Texas Synod will elect a new Bishop. To honor Bishop Ray Teimann s service over the past 18 years, the synod has established the Tiemann Endowment Fund for Leadership Development. Bishop Tiemann has always supported the development of leaders and is particularly fond of working with our young people to encourage them in their vocational journeys. This year s offering will be given to the fund to assist all our young people who aspire to become pastors, deacons, or strong lay leaders in our congregations. From the Southwestern Texas Synod: Each day, our family, friends, neighbors, and those we have yet to meet are impacting our communities in profound ways through the work of the church. For the past 18 years, Bishop Ray Tiemann has served our community of faith by equipping our pastors and deacons and lay leaders as they build and strengthen our congregations and ministries. To honor his retirement, the Tiemann Endowment for Leadership Development has been established to support the development of congregational lay leaders, pastors and deacons serving under call. Together with YOU, we can make a long-lasting impact in our community while significantly honoring Bishop Ray and Debbie Tiemann. We thank you for the support you are providing for every leader who will be blessed deeply by this endowment. Group Covenant It is in the best interest of the congregations and their participants to clearly establish boundaries and expectations in a Group Covenant. Group covenants are nothing new to most youth, and should outline all expectations for staying with an adult, lights out, participation in worship and group activities, what is acceptable to bring to the gathering and anything else that is specific to your group. Please remember that adult leaders from each congregation are responsible for the behavior of the youth they bring to the event. Group Covenants are a great way to lay out the expectations in advance, and outline the consequences for inappropriate behavior. Therefore, it is highly recommended that each congregation establish a group covenant that is agreed to by youth as well as the participating adults, and signed by all in advance (including parents) before departing for the Gathering. Covenants include things such as how you expect your group to behave, interact with other participants, respect adults, leaders and peers, engage in the event, use their phones, and be present with each other and the rest of the Gathering for the weekend.
Arrival Instructions Dinner is on your own on Friday February 9, 2018 Please notify all participants of this early and often! Snacks will be provided before worship that evening. Check in begins at 7:00 PM Send ONE adult leader to the Dining Hall with ALL Completed Forms Youth & Adult Participation Form Congregation Insurance Awareness Form Cross Trails Release Forms All forms are located on the Southwestern Texas Synod website: http://www.swtsynod.org/youthgatherings The adult leader will receive the following items for their group Housing/Cabin assignments T-shirts Gathering Bracelets Camp Map Congregational Time Materials We ask that the rest of your group stay with your vehicle (or at the deck ring) until Check-in concludes. Once you have all of your stuff Go to your assigned cabins and drop off belongings. Youth and Adults should meet in the Chapel at 8:30 PM for the opening activities Youth Small Groups and Orientation will begin at 9:15 PM in the Chapel. Adult Orientation will begin at 9:15 PM in Luke s Place. All attendees must wear their wristband on their wrist at all times. ***Adults*** Please be sure that ALL the forms for your youth (participation forms and camp release forms) are completely filled out AND SIGNED by their parents before departing your church!!!! If you have any youth or adults who are arriving late or leaving early, please contact Carrie Blank in the synod office.
What To Bring Youth and Adults should please bring: A focused mind and willing attitude to learn about God s Word Bible Sleeping Bag/Pillow Toiletries Towel/Wash Cloth Comfortable clothing (Texas weather is unpredictable and the Hill Country is always cooler, so pack appropriately!) Durable CLOSED toe shoes Flashlight with new batteries Jacket Money for offering (optional) Prescription Medication if needed (to be held and dispensed by your adult leader) Please DO NOT Bring: Anything of value (jewelry, ipods, video games, etc.) o Neither the Southwestern Texas Synod nor Cross Trails may be held accountable for lost or stolen items. Candy or food for the cabin Tobacco, alcohol, other drugs, etc. Cell Phones: The Southwestern Texas Synod not Cross Trails can be held accountable for lost, stolen, or broken cell phones. There are two philosophies when it comes to cell phones: 1. Sometimes phones make it easier to record memories or bring in those who could not attend. 2. Sometimes phones make it hard to connect with the people you are present with and keep you from fully engaging in the youth event. **It is the policy of the synod that congregational groups be responsible for determining the cell phone use of their group. You may wish to bring them along and restrict activity to only certain periods of time. There WILL be times when it is completely inappropriate to use a cell phone, i.e. during worship, prayers, presentations, etc. (unless given permission by a leader). ***ANY AND ALL persons who are documented with technology (pictures, videos, etc.) should be asked if posting on social media or anywhere else publically is OK. Posting pictures, videos or snaps of anyone without their knowledge is not acceptable.