Title: LUTHERAN YOUTH TOLD: `THE LORD HAS
NEED OF YOU'
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
July 24, 1997
LUTHERAN YOUTH TOLD: `THE LORD HAS NEED OF
YOU'
97-YG-01-AH
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- It was "Palm
Sunday" in the Superdome and the
Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl told 37,000
young people, "You young baptized
ones, the Lord has need of you to bear his
word to the world." DeGroot-Nesdahl
preached at the opening celebration of the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America's Youth Gathering here.
She is bishop of the ELCA's
South Dakota Synod.
"You are young colts ... waiting to be
released," DeGroot-Nesdahl
said. "You are young colts who have fire
and spirit and energy and talent.
You are young leaders with vision and
compassion and gifts and burning
faith in your hearts."
The Palm Sunday idea was carried
forward as Jesus, in the form of a
15-foot tall puppet, made his way around the
Superdome's floor together
with dancers, banners and balloons.
The gathering's theme is "River of
Hope." DeGroot-Nesdahl said, "The
abundant life is a life lived in the river
of hope and measured in seasons
of love." She wove her remarks around
"Seasons of Love," the hit song from
the Broadway musical, "Rent."
DeGroot-Nesdahl said "Rent" is about 13
friends, one of whom will
die, "who are searching for lasting,
eternal, pure love." She said, "The
story of Jesus is the story of one who
measures every year in love, who is
true every minute."
Lutherans always ask, "What does this
mean? How do we understand
such love?" Jesus is "the gift of life
poured out for us," DeGroot-Nesdahl
said. She got the young people chanting a
quote from Martin Luther: "Day
after day a new self arises."
DeGroot-Nesdahl greeted the young
people on behalf of the 5.2 million
members of the ELCA, "who have been praying
for you since the day of your
Baptism and all the way up to this weekend."
She said, "Thank you for
coming to this gathering, thank you for your
witness of the power of the
faith of the young."
Music was provided by the Western
States Servant Band, Abe Caceras
and the River's Way, and Ken Medema who
brought the evening to a close with
musical piece he created on the spot. A
high school girl from Humboldt,
Iowa, called the celebration "bar-none the
most awesome concert of my
life."
Marlon Guzman from the office of the
Mayor office welcomed the young
people saying, "We love you. Your energy
has already been felt in the city
and the impact of your community service
will be felt tomorrow, Friday and
Saturday."
-- 30 --
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director, News and Information
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
