One of the most difficult things after a gathering like this is finding ways to bring the gathering home. It is struggle to know how and what to communicate to those at home and how to share what has infused our lives.
In this regard, I have provided a few links below that I hope will help those at home share what we have experienced and will provide us who have been on this "Cruzando" journey a chance to continue our experience. Here are some links to explore:
Archived videos of each of the mass gatherings at the Alamodome.
Ken Medema's improvised songs inspire us to use our gifts for the Kingdom of God.
Photos from week one are updated daily.
A quick recap of the speakers and artists allow us to search for other works by an artist... whether it be through a book one has written or an album one has sung.
On another note, yesterday evening I had a wonderful conversaton with Dawn, Linda and Steve from SW Minnesota. It is wonderful to have these spirit-filled conversations as part of being here.
Sunday, July 9, 2006
Saturday, July 8, 2006
Saturday (Day 4): Jesus encounters us on the Frontier and in the Feast
A.M.
This morning we began again with worship at our hotel and then Bible study at the Alamodome. Our Bible study leader took a creative bent with the text... comparing us to Wildebeests at the water's edge. We heard how God "makes a way in the wilderness" (Isaiah 43:18-19) for us.
P.M.
This "wilderness" theme was picked up by Ken Medema in his workshop that afternoon. He began by having us sing a song with the refrain, "bound together and finely woven with love" and then shared his own autobiography, inviting us to share "wilderness" times in our lives. Many of the youth and adults came forward sharing their times of wilderness and struggle. Ken then wove these stories into song, "telling" them back to us with wonderful melodies. Here is a sampling of these songs. Check back in a few days to here the songs he sung back to us.
We took some time to play in the afternoon. A few of our adult leaders dressed up in monkey costumes.
Eve
We began the evening with our "Final 15" devotions... a chance to reflect upon the day and the theme and to talk about how God is working in our lives. It was a marvelous thing to hear how God has actively been shaping and challenging all gathered through word and song, through preaching and teaching, through those close to us and through complete strangers.
We then made out way to the Fiesta, an outdoor party in an historic village near the convention center. We sampled many Mexican foods and sang and danced until the closing fireworks. Then we were off to concerts and dances at nearby hotels.
Tomorrow we worship... 16,000 strong.
Late Eve
This morning we began again with worship at our hotel and then Bible study at the Alamodome. Our Bible study leader took a creative bent with the text... comparing us to Wildebeests at the water's edge. We heard how God "makes a way in the wilderness" (Isaiah 43:18-19) for us.
P.M.
This "wilderness" theme was picked up by Ken Medema in his workshop that afternoon. He began by having us sing a song with the refrain, "bound together and finely woven with love" and then shared his own autobiography, inviting us to share "wilderness" times in our lives. Many of the youth and adults came forward sharing their times of wilderness and struggle. Ken then wove these stories into song, "telling" them back to us with wonderful melodies. Here is a sampling of these songs. Check back in a few days to here the songs he sung back to us.
We took some time to play in the afternoon. A few of our adult leaders dressed up in monkey costumes.
Eve
We began the evening with our "Final 15" devotions... a chance to reflect upon the day and the theme and to talk about how God is working in our lives. It was a marvelous thing to hear how God has actively been shaping and challenging all gathered through word and song, through preaching and teaching, through those close to us and through complete strangers.
We then made out way to the Fiesta, an outdoor party in an historic village near the convention center. We sampled many Mexican foods and sang and danced until the closing fireworks. Then we were off to concerts and dances at nearby hotels.
Tomorrow we worship... 16,000 strong.
Late Eve
Friday (Day 3): Jesus encounters us in the Cross
Morning Gathering
This moring we heard from Jim Wallis, founder of the Sojourners community in Washington, DC. He challenged us to consider poverty as a moral value and to keep our hearts and minds attentive to God's concern for the poor... a theme that runs throughout Scripture.
Afternoon
In the afternoon we gathered at the convention center for a boxed lunch and then spent the afternoon attending various workshops and activities at the El Puente Interaction Center. I attended one on praying the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic and even got to learn some Middle Eastern dance. Others went to workshops for "girls only" and "guys only" as well as to hear musicians like Ken Medema weave stories into song.
Evening
In the evening Gathering we heard from Yessenia Vazquez, a young woman from Guatemala who escaped from an abusive family at home at age 15 and came to the US. Hers was a powerful story.
We also heard the story of Francis Bok, from the Sudan, who was abducted by slave traders at age 7 and lived as a slave for 10 years before escaping. He has detailed his journey from slavery to freedom in a book, Escape from Slavery.
Singer Ken Medema combined there stories in a wonderful song that echoed the "year of Jubilee" proclaimed in Leviticus, chapter 25.
This moring we heard from Jim Wallis, founder of the Sojourners community in Washington, DC. He challenged us to consider poverty as a moral value and to keep our hearts and minds attentive to God's concern for the poor... a theme that runs throughout Scripture.
Afternoon
In the afternoon we gathered at the convention center for a boxed lunch and then spent the afternoon attending various workshops and activities at the El Puente Interaction Center. I attended one on praying the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic and even got to learn some Middle Eastern dance. Others went to workshops for "girls only" and "guys only" as well as to hear musicians like Ken Medema weave stories into song.
Evening
In the evening Gathering we heard from Yessenia Vazquez, a young woman from Guatemala who escaped from an abusive family at home at age 15 and came to the US. Hers was a powerful story.
We also heard the story of Francis Bok, from the Sudan, who was abducted by slave traders at age 7 and lived as a slave for 10 years before escaping. He has detailed his journey from slavery to freedom in a book, Escape from Slavery.
Singer Ken Medema combined there stories in a wonderful song that echoed the "year of Jubilee" proclaimed in Leviticus, chapter 25.
Friday, July 7, 2006
Thursday Evening
New Orleans Witness
A few from out group decided to take the elevator at the "Texas needle," a 750-foot observation tower, and see the city from there. The view was breathtaking. On the way down the elevator we met a couple, and the guy was from New Orleans. After asking why we were here, they commented on how many Christians have been rebuilding New Orleans while sleeping in tents... all volunteers. Thanks be to God for the hands and feet swift to serve in the name of Jesus Christ, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Donald Miller
It was refreshing to hear from Donald Miller last evening. He challenged all of us to drop notions of "3- (or 5-) step faith," faith that can be boiled down to "if you do these easy things, then God will..." He instead talked of God "fathering" us and caring for us a loving parent. I was thankful that he took the youth (and adults!) a step deeper with their faith.
Krystal Meyers
Krystal Meyers performed yesterday evening as well. I would describe her as Avril Levigne meets the Christian contemporary scene. I was a bit disappointed with her, however. She spent a bit too much time shamelessly promoting her new album. I was however amused by the situational irony of her invitation to the Gathering, "OK, everyone together shout, 'Anti-conformity'." :)
Inspired by Youth
The youth gathered here do inspire me, however. Some have no need of cell phones and iPods and are perfectly fine without them, thank you very much. Some put a very critical eye and ear to what they are hearing and seeing. I think youth can spot inauthenticity a mile a way... and that is refreshing. But I think perhaps the thing that inspires me the most are how they behave as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. For me this was captured in the words of a teenager I overheard after the dance at a nearby hotel yesterday evening. He said, "This is the most fun I have had in my 18 years of existence!" And I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this due largely to the fact that many here have created a community in which those normally shoved to the side are able to dance (literally and figuratively) along with the rest.
Fun with Tonto
So the latest craze [and I must admit it is a catchy song] at the dance scene is a song called, "Tonto, Jump On It." I think it is by Gang Sugarhill. Hilarious.
A few from out group decided to take the elevator at the "Texas needle," a 750-foot observation tower, and see the city from there. The view was breathtaking. On the way down the elevator we met a couple, and the guy was from New Orleans. After asking why we were here, they commented on how many Christians have been rebuilding New Orleans while sleeping in tents... all volunteers. Thanks be to God for the hands and feet swift to serve in the name of Jesus Christ, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Donald Miller
It was refreshing to hear from Donald Miller last evening. He challenged all of us to drop notions of "3- (or 5-) step faith," faith that can be boiled down to "if you do these easy things, then God will..." He instead talked of God "fathering" us and caring for us a loving parent. I was thankful that he took the youth (and adults!) a step deeper with their faith.
Krystal Meyers
Krystal Meyers performed yesterday evening as well. I would describe her as Avril Levigne meets the Christian contemporary scene. I was a bit disappointed with her, however. She spent a bit too much time shamelessly promoting her new album. I was however amused by the situational irony of her invitation to the Gathering, "OK, everyone together shout, 'Anti-conformity'." :)
Inspired by Youth
The youth gathered here do inspire me, however. Some have no need of cell phones and iPods and are perfectly fine without them, thank you very much. Some put a very critical eye and ear to what they are hearing and seeing. I think youth can spot inauthenticity a mile a way... and that is refreshing. But I think perhaps the thing that inspires me the most are how they behave as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. For me this was captured in the words of a teenager I overheard after the dance at a nearby hotel yesterday evening. He said, "This is the most fun I have had in my 18 years of existence!" And I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this due largely to the fact that many here have created a community in which those normally shoved to the side are able to dance (literally and figuratively) along with the rest.
Fun with Tonto
So the latest craze [and I must admit it is a catchy song] at the dance scene is a song called, "Tonto, Jump On It." I think it is by Gang Sugarhill. Hilarious.
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Thursday (Day 2): Jesus encounters us in our neighbor
We began the day with worship at our hotel. The theme for today is "Jesus encounters us in our projimo/a (neighbor)," based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. We gathered with our immediate hotel neighbors and then with a lot of other neighbors...
In our mass gathering at the Alamodome we heard variations on this theme from our Bible study leader, Rev. Stephen Bond, and our speaker, Dr. San Juana Mendoza Bruce. Both challenged us to see ourselves both in the role of the Good Samaritan who crosses boundaries to show Christ-like mercy and in the one beaten and left for dead in the road side who receives help from his neighbor.
This afternoon we have been attending workshops and having some time to explore the "Interaction Center" at the convention center, a panoply of games, booths, sports and learning experiences.
As a pastor, it is a true joy to watch faith be reawakened in so many youth.
And on a personal note, it has been fun to see friends and seminary classmates from South Carolina.
In our mass gathering at the Alamodome we heard variations on this theme from our Bible study leader, Rev. Stephen Bond, and our speaker, Dr. San Juana Mendoza Bruce. Both challenged us to see ourselves both in the role of the Good Samaritan who crosses boundaries to show Christ-like mercy and in the one beaten and left for dead in the road side who receives help from his neighbor.
This afternoon we have been attending workshops and having some time to explore the "Interaction Center" at the convention center, a panoply of games, booths, sports and learning experiences.
As a pastor, it is a true joy to watch faith be reawakened in so many youth.
And on a personal note, it has been fun to see friends and seminary classmates from South Carolina.
Opening "Mass Gathering"
The Gathering officially opened this evening with 14,000 youth converging on the Alamodome. Our speaker, Tony Campollo, gave the evening message--probably the high point of the first gathering.
The rest of the opening gathering was a little disappointing. As one of our youth commented: "It was more like a rock concert than worship... I can hear that stuff on the radio." I think he raised an important question: What makes this gathering--and our time here--distinctively Christian? [Truth be told, I am waiting with great hope to see the answer to this unfold in the days ahead. And while I think the opening session was disappointing for some, I for one, am glad to see youth hungering for something deeper in their time here.]
We concluded the evening with a dance at a nearby hotel and then evening devotions back at our hotel. Our group of 31 was pretty tired by day's end.
The rest of the opening gathering was a little disappointing. As one of our youth commented: "It was more like a rock concert than worship... I can hear that stuff on the radio." I think he raised an important question: What makes this gathering--and our time here--distinctively Christian? [Truth be told, I am waiting with great hope to see the answer to this unfold in the days ahead. And while I think the opening session was disappointing for some, I for one, am glad to see youth hungering for something deeper in their time here.]
We concluded the evening with a dance at a nearby hotel and then evening devotions back at our hotel. Our group of 31 was pretty tired by day's end.
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Riverwalking
Yesterday we "Riverwalked." The Riverwalk is a nice area just below street level here that is host a variety of stores, restaurants and more. I think it should be called the "Meandering Riverwalk," but that's just my $0.02.
There is something about water that I have always considered magical.
I have always liked rivers, lakes, oceans...you name it.
Seems like people have been living along water for a long time, mostly for practical reasons: we need water to live. It is literally our life blood.
So too for us as Christians. We are people of the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, people of the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee, people in the boat of a the church sent on a journey "up river." I think one of the reasons I like water so much is because it makes me think of baptism. We died in the water and were given new life in those same waters: flowing water, living water... river water(?). And it is on this same baptismal river, the one that flows from the Tree of Life, that we make our whole Christian pilgrimage, our whole life's journey.
There is something about water that I have always considered magical.
I have always liked rivers, lakes, oceans...you name it.
Seems like people have been living along water for a long time, mostly for practical reasons: we need water to live. It is literally our life blood.
So too for us as Christians. We are people of the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, people of the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee, people in the boat of a the church sent on a journey "up river." I think one of the reasons I like water so much is because it makes me think of baptism. We died in the water and were given new life in those same waters: flowing water, living water... river water(?). And it is on this same baptismal river, the one that flows from the Tree of Life, that we make our whole Christian pilgrimage, our whole life's journey.
Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Arrived safely in Texas after
Arrived safely in Texas after a good but bumpy flight. May see fireworks tonight.
Gathering: A Verb
I love that the powers that be have retained the title "Gathering" for what the ELCA does each year at these things. Often it is described as "the Gathering," as in a noun, which is fine. However, I like to think of it more as a verb.
We gather, we assemble, we constitute the church as we gather as the church in San Antonio from all over the nation.
The word coined in the New Testament to describe the gathering of the church, indeed the church itself, is ekklesia, meaning "assembly." It is the same word used for public gatherings, such as a town meeting.
As we assemble from near and far and descend on this part of Texas, we do what Christians do best, we gather, we assemble as church. We are Tex-Ekk (Texas Ekklesia).
The Alamo
Much of Texas lore centers around a little place called "The Alamo" and a rallying cry: "Remember the Alamo!" Sadly, many of us do not remember the Alamo.
Of course, many of us are familiar with the picture and remember some of the brief contours of the struggle, but few of us could be a tour guide for someone looking for a bicycle in the basement of the Alamo.
So I have provided this link to a brief history of Alamo.Bonus theological musing: I wonder if there is not a connection for Christians between the Cross and the Alamo. Both were symbols of defeat that became symbols of triumph. Perhaps our cry this week should be: "'Remember (Greek anamesis--a "living" remembering) the Cross!"
Monday, July 3, 2006
Departure and Arrival
This morning our caravan left for our San Antonio pilgrimage.
We are 26 youth and 4 adults, plus Capt. Ron Nabors, who arrived in Alamo-land yesterday.
We left Detroit metro airport via Northwest airlines this afternoon. The flight went well and we had a splendid aircraft and crew.
It was a little bumpy and I was hit with a paper airplane, but all is well.
After arriving we got settled into our hotel... right on the Riverwalk.
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