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By Emily Bender, New Jerusalem, Hellertown
The e-mail came in mid-September: I was invited to visit the Northwest Synod
of Wisconsin for their Lutheran Youth Organization’s annual assembly (Godstock),
to be held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Immediately, I was excited — not only to escape Pennsylvania for a little
while, but also to look at another way of gathering youth together from across
a synod.
Our Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod LYF assemblies have always been special to
me, and the opportunity to participate in two gatherings in one year was definitely
something I looked forward to.
Thankfully, I had the help of Greg Kaufman, an adult advisor to their LYO, who
helped me figure out flight schedules and the logistics of getting myself to
Godstock on time.
It took almost an entire day of traveling, but I got there in one piece. As I
stepped out of the terminal with Mary Toufar, an advisor to the NW Synod of Wisconsin’s
LYO and the mother of Josh (see the March 2004 issue of Partners), I got a little
nervous. This was my first time traveling alone, and I was a pretty good distance
from home.
But in no time I was having a blast. Everyone there was so kind to me and all
of them took me under their wings. I soon learned that their LYF board and assemblies
are set up differently from ours, but the end result was still the same — Lutheran
youth coming together to worship God and have a great time doing it.
I also got to witness some very diverse styles of praise. Peder Eide led a contemporary
worship service for most of the weekend, and Agape brought in an energetic hip-hop
vibe for Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The experience was one I will never forget and I thank everyone from both synods
who helped me take this journey.
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