Click here for the Prayers of the People  

Thank you to all the kitchen angels who helped make the potluck run smoothly: Bill and Cathy Wrobel, Bea Grenzke, Mike and Marie Zeller, Liz and Doug Jenzen, Margie Huizinga, Heidi Korte, Steve & Sandy Gillespie, Kendra Bickford, and Mary Weiland.  

Whether you helped before, after, or during, I am thankful for such a great kitchen crew.

 Gerrie Spezia  

Rise Up!! Hello from your Local Volunteer Coordinators for the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit July 15-19, 2015.  If you are interested in serving as a local adult volunteer for the Youth Gathering, there are still openings and we need your help.  This message will explain the types of volunteers needed and how to sign up.  Also look for upcoming Information Forums throughout the Synod.  Thank you for your interest and help.

The Local Volunteer Corps (LVC) will serve in a wide variety of roles, including general hospitality, communion servers, drivers, money counters, set up and clean up, and many others. The LVC is comprised of "local" adults that are not in need of housing, have a specific time frame they are able to commit to, will be able to drive themselves on a daily basis to Detroit and will receive a food voucher and entrance to that day's Mass Gathering as a thank you for your time.  The Local Volunteer Coordinator will match your gifts with our needs. The list of needs is incomplete at this time so we will be unable to make matches yet.  But once you have signed up, we will confirm that we have received your application.  

Serving the 2015 ELCA Gathering  

in Detroit as a Local Volunteer

Hundreds of local volunteers are an essential component of the ELCA Gathering being held in Detroit July 15-19, 2015. Local volunteers can serve for one, two, three or more days or even one day for 2-4 hours! Responsibilities include offering counters, communion assistants, hospitality, drivers (rental vehicles provided), set up/clean up, etc. Specific responsibilities will be communicated in the spring.

If you are available to serve the ELCA Gathering as a local volunteer, please follow the instructions below today:

Step 1   Go to: https://www.conferencebuilders.com/elca2015/teams/start.asp

Step 2   Click on "New registration" (in red)
Step 3   Be sure to choose "Local Arrang." (Beth Smallbeck) from the drop down menu
Step 4   Fill out the registration form disregarding the arrival and departure dates

Local volunteers do not receive housing but do receive meal vouchers. Volunteer registration is still open for Community Life and Servant Companions (young adults) for individuals who can commit to the entire event (housing and meals provided). Find information at: http://www.elca.org/YouthGathering/Registration/Volunteers 

Look for 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering Volunteer Opportunity community meetings being held throughout the synod in late fall. Feel free to contact Local Volunteers Coordinator, Claudia Karpinskas, if you have questions or concerns. karpinskas@sbcglobal.net   Cell 248-227-9032

During the Gathering, the Youth will spend one day in the community for their day of service, interaction and assistance with local organizations in one of six interest areas (IAs):

* Housing Matters
* Education
* Environmental Sustainability
* Cultural Immersion / Arts
* Food / Food Justice
* Care in Communities

There will be about 12,000 youth working at up to 270 sites each day for three days (July 16-18).   A special local volunteer corps will directly support the Service Learning (SL) activities. The Service Learning Team has needs for Site Captains to coordinate and oversee the projects at each Service Learning Site, and for Skilled Labor, Safety and Security support, and other hands on type opportunities.  The SL volunteers will be out in the community. If you are interested in a Service Learning volunteer opportunity, you must sign up with the Local Volunteer Corps (link above) AND sign up with the Service Learning link below.   Service Learning Job Descriptions are attached to the sign up form for your convenience. If you have questions about volunteering for Service Learning, please contact Dave Upmeyer, Service Learning Volunteer Coordinator, at Dave.Upmeyer@gmail.com or call at 313 881-9522 (home) or 313 378-3793 (cell). 

Service Learning Signup Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mME3vXC35KsxZtEpHKQrbturwPCz4_-djyJbXRV5duA/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link