Lisa KrammeLisa Kramme
Director of Faith Formation
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

There was a song I learned at Girl Scout day camp years ago. We sang it as a round, and the words were, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” Maybe because we sang it in a round—over and over and over—or maybe just because it had a simple message and a sweet tune, I can remember the words and melody like I sang this song just yesterday. Maybe I remember the song because it’s true. It is good to make new friends. It is good to remember old friends. Each has value. Each can add new dimensions to my world.

These past few months, those who work with various aspects of faith formation programming in the Nebraska Synod have decided to make some changes in programming, changes that honor what is working while breathing some freshness into the mix.

One example is the annual Middle School Gathering. This year’s Gathering will be moving to a new location—First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings. First St. Paul’s has a newly remodeled lower level called the Christian Underground. It will serve as the main venue where middle schoolers from around the Synod will worship, enjoy music and serve. The service-learning project at last year’s Middle School Gathering was so meaningful for participants that planners have once again scheduled time for service. This year Gathering goers will fill containers called “Jared Boxes” with gifts for children who are chronically ill, and they’ll hear from health care providers and families of children as to why this is an important ministry. Thanks to the generosity of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for the Jared Box project and the partnership of First St. Paul’s, the cost to attend the Middle School Gathering is $40 less per person this year than it was in 2008. The early bird registration date is Nov. 13, and the registration deadline for the Middle School Gathering is Nov. 30. For more information, please go to http://site.nebraskasynod.org/mission/youth.

Another change in the works involves the Lutheran Youth of Nebraska (LYON) Assembly and Board. You may be noticing that today’s youth are especially hungry to roll up their sleeves and serve their neighbors. To find evidence of this, you don’t have to go farther than visiting with a youth who attended this past summer’s ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans or taking a look at the Gathering’s website. Time has been set aside in this year’s LYON Assembly schedule to get out into the community of Kearney to serve and learn about issues and ministry opportunities immediately at hand. This service-learning experience will be new to the LYON Assembly and will help teach what being the body of Christ in the world can mean.

Also new this year will be the establishment of LYON Assembly Planning Teams. Assembly planning has historically been done by the LYON Board, but the role of the Board will be changing, too, as it focuses more on growing young leaders in the church and reaching out more intentionally to youth groups throughout the Synod. If there are youth in your congregation who would like to help plan future LYON Assemblies or who feel called to serve on the LYON Board, please encourage them to check out the nomination and volunteer forms found in the LYON Assembly section at http://site.nebraskasynod.org/mission/youth.

Thank you for your prayers and your support of faith formation programming in the Nebraska Synod. If you have questions about current programs or ideas for new ways to enhance faith formation, please feel free to contact Lisa Kramme at lisakramme@nebraskasynod.org or at 402-896-5311 (office) or 402-669-6309 (cell).

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