What do you get when you put nearly 31,000 Lutheran high school youth and their adult leaders together in a stadium for worship? The answer is a whole lot of communion stations with thousands of communion assistants!

What impacted me the most about our experience last week at the ELCA Youth Gathering, however, wasn't the 31,000 people. Instead, it was the 12 youth and one young adult from Abiding Presence in whose company I was privileged to travel. Here's what I can tell you about the young people of Abiding Presence:

First, we have good youth! We have youth who are passionate, energetic and faithful. The youth of Abiding Presence are funny, compassionate, respectful and kind - to one another, strangers they encounter, new friends they meet while standing in line and to their adult leaders. I genuinely enjoyed being around our youth, even when we were standing outside in a line for over an hour in the sweltering Houston heat. 

Second, we have youth who aren't easily discouraged! When I was tired, our youth were still going strong. When I was hot, our youth weren't complaining one bit. When the food trucks all ran out of food the first night of the gathering, we had no snacks and we didn't think we were going to be able to find food until much later that evening, our youth said, "Don't worry! We'll be fine!" and kept on going. More than that, though, when faced with the current problems and challenges of our world, our youth are energized to make a difference. We learned a new phrase, "God has grace for that!" In the midst of our mistakes, failures, hurt and pain, God has grace. The youth of Abiding Presence embody that grace. 

Finally, we have youth in whom we should invest! I believe that among our current Senior High youth we have the future pastors, bishops, church council presidents, Sunday School teachers, ushers,  youth ministers and musicians of the church. They may not serve at our church as adults, but they will serve at a church somewhere and make a difference in that community because of the way their faith was formed here at Abiding Presence. 

We're not just investing in our youth for the future of the church, though. We are investing in them because they have gifts and skills that we need today. I learned so much from our young people while traveling with them. I know they can mold and shape our church today. 

I encourage you to take a few moments to chat with some of our youth who attend the ELCA Youth Gathering to learn more about their experiences. I also invite you to give a big "Thank You" to Matt and Sara Dyson for accompanying the youth to the gathering with me. The theme was "This Changes Everything" and we have all come back believing this to be true!

This Saturday the Metropolitan Washington, DC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will gather for the the annual synod assemble. Voting members from Abiding Presence  will include Rev. Meredith Keseley, Rev. Heidi Eickstadt, Rev. Ivan Ives and Karen and Joe McGavin. The assembly will gather under the theme "Connecting - Up In Out" at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfax. 

The synod assembly is a bit like the annual meeting of a congregation. The assembly will vote on the proposed budget. They will also elect members to the synod council,  synod committees and to serve as voting members to the churchwide assembly next summer. In between the business sessions, there will be opportunities for worship, workshops and fellowship. If you want to stay up to date on the action, there will be a blog running from the floor of the assembly all day on Saturday.

As our synod gathers for assembly, it's a good time to remember that we at Abiding Presence are part of a larger church. The work we can do as one congregation can feel limited at times. The work we can do as 80 congregations in our metropolitan area or as one of more than 9.250 congregations in the country is limitless. Together we support ministries around the country and even the world. Our witness to the good news of Jesus Christ and God's love for the world is stronger together. 

Abiding Presence is especially grateful for the support of the synod of our congregation. We are currently in the second year of a three year grant to help us fund our Pastor of Discipleship position. Pastor Heidi's ministry with us would not be possible without the synod's backing. As the synod is helping to support us, we are blessed to be able to help the synod support ministry at many other congregations in our area. This is what it looks like to be the church together - connecting up, in  and out in our world!  

***Summer Worship Schedule Begins this Weekend with Services on Sunday at 8:45 & 10:15 a.m. and Saturday 6:00 p.m. ***

WOW! Abiding Presence, you know how to throw an anniversary celebration! Last Sunday's 40th anniversary service and luncheon was amazing. The music was exceptional, especially the choral anthem our Music and Worship Minister David Chavez wrote for the occasion. The mood was festive. The clergy who came to celebrate with us were plentiful. The people of Abiding Presence packed the sanctuary and narthex over 380 strong to give thanks to God for the past 40 years and look ahead to the next 40 years...and beyond. Thank you to everyone who came out to help us celebrate! 

A special word of thanks to everyone who pitched in to make the celebration possible. Our 40th anniversary team had been meeting since last summer planning the festivities. The property team and others from the congregation were at church every day for 10 straight days cleaning, fixing, moving and preparing the inside and outside of the church. There wouldn't have been a celebration without the countless members of the church who worked tirelessly to make it happen. 

And now, we're off and running toward the next 40 years. Summer may be approaching, but the ministry of Abiding Presence doesn't slow down much. This Wednesday we launch three weeks of "Hot Dogs & S'mores" as a chance to enjoy fellowship with one another during the week. Next Sunday is our annual Outdoor Worship Service and Picnic, a favorite Abiding Presence tradition. Then on Sunday, June 10 at the 8:45 a.m. service we'll have our annual High School Baccalaureate Service where we send our graduating high school seniors off with the prayers and blessings of the congregation. 

As the children's choir sang at last Sunday's celebration service, "I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together." I'm grateful to be the church together with all of you!