Oct 2, 2026
Dear church,
Next summer, 2027, the ELCA National Youth Gathering will take place right here in our area at U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. Thousands of high school-aged youth from across the country will come together for worship, inspiring speakers, meaningful connections, and opportunities to ask big questions about faith and life.
The theme for the week is Imagine, grounded in Ephesians 3:20, which reminds us that God is already at work within us, doing far more than we can ask or imagine.
We are excited for the opportunity to take a group of our youth to the Gathering this year - the first time in recent history that we have participated as a group. We believe this will be a memorable, fun, and spiritually enriching experience as our youth gather with thousands of other young people from across the ELCA. Registration opens soon, so we want to make sure everyone has the information they need!
This Sunday, a regional representative for the Youth Gathering will be at Grace to talk with our high school youth, parents, and anyone interested in learning more about this exciting event. Whether you want to learn more about what the Youth Gathering is, hear how you can support our youth, or simply hear more about the largest gathering of ELCA youth in the world, we invite you to join us! Here's a sneak peek at "Why the Gathering."
ELCA National Youth Gathering Informational Meeting
Sunday, October 4 – following worship – approximately 10:30a
Koinonia Hall
In the coming months, you will hear more about the National Youth Gathering, including opportunities for our youth to fundraise, prepare, and get excited for this experience. We look forward to sharing more with you along the way!
Leslie Pietila
Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry