Dear everyone,
I'm pleased to announce that the Ninth Annual Christ on Campus Conference will be held May 24-26, 2011 at University Lutheran Chapel in Boulder, CO. We thank Pastor Daniel Burhop and his campus congregation for agreeing to host us!
More details will certainly be coming in the future, but please mark your calendars now and make plans to join us next summer in Boulder, Co!
Fraternally in Christ,
Rev. Marcus T. Zill
Higher Things, Christ on Campus Executive
Looking for information on next summer's Higher Things Lutheran Youth Conference? There's only one place to find it!
If you are a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, you have a new, easy way to help support what matters most to you.
Through Thrivent ChoiceSM, a new charitable grant program, members can help choose where Thrivent Financial distributes some of its charitable funds each year.
The program has two components: Voting Events and Choice DollarsSM.
Through Voting Events, all members age 16 and older can vote to help choose where Thrivent Financial distributes funds among a short list of national organizations. Voting Events occur one or two times each year.
Eligible benefit members also are designated Choice Dollars. By directing Choice Dollars, they can request funding for thousands of Lutheran organizations nationwide, including Higher Things! Potential designated Choice Dollars amounts that can be directed range from $25 to $500 for each eligible member.
If you are eligible to direct Choice Dollars, you can direct them right now. If you are uncertain about your eligibility, visitThrivent.com/thriventchoice, or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.
Directing Choice Dollars and voting in Voting Events are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Thrivent Choice Program. VisitThrivent.com/thriventchoice for complete Terms and Conditions.
Dear Reflections Subscribers,
The next set of HT Reflections for August 15 through September 18 are now available. To download the Reflections in a printable booklet format, click here.
Thanks for your support of Higher Things!
Pastor Mark Buetow
HT Media Services
Higher Things was honored at the triennial LCMS Synodical Convention last week in Houston with both a resolution supporting the work of HT as well as the election of several staff and board members to positions throughout the Synod.
The resolution of the Synod in convention gives the following "resolved:"
That the Synod in convention recognize Higher Things as a valuable asset for youth ministry for its congregations and encourage its members to consider including Higher Things in their youth ministry strategies.
In addition, many current and former Higher Things staff, speakers and supporters have been elected to various positions around the Synod. These include:
by Heidi Gaub
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The best week out of my year, hands down, is the Higher Things conference. This year I served as a Christ on Campus Volunteer (CCV) for the Given conference in Logan, UT. It was my fourth conference attended, my second time as a CCV. As always, Higher Things did not disappoint.
This year we focused on the theme “Given”, the gifts God has given to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. The plenary sessions, in-depths, and breakaways, although varied in topic, focused on these gifts given through Christ. The liturgy, marriage, confession and absolution, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and baptism, are examples of God’s gifts to us that were looked into further at this year’s conferences. All of these sessions also reinforced that these gifts were GIVEN TO us. That Christ died FOR us. It is nothing that we did for we are sinners and can do nothing worthy of these gifts. God does not need our worship and praise, he does not need us to confess our sins, or to pray. These are gifts that are FOR us, to strengthen our faith and to keep us in His Word, for He has GIVEN us eternal salvation through His Son.
We went to 10 worship services that week, two of those being the Divine Service, and we also prayed Compline every night. These services delivered God’s gifts to us through the Word and Sacrament, the liturgy, and confession and absolution. These worship services always fill my eyes with tears, simply because I am so amazed at 500+ youth singing “We Praise You and Acknowledge You” and chanting the liturgy with such sincerity and faith.
I love what Higher Things does and I could not be more thankful to the people who help keep this organization running. It is so important for the young people to come and worship, learn, and enjoy the company of their brothers and sisters in Christ. It has been said before that we live in a time that makes it very difficult to be Lutheran but these youth “Dare to be Lutheran!”
It is incredible to walk out of a breakaway teaching session and hear high-school aged youth talking about how great the session was and that they want to hear the pastor speak again. It is amazing to hear them asking questions, trying to learn as much as they can in a one-hour session. It is refreshing to hear youth talking about worship services, the Bible, and the catechism and not topics that would so frequently take up the conversation of teenagers today. It is wonderful to see them making new friends, and meeting new people from all over the country who share their faith.
Although I served as a CCV of the conference, I was still able to attend all the worship services, plenary sessions, in-depths, and breakaways. Sure, I ran around like a crazy person the rest of the time but to me it was all worth it. I do this for the youth because I am grateful someone did the same for me when I was an attendee. I learned so much and took new knowledge and understanding home with me. You know Higher Things is doing something right when a sleep-deprived volunteer can stay awake during all the sessions, eager to learn, and when she rolls out of bed at 4:30 in the morning to pray the Litany with other CCVs!
I pray for Higher Things daily and for all of our youth. I go home confused when there is only church once a week on Sunday and not more services to attend! I break out into biblical discussion with anyone I run into, quoting the in-depth, breakaway, and plenary speakers I heard. I miss Compline so much, in fact, that a few fellow CCVs and I have even begun praying it over Skype with each other at night!
Higher Things is a constant reminder to me that all of the earthly troubles and worries I have will end and I will receive the gift of eternal life. Although it hurts every year to say “good-bye” because I don’t know when and if I will see everyone again in this earthly life, I know I commune with all my brothers and sisters in Christ and all the company of heaven every Sunday, and we will live in eternal joy and salvation through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
The gifts Christ freely gives, He gives to you and me, to be His own, His bride, His chosen, saved and free! Saints blest with these rich gifts are children who proclaim that they were won by Christ, and cling to His strong name.” (LSB 602)
Heidi Gaub served as a CCV at Given 2010 in Logan, UT.
We've received a number of questions about the merchandise we featured at the 2010 Higher Things summer conferences. All of these t-shirts and hoodies are available online via Printfection, an online retailer. You can find our catalog of merchandise by clicking here. This link can always be found via our Store page as well.
Adriane Dorr, a long time editor and writer for the Higher Things magazine has recently taken a position with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's flagship publication, The Lutheran Witness. Everyone at Higher Things is very excited for her and wish her the best on her new endeavor in the world of publications.
A full press release from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's Board for Communication Services can be read online at: http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=17198
You learned about Baptism in Confirmation class, but it still doesn’t really make sense - especially when your Christian friends believe something totally different about it! Explore with Pastor George Borghardt (St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX) what Scripture has to teach about Baptism. Come and be refreshed in your faith, and in the waters of the Frio River!
What: A Higher Things Retreat
When: July 29-31, 2010
Where: Garner State Park in Concan, TX
Who: Confirmed Youth
Cost: $65/person
RSVP: by July 19 to Pastor Ware pastorware@lwlc.org
From evolution to the problem of evil, you need to defend your faith in an unbelieving world.
But how??
Join Pastor Charles Mallie (Zion Lutheran Church, Tomball, TX) on this Higher Things camping trip. You’ll learn about apologetics and get the tools to answer those sticky questions from your non-Christian professors, classmates, coworkers, and friends.
What: A Higher Things Retreat
When: August 6-8, 2010
Where: New Braunfels, Texas
Hosted by: Living Woods Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, TX
Who: 18-20 somethings
Cost: $45/person
RSVP: by July 19 to Pastor Ware pastorware@lwlc.org
