Dear Adult Leaders:

Well, here we are, just two weeks away from the start of the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering. This email is probably the longest I have sent because, as you can imagine, there is A LOT of important information and reminders to share. So, here we go...
First and foremost, remember to breathe and relax. It will all be OK! In these last few weeks it can be easy to jump to conclusions and miss something or misinterpret information as the pressure mounts. Just remember that God is with you and all of us as we prepare. So, breathe -- it's all going to work out just fine! :-)
Adult Leader Training
The Gathering has put together two important training videos that should be viewed by all adult leaders accompanying your youth to Houston. Please share these links with all of your adult leaders.


Service Learning Orientation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMpZzgf_hYs
Gathering Guidebook (Including "First & Final 15" Devotions)
When you arrive in Houston and register with the Gathering in your hotel all adult leaders will receive a printed copy of the 2018 Gathering Guidebook. You can read the guidebook in advance by downloading it HERE.
Gathering Phone App
Be sure that all adult leaders and youth download the ELCA Youth Gathering official app onto their phones. The app will include ALL of the information needed for your week in Houston and will have updates pushed to it during the week as well to ensure you are on top of any changing details and information.

Follow the directions on the right --->
to download and install the app.
Priority Pass
From the Gathering app participants are able to sign-up in advance for certain popular activities and experiences in both the Community Life arena and in the Interaction Center.

Sign-ups are now available from inside the app under the "Priority Pass Schedule" section. There are spots for congregational groups AND individuals depending on the activity.
Hotel Assistance
If you still have not heard from your hotel with reservation confirmations, if you need assistance calculating your final bill, or to submit tax exempt information please contact your hotel directly:

DoubleTree by Hilton - Nacheal Kelley: (713) 850-2304 - nacheal.kelley@hilton.com
Crowne Plaza - Doug Waits: (713) 577-1274 - dwaits@pacificahost.com
Schedule Information/Daily Rotations
Mass Gathering - Every Evening (Wednesday-Saturday) at NRG Stadium at 7:30pm (Doors open at 6pm) until 9:15pm.

Synod Day (Thursday) - Doors open at 11:30am at NRG Center in Rooms 600-603, 606-609. Synod Day runs from 12:00pm-3:00pm.

Service Day (Friday) - We will "launch" and load buses from our hotels (which is why your transportation schedule most likely says "walk" as the mode of transportation). See your Final Confirmation Letter for detailed information on your Service Day (in case you have something different).

Interactive Learning (Saturday) - Doors open at 9am at NRG Center and is open all day until Mass Gathering doors open.

Sunday Worship - Doors open at 8am at NRG Stadium. Worship will begin at 9am until 11:30am.
If you are wanting to bring food items for breakfast or for snacks a great alternative to packing them and carrying them with you while you travel is to ship them to the hotel in advance using a service such as Amazon PrimePantry. With Prime Pantry you can fill a box with dry foods and have it shipped for free (requires a Prime membership) to the hotel.

Both of our hotels do not charge for receiving packages. They ask that the packages do not arrive before Monday, June 25 and that your name, as it appears on your hotel reservation, is clearly indicated on the package or it may be refused.
Food at The Gathering
Houston has an amazing food scene so it is no surprise that the Gathering will be taping into some of those tasty options. Lunch and dinner will be available at NRG Park in all three venues including the stadium (dinner). There will also be food trucks from local restaurants staged at NRG as well.
Entering & Exiting NRG Stadium
For the Gathering we will be entering and exiting NRG Stadium each evening through the Budweiser Plaza, Ford Entrance & Amegy Bank Entrance. These are all located on the south side of the stadium. Please remember all bags are subject to search upon entering NRG.
A reminder that if your congregation is collecting books for The Gathering in-kind offering you may drop them off at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison on Saturday, June 23 from 10am-12pm to have them loaded for transport.
Interactive Learning
During the week (and on Saturday in particular) your group will have the opportunity to explore the Interaction Center. To learn more about the options and tracks available click HERE.
A fun Interaction Center Scavenger Hunt has also been shared by one of our adult leaders as an engaging way for your group to experience the Interaction Center. You can download a PDF HERE and are welcome to use if for your group.
Have questions? Need help? Feel lost? Don't worry, you are not alone!

I am available by phone today and tomorrow this week and Tuesday-Friday next week; or via email anytime to help everyone as we draw closer to The Gathering.

Jason Xiong
Synod Coordinator - 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering
South-Central Synod of Wisconsin
scsw.elcayg@gmail.com
(608) 381-2861 - Cell
2018 ELCA Youth Gathering
"This Changes Everything"