Southern Ohio Lutheran Youth Serving Christ
Southern Ohio Synod Lutheran Youth Organization

WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!

New Orleans says thanks in the newspapers and on the internet and more to all who helped with the world's largest three day service project.  

Read more about the 2009 national youth gathering at the bottom of the following site: www.elca.org

A 2009 SYNOD GATHERING RECAP
The 2009 synod youth gathering was another great event with lots of terrific stories.  The band "Lost and Found" was terrific (www.speedwood.com).  The workshops and main speakers and talent show and closing worship were also wonderful.  Perhaps you have some memories of the event that you would like to share with us?  If so, please email mikehout@erinet.com and we will be glad to include them on this site.

I felt like everything went so well.  This was my first one and I can't wait to come back next year.  Amy Hartmann

It was so exciting to be one of the adult leaders.  I loved meeting old friends and making many new friends during the weekend.  Kim Lange

What a thrill to lead the synod youth this past year and help organize this great event.  Beth Allen


Have you heard about the new youth and family ministry staff person in our Southern Ohio Synod!  His name is Gary Pecuch and he would love to talk to you.  You can read about him at www.southernohiosynod.org  Simply go to "congregations" and then "resources". If you then click on "youth and family ministries" you can stay up to date with what's happening.

The Bible verse for this year's event was 2 Corinthians 4:18 which states "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

The 2008 SYNOD YOUTH GATHERING held January 11-13 was something else. Here are some reasons why:
1 - It didn't snow (terrific weather)
2 - Camp Kern (terrific facilities)
3 - Theme (terrific study of Mark 1:16-18 Gone Fishing)
4 - Peder Eide (terrific musician at www.pedereide.com/)
5 - Workshops (terrific sharing of information)
6 - Speakers (terrific work Victor, Logan and Gary)
7 - Small Groups (terrific up close and personal time)
8 - Talent Show (terrific sharing of God's gifts)
9 - Dance (terrific DJ and movement)
10 - The people (terrific youth & adults of our synod!!!)

This event made it so clear that there is so much left to be done, but there is also so much to appreciate. I appreciate Peder Eide, who opened my eyes to true worship. I appreciate all the speakers, who encourage us to go out and be fishers of men and make as many disciples for Christ as we can. I appreciate all the people that attended to remind me that we are a community of believers with one goal. And I appreciate the board for all the hard work they did to prepare for this event. I pray that everyone will come again next year as I am sure that it will be even more uplifting. Peace, Brandon Huston-outgoing president

Here are some more comments:
-Peder was stupendous
-I loved the talent show
-The speakers really brought the theme home
-I can still feel the zing
-Those bagpipes were crazy
-We didn't have any butter
-We are going to work hard to make next year's event special, too! -
Beth Allen, new SOS LYO president
-Ooh Ahh Mmm Yea Boo Mom...youth leader David Gore

MANY, MANY THANKS TO THRIVENT FOR THEIR GREAT SUPPORT OF THIS YOUTH EVENT. THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH OF OUR SYNOD TOGETHER!

One youth group came up with a list of the 10 unique things about our recent synod youth gathering................
1-bagpipes
2-goldfish boxes everywhere (even in the rafters)
3-"Jesus Loves Me" marshmallows
4-pogo sticking out the door (and back in)
5-group hand chimes (and doing Peder Eide's "Abba")
6-giant jenga
7-head hitting music
8-rubik's cube racing
9-pastor throwing liquid on people and yelling "it's water"

10-dancing (superman-electric slide-hoe down
-
chicken dance & more)

And go to this website of Zion Lutheran in Hamilton. You will see many people you recognize from the recent youth gathering including Mr. Outgoing President and the new Miss President. Just click on photos...........
http://www.zionhamilton.org/

Here's a youth group at the last national event.....

The 2008 Bible Bowl is set for March 2nd at Trinity Seminary and the book of emphasis will be Matthew! Here are the top 2007 Bible Bowl teams who took home banners as winners: St. John (West Alexandria), Zion (Groveport) and St. John's (Miamisburg). The names of the winning team are: Fulton Collins, Myranda Nelson, Laura Ingram and Angela McLean. It was very impressive to see how much everyone knew about Exodus! Watch the following website for information on the 2008 event: www.sosbiblebowl.blogspot.com/

Below is a picture of the St. John's (Miamisburg) Bible Bowl team. Great t-shirts!

The 2008 S.O.S. L.Y.O. BOARD is below.

President.............Beth Allen-Zion, Hamilton

Vice-President........Leif Thompson-Lord of Life, Worthington

Financial Secretary...Bianca Krebs-Hosanna, Pataskala

Recording Secretary...Whitney Ramsay-First English, Ashville

Member at Large.......Alyse Rettich-Emmanuel, Germantown

Member at Large.......Matt Conner-Hosanna, Pataskala

Member at Large.......Alec Van Dyke-Christ, Heath

Alternate.............Paige Miller-Emmanuel, Germantown

Lay Advisor...........Robin Kaelin-Zion, Hamilton

Pastoral Advisor......Grant Eckhart - http://www.princeofpeaceelca.org/

Synod Advisor.........Casey Backus - http://www.mowana.com/mowana_staff.html
mowanaprogramdirector@earthlink.net

Synod Staff Liaison...Ed Williams-Assistant to the Bishop

Here is a recap of the 2006 ELCA National Youth Gathering in San Antonio and a video from St. Paul Lutheran in Westerville. Do you recognize anyone?...........

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7033196018035641812&q=elca+national+youth+gathering&hl=en

Check out this link to pictures of youth from First Lutheran in Springfield. See if you recognize anyone (like a certain talent show pogo hopping champion)...........
http://www.flickr.com/photos/firstlutheranspringfield/

We were thrilled to hear and get to know Peder Eide.  What a guitarist.  What a voice.  And what a nice guy!  You can read more about him at the following websites: www.pedereide.com/

We had great speakers in Victor Thomas (a well known clown and mascot person in the southeastern Ohio area), Logan Dysart (great campus ministry at Miami University in Oxford) and Gary Eichhorn (pastor and very active fisherman from Oakwood, Ohio).

Check out more about Camp Kern and their 520 beautiful acres at the following site:  www.campkern.org   

Read here about the national youth gathering for 2009: www.elca.org/youth/gathering.html


The 2008 gathering workshops were great.  Here is a list of the informative events: "I want to worship God but hymns make me hurl" by musician Peder Eide; Square Dancing or Do-See-Do; Guitar picking; Giant Jenga; Color Twister (tie-die with a twist-bring your own shirt/clothes etc.); Fishbowl with Rev. Ed Williams; Love and Sex; Photography & Hiking; Juggling; a Meditation Well and more.

Our synod is fortunate to have two colleges.  We had representatives from Capital and Wittenberg at the gathering.  Check them out at www.capital.edu and www.wittenberg.edu.  Have you heard of the Lutheran Student Movement (LSM)?  Read about it at www.lsm-usa.org/  

Ohio State has an active Lutheran Campus ministry and their pastor, Jay Gamlin, is very active with our synod youth.  Check them out at http://lutheran.org.ohio-state.edu/


Here are some congregations who attended this year's synod youth gathering (and their websites if they have one).  See if you recognize any of your friends on the website pictures.....

St. John, Miamisburg-http://www.stjohnsmiamisburg.org/

Christ, Heath-http://www.christ-in-heath.org/

First, Springfield-http://www.firstlutheranspringfield.org/

Zion, Hamilton-http://www.zionhamilton.org/

Zion, Middletown-http://www.zionluthchurch.org/

Peace, Beavercreek-http://www.peacebeavercreek.org/

Gethsemane, Columbus-http://www.gethsemane.org

Prince of Peace, Loveland-http://www.princeofpeaceelca.org 

Grace, Westerville-http://www.grace43081.org 

Good Shepherd, Kettering-http://www.goodshepherdkettering.com

St. Jacob, Miamisburg-http://www.forministry.com/USOHELCIASJLCS

North Community, Columubs-http://www.nclc-elca.org/

Faith, Whitehall-http://www.elcafaithoh.org

All Saints, Worthington-http://www.saintsonhigh.org/

Christ Lutheran, Bexley-http://www.christbexley.org 

Faith, Wilmington-http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&gid=00029000001078958466610890

All Saints, Cincinnati-http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&gid=20043624687486075801111555

St. Paul, Dayton

Good Shepherd, West Milton

First English, Ashville

First English, Lancaster

Salem, West Alexandria

Emanuel, Germantown Lutheran, Columbus

Good Shepherd, West Milton

Redeemer, Columbus




Progress