In just a couple of weeks Kathy Beuster and I will be heading out to San Antonio, Texas with a group of ten high school youth from Immanuel for the ELCA National Youth Gathering where we will meet up with approximately 6,000 youth and adults from around the country. It will be, I have no doubt, an amazing experience. Besides opportunities to play and work (our group will help with a construction service project), our week in San Antonio will include presentations by renowned church leaders, challenging Bible study, magnificent worship experiences, and music that will have people literally dancing in the aisles and singing praises to God. These ten young people will feel an excitement about their faith and a joy in their Lord that they have never felt before.

Unfortunately, if past history holds true for the present, the enthusiasm and joy they experience in San Antonio will quickly wane back in Earlville. The common observation I hear from youth who return from national youth gatherings is that "church" here just seems flat. It lacks the excitement and joy they experienced at the gathering. And they’re right!

I wish I could bottle up the excitement and enthusiasm of the San Antonio Gathering and bring it back with me.

Imagine a classroom full of adults hanging on every word of a Bible study. Imagine more people showing up for a service project than we know what to do with. Imagine worshipers singing with enthusiasm and dancing in the aisles on a Sunday morning. Imagine raising a joyful noise to the Lord. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be so inspired!

I think we can be. In fact, how can we not be joy-filled if we truly believe what we say - that God loves us, that Jesus died for us, and that the Holy Spirit is always with us. How can we not be joy-filled if we truly believe God’s promise of life in his kingdom. That really is good news....joyful news.

So, come to worship and think about what you believe. And then let the good news of God’s love fill your heart and your voice and your lives with joy!

In Christ,

Pastor Knowles