Musician Jonathan Rundman (right in photo at left) and band led participants in music during the Grace Gathering’s opening session on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
Linda Leister, member of
Messiah Lutheran Church in Mifflintown, Pa., participated in the “Care for Creation” track and visited the Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum. “I was here shortly after Katrina, and it’s moving to see it rejuvenated today,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see the action they’ve taken to bring back the area to what it was before.” Assembly and gathering
Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee delivered the keynote address at the Grace Gathering and encouraged everyone to fight for justice, especially in regard to women’s rights: “Jesus took women as his friends, not as a sidebar, but as an important part of his ministry. He would say to everyone that there are no minorities in my kingdom.”
During “God’s Grace in Action Afternoon,” participants went to Schaumburg Elementary School to pack binders of school supplies for students.
participants joined for keynote speaker Leymah Gbowee, a Nobel laureate and Liberian peace activist. She built on the notion of reformation, urging people to turn discouragement and disillusionment into positive action for justice. “I believe the state of our world is a reflection of our religious institutions,” she said. “When we are truly reforming, we are following the words of Jesus. To speak justice where injustice abounds. To push for peace.” Gbowee’s sending message put
into words the overall theme of both the gathering and assembly: “To every person in this room, it’s up to you to stand up, not on your own doctrine, but like Luther—on the Scripture that was given to us by Christ.”
After learning about diverse approaches to create positive learning environments, “God’s Grace in Action Afternoon” participants wrote notes of encouragement to students in New Orleans.
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