Tag: Gratitude

Reflections on Extravaganza 2022 Evaluations
Hello Network friends, We have completed compiling and analyzing the evaluations from Extravaganza 2022, held in early February in Minneapolis and online. First, I want to thank all of you who took the time to fill out an evaluation form. We had an good rate of return on these evaluations. In 2022, there were a ...

Gathering Transitions: Thank You to Molly Beck Dean
Dear friends, At this year’s Extravaganza, ELCA staff members and many of the team leaders from the ELCA Youth Gathering were present to talk about the cancellation of the 2022 Gathering and the transition to the 2024 Youth Gathering. And at this event, Deacon Tammy Jones West was introduced as the new Interim Director of the ...

Reflections on Extravaganza 2021 Evaluations
Hello friends! I hope you’re well and that your Lenten season is one of reflection, peace and grace. After the Extravaganza, over 300 of you took a few minutes to fill out the event evaluation form to let us know what your experience was like. Thank you to all who filled out the evaluations. We ...

3 Words on the Youth Gathering
Wow. Just wow. There are only 3 thoughts I can share right now. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you: Gifted, talented and beloved. For your time and energy, we are grateful. On behalf of all of us, thank you. Thanks be to God. Jesus changes everything. Peace, Todd

That One Time When Your Kid Met Your Friends
Six days ago, our 14 year old son, Samuel, climbed aboard a 12-passenger van with other members of the youth group from our congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, Minnesota and the group began its journey to Detroit, Michigan. The groups is spending the week working with Living Waters Ministries, one of the ELCA‘s amazing ...

Thank you Paul Hill!
In 1996, there was a crew of about 20 people working to put together the first “Extravaganza” (named that year the “Ex-strato-ganza” because it was at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas…clearly we were headed for marketing greatness). The whole event was put together on a dime and a prayer. There pretty much was no ...