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News that gets to the point
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This Just In... While those working in the Registration office weren’t looking, one Spur operative was able to gather some vital registration information. The buzz is growing as congregational groups continue to receive confirmation emails accepting them into the Gathering. Our operative overheard that If, for some reason, a Primary Adult Leader TONIO CVB (PAL) has not been notified, they should email AN N SA IT ED PHOTO CR nygregistration@lcms.org. One more email address to add to the list! And while it is apparent that not everyone can travel to San Antonio ss by Jamie Ba in a gadget-laden Batmobile, it appears that participants can begin planning their group’s travel arrangements. The Gathering’s website will soon have information regarding shuttles Listen up, y’all. We have recently intercepted a transmission and parking options if participants are flying or from those responsible for this gathering and it appears there driving. Budgeting $20 per person for a round are some new things going on with Dome Events. But have trip shuttle ticket from the airport to your hotel no fear, the Spur has the scoop. will secure your means.
! L E T N I E M NEW DO
Dome Events include Mass Events and the Gathering Worship Services. These events will mostly take place in the evenings, shortly after dinner. They are designed to be a time when all the participants (youth and adults) share in the same event in one large space. (Sources say this is when the mission will be shared with everyone.) The transmission reads: Mass Events and the Divine Service contain many aspects of our baptismal walk through preaching, Scripture readings, times of confession and absolution, prayer and singing. At worship, we also receive the miraculous gift of Holy Communion together. Dome Events focus us on the faith given and life nurtured by our Triune God.
A nd don’t be alar med if you see a Primar y Adult Leader (PAL) sleeping by their mailbox in a few months. Hotel assignments are rumored to be mailed to every PAL in early spring.
There will be a “bonus” Mass Event on the evening of Thursday, July 4 that will begin earlier so that we are out in time to see fireworks. The Gathering Worship Service will take place the morning of July 4. Large-group Bible study has been moved to Mass Events. These things will not change, but there are going to be a few In general, the evening events will changes (*gasp*) to Dome Events this year. start at 8:30 pm, which is later than other Gatherings. At this point you may be thinking, “B-b-b-but, I’m Lutheran The Mass Events on July 2 & 3 will have and the only change I like is from a vending machine.” an optional “Mass Event Plus” time in To be honest, I like change, but only when I can see it the Alamodome that will feature an act coming and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one out there following the Mass Event. who enjoys a little heads up, right? Here are major changes for Dome Events.
y Creeden
by Anthon
Study Secrets! Someone is on to us. We think. It’s possible. Maybe. All we can confirm at this point is that the leaders of this so-called “Gathering” have implemented a new strategy to communicate with their “participants”. Aside from the array of other communications being relayed through coded messages on their social media platforms, we have discovered a section of their website (www.lcmsgathering.com/communitylife) that contains what can only be described as “pre-Gathering Bible studies”. “What are these?” You ask. Yeah, it piqued our curiosity, too. So we did some digging, and what we found was eye-opening. We followed our suspicions and encountered a source within the inner workings of the Gathering who didn’t ask to remain nameless, but we knew his “No” meant “Yes”. We will call him Mr. X. Mr. X was very forthcoming about these studies, explaining, “They are a great way to begin the discussion of the Gathering. Each Bible study is an opportunity for individual student groups to consider the theme of ‘Live Love(d)’ before they reach San Antonio. In other words, these studies allow you to hit the ground running.” Running? Why running? Why can’t you walk? Are you in a hurry to get somewhere? Questions raced through our minds, just not quick enough for us to ask any of them. I suppose we are left with our reliable suspicions. After the initial chit-chat of “Hello. How are you? What have you been scheming you harbinger of halftruths?” we finally got down to brass tacks. For several minutes we put him through the ringer with question after question about the documents themselves. He pretended not to know what we were talking about at first, but eventually he caved. They all do. “The first study begins by asking the question, ‘What is Love?’ This question sets up the entire study as we consider our own definitions of love along with how the culture defines it. It is a fantastic and necessary step as we enter the Gathering. When we say ‘love’, what do we mean? And most importantly, what does God mean?”
PHOTO CREDIT STOCK.XCHNG: ADAMCI #267332
There it was, our first break in the complex cipher. Love. Whatever this event is aiming to accomplish, the word “love” has a lot to do with it. And its definition seemed to be of utmost importance. The more we pursued this with Mr. X, the more information began spewing out like Jell-O from my cousin Bert’s mouth after uncle Arnold told that joke about the three-legged pelican on Thanksgiving. (You had to be there.) “It’s not a code,” he said, faking confusion. “The answers are right there in the document. That is why each Bible study offers a student guide as well as a leader’s guide. The idea is that we all come to the Gathering with a clear understanding of how God defines love. This will allow us to dig deeper into the theme once we are at the Gathering. We think that is very important.” I’m sure you do. “It is our hope that this study, as well as subsequent studies to be released in the next several months, will both educate participants about the theme and get them excited for the Gathering. Our experience has been that these studies have been and continue to be an incredibly valuable resource for our leaders and their groups.” Valuable you say? In what way? Valuable in a communicate-a-secret-message-that-allows-oursleeper-agents-to-take-over-a-city kind of way? It was at that point that Mr. X pretended to be slightly annoyed with me and walked away in order to protect his identity and remain as a mole in the organization. When the interview had ended and two very large “employees” had politely escorted me off the property, I reflected on my intel operation. Something didn’t add up. He kept inviting me to attend this Gathering and see it for myself. Was this a trick? A trap? I’m still not certain. But I will definitely keep my eyes open. What can you, our loyal readers do? Investigate. Follow the link above and carefully read through those and all subsequent studies and see if you can help us figure out what all this talk of love means. We are confident that soon we will get to the bottom of this. Until then, keep your spurs on and your ears open.
by sherrah behrens
Pastor Dan: EXPOSÉ Bible Study Leader. Yeah... good cover story.
We’ve heard some interesting things regarding Bible studies at the Gathering, so we tracked down someone who should have the answers: Pastor Dan Weber, the Gathering Bible study leader. You may have seen the “Direct from Dan” videos on the Gathering website or Facebook page, and if you haven’t, you should; it’s good to collect all the evidence that’s available. Check them out here: www.lcmsgathering.com/downloads. To learn more about Pastor Dan, read on, fearless readers.
PHOTO CREDIT NATHAN HARRMANN
The Spur: Tell us, Pastor Dan, if that’s your real name— TS: Wow, that was either incredibly insightful or confusing. What I heard a lot was talk of “love”. We wait, what is your real name? think the word, “love” might be an important cipher to help us break some sort of code. Tell us more about Pastor Dan: Daniel J. Weber. this “love” thing. TS: So Dan really is your real name. And that pastor PD: Love is a word that means so many things to so part, what about that? many people. But what does love mean to God? And PD: I am a pastor. I’m the Associate Pastor at Christ what does His love mean to me? I’ve sort of got a plan the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene (core duh- for my life (at least on a really good day), but what is God’s plan for my life? What does it really mean to be lane), Idaho. alive in Him today? At the end of the day, “study” doesn’t TS: Right. So, we hear you’re the only Bible study really describe what we’ll be doing with the Bible at leader for this Gathering. We’ve also heard that at past the Gathering. We’re going to receive, experience and Gatherings, there have been multiple leaders. What actually live out Truths that God speaks into our hearts did you do with the others and How will it work with and minds. You won’t get a test at the end of the Bible study, but I pray that you’ll get God’s love in a new and just one? exciting way that will shape your life. PD: I’m not sure about the others, but in regard to me, I’ve been praying for almost a couple years that it works TS: A test would probably be too obvious, but that well. In New Orleans in 2010, you were “assigned” one, sounds really amazing! What are you hoping the but I guess you had options (if you were savvy enough participants will get out of the Gathering Bible studies? with the Gathering guide book). Not this time. It’s just me. One size fits most (hopefully). And instead of an entire PD: The short answer: Jesus. The long answer: I hour of Bible study early every morning, Bible study hope that every person at the Bible study has such is going to be incorporated and integrated into each an encounter with the living Christ through His word Mass Event as we explore the truth of Scripture from of love that they simply cannot look at the Bible in the 1 John. Whether it’s the house band rocking a song, same way ever again. That might sound bold. And a drama team enacting a scene for us to consider, or it is. It might sound arrogant or presumptuous, but I your smart phone opened to your preferred Bible app, don’t mean it to. That sort of encounter will not happen God’s Word is going to come alive again and again at because of me. I can’t make that kind of thing happen. each Mass Event. And I get to help connect the dots, But that kind of faith-giving and life-changing encounter open the Word, and share some amazing news with so can absolutely happen because of the Spirit of God who speaks through His word. I hope that each youth many amazing people. leaves the Bible study and lives loved, with all that that TS: Sounds interesting. What kind of things will we be entails by God’s grace. studying at the Gathering? We are beginning to think that whatever this gathering PD: You know, things like living and loving, loving and is, Jesus us a large part of it. This is definitely something living. Lived, loved, live, love, live[d], love[d], and that we’ll have to look into further. Stay tuned! sort of thing. Pretty much what you’d expect.
by Laura Nelson
San Antonio Surveillance We at The Spur know you are planning your own covert operations for the time you spend in San Antonio. Whether you are looking for service opportunities, local events and attractions or even investigating the true conspiracy behind the Gathering, the “On the Road Resource” is available at www.lcmsgathering. com/ontheroad to help you plan your perfect San Antonio adventure.
PHOTO CREDIT SAN ANTONIO CVB
Reports indicate that the Gathering will focus on how God has shown and continues to show His love for us, and Gathering officials are urging participants to share this message with the community of San Antonio and beyond. From what we can gather, onsite (at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center) and off-site service operations will be available during the Gathering. Further, Can-Do ministries (seemingly a third party conspirator) are arranging some operations before and after the Gathering, both in San Antonio and surrounding locations. It sounds as if this mission to share God’s love is bigger than just the city of San Antonio. Be on the lookout for more information in the “On the Road Resource”. After further investigation of the city of San Antonio, The Spur has also learned of many of the historical and entertaining aspects of the city that might be used for high-value intel. Of course, everyone is telling us to “Remember the Alamo” and to visit the Riverwalk, but there is even more to see and do in San Antonio. www.lcmsgathering.com/ sanantonio has a comprehensive listing of travel, attractions and eatery information for you to use. And don’t forget to check the “On the Road Resource” for insider group prices and tax exemptions for many of these attractions. Finally, check with the district you’re in to discover any secret rendezvous at any of these special attractions. Remember, keep looking for clues, and there are strength in numbers.
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Get connected to your District
Your district may be having additional events as well as a booth at the gathering. Make sure to get the info at www.lcmsgathering.com/districts. Just try not to let them know you are snooping around for us.
TO Dear Ray, I have been hearing rumors about group t-shirts. What is this about? Is this a special club or privilege? How do I get shirts for my youth? I feel out of the loop on this one! Where do I start? Sincerely, Looking for the Loop There are a few ways to organize group t-shirts. You can buy the official Gathering t-shirt at www.lcmsgathering. com/store, you can also check with your District Coordinator to see if your district has a special shirt, or design your own group t-shirts and have them printed at a local print shop. It is always interesting to see the crazy ideas that groups come up with. But why stop with t-shirts? Your group could have unique hats, or wigs, or glasses or dress like 18th century Alamo missionaries. Well, maybe that last one is a bad idea... it’s hot here. Driver by day, Ray is a long-time San Antonio, TX taxi driver with a wealth of information on the city and much, much more. Maybe too much...