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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 250 college-aged students
will focus their time and energies on worship, service and social justice when
they meet in San Diego Dec. 28-Jan. 1, 2006 for the annual gathering of the
Lutheran Student Movement-USA (LSM-USA). The theme of this years gathering
is "Out of the Boat and Into the Water: A Faith Immersion" (Matthew 14:
25-27).
The San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina is the headquarters for the
gathering. LSM-USA is a national organization of college, university and
seminary students who worship in the Lutheran tradition.
In addition to service projects and worship, the gathering will feature
Bible study, prayer, learning opportunities, business meetings, and plenary
sessions featuring keynote speakers.
Among service activities, students will collect building materials from a
demolished building at Carlton Hills Lutheran Church, Santee, Calif. The
materials will be shipped to Mexico where they will be used to build
orphanages. Other students will participate in a "border experience" during
which they will travel to the U.S.-Mexico border and learn from border
authorities about the work that goes on there.
Students attending have been asked to bring used clothing with them for a
clothing drive sponsored by the LSM National Council. The clothes will be
given to a San Diego-area charity. The drive focuses on homelessness, the
organizations social justice concern this year.
Students can also participate in some post-gathering service opportunities
in San Diego and along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Speakers, worship leaders and preachers are the Rev. Kim Erno, program
director, the Lutheran Center, Mexico City; the Rev. Ernie Hinojosa,
pastor/developer, Camino Real Christian Fellowship (ELCA); San Antonio;
Sunitha Mortha, associate director for global events and mission
interpretation, ELCA Global Mission, Chicago; the Rev. Harvard Stephens, Jr.,
dean, Siebert Chapel, Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis.; the Rev. Maria A. Santa
Cruz, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, San Diego; and the Rev. William P. Yonker,
pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee, Ill.
LSM-USA will hold its annual legislative session during the event and the
organization will elect officers for the coming year.
Information about the LSM-USA Gathering is at http://www.lsm-usa.org/ on
the Web.
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