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1. When is drop off?
5 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14
at St. Thomas/Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
( 3980 S Lindbergh Blvd, Sappington, MO 63127).
Yes, you read that right: 5 a.m. (sorry)!
2. When is pick up?
Late evening on Sunday, July 19, at St. Thomas/Holy Spirit, time dependent on travel but likely around (or shortly after) midnight. Since exact arrival time is not known, Sherman or Claire will text Jessica who will send an email to all families when the bus is about an hour away from the location, so you don’t waste time waiting in the parking lot. Stay up and watch your email box!
3. What medical forms am I required to bring?
You need two forms: the Emergency Form and the Release of Liability. (These are the same forms Claire may have already handed to you at church). They are due Sunday, July 12 (same day as the Commissioning during worship).
Our Congregational ID (for the medical form) is 20169.
4. What about cash for food?
Our hotel provides breakfast, but no other meals are provided. You need to bring cash for all other meals. Assuming approximately $25 per diem, we estimate $150 to cover meals for 6 days. Note that the Gathering suggests $40 per diem for meals, so you may want to bring more. Hotel breakfast hours are 6-9 a.m. on weekdays and 7-10 a.m. on weekends, so you will need to get up early enough to have breakfast before catching the Gathering shuttle. Bringing along snacks and a water bottle is also recommended.
5. What should I pack?
A few notes: bring work gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, and closed-toed shoes for Proclaim Justice day. Flip-flops are discouraged throughout the Gathering.
Cell Phone IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Detroit’s close proximity to Canada can sometimes cause cell phones to roam over to cell phone towers in Canada. To avoid unexpected international charges, make sure to switch the roaming feature on your phone to “off” while in Detroit!
6. At which hotel are we staying?
Fairfield Inn and Suites, Canton. Despite some earlier blips, and a hotel switch, this is confirmed and we are good to go!
7. What is the daily schedule?
Download the 2015 daily schedule.
Note that we are sightseeing on Wednesday, so will likely not attend the pre-Gathering programming on Wednesday.
8. Who else is on our bus?
Churches that will be on the bus with you: Bethel, Christ-Webster Groves, Gethsemane, Peace-Sullivan, Shepherd of the Hills, St. Thomas/Holy Spirit, Trinity-Kirkwood.
Total on your bus: 48 people. Total from Bethel: 12 (10 youths, 2 leaders). Bus name: Ford Explorers.
Additional Bus info for Tuesday:
- Youth and adults are to eat breakfast before they come or bring a sack breakfast.
- Everyone will also need to bring a sack lunch to eat at a rest area.
- Rules that need to follow on the bus are: clean up trash, make sure youth throw gumaway and don’t put under the seats, and screw top lids on drinks (no straws).
- The buses will meet at the first rest area and caravan the rest of the way (this is preferred by the bus company and cannot be changed.) We will stop two times each at a rest area: Plainfield, IN (mile mark 65 on I-70) to eat lunch and then again near Markle, IN (mile mark 87 on I-69). Please encourage your youth to be patient and be timely at these rest areas. We have a schedule and wee want to keep to it the best we can so that we get to Detroit before dinner.
- We should arrive in Detroit at 4:30 pm “our time” OR 5:30 pm “Detroit time”. Depending on time, we will go to the hotel first, then dinner.
9. Do I have to pay for sightseeing?
No, Bethel has already paid for the Wednesday sightseeing. Claire can remind you what you signed up for:
- Belle Isle (“Almost Canada”) – A relaxing day before the Gathering starts. This island park is situated on the Detroit River between the US and Canada. Home to a variety of attractions including a conservatory, a lighthouse, a fountain, giant slide, a small zoo, athletic fields, and a beach. There may be concessions on the island or the bus may take adults to get take out. (Leader: Claire)
- Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (“Car Museum”) – Enter a world of amazing inventions, daring visionaries and living traditions that span three centuries of American life, four one-of- a-kind attractions and 200 acres of sights, sounds and sensations that will take you places you’ve never been before. Several restaurants on are on the premises. (Leader: Sherman)
10. Who are the Adult Leaders attending the Gathering with Bethel youth?
Claire Flesch and Sherman Lee.
11. Who am I rooming with?
We are rooming only with other Bethel people, and Adult Leaders have their own rooms. Girls are two to a room, boys are three to a room. Ask Claire for the specifics of your assignment.
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12. Where do I find out more from official sources?
You can peruse the main 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering web site. There is an app to download there.
Check out the 2015 Gathering Facebook page. There’s also a Central States Synod Facebook Gathering page.
Find more 2015 Gathering resources/forms here.
Check out the 2015 Gathering YouTube channel.
13. Is Unity-Bel Nor’s youth group on our bus or staying at our hotel?
Sadly, no. The other area churches at our hotel are: St. Mark Belleville, Christ Community Columbia, IL, Our Lord’s Maryville, Zion Mt Olive.
14. How do I find out what’s going on with Bethel youth during the trip?
“Like” Bethel’s Facebook page for regular updates and pictures.