Day Eight 7/23/25
It started out as a cloudy morning. This is looking out my hotel window toward the I-90 bridge (over the Mississippi River) near the Convention Center.
Pastor, Vicar, Micah and Karsten had left at 7AM to walk to the Superdome, as they were going to be a Communion distribution team. The rest of us loaded the bus, grabbed something to eat quickly from the suite portion of my hotel room, then made our way down to the ground floor to walk to the Superdome. Here we are by the hotel elevators before the count off to make sure everyone was there.
Our shirts say "Give us this day...Our daily beignet" (although there was no time for beignets today!)
At the Superdome, we went to our assigned seats in the upper balcony (section 333). As we move toward our seats, we see the Communion stations that had been set up all around the stadium.
Here we are coming out to our seating area.
Our group settled into our seats.
We passed around the bag from breakfast which contained about half a loaf of cinnamon bread, in case anyone had worked up an appetite and needed a snack before worship.
The opening/processional hymn was "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
The readings were from Daniel 3:1-29 (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow down to the golden image and are thrown into the furnace.), Hebrews 11:1-2,39 - 12:3 (We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses so let us run the race set before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus.), and John 16: 16-22, 32-33 (The disciples' grief will turn to joy because Jesus has overcome all the troubles of this world.)
The readings were from Daniel 3:1-29 (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow down to the golden image and are thrown into the furnace.), Hebrews 11:1-2,39 - 12:3 (We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses so let us run the race set before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus.), and John 16: 16-22, 32-33 (The disciples' grief will turn to joy because Jesus has overcome all the troubles of this world.)
Together we confessed the Nicene Creed, and sang the Hymn of the Day:
For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
....
Our group in worship.
Pastor, Vicar, Micah and Karsten were spotted at the Communion station on the main floor, close to where we had been sitting for the mass event yesterday.
After the service, we walked back to the bus which was waiting for us at our hotel. City Hall was along the route, and that is where we had arranged to meet Ava. She was ready and waiting for us, and simply joined our group as we passed by her. We didn't even slow down. During the walk back to the hotel, we had several people / groups shout out encouraging things to us like "go Jesus!"
Next we stopped at the Lorraine Motel, the site where Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated. Although the attached National Civil Rights Museum was closed when we got there, we walked around on the outside, where there are several stations that you can walk up to, press a button and see a video clip telling part of the background / story of the assassination.
We again climbed back on the bus. On the way to the hotel, many of the girls/women set up a game of Photo Roulette, an app which picks random photos from you and your friends' phones, and you compete to guess whose photo is shown.
The hotel kept the pool open til 11 for us (they usually close it at 10), so there was about 20 min or so to swim if anyone so desired. Then we had our evening songs with Vicar on the guitar, his and lows in the breakfast area, followed by breaking into family groups for prayer time.
In His and lows, many mentioned various aspects of the worship service as a high. [On the bus, Pastor had explained the difference between a Worship service and the mass events. Both were in the Superdome. Both involved music and singing, and giving praise and worship to God. But only the Worship service today followed the liturgy and a message/sermon delivered by a pastor (who is male)].
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison then delivered the sermon based on the Gathering theme verses from Hebrews 12:1-3. Do not grow weary or fainthearted, but rather take heart in Jesus - He has overcome this world!
Our group in worship.
For Communion, our group went to a Communion station in the 3rd level hallway behind our seats).
Arriving back at our hotel, we quickly board the bus where Pastor handed out chicken sandwiches from Popeyes.
Pastor then turned on The Princess and the Frog, so we could all take a nap. Our first stop - Whataburger in Jackson, MS. Pastor made it clear this in NOT dinner, but merely a snack stop (most of us got the banana pudding milkshake)
Back on the bus, we played Feudapalooza (based on the Family Feud). Family groups competed to name such things as
What do humans like to smell? (flowers, food, perfume, candles)
What is New Orleans famous for? (Mardis Gras, food/cajun/beignets, Hurricane Katrina, jazz/blues, Bourbon Street/French Quarter)
What songs do every child know? (Twinkle Twinkle, ABCs, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Happy Birthday, Row Row Row Your Boat, Jesus Loves Me)
We also played bingo, where every bingo won you a trip to the candy tub for a candy of your choice. I wasn't keeping tally, but Kendra and Claire seemed to come up with A LOT of bingos - between the two of them, I think they walked away with half of the Bingo candy.... Despite the numerous bingo winners, I don't think we made much of a dent in the quantity of candy in the tub!
Dinner stop was Central BBQ, 2235 Central Ave, Memphis location. The workers were not warned in advance that we were coming, but they were happy to have the business and were remarkably fast in filling the orders. The food was tasty - I especially liked the home cooked (and seasoned) potato chips!
Next we stopped at the Lorraine Motel, the site where Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated. Although the attached National Civil Rights Museum was closed when we got there, we walked around on the outside, where there are several stations that you can walk up to, press a button and see a video clip telling part of the background / story of the assassination.
The assassination occurred on the balcony outside of room 306, which is now marked with the wreath.
The hotel kept the pool open til 11 for us (they usually close it at 10), so there was about 20 min or so to swim if anyone so desired. Then we had our evening songs with Vicar on the guitar, his and lows in the breakfast area, followed by breaking into family groups for prayer time.
Yes, the Worship service was definitely a high...20,000 people gathered together in worship, to sing along with the wind symphony and choir, and to receive Communion. What a way to end the Gathering!
From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
I think we caught a glimpse of that today...
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