Author: Higher Things

So, there’s good news…and there’s more good news!

The first good news is that GIVEN – Nashville has reached its registration capacity! A big reason that we changed locations for our Tennessee conference was to allow more youth to spend a week immersed in the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. And as a result of the move, 250 more youth were not only able to register for the conference, but 250 more youth HAVE registered for the conference!

More good news is that GIVEN – Utah is still open! Registrations have been steadily coming in for that conference as well, and there’s still room for groups to attend that conference. The regular registration window closes on March 1, 2010. Until then, registration for GIVEN – Utah is $310 per person. After March 1, the fee goes up to $325 per person. In other words, if you’re planning to register a group for the Utah conference and just haven’t gotten around to it yet, get those registrations made by Sunday so you don’t have to pay any additional fees!

Online registration is, by far, the easiest and fastest way to register your group. All you need is a (free) HT Account to manage your group’s information. You can sign up for an account, register your group, and even pay your deposit and/or balance through our website with your credit card at www.given2010.org. Questions about your group’s registration or the registration process? Call our toll-free number at 1-888-482-6630 and speak with our Registrar or email her at registrar@higherthings.org. If you have other conference questions, please contact me at the phone number or email below.

In Christ,

Sandra Ostapowich
2010 Conference Coordinator

Great News!

The response to registration has been amazing – the Tennessee conference is more than 85% full! Even with the change in locations earlier this month, we have less than 150 guaranteed spots remaining for groups to attend the GIVEN conference at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

We still have plenty of room in Utah for any groups still getting organized and forms together. Both conferences will be very similar in programming and general schedule, but the settings will be very different. Vanderbilt is located in the heart of Music City and Utah State is in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Both campuses are beautiful and offer many nice amenities for us while we’re staying there.

There is just one week left in the regular registration period while groups may register for Tennessee at the rate of $335/person and for Utah at $310/person. After March 1, the rates will increase by $15/person.

Groups who register for a conference after it has reached capacity have the option of putting their names on a waiting list for that conference, switching to the other conference with space available at no additional fee (and possibly even for less!). If you’re still trying to figure out if you can get to a conference, please contact us because we can put you in touch with other groups attending from your area for travel purposes or to “share” chaperones with your youth. We want to help everyone who wants to attend a Higher Things conference this summer to do so!

It’s so great to see that we have so many youth already registered for the GIVEN conferences this summer. And we still have room for many more youth to hear how the Gospel is GIVEN to us in Utah and Tennessee! For more information about the conferences, please visit http://www.given2010.org or email conferences@higherthings.org.

In Christ,

Sandra Ostapowich
2010 Conference Coordinator
Secretary, Board of Directors
Higher Things, Inc.

Forest Glen Confirmation Retreat
April 9 – 11, 2010
5th – 8th Graders
(Friday, 8:00 p.m. – Sunday, 11:00 a.m.)

Forest Glen Christian Camp
Huntsville, Texas

Join us for a weekend of fun, catechesis and worship at Forest Glen Christian Camp in Hunstville, Texas (http://www.forestglen.org). We are going to have a blast! Some of our planned activities include:

• Worship from the Lutheran Service Book (including Evening Prayer by the campfire)
• Catechesis on the topic of “The Hiddenness of God in All of Life”
• Lots of outdoor activities including canoeing, fishing, swimming in Lake Grace and hiking in the woods and around the lake

We are pleased to announce that our guest speaker for the weekend will be Rev. Jeffrey W. Ware of Living Word Lutheran Church of The Woodlands, Texas. He will be speaking on “The Hiddenness of God in All of Life”. Nearly every person, at one point in their life wonders, “Where can I find God?”  It’s perhaps, the most important question that could ever be asked.  Every religion answers the question differently, but Christianity’s answer is completely unique.  You can’t find God on your own, He’s hidden!  Is God playing games with us, or has he hidden himself for a reason?

Cost: $95 per person due upon arrival at the retreat (includes housing and meals). Make checks payable to Higher Things, Inc.

Contact: Michelle Klein 936-537-6311 or michellezemail@yahoo.com

RSVP to Michelle by March 31, 2010. Click here to download the registration form. Turn in this form with your payment on the first day of the retreat.

Higher Things Internet Services is pleased to announce that the 2010 Lenten Reflections are now available. These Reflections, written by Pastor George Borghardt, focus us on having a “Happy Lent” because of the suffering and death of Jesus which saves us from our sins and His forgiveness bestowed upon us by the Word and Sacraments.

To download the Lenten Reflections in a printable booklet format, click here.

As always, thanks for your support of Higher Things!

The Lord’s richest blessings to you and a Happy Lent!

Greetings!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Things are really heating up! We are entering our final month of registration for the Given Conference. Registration for our Tennessee Conference is almost two-thirds full!

A few weeks ago, we became concerned that we would be unable to serve the number of youth that the Lord was giving us for this conference.. Not wanting to turn anyone away from the conference, our staff began to seek out other alternatives.

Changing a venue in the middle of a conference season is a pretty serious matter. We didn’t take it lightly. Groups that were registered were contacted preparing them for a possible venue change. We didn’t want to inconvenience any group. We wanted to make sure everyone was informed. Most importantly, we didn’t want to leave anyone out of the opportunity to be given to by the Lord at a Higher Things Conference.

Higher Things is very excited to announce that our Tennessee Conference venue has changed! Our Tennessee Conference will be at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. The dates remain the same (July 6-9, 2010). The state does too! And the Gospel – it’ll be in the ears of even more kids!

Registration is now! It’s still open for both conferences. While Tennessee is almost full, there is plenty of room in Utah! For more conference information, please check out the website. For questions, please email us at conferences@higherthings.org.

We can’t wait to be given to by the Lord in Nashville! We’ll see you there!

In Christ,
Rev. George F. Borghardt III
Conference Executive
Higher Things, Inc.

Given Conference registration is in its final month and our Tennessee Conference is almost two-thirds full! There is still time to register your group!