Category: News

Register for a 2010 Higher Things conference AND pay your group’s balance IN FULL by January 1 and you will pay the lowest registration fees available! On January 2, all registration fees will increase by $10 per person. (Registration and payment of deposits prior to January 1 does NOT “lock in” your group’s fee at the lowest rate, but it does guarantee that your group will have places reserved should the conference of your choice reach max capacity.) 

Just in case this is the first you’ve heard of this year’s Higher Things conferences, here’s the scoop… 

The Theme 
“Take, eat; this is My Body given for you. This is My Blood, poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Sound familiar? 

Jesus does the giving, we are the ones given-to. Jesus gives His life for us on the Cross and we are given His Cross-won forgiveness in the Divine Service – in the Word, in Holy Absolution, in Holy Baptism, and His Supper. As Jesus gives us His life and salvation in the Divine Service, so we are given to pray in His Name, to praise and to give thanks unto our Father in heaven. And just as we are given the gift of Jesus in the Divine Service, so also He gives us as a gift to our neighbors. 

This year, in Utah and in Tennessee, Lutheran youth will gather to rejoice in all that we are GIVEN in the Divine Service where Jesus gives us His actual Body to eat and His Blood to drink! His Word and Sacraments enliven us to be given in service to our neighbors. And it’s all given to us in the Divine Service – the Cross, forgiveness, eternal life, salvation, and service to others! 

Registration 
Registration opened on October 1, 2009 and will close on February 28, 2010, or when a site reaches capacity – whichever happens first. We work very diligently to keep costs as low as possible while providing the best conferences we can – every year! Here’s how it works out this year: 

Register between Oct. 1, 2009 and Jan 1., 2010
Given – Utah: $300 
Given – Memphis: $325 

Jan. 2, 2010 to Feb. 28, 2010
Given – Utah: $310 
Given – Memphis: $335 

After Mar. 1, 2010 
Given – Utah: $325 
Given – Memphis: $350 

The per-person rates above are based on the date your group’s registration balance is PAID IN FULL. Additional fees may apply for registrations and changes made after March 1, 2010. 

Your Registration Fee covers: 
– Conference Programming 
– Planning 
– Catechesis 
– Worship 
– Entertainment 
– Three (3) Nights of Housing 
– Ten (10) Meals 
– Conference Handbook 
– Daily Services Book 
– Conference T-Shirt 
– One-year subscription to Higher Things: Dare to be Lutheran magazine 

Are there age requirements for youth? 
Not really. Higher Things conferences are generally planned for high school aged youth, but registrants may be any youth who has been confirmed before the date of the conference, including college students. We recognize that the age for confirmation may vary from congregation to congregation and just ask that if a group is bringing youth who are not yet in high school that the group leaders be prepared to provide any additional supervision accordingly. 

Chaperones 
Higher Things requires that each group must have at least one (1) male adult for every seven (7) male youth and/or at least one (1) female adult for every seven (7) female youth in your group. Chaperones must be at least 21 years old at the time of registration and approved by the group’s pastor for their role. All chaperones and other adults in a group must also complete the registration process. 

If you are unable to recruit the necessary number of chaperones from your church for your youth to attend a conference, Higher Things is happy to help you find other groups from your area who might be willing to share their chaperones with you. 

For more information, email conferences@higherthings.org to make sure you haven’t missed anything, or to ask any questions you might have. Everything that is available about the conferences at any GIVEN time is at http://www.given2010.org. 

Need a Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for teenager or college student? We have the perfect gift! Give a subscription to the Higher Things Magazine, the only Lutheran Youth magazine that keeps kids connected to their faith and their world in a fun and informative way!

Higher Things was recently granted Recognized Service Organization (RSO) status by The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. As an RSO, Higher Things is officially recognized as an organization whose mission, ministry and programs are consistent with the confessional standards of the LCMS and in harmony with the programs of the Synod while retaining its independence and self-governance.

Higher Things Magazine is published quarterly at $15 for one year, $25 for two years. An online subscription is also available for $25 a year. Along with the current issue, the online subscription provides access to past issues and bible studies.

The Winter 2009 is now available! Click here to order a subscription online or order by phone by calling 1-888-448-2359.

Higher Things is pleased to announce that it has been granted Recognized Service Organization (RSO) status by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. As an RSO, Higher Things is officially recognized as an organization whose mission, ministry and programs are consistent with the confessional standards of the LCMS and in harmony with the programs of the Synod while retaining its independence and self-governance. We believe that RSO status will enhance Higher Things’ ability to serve the youth of our Synod with the fullness of our liturgical and confessional heritage.

We would like to thank the Synod’s Board for District and Congregational Services and its chairman David Bruns for their hard work and support. We are also greatly appreciative to Rev. Herbert C. Mueller for his sponsorship and support.

We look forward to yet greater opportunities to assist parents, congregations and pastors in cultivating and promoting a Lutheran identity among youth through conferences, retreats, publications and the internet. Dare to be Lutheran!

For the last 10 years, Higher Things has provided youth ministry resources to confessional Lutheran pastors, parents, and congregations. To kick off the celebration of our 10th anniversary year in 2010, we thought it’d be a good idea to give our logo a fresh look.

And who better to design that 10 Year Anniversary logo than those who have supported and attended conferences and retreats, subscribed to the magazine, joined Christ on Campus congregations, and made use of our vast online resources!? The designer of the winning logo will receive $100 off of a GIVEN conference registration for themselves or a person of their choosing.

Submit your ideas to 10Years@higherthings.org in jpg or pdf format by NOON on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009. Ideas do not have to be in the final format, and Higher Things reserves the right to reject or modify any design as we see fit. “Higher Things” and “Dare to be Lutheran” are registered trademarks of Higher Things, Inc.

Rejoice, rejoice, believers! Higher Things is pleased to announce the 2009 Advent Reflections have arrived. This booklet prepares the way for the Coming of our Lord Jesus with reflections upon the readings of the Advent Season. They carry us through the birth of our Savior on Christmas and into the first days of the Epiphany Season. To download the Advent Reflections in a printable booklet format, click here.

Hey Hey!  Guess what?  Exciting things are happening inside of Higher Things!  Yes, Registration is open for GIVEN in Utah and Tennessee!  Get your groups registered now!

But, there’s more! In the past, HT Retreats have given youth from all over the United States the opportunity to worship and rejoice in the crucified and risen Jesus in their own community.  They have been a great way to supplement the learning and fun of Higher Things and are also a great way to introduce youth that have not previously attended a summer conference to Higher Things and our mission of supporting parents, congregations, pastors, and teachers in encouraging our youth in their Lutheran heritage.

So that we can better serve the needs of the youth around the country, Higher Things is reorganizing how we do our regional retreats.  Retreats are now going to be a part of Higher Things Conferences.

What’s changing?  Nothing on the outside – same great worship and teaching that you’d expect from Higher Things!

But, in order to serve you better, Higher Things has merged the areas of Retreats and Conferences.  I have been given the task of overseeing Higher Things’ Conferences and Retreats! Wow!

Mrs. Gina Pruis, who coordinated our Sola Conferences, will be coordinating our regional retreats.  We’re very excited to have Gina working on this task!   You can expect the same structure that you’ve seen in the conferences in our retreats.  Cool, eh?

Mrs. Sandra Ostapowich, who coordinated FOR YOU and AMEN, will be coordinating the GIVEN conferences.  You’ve already gotten some emails from her, haven’t you?  So you already knew that…but I just thought I’d let you know!

First, things first!  We want to hear from you!  How can we do better with our regional retreats?  Would you like a regional retreat in your area? 

Please send your comments and suggestions concerning our retreats to  retreats@higherthings.org.  If you have hosted a retreat in the past, you’ll be hearing from us soon as we look forward to continue to assist you in your planning and programming for future retreats.

Don’t forget to check the Retreats page of the website for information on future retreats in your area and all the exciting news as Retreats “reforms” to better serve you!

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

Registration for this summer’s Higher Things Lutheran Youth Conference is now open! Head on over to the Given 2010 website to begin your group’s registration for either Given in Logan, UT or Given in Memphis, TN. More information on the registration process as well as downloadable copies of this year’s registration forms can be found here.

A Higher Things Retreat in Sheboygan, WI
February 12-14, 2010
Main Speaker: Rev. Brent Kuhlman

Trinity Lutheran Church
824 Wisconsin Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53081

More information coming soon!

Pastor Bruce Keseman brings us a PowerPoint presentation on the great Sola [meaning, “alone”] truths of the Reformation: Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone.

• Do you really need a boring preacher, catechism class, or a Sunday School if you have “Scripture alone”? We’ll find out in our Friday night bonus session on Scripture Alone.
• What do a Christmas present, a burning school, and firefighters holding a net tell you about your salvation? We’ll learn the answers to this question and more when we see and hear about Grace Alone on Saturday.
• What makes bad bowling a great illustration of our trespasses? You’ll find out in our Saturday session on Faith Alone.

Come spend the weekend with us and hear “that a man is justified by faith alone [sola] apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28

WORSHIP + BIBLE STUDY + GAMES + ACTIVITIES + FUN + FOOD

Cost: $25. Makes checks payable to Higher Things, Inc.

Contact: Rev. Steve Kieser, Zion Lutheran Church, Storm Lake, IA 50588. 712-732-5223 or pastorkieser@evertek.net

Registration Deadline is Nov. 2, 2009. Click here to download the registration form.

Higher Things is pleased to offer the next set of Daily Reflections the Trinity Season, covering September 6, through October 17. During the Trinity Season we continue to hear the work of Christ in His Church, calling sinners to repentance, and delivering His cross-won forgiveness in the means of grace. Reflections were written by both Pastors Mark Buetow and Joel Frtische. To download the Reflections in a printable booklet format, click here.

As always, thanks for your support of Higher Things!