Category: News

FOR YOU – MN will take place from July 24-27, 2007 at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

FOR YOU – NC will be the following week from July 31-August 3, 2007 at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, NC

BOTH CONFERENCES CURRENTLY HAVE LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE!

(Due to cancellations, the MN FOR YOU has a few spots that have opened up for new groups.)

Registration officially closes on Wednesday, February 28.  Those who wish to register their groups or add registrants to their groups after 2/28 will not be able to do so online and must contact the Registrar directly.  This is not a guarantee that all groups who turn in registrations after 2/28 will be admitted, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone.

If you want to attend to one of the conferences, you need to get your group’s registration materials postmarked by WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28.  If you are not mailing your group’s forms until Wednesday, we ask that you notify the Registrar that they are on the way.  Online registrations must be complete (with online deposit or a check appropriately postmarked) by midnight on February 28. 

For more information, please visit our official website.  There, you can learn about the two cities we’ll be visiting, opportunities available for your free time, and most importantly – download Registration forms or (better yet!) register your group online.

And if you only have a handful of youth who are interested in going to a conference, don’t let that stop you or disappoint them! Contact the Registrar and we will help you find groups from your area for them to join up with.  We don’t want anyone to miss out on this great opportunity!

In Christ,

Rev. George F. Borghardt
2007 Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator

Mrs. Sandra J. Ostapowich
2007 Minneapolis FOR YOU Conference Coordinator

FOR YOU – MN will take place from July 24-27, 2007 at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

FOR YOU – NC will be the following week from July 31-August 3, 2007 at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, NC

BOTH CONFERENCES CURRENTLY HAVE LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE!

(Due to cancellations, the MN FOR YOU has a few spots that have opened up for new groups.)

Registration officially closes on Wednesday, February 28.  Those who wish to register their groups or add registrants to their groups after 2/28 will not be able to do so online and must contact the Registrar directly.  This is not a guarantee that all groups who turn in registrations after 2/28 will be admitted, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone.

If you want to attend to one of the conferences, you need to get your group’s registration materials postmarked by WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28.  If you are not mailing your group’s forms until Wednesday, we ask that you notify the Registrar that they are on the way.  Online registrations must be complete (with online deposit or a check appropriately postmarked) by midnight on February 28. 

For more information, please visit our official website.  There, you can learn about the two cities we’ll be visiting, opportunities available for your free time, and most importantly – download Registration forms or (better yet!) register your group online.

And if you only have a handful of youth who are interested in going to a conference, don’t let that stop you or disappoint them! Contact the Registrar and we will help you find groups from your area for them to join up with.  We don’t want anyone to miss out on this great opportunity!

In Christ,

Rev. George F. Borghardt
2007 Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator

Mrs. Sandra J. Ostapowich
2007 Minneapolis FOR YOU Conference Coordinator

Christ on Campus Volunteer Application Forms are now available!
Once again, in conjunction with Higher Things’ campus ministry arm, Christ on Campus, we will be accepting applications from college students to volunteer as helpers at the FOR YOU conferences this summer!  Many excited young adults have been asking us about this opportunity for quite some time – here’s your chance!

Higher Things needs approximately fifteen (15) student volunteers to serve at each of the FOR YOU conferences this summer in various capacities. Student Volunteers will need to arrive on site by 1:00 p.m. on Monday of the conference week and attend the entire conference.  Eligible candidates must be 18 years old and/or have been students at the undergraduate or graduate level for at least one academic year prior to the conference.  For more information and to download application forms, visit our FOR YOU Conference website.

Planning for Travel
While we are still making adjustments to the conference schedules for both locations, we can tell you that the opening Divine Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday of the conference week (we suggest that you plan to be on site by 1:00 p.m. that day), and the closing Divine Service will end by 4:00 p.m. on Friday of the conference week.  Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday.  Those who arrive on site prior to 8:00 a.m. should not expect to be able to register or check in at that time.  We will offer an opportunity for groups arriving on Monday to register and check-in that day between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., or by special arrangements with the Registrar.

Ground Transportation
In Minneapolis – Parking is at a premium at or near the UMN campus.  The limited spaces one may find can be rather expensive.  Parking regulations are highly enforced at all times and loading zones are minimal, therefore we discourage folks from a weekly car or van rental.  For those flying into Minneapolis, it is strongly recommended that you utilize the light rail service from the airport to the Metrodome stop and transfer to a bus that will take you directly to West Bank.  You may wish to pack accordingly.  More details and other ground transportation options are listed on the Minnesota Travel Information webpage.

In Asheville – Some ground transportation will be required to get groups flying to North Carolina to Ridgecrest Conference Center.  However, parking on site is free, so renting cars/vans will probably be the most economical option for those groups.

Coming soon…
Information about:  Extra Day Stays at the Conference site, Vendor Registration, Housing Forms, Conference Entertainment, and a FOR YOU F.A.Q.!

Christ on Campus Volunteer Application Forms NOW AVAILABLE!

Once again, in conjunction with Higher Things’ campus ministry arm, Christ on Campus, we will be accepting applications from college students to volunteer as helpers at the FOR YOU conferences this summer!  Many excited young adults have been asking us about this opportunity for quite some time – here’s your chance!

Higher Things needs approximately fifteen (15) student volunteers to serve at each FOR YOU conferences this summer in the capacities listed below. Student Volunteers will need to arrive on site by 1:00 p.m. on Monday of the conference week and attend the entire conference.  Eligible candidates must be 18 years old and/or have been students at the undergraduate or graduate level for at least one academic year prior to the conference.

As a Christ on Campus Volunteer (CCV), you should expect to be “on duty” throughout the entire conference. You may attend sessions and events with other conference registrants as your duties permit. There will also be opportunities to spend time with other CCVs and college students attending conferences. However, assigned duties of the volunteers will always take priority.

Cost to selected CCVs is your travel, and a $140 registration fee (50% off registration). All meals during the conference are provided. This application is to be sent to the appropriate address listed at the bottom of the form.

IF SELECTED, UNREGISTERED VOLUNTEERS MAY STILL REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE.

Download the CCV Application Form HERE.

Christ on Campus Volunteer duties will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Ushering and directing groups from one place to another

• Conference set-up and tear-down.

• Chaperoning evening activities.

• Help with conference registration and evaluations.

• Digital photography

• Blogging

• Other assignments as designated.

Please return your applications, postmarked by March 15, 2007 to:

Minneapolis FOR YOU Christ on Campus Volunteers
Pr. Rob Jarvis
Zion Lutheran Church
311 S Columbia Ave
Morris, MN 56267
rjarvis@hometownsolutions.net

OR

Asheville FOR YOU Christ on Campus Volunteers
Pr. David Lofthus
Faith Lutheran Church
1605 Mason Smith Ave
Metairie, LA 70003
davidlofthus@hotmail.com

This is a great opportunity for college students to attend a Higher Things conference and provide invaluable assistance to the staff.  We look forward to receiving all your applications and seeing everyone this summer!

In Christ,

Pr. George Borghardt
2007 Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator

Sandra Ostapowich
2007 Minneapolis FOR YOU Conference Coordinator

Dear Saints of God,

Attendance continues to roll into our Asheville Conference. We are happy to announce that we are almost two-thirds of the way to our goal! Don’t worry! There is still room.  And if it gets tight, I’ll make room for you myself!

Unfortunately, we are running out of time! Registration closes on Feb. 28, 2007.  You must have your registration post marked by Feb 28 to be registered. To avoid delays or uncertainty, register online now!

So, it’s time to get those last few add-ons onto your groups registration, send those forms that you collected a week ago, or round your youth up and finalize your plans. You have less than two weeks!

We’ll see you all in Asheville and a Blessed St. Valentine’s Day to each of you!

During the holy season of Lent, our attention is drawn ever more closely to Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem to suffer in our place for our sins. Lent is a time of more intense reflection upon the great price paid to redeem us from our sins and yet to rejoice in the Good News that our Lord Jesus willingly obeyed the Father and paid that price. The Reflections that you will read during the season of Lent remind us that against the Devil, the world and our sinful flesh, our only hope is Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We are pointed to Him in His Word and directed to take comfort against these enemies in the Lord’s means of grace. The 2007 Lent and Holy Week Reflections were written by the Rev. Marcus Zill, pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and Campus Center in Laramie, WY and Christ on Campus Executive for Higher Things, Inc.  

The booklet of Lent and Holy Week Reflections is available for free in pdf-format for download HERE.  You can also receive the Higher Things Reflections in your e-mail box today! Subscribe by sending any e-mail to: reflections-subscribe@lists.higherthings.org. An RSS Feed and Podcast for the Higher Things Daily Reflections can be found here.  Listening to podcasts requires iTunes.  Our Podcast is updated daily.

In Christ,

Pr. Mark Buetow
Editor, Higher Things Reflections

On Reformation Day, October 31, 2005 we introduced the current website. This coming Reformation mark the two-year anniversary of this design. Its about time to redesign our website again, and we want your help doing it. For the next two months (until April 1st) we’ll be taking submissions of ideas for the site’s design.

A panel from the Higher Things Internet Services team will evaluate and judge the ideas and pick one that will provide the basis for the new design of the entire Higher Things website. The winner will receive a complimentary Higher Things Hoodie, and if attending one of Higher Things 2007 conference, the winner be introduced during the one day’s morning announcements. Submissions should be sent to: webmaster@higherthings.org

Note: All submissions are subject to consideration and use by Higher Things. By submitting an image, the designer(s) agree that said design is the sole property of Higher Things, Inc. and can be edited and used at the discretion of Higher Things. Furthermore, upon submission the designer(s) legally transfer full ownership rights of the image to Higher Things, Inc. and release themselves of any claim to legal ownership. Higher Things reserves the right to use any and all submitted design and/or portions thereof, and may do so without reservation.

Choral Director: Mr. Timothy LaCroix
Plenary Speaker: Dr. Barbara J. Resch
Organist/Accompanist: The Rev. Kantor Richard C. Resch

Music in Your Life is a pre-conference choral “warm up” to the Higher Things conferences this summer in both Minnesota and North Carolina. This opportunity is available to the 75 members of the choirs that will musically lead the conferences in worship throughout the week in both locations. The 75 singers for each site will be selected from a submitted tape or CD containing samples of the entrant’s singing. All tapes or CDs should be submitted to Mr. LaCroix by March 1, 2007 along with a completed application form. You must be registered to attend a Higher Things conference to attend the corresponding Pre-Conference Workshop. Applicants will be notified regarding acceptance by March 26, 2007.

Approximately 10 adult chaperones/participants will also be needed for this workshop. Interested adults do not need to audition but will need to submit an application form.

Workshop Schedule
(The same basic schedule applies to both workshops on July 23-24, 2007 and July 30-31, 2007.)

Cost
$50 per person (includes housing and meals). A large portion of the workshop expenses have been underwritten by generous donations. Accepted attendees will be responsible for planning their own travel to arrive in time for the start of the workshop.

Downloads

Download an Information Sheet about the workshop

Download a Participant Application Form.

Download a Chaperone Application Form.

Dear Friends,

I am very excited to announce that the Asheville FOR YOU Conference is approximately halfway to our goal.  This is very important news.  Last year’s conference, The Feast, went from half-full to completely full with a long waiting list in less than two weeks. 

Groups who didn’t register in time to get into the Minneapolis conference should also consider joining us in Asheville.  There is still time to register.  But after this conference fills up, there will be no other way for you to attend one of the Higher Things conferences FOR YOU this summer. 

A large number of groups currently registered for the Asheville conference have only one participant registered from their church, groups that have historically brought far more than 1 person to previous Higher Things conferences.  Please register your entire groups now.  Additions to confirmed groups made after the conference fills are not guaranteed registration.  I’ve even got a few kids that I need to hurry up and add to my church’s group.  I suggest that you do too.

Registration closes in just four weeks, on February 28, or when the conference fills up – whichever comes first.  Don’t miss out.  Register now!  Download forms or begin your online registration by clicking HERE.

In Christ,

Rev. George Borghardt
2007 Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
Higher Things, Inc.