DE-MD and Metro D.C. Synods Youth + Family Ministry

06/29/2026

Some of our youth stayed after our LYO Beach Retreat this weekend at St. Peter's Son and Sand Retreat Center to join the people of St. Peter's for worship. And in a moment orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, the last song at worship was one that we sing at all our youth events. So our LYOers got to help the congregation sing and dance their way back into the world God loves.
Thank you for your hospitality, St. Peter's, and for letting us be the church together with you!

06/18/2026

LYO Applications are open for the 2026-2027 school year for all rising 9th-12th graders. LYO is a way for youth to gain leadership skills, grow in faith and take an active role in shaping our Synod youth events.

Learn more and apply through the link in the comments.

06/15/2026

Volunteer Applications open in 3 days! 🎉

Would you like to volunteer at the Gathering and help our young people grow in faith and encounter Christ? Serving the youth of this church is a vocational calling that requires careful discernment, and there are several opportunities to volunteer.

Learn more about volunteering for the Gathering 👉 https://www.elca.org/gathering-2027/attend-volunteers

06/02/2026

03/18/2026

Last weekend we got to see God's Garden in full bloom at our Seekers Retreat for 3rd-5th Graders. Our high school LYO leaders helped lead 60 AMAZING elementary youth in games, singing, crafts, conversation and worship to remind them that they are good soil and God is working through them.

Thank you to all of the mentors and parents and adults and camp staff and LYOers who made this weekend at Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp and Retreat Center possible and showed forth love, joy, peace patience, kindness (and all the other Fruits of the Spirit!) that made this weekend possible!

Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA, Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA

02/26/2026

Seekers registration is open until March 6th. This event for youth grades 3-5 is taking place at Mar-Lu-Ridge March 14-15. The theme this year is "Growing in God's Garden." Register today!!!

Seekers: a retreat for Grades 3-5 March 14-15, 2026 Mar-Lu-Ridge 3200 Mar Lu Ridge Road Jefferson, MD 21755

02/09/2026

Join in the first webinar about the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering this Monday, Feb, 16th at 8pm EST!

Our webinar series starts next week! 🗓️

Join us on Monday, Feb. 16 at 7pm CST for a conversation around 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜.

Register now 👇
https://elcafoundation.zoom.us/webinar/register/8417685152973/WN_Rn0eX5pRTL6qpx--xGYNBg

Not able to attend live? 🙋 No worries, a recording will be available on the Gathering's YouTube playlist a few days after.

01/31/2026

Excited to start getting ready for the ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis June 28-July 2, 2027!