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Greetings from Bishop Zeiser

June 12, 2010: Kindergarteners, Flowers, and Witnessing to the Gospel

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Mrs. Fister's kindergarten class at The Lutheran Academy "graduated" recently. I attended because I had spent time with the class just before Christmas. We enjoyed hot chocolate and homemade cookies, and I read them a story. Graduation was great - lots of smiles from the 16 grads and lots of laughs from parents and relatives.

The Lutheran Academy is a ministry of Concordia Lutheran Church, Macungie (a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation), housed at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Allentown (an ELCA congregation). A wonderful collaboration! When classes resume in the fall, however, the academy will open its brand new building on land near Bath.

After the graduation ceremony, I received a bouquet of flowers to take home to Linda. A few white daisies, little purple flowers, all decorated with a feather, ribbon, and soft purple netting. I knew Linda would be pleased.

At 19th and Washington Streets, Redeemer is just a few blocks from home, so I'd walked to the ceremony. Bouquet in hand, I started my trek home.

As I turned the corner, people in a green pickup blew the horn and shouted, "Nice flowers! Ya gonna ask her to marry ya?" We laughed, but I became self-conscious.

Walking west on Washington, I passed a home where a woman sat on the front porch. I looked up at the porch and nodded. "For me?" she teased. "How'd you know purple's my favorite color?" Two blocks later, a woman watching her two kids jokingly acted surprised: "You shouldn't have! I have the perfect vase."

By this point I'm feeling like a one-float parade.

At home the awkwardness subsided and I realized these encounters with unfamiliar people were a lot of fun. We reached out to one another and talked. Differences were put aside for the sake of connecting, the unknown overcome for the sake of smiles and laughs.

It was gracious, just like the collaboration between Concordia and Redeemer, for the sake of the students of The Lutheran Academy.

Great witness to the gospel, there, folks.

Your servant in Christ,

Samuel

Click here for more pictures from the day.

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Bishop's Calendar

August 2010

August 15, Christ Lutheran Church, Schoenersville, 10:15 a.m.
August 19, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
August 22, Worship and preaching at St. Mark, Lackawaxen, St. Jacoby, Shohola, and St. Luke, Greeley
August 29, Installation of Pastor Matthew R. Voyer as assistant pastor at Christ United, Hamilton Square, at 10:00 a.m.

September 2010

September 5, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
September 6-8, Region 7 Bishop’s Conference in New York City
September 12, Huff’s Church 250th anniversary celebration
September 16, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
September 18, Block Party at Hope, Reading, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
September 19, Preaching for 200th anniversary at Brandonville-Ringtown, 2:00 p.m.
September 26
- Preaching at Peace, Reading, for 125th anniversary, 9:00 a.m.
- Service at Luther Crest, 3:00 p.m.
September 30-October 5, Conference of Bishops, Chicago

October 2010

October 7, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
October 13, Synod Council meeting, 3:00 p.m., location to be announced
October 21, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

November 2010

November 4, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
November 18, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

December 2010

December 2, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
December 21, Staff meeting, 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Last edited August 08, 2010