Great Lakes Bay Lutheran congregations are excited for a pope-like visit on Good Friday
By Eric Joyce | The Saginaw News
March 28, 2010, 3:00PM
Congregation members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are preparing for an important visitor at their annual Good Friday service.The Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a 2.5 million-member Lutheran organization, is the keynote speaker of the annual Community Good Friday Worship Service at 1 p.m. Friday April 2 at Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State in Saginaw Township.
View full sizeRev Dr Gerald B Kieschnick“It’s a great honor and privilege for him to be here, and he takes his role very seriously to preach and pray the true word of God,” said the Rev. Edward A. Meyer, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church, 2565 N. Miller in Thomas Township. “It would be likened to having the pope come to Saginaw in the same manner.”Good Friday is a holy day recognized by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Friday before Easter Sunday.
Meyer said the congregations of more than 60 churches in the Great Lakes Bay Region have united for the service for more than 25 years.
Friday may be the only opportunity that local congregation members have to see the organization’s leader, Meyer said. He said he expects Kieschnick’s presence will increase attendance from about 1,500 to more than 2,000 people.
“We are projecting out into the community the love of Christ,” Meyer said. “It’s just a great opportunity to reflect on what our Lord and savior has for us, no matter where people come from.”
Kieschnick was the director of development at Lutheran Foundation of Texas from 1986 to 1988 and later served as its executive director from 1988 to 1991. He was elected president of the organization’s Texas District in 1991.
He was chairman of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Commission on Theology and Church Relations and served on the program committee of the organizations Council of Presidents beginning in 1998, until he was elected president by more than 1,200 delegates of the organization in July 2001. Kieschnick was installed that September.
The service is preceded by a Good Friday Bible Breakfast at 9 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church, followed by the Crosswalk, a march from the church through the nearby Thomas Farms subdivision.
All events are free and open to the public. Call the Rev. Steve Starke for information at (989) 686-0176 or (989) 686-4184 or e-mail pastor@stjohn-amelith.org.
