PASTOR’S PAGE

Third Lutheran entered a float in the Rhinebeck Christmas parade. It was reported that the highlight of the parade was to be the arrival of Santa Claus. Some folks at Third Lutheran said, “We need to have Jesus in the parade and proclaimed at the program at the Christmas tree”.  Contact was made with the Chamber of Commerce and we were welcomed to participate in the entire program. We contacted Messiah and The Reformed Church and invited them to participate with us. They accepted our invitation to sing at the tree but opted not to participate in the building of a float and marching in the parade.

The artistic work on the float was done by Kathy Rector and Susan Peckmann. The lighting and the generator were provided by Ernie Steubesand; the labor was done by the five or six of the willing. It all came together to be God pleasing. Volunteers served as the wise men and the Holy Family. The youth of the church and their friends rode in the bed of the tow truck and under the direction of Cara Silvernail played the turbo drums. Member of Third marched beside the float singing Christmas carol

Our participation drew many favorable comments. Many along the parade route joined in singing the carols with us. One of the members of the press said, “I came to see Santa Claus and found Jesus”

We thank the Chamber of Commerce for welcoming us. And we thank Curt Birnbaum for lending us his trailer.