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Message on Flooding

Greetings from the 2011 Churchwide Assembly

Greetings from Bishop Zeiser

August 4, 2011: Don't Forget the Crozier!

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

God is on the loose! How many times I have witnessed this fact in my time as bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod! Recently I was reminded of my comments given during my verbal report to the 2011 assembly. I share them here so that more of you may know how God is on the loose with our bishop's crozier.

In the three years that I have served in the office of bishop, it has been especially gratifying to visit the congregations of this synod. Gathering in the settings where your mission and ministry is empowered by word and sacrament gives me a deeper understanding of the stirring of the Holy Spirit in this part of the ELCA. The passage of time has added to the number of visits, as well as to the impact of the visits.

More and more, the invitations include a request that I bring the crozier, that is, the beautifully-crafted wooden staff specially made for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. In fact, it seems increasingly the case that the invitation is issued to the crozier, and would I mind transporting the thing. Don't forget the crozier! You will bring the crozier, won't you? We can't wait to see the crozier!

And the eighth time this occurred, it dawned on me that this remarkable piece of wood generated spirit along with interest. So, in addition to carrying it in procession, I began to draw on it in the worship services. It became a prop in children's sermons where I was asked to describe to the kids what a bishop does.

It has become especially meaningful for me to have each of the kids put one hand on the crozier while I let go. With the kids holding up the crozier, I walk into the congregation and acknowledge how important their kids are to the congregation - and I express my belief that the kids are also an important asset to the whole church. I also share with the kids that their handprint is added to the handprints of kids at churches I visited previously - and that I take them all with me as I go from congregation to congregation week after week. There is also this bold claim that I make: that a significant amount of the authority the crozier carries now comes from their having grasped it. Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is my guess that the handprints of over 500 children are impressed on that crozier.

One of the most moving moments of my tenure occurred one Sunday at a congregation in the Bethlehem-Easton Mission District. During worship I had carried out the practice just described to you. After worship, crozier in hand, I was greeting folks in the narthex as they departed. One of the last people to greet me was a well-dressed and gracious elderly gentleman, slightly bent forward as he walked. He shook my hand and welcomed me. Letting go of my hand, he grasped the crozier, looked me in the eye, and said, "Bishop, take me with you, too."

It is important to me that as many synod members as possible know about how God is on the loose with this crozier. The goodwill and unity it has generated are astounding.

It stands in this assembly hall during these days with my request that you grab hold if it, too, sometime before the assembly ends. I promise to take your spirit, your goodwill, and the unity that you offer to every congregation I visit. For Jesus' sake, let us walk together.

Your servant in Christ,

Samuel

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Bishop's Calendar

January 2012

January 4-9, Bishops' Academy ,California
January 12, Installation of Timothy R. Garman as chaplain at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, 2:00 p.m.
January 15, Zion, Minersville, 8:45 a.m., preaching
January 22, Grace, Topton,10:30 a.m.
January 25, Ecumenical Service at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton
January 26-28, Muhlenberg College Board

February 2012

February 1-3, Lutheran-Moravian coordinating Committee, Chicago
February 13, Lutheran Planned Giving meeting, noon-2 p.m.
February 15, Diakon Board
February 19, Good Shepherd, Wilkes-Barre, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., preaching
February 26
- St. John, Jim Thorpe East; 9:00 a.m. preach at worship; 10:15 a.m. Sunday School
- Installation of Christopher deForest at St. John, Mahoning, 3 p.m.

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Last edited January 03, 2012