LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick and his wife, Terry, will ride “The Lutheran Hour” float in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.
“The Lutheran Hour” float, the only religious float in the parade, is sponsored by the Southern California District of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, an LCMS auxiliary.
The 2007 float’s theme is “God’s Great Nature.” The float will be decorated by volunteers called “Petal Pushers,” who range in age from teenagers to 80-plus and come to Pasadena each year from across the country. The Petal Pushers decorate “The Lutheran Hour” float and several commercial sponsors’ floats for the Rose Parade.
The Kieschnicks also will be guests of honor at a “Behind the Scenes” party in Pasadena on Dec. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. Those who attend will have an opportunity to view the finished floats on the last night of decorating week. Admission is $25 per person or $50 per family and includes a buffet dinner and souvenir photo.
President Kieschnick will deliver a special message during a Petal Pushers worship service at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at the float. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The Petal Pushers also sponsor an annual tour of Southern California in conjunction with the parade. This year’s tour runs from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1 and includes float decorating and visits to the Crystal Cathedral, the Getty Museum, and Beverly Hills/Hollywood.
Most TV networks carry the Rose Parade, but individual floats are not guaranteed coverage due to commercials and other television commitments. Home and Garden Television (HGTV), a cable network, plans to show the parade without interruption, and “The Lutheran Hour” float is expected to appear on camera at approximately 9:50 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Live coverage of the parade begins at 8 a.m. PST (11 a.m. Eastern). Check local listings for time and channel information in your area.
“The Lutheran Hour” float will appear in the back third of the 5.5-mile parade lineup. The parade will include 45 floral floats, 23 equestrian units, and 21 marching bands. Grand marshal will be filmmaker George Lucas.
“The Lutheran Hour” float also is one of five floats featured on the HGTV Web site where visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite. To see the floats and vote, go to www.hgtv.com and click on “Rose Parade.”
Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) has been proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Tournament of Roses Parade for the past 57 years. To learn more about LHM, go to www.lhm.org or call (800) 944-3450.
For more information about the Petal Pushers tour and parade events, visit the group’s Web site at www.petalpushers.org.
Posted Dec. 26, 2006
