The Rev. Walter Krieger, Priest Associate
Dear Friends in Christ,
Now that I am fully retired after thirty-eight years of active ministry and have joyfully worshiped with you at Mediator for six months, Maria invited me to serve as Priest Associate and said, "Why don’t you write something introducing yourself?"
That’s hard to do. In my professional ministry I have served parishes in Merchantville and Moorestown, New Jersey, Wooster, Ohio, and Reading, Pennsylvania (where I was rector for twenty-four years). I have served on elected and appointed diocesan committees and as a deputy to five General Conventions. I have worked with national and community boards and agencies, and taught in seminary. For me, these have been rich and fulfilling experiences.
But the real me is still the kid who likes to listen to the music he grew up with in the fifties, who still savors the sunrises along the beach in Cape May where I grew up, who won’t miss a Saturday broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera, who paints all kinds of subject matter and abstracts in watercolor and acrylics, who reads a little French every day, who loves to travel in France, who enjoys a cat in my lap, who takes long walks, who practices God’s presence and who finds God’s blessing in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life.
In my retirement, I hope to expand my practice as a spiritual director and have more opportunities for conducting retreats and workshops, as well as continuing to lead an ecumenical Benedictine fellowship in Reading. Working with children in the city schools is another goal. There is reading and writing, music and painting to enjoy. There are old relationships to nurture and new ones to anticipate. And, of course, I look forward to assisting in worship as Maria needs me and to helping with parish programs as I am able.
After so many years "up front," it has been a treat for me to worship with Judith in the pew. In addition to her support as a clergy spouse for many years, Judith is a professional artist, teaching five classes a week, painting, exhibiting, and leading painting holidays abroad. Through the generous sharing of her many creative gifts, she brings God’s joy and wonder to many people. Our children, Rachel and Joel, now live in Allentown and have transferred their membership to Mediator as well.
We look forward to growing with you, our new friends in Christ, in this new parish family, and sharing together in our common ministry. This parish of ours is a blessed place to be and we’re delighted to be among you.
In Christ’s love,
Walter