Story reported by David Harns
Pastor Micah Greiner of St. Peter Lutheran Church & School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, has coined a new phrase this morning… “Val-peed”… a term he uses to describe when a Valparaiso fan tee-pees your house. And your office. And your fellow pastor’s office.
Pastors Micah Greiner – who is a lifelong Spartan fan – and Aaron Roggow, of St. Peter Lutheran Church & School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, were the target of friendly attacks from some of their fellow staff members who, under the cover of darkness, “decorated” Pastor Greiner’s house and both of their offices.
This friendly jab appears to be another in a long round of spirited NCAA sports fans’ rivalry in this suburban congregation that
The “valpeed” office of Pastor Micah Greiner of St. Peter Lutheran Church & School in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
represents well the Chicago area, with its diverse representation of alumni and fans from all the Big Ten schools, including Michigan State University, and a many other schools participating in NCAA sports, including Valparaiso University.
“What is particularly entertaining about today is that Valpo is a Lutheran university where many members and staff at St. Peter have studied, prompting questions such as, ‘Could a Lutheran pastor ever cheer for a non-Lutheran team?’, Pastor Greiner said this morning from his suburban Chicago church.
Greiner strongly suspects that one faculty member in particular – Miss Lexi Schmidt, the daughter of retired Pastor Karl Schmidt and a Valpo grad – is responsible, although he makes it clear that his friendly accusation is – so far – not yet substantiated.
A sign prompting the question: Who would Jesus choose?
“After MSU crushes the Valpo Crusaders, I will make sure Lexi Schmidt is forced to wear my favorite MSU shirt, regardless of whether or not she was responsible,” said Pastor Greiner with a smile.
Michigan State takes on Valparaiso at 12:15pm today from the Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban
Detroit.
The scene outside the Pastor Greiner’s house.
Some more “val-peed” shenanigans.