If you were in line at the grocery store with Cindy White, you'd most likely soon be chatting about any number of things: kids, schools, pets, the weather, popular musicians. She's one of those people who are instantly approachable.

White is a Vicar at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tamaqua. That means she is completing an internship at the church while attending classes at the seminary in Gettysburg. After completing school, she can become ordained as a pastor. White said she is presently working 20 hours a week at the church and attending classes 25 hours per week.Some of those hours are spent leading a special Saturday night service which begins at 5:30, and she also does one Sunday service per month. While she's a vicar, she is supervised by the Rev. Virginia Goodwin."That's how I first came here, because I'd learned that they were interested in starting a Saturday night contemporary service," White said. "You don't have to be a Lutheran to come."White began leading the Saturday night service about a year ago, and became the church's vicar late last year."More than 20 people showed up to help us move in, and they made a meal," White said. "I have such a wonderful relationship with the members here; they are a generous, hardworking group of people."White in a 1977 graduate of Northeast High School in Philadelphia and got a degree in social work from Temple University. She worked for Kids Peace for many years, specializing in counseling emotionally and mentally challenged youngsters."But I had always felt called to the ministry, from the time I was 10 or 11," she said. "I would listen to sermons and wonder and ask questions. I'm sure I was a challenge for my Sunday school teachers."But it was the kind attention and response of those teachers that helped guide her path. No matter what she asked, they would respect her questions and respond with discussions."I got married, had children, had a career, but I always thought I would someday go to seminary," she said. "Finally I left Kids Peace and pursued full-time school at the seminary."White's husband, Richard Krieg, works for Kids Peace in Allentown. A daughter works in Seattle, one daughter attends East Stroudsburg University, and a son goes to Tamaqua Middle School."I find preaching to be very personal and rewarding," White said. "At the Saturday night service, we have attracted young people, but there is also a mix of all ages there.""I love being a member of this community and the area, and one of the main messages I want people to feel is how important God is in the world," she said. "It's my hope that people leave a service feeling that they're not alone they should feel renewed and empowered."