ORANGE

Lutheran High School teachers Linda Varnes and Lyndsay Ermeling will proudly wave to 450 million spectators Jan. 1 as they ride on the only religious float to participate in the 111th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

The 50th annual Lutheran Hour Float, themed “Praise God Forever,” will include a country church covered with onion seed, white rice, grass and dried flower petals and surrounded by two large trees and fresh flowers.

Varnes, a 28-year teacher, designed the 19 stained-glass windows that will be placed on the church and has contributed her artwork to five previous Lutheran floats.

Ermeling, who is a Lutheran High alumna and was named Miss California in 1996, is a representative of the Lutheran Layman’s League, an international organization of Lutheran volunteers.