Daily Archives: February 14, 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 7:55 am on February 14, 2015  

Love’s Array – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 14, 2015 – Valentine’s Day

“Arise, my darling;
My beautiful one, come away with me!
Look! The winter has passed,
the winter rains are over and gone.
The pomegranates have appeared in the land,
the time for pruning and singing has come;
the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree has budded,
the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance.
Arise, come away my darling;
my beautiful one, come away with me!”

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

St. Valentine, for whom this day is named, lived sometime during the third century. Very little is known about him except that he was martyred and died on February 14. The following description comes from Wikipedia:

The Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine, compiled about 1260 and one of the most-read books of the High Middle Ages, gives sufficient details of the saints for each day of the liturgical year to inspire a homily on each occasion. The very brief vita of St Valentine has him executed for refusing to deny Christ by the order of the “Emperor Claudius” in the year 280. Before his head was cut off, this Valentine restored sight and hearing to the daughter of his jailer. Jacobus makes a play with the etymology of “Valentine”, “as containing valour”.

What we do know of Valentine’s Day today is it is a day set aside to celebrate romantic love. My wife and I were engaged on Valentine’s Day. People throughout our country give each other cards, flowers, and chocolates while children exchange small tokens of friendship and candy. Couples young and old get married on Valentine’s Day. And yet, Valentine’s Day has turned into a “Hallmark” Holiday. There seems to be an aura that surrounds this day that if you do not express your love for someone, then that love does not exist. Everyday should be a day committed to love – love of G*d, love of neighbor, love of spouse and children, love of family, etc.

Let your love flow today. Tell your spouse or your romantic interest of your love for them. Here in Pennsylvania it is cold – it will be cold today and maybe even a little snow will fall. It is a good day to curl up under a blanket with your partner and warm each other with some togetherness. It is also a good day to remember that your G*d loves you – and in thanksgiving for that reality, say a prayer thanking G*d for love. Tell your parents, grandparents, and various family members that you love them. Live into this love, not only today, but every day.

Pastor Dave

A POEM TO MY WIFE ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Love’s Array

A Good Shoe is One You Don’t Notice;
A Good Glove Fits Like Second Skin;
A Good Shirt Covers Many Flaws;
Glasses Let the Eyes See In.

You Cannot See the Moon Til It Rises;
You Cannot Read a Book Til It’s Written;
You Cannot See a Picture Til It’s Painted;
But Your Eyes Pierce Beneath My Skin.

Who Takes the Bus to Their Bathroom?
Who Raises Their Hand to Ask the Wind?
Who Thinks About Only Unknown Thoughts?
But Your Eyes Cannot Pretend.

Are Words Never Spoken, Heard?
Are Battles Never Fought, Won?
Is Love Unrequited, Love At All?
Your Eyes Make Me Come Undone.

I Have Looked Into Your Eyes Unceasing
Some Ninety Five Hundred Days;
And If Eyes Are The Window to The Soul
Then Yours Show Me Love’s Eternal Array.

Rev. David J. Schreffler's avatarLutheran Schreff

February 14, 2015  – Valentine’s Day

“Arise, my darling;
My beautiful one, come away with me!
Look! The winter has passed,
the winter rains are over and gone.
The pomegranates have appeared in the land,
the time for pruning and singing has come;
the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree has budded,
the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance.
Arise, come away my darling;
my beautiful one, come away with me!”

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

St. Valentine, for whom this day is named, lived sometime during the third century. Very little is known about him except that he was martyred and died on February 14. The following description comes from Wikipedia:

The Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine, compiled about 1260 and one of the most-read books of the High Middle Ages, gives sufficient details of the saints for each day of…

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Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:00 am on February 14, 2015  

Love’s Array – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 14, 2015  – Valentine’s Day

“Arise, my darling;
My beautiful one, come away with me!
Look! The winter has passed,
the winter rains are over and gone.
The pomegranates have appeared in the land,
the time for pruning and singing has come;
the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree has budded,
the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance.
Arise, come away my darling;
my beautiful one, come away with me!”

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

St. Valentine, for whom this day is named, lived sometime during the third century. Very little is known about him except that he was martyred and died on February 14. The following description comes from Wikipedia:

The Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine, compiled about 1260 and one of the most-read books of the High Middle Ages, gives sufficient details of the saints for each day of the liturgical year to inspire a homily on each occasion. The very brief vita of St Valentine has him executed for refusing to deny Christ by the order of the “Emperor Claudius” in the year 280. Before his head was cut off, this Valentine restored sight and hearing to the daughter of his jailer. Jacobus makes a play with the etymology of “Valentine”, “as containing valour”.

What we do know of Valentine’s Day today is it is a day set aside to celebrate romantic love. My wife and I were engaged on Valentine’s Day. People throughout our country give each other cards, flowers, and chocolates while children exchange small tokens of friendship and candy. Couples young and old get married on Valentine’s Day. And yet, Valentine’s Day has turned into a “Hallmark” Holiday. There seems to be an aura that surrounds this day that if you do not express your love for someone, then that love does not exist. Everyday should be a day committed to love – love of G*d, love of neighbor, love of spouse and children, love of family, etc.

Let your love flow today. Tell your spouse or your romantic interest of your love for them. Here in Pennsylvania it is cold – it will be cold today and maybe even a little snow will fall. It is a good day to curl up under a blanket with your partner and warm each other with some togetherness. It is also a good day to remember that your G*d loves you – and in thanksgiving for that reality, say a prayer thanking G*d for love. Tell your parents, grandparents, and various family members that you love them. Live into this love, not only today, but every day.

Pastor Dave

 

 

A POEM TO MY WIFE ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Love’s Array

A Good Shoe is One You Don’t Notice;
A Good Glove Fits Like Second Skin;
A Good Shirt Covers Many Flaws;
Glasses Let the Eyes See In.

You Cannot See the Moon Til It Rises;
You Cannot Read a Book Til It’s Written;
You Cannot See a Picture Til It’s Painted;
But Your Eyes Pierce Beneath My Skin.

Who Takes the Bus to Their Bathroom?
Who Raises Their Hand to Ask the Wind?
Who Thinks About Only Unknown Thoughts?
But Your Eyes Cannot Pretend.

Are Words Never Spoken, Heard?
Are Battles Never Fought, Won?
Is Love Unrequited, Love At All?
Your Eyes Make Me Come Undone.

I Have Looked Into Your Eyes Unceasing
Some Ninety Five Hundred Days;
And If Eyes Are The Window to The Soul
Then Yours Show Me Love’s Eternal Array.