Monthly Archives: February 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:06 am on February 11, 2015  

Gather Up The Fragments – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 11, 2015

“Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” One of his disciples, Andrew…said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told the disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” John 6:4-12

The story of the feeding of the 5000 is a wonderful story – a story of how G*d can be a part of supplying the needs of those around us. When you read the whole story, the disciples are part of the miracle. Jesus asks the disciples “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” One of the disciples finds a young boy who has five barley loaves and two fish. It is the disciples who find the meager meal that Jesus will divide to feed all of the people. And then Jesus directs the disciples to “gather up the left overs so that nothing may be lost.” So why is that significant? Well, with Jesus’ direction to gather the left overs so that nothing may be lost, it indicates to me that there is a plan for those left overs. We don’t know what the plans were, but Jesus wants to make sure that nothing is wasted.

There are plenty of programs around our communities that attempt to work on this premise – to collect those things that are left over so they can be distributed to people in need. I was listening to the radio the other morning and they were interviewing a woman who began a program called “The Diaper Bank”. The premise of her program is to provide diapers for families that need help because they are receiving assistance through the SNAP card (the old food stamps program) and diapers are one of the items that cannot be purchased with SNAP. Through the collection of diapers from families that may have diapers stashed away because they no longer have children in diapers, and assistance through other means, they can provide diapers to families in need. You can see the same premise being played out in programs such as Bountiful Blessings, Food Banks, and others around our communities. Within these programs, people are gathering up the fragments that are leftover in their cupboards, in their closets, or in their local restaurants and food markets and providing a means to give them to people in need. Jesus’ challenge to his disciples is the same challenge we have today – Jesus is asking us “How will you provide for these people who need something to eat?” The Lower Susquehanna Synod is the place where we feed people – either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. How will you go forward today to feed someone or fill the needs of people in your community? It does not have to require a lot of money – because people have leftovers throughout their homes and businesses that just goes to waste. How are you going to be the hands and feet of Christ today?

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:48 am on February 10, 2015  

I Love To Tell The Story – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 10, 2015

“(Jesus said,) I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. John 5:30

“We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

“Can this really be what life is about as the media insist? This interminable soap opera going on from century to century, from era to era…? Surely not. Thanks to the great mercy and marvel of the Incarnation, the cosmic scene is resolved into a human drama. G*d reaches down to relate himself to man, and man…relates himself to G*d. Time looks into eternity and eternity into time, making now always and always now. Everything is transformed by the sublime drama of the Incarnation.” Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990)
“For All The Saints”, volume III

Where do I get the authority to preach the things I preach, and to write the things I write? I get my authority from Christ – Christ’s authority comes from G*d. I do not write on my own authority, just as Christ said he can do nothing on his own authority. I am a vessel – I simply preach and write about Christ crucified and the reality of the Incarnation. Within the human drama that is playing on all around us, there is a greater drama being played out – and that is the renewal of creation in Christ. As we are to be transformed “In Christ”, so is everything being made new “In Christ”. So we can become caught up in the human drama, or we can become vessels for G*d and preach and proclaim Christ and become part of the cosmic drama – taking Christ into all the world. And that begins with each one of us. You do not need to be a pastor to proclaim the divine drama of the Incarnation – proclaiming Christ crucified. We all are part of this drama – and so we begin with the people who live beside us and across the street from our churches.

Years ago I was attending a week of hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I was not a pastor – not even sure that the thought had fully formed in my mind yet about attending seminary. If you are familiar with the drive to New Hampshire, it is long. I was paired up for this long ride with a friend, someone who came to church every once in a while – not fully engaged with his relationship with Christ. During those many hours on the road we talked about life and faith. He was having a hard time with finding a relationship with G*d. I was not a masterful Evangelist by any means – I simply told him why it mattered to me – why I attended church – what I had learned about Jesus. Over the years we went our own ways. One day I ran into him and learned that he and his wife were very active members of a faith community. I claim no responsibility for his developing and growing faith – that is the work of the Holy Spirit. I simply was placed with him for those long hours at the “right time” – it was a Kairos moment for the two of us.

We are all part of the drama of the Incarnation – take time to share your story – you just don’t know how it might gel into someone else’s story…

Pastor Dave