Tag Archives: perseverence

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 8, 2015
Tags: , perseverence   

“Welcome Aboard” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

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September 8, 2015

“In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” Acts 27:39-44

“The Dictionary of Christian Lore and Legend describes the nave (of the church) as “the central portion of a church, set aside for the congregation, lying west of the chancel or choir and often separated from it by a screen of wood or stone.” It also notes the word derives from the Latin navis, “a ship ” because the Church was compared to a ship in which the faithful could be saved.

Once you pass through the doors from the narthex (which is the “porch at the west end of early churches” (used by penitents not admitted to the body of the church), 1670s, from Late Greek narthex) at which point maybe our greeters should say “Welcome aboard the ship” — you are in the nave…” Dean Myers (1917 – 1991),  [A Sermon “Stay With The Ship” “For All the Saints” volume II (p. 799)

Dean Myers was a Lutheran layperson and advertising executive – a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, White Plains, NY. I like his suggestion that we should look visitors and regular attendees alike and say to them “Welcome aboard”. If we put more emphasis on welcoming people into our churches, we might see more of them coming back again and again. But not only is the emphasis on welcome, but we also need to remember the “aboard” as well. In other words, just as the ship does not “guarantee” a smooth ride, coming to church also does not guarantee your life will be smooth, nor will your experience in the church be without occasional gales.

The Psalmist says “Many are the troubles of the righteous.” (Psalm 34) It is because our lives have the potential to be trouble-filled that we need to be welcoming to all who visit — welcoming to everyone — when we welcome all aboard, we have more to support one another when the gales come blowing in.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 4, 2015
Tags: , perseverence,   

“Is There Anybody Out There?” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 4, 2015

“Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.   He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?” Mark 11:15-17

“Prayers are not always — in the crude, factual sense of the word — “granted”. This is not because prayer is a weaker kind of causality, but because it is a stronger kind. When it “works” at all it works unlimited by space and time. That is why G*d has retained a discretionary power of granting or refusing it; except on that condition prayer would destroy us.” C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) G*d In the Dock “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 489)

Let it be said, Prayer is so hard. Period, end of statement. How easy is it for you to talk to yourself? Some are good at it, others think only crazy people talk to themselves. But, did you ever realize that prayer, from the outsiders point of view, is just you talking to yourself.

Has this ever happened to you: you are alone with someone in an elevator, and they say something like “Hey, how’s it going?” You do not know this person – never have seen them before – and, wondering why they are talking to you, you respond “I’m fine. How are you?” They look at you strangely, and turn their head to reveal they have one of those “blue tooth devices” in their ear for their phone, revealing that they are talking on the phone, not talking to you. There was a time, not so long ago, when you saw someone walking down the street talking to themselves you thought the person may need some “help”. Now, we just ignore them because most likely they are talking on a device.

Remember, when you pray you are not “talking to yourself” — you are talking to the ever present G*d. And you will find that your prayer life goes through periods of abundance, and periods of lacking. But, the more you pray, the more people may wonder what you are doing. It may give you the opportunity to talk to them about prayer….

Pastor Dave