I had an unusual feeling while driving to Kittanning this morning that reminded me of something that took place many years ago.
In the early 1990's (25 years ago), I was leading the Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool, Ohio. I was 40 years old. A friend, John Kelley, and I had designed a program of small groups that was being used in the Pittsburgh Conference at the time to help its pastors stay healthy and connected.
I was leading a Pastoral Support Team for my area that included a fine group of local Free Methodist leaders: Dave Stout, Norm Eckert, Fred Schreffler, Wilbert Bischoff, and Delmar Logston. We met monthly for a couple of hours to study, share, and pray together. We had a good group and enjoyed challenging and supporting each other.
Fred was leading the First FMC in East Liverpool at the time and was drawing near to his retirement. At our meeting, he shared the following story [testing my memory here, but I think most of the details are correct]:
[I'm going to tell Fred's story in the first person]
"Many years ago, while serving as associate pastor to Glenn Hughes at New Brighton, I received my first appointment to the New Cumberland, West Virginia FMC.
Esther had just had a baby, so I made the early Sunday morning trip to New Cumberland alone.
As I drove down the Ohio River and crossed to the West Virginia side, I felt a burden of responsibility settling down on my shoulders.
With retirement now just a short while off, I'm just beginning to feel that burden lift!"
Fred was such a respected member of our group! He had more wisdom and insight into the scriptures than most of us and we loved it when he began to share his thoughts with us! If anything, Fred was probably under-appreciated over the years for the contributions he made to his churches through the deep teaching that he provided. I know that he had a powerful impact on my father-in-law, Ken Whippo. Fred's teaching grounded Ken in his new faith and consequently bore tremendous influence in Debbie's family system!
I am now a little over a month away from my own retirement. I was praying as I drove to Kittanning this morning (a great way to redeem the time). Somewhere along the way this morning, I felt the burden beginning to lift. It was a good feeling!
PS - Fred, If someone directs your attention to this blog, please know that you had a good and strong influence in my life! Thank you for being a faithful student of God's Word and an even more faithful teacher of His eternal truths! I believe you've earned a great reward in Heaven!
Showing posts with label Fred Schreffler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fred Schreffler. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Watch Night Service
New Year's Eve, when I was a kid, was marked not only by the preparation of sauerkraut and pork, but also by the traditional 'Watch Night Service'.
What is a 'Watch Night Service'?
It was a worship service that was intended to end one year and begin a new one. It was typical of a traditional worship service, with music, singing, worship, preaching and prayer. Most were characterized by testimonies. In these testimonies, people would confess shortcomings and commit themselves to more faithful lives in the new year.
Every 'Watch Night Service' I ever attended ended with everybody gathering at midnight around the altar to bring the new year in with prayer.
When I was a teenager, my home church (New Brighton, PA Free Methodist Church) coordinated a 'Watch Night Service' with several other area Free Methodist Churches. One of these was the Rochester, PA, FMC. My future wife and her family attended this church - although, at the time, we were merely acquaintances. I particularly remember that night because her father, Ken Whippo, was delegated to bring the message. Ken was a layman and a relatively new believer who was growing fast under the biblical tutelage of his pastor, Fred Schreffler. I don't remember the message - after all, I was a teenager - but I remember being impressed with him and his delivery.
During my younger years, I sort of liked these 'Watch Night Services'. Most people attended as families, so there were plenty of other kids to be with. These services often began at 9:00 PM, and went on till a little past midnight. Occasionally, we would have refreshments, although that kind of thing was not as common in the 1960's as it is now.
But, gradually, the popularity of these services began to wane. As a teenager, I recall being the only young person in a crowd of much older people. Then, even the crowd began to dwindle. If I'm honest, I have to admit that I came to dread these services. The last place I wanted to be at midnight on New Year's Eve was around an altar, holding hands with a bunch of old women!
I think I was 16. The 'Watch Night Service' had come to travel from church to church since no one church could rally up a significant enough crowd. That particular year, the service was scheduled at the Aliquippa FMC. As I recall, there were about thirty people present; I was the only young person.
I had asked permission to leave a few minutes before midnight to go outside to hear the bells ringing, the fireworks and the horns blowing. My mom quickly refused. However, my dad took me out to the car and handed me a road flare. He over-ruled my mom and told me I could leave the service at 11:55 PM.
WOO HOO!
I brought 1969 in waving a road flare at 1301 Davidson Street, all alone - but happy! And with a renewed appreciation for my Dad (who I think was smiling while he prayed at the altar). Somehow, I think God was OK with my not being at the altar that year...
What is a 'Watch Night Service'?
It was a worship service that was intended to end one year and begin a new one. It was typical of a traditional worship service, with music, singing, worship, preaching and prayer. Most were characterized by testimonies. In these testimonies, people would confess shortcomings and commit themselves to more faithful lives in the new year.
Every 'Watch Night Service' I ever attended ended with everybody gathering at midnight around the altar to bring the new year in with prayer.
When I was a teenager, my home church (New Brighton, PA Free Methodist Church) coordinated a 'Watch Night Service' with several other area Free Methodist Churches. One of these was the Rochester, PA, FMC. My future wife and her family attended this church - although, at the time, we were merely acquaintances. I particularly remember that night because her father, Ken Whippo, was delegated to bring the message. Ken was a layman and a relatively new believer who was growing fast under the biblical tutelage of his pastor, Fred Schreffler. I don't remember the message - after all, I was a teenager - but I remember being impressed with him and his delivery.
During my younger years, I sort of liked these 'Watch Night Services'. Most people attended as families, so there were plenty of other kids to be with. These services often began at 9:00 PM, and went on till a little past midnight. Occasionally, we would have refreshments, although that kind of thing was not as common in the 1960's as it is now.
But, gradually, the popularity of these services began to wane. As a teenager, I recall being the only young person in a crowd of much older people. Then, even the crowd began to dwindle. If I'm honest, I have to admit that I came to dread these services. The last place I wanted to be at midnight on New Year's Eve was around an altar, holding hands with a bunch of old women!
I think I was 16. The 'Watch Night Service' had come to travel from church to church since no one church could rally up a significant enough crowd. That particular year, the service was scheduled at the Aliquippa FMC. As I recall, there were about thirty people present; I was the only young person.
I had asked permission to leave a few minutes before midnight to go outside to hear the bells ringing, the fireworks and the horns blowing. My mom quickly refused. However, my dad took me out to the car and handed me a road flare. He over-ruled my mom and told me I could leave the service at 11:55 PM.
WOO HOO!
I brought 1969 in waving a road flare at 1301 Davidson Street, all alone - but happy! And with a renewed appreciation for my Dad (who I think was smiling while he prayed at the altar). Somehow, I think God was OK with my not being at the altar that year...
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