Food for the Flock
Gingrichs Mennonite Church
100 Forney Road
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 274-1521
www.gingrichsmennonite.com
www.facebook.com/gingrichsmennonite
“Inklings . . . About St. Patrick”
“The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitudes of isles be glad!”
-Psalm 97:1
Situated in the North Atlantic off the coast of England, is the “Emerald Isle” of Ireland. Most Americans, who are not of Irish ancestry, are familiar with only a few Irish exports: shamrocks, leprechauns, the Kennedy family, and corned beef! Those with Irish descendants know that the contributions of the Irish are much more important than any of these. There is a wealth of Irish culture, music, and Christian spirituality that is available to those who are willing to look for it.
March 17 has been set aside as a day to celebrate the life and ministry of St. Patrick. Here in America, that day has become a day of partying – far from the intent of the Christians who initially marked this day. The intent was to celebrate the life and ministry of the man who was instrumental in bringing the Gospel to people who once held him in slavery.
Patrick was born into the home of an official of the Roman Empire, either in England or Wales. Did you catch that? Patrick wasn’t even Irish! He was kidnapped by Irish pirates at age 16, and enslaved by them for the next 6 years. Patrick’s father was a believer, in fact was a deacon in the Church, but Patrick had not yet accepted the faith of his father as his own. He came to believe that his captivity was punishment for his lack of faith. He spent much time during his enslavement in prayer, and God, in His mercy, allowed Patrick to escape. Freed from his bondage and empowered by his newly found faith, Patrick believed God called him in a dream to carry the good news of great joy back to those who enslaved him. He wrote, “I seemed to hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut (County Antrim) which is near the western sea, and they were crying, as if with one voice, “We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.”” After several years of study and preparation, Patrick returned to Ireland, bringing the message of joy and hope of Christ to many who had never heard.
Are we being messengers of joy? What is the message that others are hearing from us? Is it a message of hopelessness, boredom, and despair? Or are we being messengers of joy, in spite of life’s disappointments, like Patrick?
Patrick brought light to a dark land. To many of the Irish of Patrick’s day, God was a hidden, unknowable entity. Many followed the nature-based religion of the Druids, which while rooted in nature, was filled with superstition and magic. Patrick used the natural world to point the pagan Druids to the Creator, and “redeemed” many of their holy days and customs by infusing them with Christian teachings. He explained to them that the God who went to so much trouble to reveal himself to them was worthy of their attention. God used Patrick to point the Irish to Jesus, the Light of the world – the God that many Irish only had a dark, incomprehensible hint of.
But Satan would not give up and surrender his idol-worshipping Druids so easily. Patrick realized that he was involved in spiritual warfare, and so he carefully prepared, devoting himself to God through study and prayer. He took upon him the full armor of God so that he could proclaim the truth where lies had taken hold.
How are we doing in standing up for the truth? Do we even realize that there is a spiritual battle going on around us? If we did, we would be more conscious about putting on the armor that God has provided for us according to Ephesians 6:10-20.
Patrick’s complete dependence upon God is reflected in a poem attributed to him called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” It may well not have been written by him, but it certainly summarizes his commitment to Christ, and his complete surrender to His will. I hope you might use it yourself as a prayer of commitment and submission.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and near,
Alone and in multitude.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every men who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of creation.
~Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Pastor Jim Schwenk
Volume 2, Issue 3 March 2015Page 2
Food for the Flock
Nursery Schedule
Operation Christmas Child 2015
We want to thank you for the generous outpouring of love for the children of the world you provided through our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child collection for 2014. We were told as a first time Reception Center, to expect around 500 boxes. We nearly doubled that amount, falling just short of 1,000 boxes collected! Praise the Lord!
For 2015, our plan has two parts. First, we want to encourage you to plan on packing one or more boxes for collection in November. We have empty boxes available. Just ask Lore if you would like one or more.
Secondly, each month, from January through October, we will be collecting specified items. You can purchase them as you do your weekly or monthly shopping. Then just bring them along to church, and deposit them in the large, OCC collection box in the foyer. We will save the items until November. Then, in early November, we will have a church-wide packing party!
So what are we collecting?
· March – Crayons and coloring books
· April – Pencils, erasers, markers, activity books
· May – T-shirts
· June – Toy cars and dolls
· July – Toothbrushes, combs, hair brushes
· August – Small stuffed animals
· September – Small balls and stickers
· October – “Your choice” – appropriate things to add to the boxes
Volume 2, Issue 3 March 2015Page 2