reformátusok lapja calvin synod

ISSN 0161-6900
CALVIN
SYNOD
Official Organ of The Calvin Synod - United Church of Christ Founded in 1900
AMERIKAI MAGYAR
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA
VOL. CXVI
JULY – AUGUST 2015
NUMBER 7– 8
The 77th Annual Meeting of the Calvin Synod Conference
IN THIS ISSUE:
Bishop's Thoughts...– Rt. Rev. Koloman Karl Ludwig............ 2
The 77th Annual Meeting of the Calvin Synod Conference –
by General Sec'y Rev. Stefan Torok....................................... 3
Contemplative Evangelism – Dr. Richard Peace.................... 6
Installation of Rev. John P. Cardamone – Rev. Stefan Torok. 7
Confirmation in Manville NJ ................................................... 8
Baptism at the FHRC of Walton Hills, OH.............................. 8
Confirmation Exam and First Communion at the First
HRC of Walton Hills, OH – Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai........ 8
Flood Relief Fund for Oklahoma and Texas........................... 8
Proclaim Liberty throughout the Land – Tim Vamosi.............. 9
We wish for a better life – Rev. Alexander Jalso.................. 10
The Hungarian Cultural Association – Artur Bartfay..............11
Upcoming Events in Columbus, OH.......................................11
Calvin Synod Homeland and Overseas Mission................... 12
Change of address form........................................................ 12
Meet the Participant of ReConnect Hungary 2015................ 12
A Püspök visszagondol...– Ft. Ludwig Kálmán Karoly.......... 13
Kálvin Zsinat kül- és belmisszió............................................ 13
Order form – Megrendelő lap................................................ 13
Gyülekezeti hírek................................................................... 14
Az élet kenyere – Vásárhelyi Boldizsár................................. 15
Az első teljes magyar bibliafordítás – Papp György.............. 15
Az Imádság haszna............................................................... 17
Hirdetések...................................................................18-19-20
****
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CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Bishop's Thoughts...
CALVIN
SYNOD
Dear Friends:
Official Organ of The Calvin Synod - United Church of Christ Founded in 1900
AMERIKAI MAGYAR
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA
Volume 116
JULY – AUGUST 2015
NO. 7 – 8
Official Organ of the Calvin Synod
United Church of Christ – Founded in 1900
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD (ISSN 0161-6900)
is published bi-monthly
for $15.00/year for individual subscriptions;
$10.00/year for groups; 50 or more copies.
Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald
Editor in Chief: Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop
7319 Tapper Ave • Hammond, IN 46324
Tel.: 219-931-4321
e-mail: [email protected]
Co-Editor: Rev. Stefan M. Torok
68 Cherrywood Drive • Somerset, NJ 08873
Tel.: 732-917-4566
e-mail: [email protected]
Co-Editor: Rev. Joseph Vasarhelyi
220 Fourth Street • Passaic, NJ 07055
Tel.: 973-778-1019 • Fax: 973-778-1026
e-mail: [email protected]
Business Manager: Wilburn A. Roby Jr.
264 Old Plank Road • Butler, PA 16002
e-mail: [email protected]
Newsletters prepared by: Cathy Paksi 419-733-5829 • [email protected]
Newsletters printed by: Gazette Printers 724-349-3434
Periodicals postage paid at Butler, PA
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
264 Old Plank Rd., Butler, PA 16002-3810
Manuscripts and photographs are not preserved or returned.
Send all correspondence to the Editor.
The views and opinions of the writers are their own
and do not necessarily represent the position of the magazine or Calvin Synod.
CALVIN SYNOD HEADQUARTERS:
Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig
7319 Tapper Ave • Hammond, IN 46324
219-931-4321 • [email protected]
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
Reminiscent of eleven years ago,
returning from the Annual Meeting of the
Calvin Synod I have reflected on many
of the things I saw there. I was happy
to see so many delegates this year, and
especially glad that the quality of our
attendees was something to be proud
of. Our con­gregations have a wealth of
dedicated Christians in their midst.
This year I was elected to serve as
bishop, and being familiar with the other officers, I am sure
your faith in those whom you elected is not misplaced. Our
current Auxiliary Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai accepted
a difficult assignment last year and fulfilled the task beautifully.
Our Synod Treasurer Rev. Viktor Toth has undertaken the task
of reorganizing the accounting in the Treasurer's office, with
good results. Rev. Stefan Torok has done a good job as General
Secretary. Mr. James Ballas, your Synod Presbyter, seriously
fulfills every task. These colleagues have been serving for two
years and I know that we will be fruitful in our work together this
coming year.
We are totally committed and dedicated to serve you and
Calvin Synod and Jesus our Lord, and intend to do so in the Spirit
of Christ and being guided by the Love which he introduced into
the world. Paul says it best in I Corinthians: without love, we are
a “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”, we are “nothing”. And then
he goes on to tell us what love IS: “Love is patient and kind; love
is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not
insist on its own way; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in
the right”.
I invite you to join us, and emphasize Christ’s message of
“Love” in every decision you make and every thought you have,
so that he will always be present in your lives.
Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop
VACANCIES
Beaver Falls, PA
Cleveland, OH – West Side Hungarian
Reformed Church
Columbus, OH
Dayton, OH
The proper procedure is for all interested ministers to send
their completed PROFILE (as provided by the United Church of
Christ) to the Bishop’s office:
Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig
7319 Tapper Ave • Hammond, IN 46324
[email protected]
Bishop Ludwig and members of the C&M Commitee
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
The 77th Annual Meeting
of the Calvin Synod Conference
of the United Church of Christ
was held at Ramada Inn, in Ligonier, PA
from May 19-22, 2015
Opening Worship Service with Holy Communion was held at
Moriah Chapel of Bethlen Communities from 9:00 am. Participating
in the worship service were members of the Conference Council. The
English message was delivered by General Secretary, Rev. Stefan M.
Torok, Hungarian message was delivered by Synod Treasurer, Rev.
Viktor Toth, and Holy Communion service was led by Rt. Rev. Dr.
Csaba Krasznai, Acting Bishop and Mr. James Ballas Synod Presbyter.
Participating in the worship service were Deans of the Classis: Rev.
Peter Toth, Lakeside Classis, Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Central Classis
also Executive Director of Bethlen Communities, Rev. Chuck Huckaby,
Western Classis and Rev. Jozsef Vasarhelyi, Eastern Classis.
Following the worship service Synod picture of the delegates was
taken. The picture is on the cover of this issue of the Calvin Synod
Herald.
Lunch was served in the Linden Room of Bethlen Communities.
During the lunch, special greetings and reports were provided to
the delegates by Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Executive Director who also
gave a brief report on the life and service of the same. He also made
introductions of the Board of Directors who serve on behalf of the Calvin
Synod.
The early afternoon started with registration of the delegates, after
which Acting Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai called the meeting to
order.
Rev. Gabor Nitsch, Director of Pastoral Care at Bethlen Commu­
nities remembered 10 of our faithful pastors and elders who have been
called to their eternal reward with the Lord.
Opening Address was delivered by Mr. James Ballas, Synod
Presbyter as follows:
Good afternoon! Isten Hozta. Welcome to the 77th Annual Meeting
of the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ. As
we gather for this meeting, there are several issues that we need to
deal with. As we discovered throughout this past year, many decisions
regarding personnel were left up in the air. We need to take some action.
We need to put “our house in order.” In several of our congregations,
the same is needed. It is time to put “our house in order.” On the Synod
level, on the congregational level, and on a personal level; it is time.
During this meeting, we will hear about evangelism. Some of you
may know that prior to the merger forming the United Church of Christ,
our Magyar Synod was part of the denomination called the Evangelical
and Reformed Church. Our churches came from the Reformed Church in
the United States, merging with the Evangelical Synod of North America.
Many changed their names from the Hungarian Reformed Church to
the Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church. The preamble of the
constitution of the denomination included the words “in the proclamation
of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the advancement of the
Kingdom of God in accordance with the Word of God.” There is a historic
connection. One of the basic tasks of the church – “announcing the good
news of the gospel” – evangelism. It includes preaching and spreading
the good news of the gospel, but also converting to Christianity. How
well do we do that? We have a classis committee called Evangelism and
Worship. Sometimes that committee shared beneficial material. But as
with many of our classis committees, they are by and large inactive. But
this week, I am confident we will learn much more about evangelism.
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I visited several churches this year facing struggles within their
congregation. Seeking to help them find comfort and healing in their
time of need, I quoted this passage from the Letter of Paul to the
Colossians chapter 3 verses 12 through 17. “As God’s chosen ones,
holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone
has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord
has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves
with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called
in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude
in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” What wonderful
words to follow.
So as we take care of business this week, remember who we are;
one of God’s chosen.
In word and deed, do everything in His name, giving thanks. Amen.
Rev. Torok, General Secretary made the Roll Call: A total of 17
congregations were represented, with 39 delegates and 9 alternate
delegates present, 5 guests and 2 licensed lay preachers. A quorum
was established and the Synod meeting was declared open.
The Agenda of the meeting was presented to the delegates and
was accepted. Dr. Krasznai asked the Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop
Emeritus to act as Parliamentarian. Motion passed.
Rev. Torok, was asked to present members of the Appointed
Committees with their duties and responsibilities.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai made his Acting Bishop’s Report as
follows:
“When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in
their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. Then
Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of
Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel
to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the
Law of Moses the man of God” (Ezra 3:1-2 NIV).
Dear Pastors, Delegates, and Guests, Dear Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
Something new and good has begun in the life of Israel, a longlong time ago. The story, from the Book of Ezra, is about the people of
Israel coming home from the Babylonian exile, when God had mercy on
His people and led them back to their ancient land of Israel after the long
seventy year exile in Babylonia.
The first thing they did, after their arrival, was to worship the
Lord. They worshiped the Almighty God. Why would they do this?
Everything around them was lying in rubbles and ruins. They should
have started building their own houses and especially the house of God
first, and just then worshiping God and restoring worship. Why would
they devote themselves to restoring corporate worship? Why did they
begin everything with worshiping the Almighty God? The reason was
because everything was restored with worship. Everything was restored
by exalting the Almighty God, by praising and worshiping Him, by putting
the Lord into the center of their lives, community, and nation, by going
back to the roots.
I strongly believe that every good beginning results in more positive
outcome. God is the most important. We must always begin with God
in Jesus Christ. The Lord must be in the center of our personal lives,
and in our churches and Synod’s life. If we offer ourselves to God then
things will work out, one way or the other, everything will be all right even
though things may look in rubble and ruin around us, even though we
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don’t see the way out and how to deal with all the issues in our lives and
in our churches. The only thing we can do is to go before Christ in faith
and unity, and rely on Him and ask Him to lead us in this time.
Many of us, in Calvin Synod, focus on and facilitate revitalization
and growth in our Hungarian Reformed congregations. The members of
the Church Revitalization and Growth Committee developed a Plan of
Action. Our goal is to establish prayer group ministries at each church
of Calvin Synod. Members of the committee agreed to visit the churches
and schedule workshops at each congregation. In April of 2014 Rev.
Imre A. Bertalan and I visited the Hungarian Reformed Church of
Fairport Harbor, OH, and in November the Hungarian Reformed Church
of Columbus, OH. During our visits these two churches started the
prayer group ministry according to the Plan of Action guidelines we
presented. Other congregations, like Beaver Falls, PA, Bridgeport, CT,
Lorain, OH and Walton Hills, OH have also started the prayer group
ministry with success. Praise be to God for the great accomplishments!
May the Lord continue to bless this work!
Additionally, we give thanks to God for the Hungarian Reformed
Youth Camp which was also blessed. The main theme for the 2014
Youth Camp was entitled “In a World of Change” based on Hebrews
13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (NIV).
We had five main speakers who gave great presentations.
There were some positive changes in the life of the camp
compared to the previous years. We invited Junior Campers ages 9-12.
Rev. Judit Mayer and Beata Krasznai were appointed as leaders of the
Junior Campers. Ms. Maryann Parsons was appointed as Program
and Activity Coordinator. The camp staff worked hard to adjust the
schedule, the programs, and activities accordingly in order to make the
camp a blessing for all the campers, counselors, and participants. The
attendance was the highest compared to the previous years. We are
thankful for the generous donations, help, and support of individuals,
churches, and American-Hungarian organizations. Youth Camp
leadership had two preparatory meetings in January and in April of this
year. We hope that this year’s youth camp will be another blessing for
everybody.
Two of our Calvin Synod churches celebrated their 110th
Anniversary. The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Homestead, PA
on October 12, 2014, and the United Church of Christ of Bridgeport, CT
on October 25, 2014. The Manville Reformed Church will celebrate its
100th Anniversary on Saturday, July 25th, 2015.
Rev. John Cardamone was installed as pastor of the Calvin
Reformed Church of Norwalk, CT. I asked Rev. Stefan Torok General
Secretary, to conduct the Installation Service.
On May 17, 2015 Rev. Tibor Kiraly was elected as pastor of the
Calvin United Church of Christ, Fairfield. Rev. Jozsef Vasarhelyi presided
over the Special Congregational Meeting. Additionally, in March of 2015
the congregation held a Special Worship Service as they celebrated the
replacement of the furnace system in the church building and they also
started the church school again.
On August 1, 2014 Rev. Leila Gomulka retired honorably from the
United States Navy Chaplain Corps after serving 20 years on active
duty and 24 years total.
In September of 2014 Rev. Viktor Toth enrolled into the PhD
program at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.
Three pastors are in the process of applying for Standing in our
Synod.
Four pastors left our Synod:
1. Rev. Jim James resigned from the Heritage United Church of
Christ of Davison, MI.
2. Rev. Judith Tobias was released from licensure from the First
Hungarian Reformed Church of Homestead, PA.
3. Rev. Csongor Kovacs and Rev. Gabriella Reibach left the First
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Hungarian Reformed Church of New York, NY.
The Heritage United Church of Christ of Davison, MI requested
financial assistance for fixing their church’s furnace. The Conference
Council voted to support the Davison church in this project.
There were several overseas and homeland mission projects
that our Synod continued or initiated. Some major projects were:
Help Christians in Iraq Fund ($1,158), Karpatalja Relief Fund ($418),
Kolozsvar School Fund ($39,958.98), and the Christmas Gift to Retired
Ministers and Ministers’ Widows ($1,700). These mission projects were
either published in the Calvin Synod Herald and/or posted to Calvin
Synod Yahoo group.
In April of 2014 the Dedication Ceremony of the Graceful Aging
Center and Bethlen Museum and Archives was held in Ligonier, PA.
Rt. Rev. Ferenc Varga and I conducted the special service. A check of
$10,000 was presented to Bethlen Communities from Calvin Synod, for
the year of 2013 and 2014, as a pledge and support from our Synod.
We are thankful to God for the fine leadership at Bethlen Communities
and for their faithful and effective work. I was invited and participated at
the Board of Directors Meeting, as the representative of Calvin Synod,
in October of 2014 and in April of 2015.
Last November I participated at the Ordination Ceremony of Rt.
Rev. Ferenc Varga, the newly elected bishop of the Hungarian Reformed
Church in America. This special celebration was held at the American
Hungarian Reformed Church of Allen Park, MI. The Calvin Synod was
represented, at this event, by Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Rev. Imre A.
Bertalan, and myself. My family also participated at the event.
In November the Hungarian Government held the 4th Diaspora
Council Meeting in Budapest, Hungary. More than 80 leaders and
representatives, from different Hungarian organizations, communities,
and denominations, all over the world, participated at this event. I
represented Calvin Synod at this important meeting which was very
beneficial and a learning experience for me. A thorough report was
published in the Calvin Synod Herald January-February 2015 issue.
Some major changes occurred in the United Church of Christ
regarding the procedure of Ministerial Profile and application for
Standing. UCC has a new system and has computerized the application
procedure for pastors, as of January 1, 2014, and they no longer accept
the old hard copy forms anymore that Calvin Synod is still using. It
means that the applicant pastor needs to be recorded in the UCC Data
Hub system. The current Conference Minister has to report the UCC
each pastor who applied for Standing in Calvin Synod. However, please
note that as Calvin Synod we continue with our own procedure to grant
Standing to our pastors. Another new change, that has an effect on
Calvin Synod pastors, was that those who apply for Standing in the
UCC are required to get a fingerprint criminal background check which
is mandatory and the applicant pays.
At the end of the year of 2014 unfortunately our Synod had to deal
with a very unpleasant case. It was a sad situation in our Synod’s life.
Charges were brought by several members of the congregation against
the pastor of the Calvin United Church of Christ in Fairfield, CT. The
congregation voted to approve the request of the Conference Council
to make a change in pastor at a Special Congregational Meeting. The
pastor of the Fairfield church was also the Bishop of our Synod. A further
decision had to be made, regarding the status of Bishop within the Calvin
Synod, according to our Synod’s Bylaws Article XI. Officers, Section 4:
“Each officer except the Synod Treasurer and the Synod Presbyter shall
be an ordained minister holding his/her Standing in Calvin Synod, and
be either: a. The ‘Called’ and installed pastor of a local congregation of
this Conference, or b. A retired pastor…” I am serving as Acting Bishop
till May of 2015.
Even though we experience and go through trials and difficulties,
we may see the Lord’s graceful and helping hand on our lives and on our
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
churches, and Synod. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless our
congregations and may His presence bring love, peace, joy, and unity
into our churches’ life.
Conference Council Minutes: Rev. Torok, General Secretary presented
the Combined Conference Council Minutes from 2014-2015, which was
distributed to the delegates.
Proposed By-Law Changes: Mr. James Ballas, presented the Proposed
By-Law Changes which was also made available to the delegates. After
some discussions the changes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Rev. Viktor Toth, Synod Treasurer distributed
his report to the delegates and made a media presentation, giving an
accounting of the treasury. The report was well received and was placed
into the hands of the proper committee for further evaluation.
For the remainder of the afternoon the following reports were made to
the delegates: Church and Ministry Committee, by Rt. Rev. Louis
Medgyesi, Chair, Faithful and Welcoming Churches Report, by Rev.
Dr. Robert Thompson and the Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Youth
Camp Report, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai. Committee meetings
were announced by the chairperson of each committee.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Opening devotions were offered by Rev. David Ackerman, Penn West
Conference Minister.
Roll Call: was taken by Rev. Torok, General Secretary showing 17
congregations represented by 29 delegates, 9 alternates 5 guests and
two licensed lay preachers.
After the approval of the previous day’s minutes, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba
Krasznai gave a report on the Church Revitalization and Growth,
expressing thanks to Rev. Bertalan and others who through the last
years visited member congregations and accepted to follow the plan
of action.
Bethlen Museum and Archives Report: was presented by Rt. Rev.
Koloman K. Ludwig, Rev. Albert W. Kovacs and Rev. Imre A. Bertalan.
Workshop No. 1 On Evangelism was made by our special guest The
Rev. Dr. Richard Peace from Fuller Theological Seminary in California,
introduced by Rev. Viktor Toth one of his students. His presentation was
well received.
In the afternoon the Eastern Classis Dean’s Report was made by
newly elected Dean. Rev. Jozsef Vasarhelyi, which was followed by
congregational sharing.
The Western Classis Dean’s Report was made by Rev. Chuck
Huckaby, which was also followed by congregational sharing.
The remainder of the afternoon was set aside to discuss the
difficulties concerning the Bishop’s Office. Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan, who
has been removed from office as Pastor of the Calvin United Church
of Christ and was extended the opportunity to respond to the actions
taken by the congregation, Judicial Committee, Church and Ministry
Committee and the Conference Council. Bishop Poznan questioned why
he was not allowed to make his usual yearly report to the Synod. The
response offered was that he is no longer the pastor of a congregation
and since he was removed from office, in his place an Acting Bishop
was appointed.
Dr. Krasznai, Chair of the Synod Meeting and acting Bishop stated
that this was perhaps the most difficult decision we had to make as a
Synod Body.
Rev. Poznan started to read his prepared report in response to the
difficulties that arose from his removal. After a long period of time Acting
Bishop, Dr. Krasznai asked Rev. Torok, General Secretary to read the
letter addressed to Leadership of the United Church of Christ and the
recommendations made by the Judicial Committee, Church and Ministry
Committee and the Conference Council in this matter.
Recommendation No. 1: The Conference Council, Judicial Committee,
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Church and Ministry Committee recommends to the Synod to terminate
Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan from the office as Bishop of the Calvin Synod.
Secret ballot was requested and ordered by the chair. The delegates
voted with 31 Yes vote, and 6 No vote. Dr. Krasznai declared that the
motion passed. It is therefore noted, that the Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan
be removed from office as Bishop of the Calvin Synod.
Recommendation No. 2: The Conference Council further recommends
that Rev. Bela Poznan’s standing be terminated by the Calvin Synod
together with every elected and appointed positions. Secret ballot was
requested and ordered by the chair. The delegates voted with 26 yes, 10
No and 4 abstained. Dr. Krasznai declared that the motion passed. It
is therefore noted, that the Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan be removed from
standing in the Calvin Synod together with elected and appointed
position.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Opening Devotions were offered by Rev. Albert W. Kovacs.
Roll Call was taken by Rev. Torok, General Secretary. Present were
delegates from 19 congregations, 15 ministers, 16 delegates, 9 alternate
delegates 6 guests and 2 licensed lay preachers.
Minutes from the previous day were approved with corrections.
Workshop No. 2 with Rev. Dr. Richard Peace.
Committee Reports filled the rest of morning session and extended into
the afternoon session.
Bishop’s Office: The Nominating Committee placed the name of Rt.
Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig before the delegates to fill the unexpired term
of Bishop, as Interim Bishop. Motion passed.
Dr. Krasznai invited the Rt. Rev. Koloman Ludwig and elected members
of the Church and Ministry to take their Oath of Office.
All delegates were asked to stand as the Oath of Office was
administered to the Interim Bishop and Members of the Church and
Ministry Committee Members. Dr. Krasznai extended a right hand of
fellowship to all.
Dr. Krasznai further reported to the delegates that the Synod Banquet
will be held this evening at the Old Building of the Bethlen Home and
special Award Presentation will be made to Mrs. Barbara Poruban, wife
of the Chief Elder at United Church of Christ of Bridgeport, CT.
Friday, May22, 2015
Opening Devotions were led by Rev. Peter Toth, Dean of the Lakeside
Classis, pastor of the Lorain, OH congregation.
Roll Call was made by Rev. Torok, General Secretary, indicating 15
congregations represented by 13 ministers, 19 delegates, 5 alternate
delegates, 2 licensed lay preachers and 4 guests.
Approval of the Minutes: motion was made to accept the minutes from
the previous day with some corrections.
The Conference Council asked authorization for the approval of the
minutes from this day. – Authorization was given.
Among the unfinished business it was reported again that Group
Pictures from the Synod meeting are still available. Rev. Nitsch further
stated that the Bethlen Almanac is also available. Rev. Viktor Toth further
emphasized the process for paying the hotel rooms.
Dr. Krasznai expressed his thanks and appreciation to all ministers,
delegates. alternate delegates and guests for their interest and
participation at the meeting.
Closing Prayer and Benediction was offered by the Rt. Rev. Koloman
K.Ludwig, Interim Bishop. In His closing prayer he asked God to keep
watch over our delegates in their travel, extended greetings to our
faithful people in the congregations and said “God be With You, ‘till We
Meet Again” in 2016.
By Rev. Stefan M. Torok
General Secretary
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CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Contemplative Evangelism:
A Proposal for Outreach in the 21st Century
Communion Worship Service at the Moriah Chapel,
Ligonier, PA
Members of the Conference Council
Dr. Csaba Krasznai, Dr. Richard Peace and
Rev. Viktor Toth
The ministry of evangelism is all about inviting newcomers
into the church, into faith, and into a life-transforming relationship
with Jesus. Indeed evangelism is the very lifeblood of the church.
Without the ministry of evangelism the church dies slowly. And
the mainline church, which includes the UCC, has been in decline
now for over 50 years. But the problem is that we scarcely engage
in evangelism any more. In fact, we are embarrassed by word
evangelism. The whole idea of evangelism has become toxic for
us in the church, and I might add, it is also toxic for those outside
the church who view evangelism as coercive, manipulative and
exclusionary.
So the question is: how are we to engage in evangelism in
the 21st century?
Here is my proposal: that to engage in evangelism in
this postmodern world in ways that are productive, authentic
and have integrity what we need to do is create options for
postmodern people to explore spirituality so as to encounter God
in life-changing ways. (One of the characteristics of postmodern
people is their interest in the spiritual). I call this Contemplative
Evangelism
Contemplative Evangelism is all about creating safe spaces
and creative places where the spiritually curious can explore their
own spiritual pilgrimages in the context of a hospitable, loving,
interpretative community of living faith. Let me unpack this
definition.
• A Safe Space: Post moderns are often not interested in the
church. In fact the church is seen (wrongly I think) as a spooky
place inhabited by judgmental people with manipulative leaders.
So we often have to use more neutral spaces such as conference
centers, schools, retreats, homes, etc. to do contemplative
outreach.
• A Creative Place: These spaces need to be filled with inputs
of all sorts that spark spiritual inquiry such as books, art, music,
and information from various sources such as lectures, seminars,
and conversation.
• The Spiritually Curious: The focus needs to on the many
individuals who claim to be spiritual but not religious. They are
engaged in a culture-wide conversation about spirituality which
is often seen in contemporary films, TV, music, and art.
• Spiritual Pilgrimage: The goal of contemplative evangelism
is to explore our spiritual pilgrimages together. This is possible
because we are all on a spiritual pilgrimage whether we know it
or not since this is how God has made us. In sharing stories of
pilgrimage we learn about God from one another.
• A hospitable community: We are good at hospitality in the
church but we need to be intentional about inviting those outside
our walls to share our hospitality
• A loving community: No mystery here. The Great
Commandments calls upon us to love God and love others. This
is what following the Way of Jesus is all about.
• An interpretive community: Our Christian world view
enables us to help others to understand how to reach out to
God, who God is, what it means to notice God, and what their
experiences of Transcendence are all about.
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
• A community of living faith: Faith is not just taught; it is
caught as it is modeled by others.
Contemplative Evangelism takes many forms. My favorite
way of such outreach is via half-day retreats. Gather together
a group of interested people from both inside and outside the
church to meet from 9:00-1:00 on a Saturday morning and explore
together a topic of spirituality. I recently did such a retreat on
the theme of Noticing God in which we looked at various ways
in which God has met men and women down through history.
This included not just lecture but personal spiritual exercises and
small group conversation. Other themes I have explored include
Bible study of a powerful passage in which the text is examined
first with our minds (inductive Bible study) and then with our
hearts (lectio divina). In another retreat I explored the writings of
the mystic Julian of Norwich and how she could assert that “all
shall be well” even though she lived in a world of plague and
endless war.
Seminars are useful too. I did a 5-week Lenten series on
spiritual pioneers and their practices that was preceded by a
dinner. It is in this seminar format at key times in the liturgical
year (Advent, Lent, Pentecost) that you can teach on those topics
of spirituality on which you are expert. The key will be to include
spiritual practices.
Small groups meeting weekly in homes allow for a
comfortable, conversational approach to spirituality. I find that
sharing spiritual autobiographies is a powerful experience as
long as these are carefully prepared, presented, and debriefed.
(See my book Spiritual Autobiography: Discovering and Sharing
Your Spiritual Story. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1998.)
The intensive experience of travel together to religious sites
is another powerful form of contemplative outreach.
In the end, contemplative evangelism is not difficult. We
simply have to offer programs on spiritual formation and invite
the spiritually curious to participate. This is not something
new or extra since engaging in spiritual formation is a key
part of ministry (as we seek to create disciples). What makes
our formational activities outreach is our willingness to invite
outsiders to join us.
By Dr. Richard Peace
Rev. Stefan M.Torok, Rev. John P. Cardamone
and Chief Elder Jack Zackar
7
Installation of Rev. John P. Cardamone
The Calvin Reformed Church of Norwalk
(U.C.C.) celebrated the installation of their
new pastor, Rev. John P. Cardamone, on
Sunday, April 26, 2015.
Rev. Stefan M. Torok, General Secretary of
the Synod, officiated in place of Rt. Rev. Dr.
Csaba Krasznai of Ohio, acting Bishop, who
was unable to attend. Rev. Dr. Mark Horton of the neighboring
Bridgeport CT., church also participated. It was a glorious day
in which the faithful gathered to witness this occasion. Guest
Organist Brother Matthew “Mackey” Clark played an uplifting
solo.
Rev.Torok’s sermon spoke of the Great Commission. Re­­m­ember the “3 M's of Ministry,” model, mentor and motivate.
Model as in Peter 1:15 – The best sermons are one’s actions.
Real ministry must reach beyond the reach of human hands.
Paul, the Apostle, cautions that one’s sermon must be modeled
before the people one leads.
Mentor as in Galatians 5:13, Hebrews 13:17, 1Peter 5:5 –
One must give much of his time and talent to instruct others, even
if that mentoring never returns to the person directly. It is to be
done for the kingdom’s sake. Good mentoring reaches out, and
is not just to use at home. Be the sower in order that seeds may
scatter and be gathered at harvest.
Motivate as in John 4:35 – It is up to believers, church
members and pastors to light a fire under ourselves, to motivate
those whom God has called to the fellowship of the faithful. Zeal
and commitment are needed to set things in motion.
Rev. Torok offered his prayer and desire that the new pastor,
Rev. Cardamone and the congregation to follow these 3Ms.
The service continued with Rev. Torok posing questions to
both Rev. Cardamom and the congregation to which both parties
replied affirmatively to follow the Word of God. At this time
Rev. Torok congratulated both the newly installed pastor and
congregation saying, “This truly the day which the Lord has
made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Rev. Cardamone, 55, addressed the congregation and spoke
of his Scilian heritage. He admitted his knowledge of Hungarian
consists of “Jo reggelt” and “paprikas.” He was born and raised
in Norwalk. In fact, his mother was born (in 1931) on Lexington
Avenue, down the street from the church. Family and home
are very important to him. He and his wife, Jill, have 4 sons.
John Philip, Luke, Micah and Isaiah. A potted plant of basil was
evident upon the altar. One only needs to ask and he will tell you,
it reminds him of the “aroma of home,” a tribute of love for his
mother and grandmother.
Following this, the Chief Elder, Mr. Jack Zackar, presented
Rev. Cardamone with the 3 symbols of leadership: The By-Laws
of the church, keys to the church and the official seal of the
church.
The service concluded and was followed by a fellowship
dinner in the church hall.
Rev. Stefan M. Torok
8
CONFIRMATION
STEVEN PALAGYI was confirmed on May 31st 2015 at the
Manville Reformed church in Manville, New Jersey, by Rev.
Peter Maurer.
Steven is the son of Otto and Dori Palagyi of Hillsborough,
NJ and grandson of Otto and Carol Palagyi also of Hillsborough.
All are member of our church and we welcome Steven as
our newest member.
Baptism at the First Hungarian
Reformed Church of Walton Hills, OH
of CHARLES JAMES DRENNAN,
the son of Robert and Debbie Drennan
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Confirmation Exam and First Communion
at the First Hungarian Reformed Church
of Walton Hills, Ohio
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge
him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
On Sunday, May 17, 2015 our church celebrated the Confir­
mation of our five candidates at a special Worship Service. After the service everyone was invited for a luncheon at our
church’s Bethlen Hall. The Candidates received their first Holy
Communion on Pentecost Sunday, May 24th. The Candidates
were: Caroline Dewees, Allison Dewees, Rahel Krasznai, Adam
Mayo, and Robert Fulop.
To God be all glory and praise!
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
9
Flood Relief Fund, Oklahoma and Texas
Dear Calvin Synod Congregations,
Severe storms, in late May, hit Oklahoma and central and
southeast Texas. The widespread flooding and storms killed
at least 21 people in the two states and displaced thousands of
residents. 70 homes were destroyed and about 1,400 homes are
under water in the storm area and have some type of damage.
The Conference Council of the Calvin Synod asks for your
support to help the victims. Please, pray for the victims and make
generous contributions to help them at the time of this great
tragedy.
Donations may be sent to the Calvin Synod Treasurer:
Rev. Viktor Toth
6310 Green Valley Cir. #217
Culver City, CA 90230
When sending your donation, please write in the Memo
section of your check: Flood Relief Fund, Oklahoma and
Texas. We are thankful for your prayers and generous support!
Yours in Christ,
Dr. Csaba Krasznai
Auxiliary Bishop
Homeland and Overseas Mission Coordinator
A man walks past a cabin that was torn from its foundation in a
flood on the Blanco River days earlier, Tuesday, May 26, 2015
in Wimberly, Texas
Deadly floods hit Texas & Oklahoma
Members of the Houston Fire department help residents
evacuate through the floodwaters surrounding their homes in
Houston, Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Proclaim Liberty throughout the Land
Scripture: Psalms 33:12
This coming 4th of July we are going to celebrate our nation's
239th birthday. 239 years ago the United States was born. A nation
based on the ideals of liberty, responsibility, godliness, and the
freedom to become what God intended us to become was a new
and revolutionary idea. The celebration of our nation's birthday
is really a celebration of freedom. We celebrate the precious
gift of freedom we have, because of the price others paid. You
see, we must remember that freedom isn't free. Freedom is very
expensive. It has cost some people everything, including their
lives. Freedom isn't free, but it is infinitely valuable.
On July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, our Founding Fathers
signed a document declaring our independence from the tyranny
of those who would enslave the minds, the souls, the lives of
men. But what many Americans don't realize is that with the
same document, we not only declared our independence from
Great Britain, we just as strongly declared our dependence
upon Almighty God. The Declaration of Independence begins
by proclaiming that this nation is dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal and endowed by our Creator with
certain unalienable rights. The signers of the Declaration were
staking everything on God watching over them and seeing them
through in their struggle for freedom. This is a nation that was
founded upon the notion that we must be free from tyranny and
we must be dependent upon our God.
After our Founding Fathers unanimously approved the
Declaration of Independence on July 2, and it was signed on July
4, the first public reading of the Declaration took place on July 8,
and it was celebrated by a band and the ringing of bells. And the
very first bell they rang was in the belfry of the very hall where
they approved the Declaration of Independence to summon the
people to hear the reading of America's founding document. They
rang that bell – we know it as the "Liberty Bell." Where did it get
its name? The name comes from the Scripture that imprinted on
the bell – Lev. 25:10 – which says: "Proclaim liberty throughout
the land unto all the inhabitants thereof!" Proclaim liberty
throughout the land. Let Freedom Ring!
8
10
8 America was founded by men and women who acknowledged
God's supreme rule over our lives.
Despite what modern politicians, the contemporary media
or the history revisionists say – America was founded not on the
concept of freedom to worship any God (Buddha, Allah...etc) but
on the freedom to worship Jesus Christ.
Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the
people he chose for his inheritance."
As much as we'd like to go back to the "good old days" when
there was a national acceptance of the Judeo-Christian morality,
we aren't living in those days. There was a time when majority of
Americans were Christians and those who weren't had a healthy
respect for God and the Bible. Those days are gone.
We need to wake up to what's happening right here in
America.
We need to wake up and then lift up prayers for America.
Most Christians are ignorant about the culture in which we
are now living. We have used the church as a fortress where we
hide from the world. We want to escape from the big bad world
and its influences. But that's a defeatist approach. Jesus never
told us to retreat, He told us to CHARGE into the world and to
carry the good news. Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep
among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent
as doves."
We must WAKE up; LIFT up prayers; WISE up, and we must
be willing to stand up for righteousness and truth in a culture that
is becoming more wicked by the day. The Apostle Paul wrote:
"Become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a
crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars
in the universe as you hold out the word of life."
Our world is struggling in moral darkness and Jesus has
called us to be the light of the world. Our culture is rotten and
getting more corrupt and Jesus has called us to be the salt of the
earth.
For too long Christians have been guilty of the sin of silence.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said "Our lives begin to end the day
we become silent about things that matter."
As Christians, we need to ask ourselves the same question.
Is this the kind of nation we want our children and grandchildren
to grow up in? If you think some changes need to be made, then
it's time for us to be silent no longer. We must stand up for truth
and righteousness because if we don't, nobody else will.
We must stand up and let our voices be heard in the same way
and persuade our government of the eternal and infallible truths
of God's word and how these principles apply to the policies and
laws of our nation.
Sometimes we must stand up to our government and say:
Enough is enough!
America, wake up! Wake up and rediscover this simple
truth, that as long as our motto is: IN GOD IS OUR TRUST,
then we will remain a great nation. America needs some modern
Paul Reveres. We need to rouse our culture about the dangerous
threats we face.
The Liberty bell was not meant to be hidden under the
floorboards of a church. A bell is meant to be rung for all to hear.
We are called to "Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
the inhabitants thereof!" Jesus said in his first sermon following
his temptation in the wilderness: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He
has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the
year of the Lord's favor." A bell does no good if it is not rung. A
gospel does no good if it is not proclaimed.
Tim Vamosi
meditation
Yes, we wish to have a better life,
but how can we achieve it?
Text: "Jesus said to them (that is to the people), "’I am the bread
of life, he who comes to me shall never hunger . . .'" and ". . . ‘I
came (said Jesus) that hey may have life and have it abundantly.’"
John 6:35/a and 10:10/b.
It is obvious that the first Bible quotation of our text, when
Jesus had said that He was the bread of life, should be taken
FIGURATIVELY; and the second one when our Lord promised
that His followers will have an abundant life through Him, should
be interpreted LITERALLY within the context of the Bible.
Why did Jesus say that He was the BREAD OF LIFE? Because
the bread was one of the best choices to become the SYMBOL
OF LIFE. Jesus had chosen the bread, trying to express that "I
am the ESSENCE (VITAMIN) of life". Already in Jesus' time
everybody knew that first the grain had to be sown to become
a LIVE plant, when it was ripe it had to be harvested, from the
harvested wheat flour was made, from the flour bread had to be
baked, and the consumed bread provided nourishment for LIFE
again!
WITH THE POPULATION STEADILY GROWING AND
THE ARABLE LAND BASICALLY REMAINING THE SAME
THE PROBLEMS ARE GIVEN.
You do not have to be told that we have serious economic
problems (unemployment, poverty, deficit, bankruptcy, closed
coal mines, steel mills, factories, foreign trade) and in contrast
to this Jesus wants us to have an abundant life that is we should
have a BETTER life.
What does BETTER mean in terms of secular interpretation?
• Better is whatever is MORE and SUFFICIENT of any kind
of necessity.
• Better is whatever is LESS EXPENSIVE and needed thus
AVAILABLE for more people (like bread).
• Better is whatever SATISFIES the people more, it is simpler,
is available in more
varieties, and makes our work easier.
• Better is whatever is NICER, more attractive, pretty, what
the ladies like.
• Better is whatever is SAFER, like cars, or streets in the big
cities.
• BETTER is whatever is BIGGER, more COMFORTABLE,
ENJOYABLE, and makes people happy.
To these you may add your own preferences, for instance;
better is whatever makes us live longer, reduces stress, protects
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
The Hungarian Cultural Association
Columbus, Ohio
HCA is a non-denominational group that organizes Hungarian
events at the Columbus Hungarian Reformed Church. Some
HCA members belong to the church; most do not.
THE HUNGARIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (HCA)
traces its history to February, 1852 when Louis Kossuth – the
leader of the 1848 Hungarian revolution for independence &
democracy – paid a visit to Columbus & addressed the Ohio
legislature. At the time, a meeting of the Friends of Hungary was
or restores our health, provides sufficient income, keeps harmony
among people, etc.
WHAT KIND OF "BETTER" LIFE COULD HAVE
JESUS HAD IN MIND WHEN HE HAD PROMISED HIS
FOLLOWERS A LIFE WITH ABUNDANCE?
Obviously He did not think primarily what are mentioned
above, but rather He oriented the people's attention toward the
spiritual world. We should make it clear, however, that our
Lord would not have objected if people would have strived for
anything BETTER as listed before.
I am sure I am close to the truth, and you would agree
with me also, when I try to be specific about the abundant life
promised by Christ.
One can have a life and have it abundantly through Jesus
when;
- he or she has a BETTER or closer CONNECTION with
God,
- he or she has a BETTER UNDERSTANDING of the
message of our Savior
- he or she EXPANDS the realm of his/hers thinking, world
view, knowledge,
- he or she COUPLES his/her knowledge (mind) with faith
(heart)
- he or she HAS not only a deep-rooted FAITH but also a
fruitful one,
- he or she SEES HIMSELF/HERSELF not only as an
individual but also as an active and useful member of the family,
church, community, society,
- he or she is not only WORKING diligently for the daily
bread but also PRAYING fervently for being born again and
saved.
- he or she sees the GOAL OF HIS/HER LIFE not only as
a successful, happy, and popular person but also becoming an
instrument in serving God and mankind.
Do you wish to have an abundant that is BETTER LIFE
for yourselves, beloved ones, friends and neighbors? Take that
spiritual nourishment, energizing food, life transforming idea
what Jesus had offered when He had said: "I am the bread of life,
he/she who comes to me shall not hunger." John 6:35/a.
Rev. Alexander Jalso
11
held in Columbus City Hall. Ohio Governor Reuben Wood was
elected the first president of the Friends of Hungary. Today, you
can go to City Hall & see just to the left of the visitor’s desk, a
large bronze plaque containing the image of Kossuth with words
spoken by Kossuth that were later paraphrased by President
Abraham Lincoln in his 1863 Gettysburg Address. Enter the City
Hall on Front Street..
In the 1950s, the Ohio Friends of Hungary was reconstituted
as the Hungarian Cultural Association. It was created soon
after the arrival of a number of Hungarian 56ers who came
to Columbus following the October 23,1956 anti-communist
Hungarian revolt. Since then the HCA has benefitted the church
by contributing dollars to it & holding cultural events at the
church. In 2014, $2,976 was contributed.
The 2010 US Census tells us that about 6,000 persons in
Franklin County identify themselves as having a Hungarian
background. And, there are even more in surrounding counties.
The Cultural Association introduces these Hungarians to the
church & seeks to build their understanding of their Hungarian
heritage.
The HCA has card-carrying, dues paying members in about
40 zip codes, over a dozen Ohio counties, & three states (Ohio,
Florida, & California). Dues are $18 a year. Students & seniors
age 60 & over pay $12. HCA members plan Columbus Hungarian
events at its meetings, held at the church – most months – on the
third Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 PM.
Upcoming 2015 Events in Columbus
at the Hungarian Reformed Church
Saturday, July 18 from Noon to 6 PM will be the Taste of
Hungary festival. Enjoy Hungarian food, musicians from Cleve­
land, and the Dayton Dancers at 3 PM.
August 19 Hungarian college students visit Columbus. Ask
them questions about their experiences in Hungary and the US.
Sunday, September 13 at 11:40 AM, Life Stories of two local
Hungarians. Sandor Kocsis came to Columbus from Hungary
as a child in the 1940s. A lawyer, he served as a translator for
the Hungarian army when they came to Columbus in the1980s
to train for NATO expansion. Lynn Hanihalmi is a native of
Lorain, but a long time Columbus state employee.
Sunday, October 25 attend the program remembering the 1956
anti communist Hungarian revolution followed by a Hungarian
dinner.
November 7 & 8 stop by the Hungarian Cultural Association
booth at the International festival in the Celeste Building at the
Ohio State Fairgrounds on 17th Street in Columbus.
Artur Bartfay, Columbus, Ohio
[email protected]
12
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Calvin Synod Homeland and Overseas Mission
USA
1. We encourage our congregations' youngsters to attend the annual Calvin Synod Summer Youth Camp.
2. Support the Bethlen Communities Heritage Center Museum
and Archives.
TRANSYLVANIA
1. The Szekely Miko Reformed High School in Sepsiszent­gyorgy
is asking financial support for their school.
2.The Backamadarasi Kiss Gergely Reformed High School in
Székelyudvarhely, Transylvania is asking financial support for
their school.
3. Support the widow of Rev. Jeno Katona and his family.
4. Fund Reformed schools and help poor people in Transylvania
via Transylvania Reformed Assistance Committee (TRAC).
5. Ms. Gabriella Nádas – Donate to School Fund in Kolozsvár.
6. Fund charitable and mission work as requested by Rt. Rev.
István Csűri in Nagyvárad.
7. Fund request by principal Zsolt Tőkés to support the school's
roof in Székely­­udvarhely.
8. The Hungarian Reformed Church of Nagykároly-Kertváros
(Carei) in Transylvania is asking for donations for their construction project of a new church building and parsonage. Further info
available at the following website: http://kertvaros.freewb.hu/
UKRAINE
1. Support the Good Samaritan Orphanage and School in Nagydobrony in their mission work.
2. Support the food pantry named Crumbs for Lazarus to feed the
hungry in Csap as requested by Rev. János Balogh.
Please send donations to the Calvin Synod Treasurer:
Rev. Viktor Toth • 6310 Green Valley Cir. #217
Culver City, CA 90230 Tel.: 714-333-5300
When sending your donation, please write the name of
the Mission in the Memo section of your check.
For more information please contact:
Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai
Homeland and Overseas Mission Coordinator,
14530 Alexander Road, Walton Hills, OH 44146.
email: [email protected] –Tel.: 440-221-5334.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM
Name............................................................................................
Subscription No. .........................................................................
Old Address:.................................................................................
New Address:..............................................................................
.....................................................................................................
Meet the Participants of
ReConnect Hungary 2015
Learn about their goals and dreams as they begin the journey!
The good news is that thanks to the generosity of the
Hungarian government, this year we were able to accept 30
qualified applicants for our highly competitive program. Due to
the nature of the program, we keep the group size at an optimum
12-15, so we will have two groups this summer – June 29-July 16
and July 6-23 – with a one-week overlap.
Each group of 15 is carefully balanced for gender, age, geog­
raphic location, and commonality of interests, where applicable.
As in the past, this year there are three sibling pairs who have
chosen to be in the same group.
Since our 2012 launch, participants have come from all over
the United States and Canada, including those off the beaten path,
such as smaller towns in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward
Island in Canada. We’re very happy to have another participant
from Hawaii in 2015, as well as our first-ever from Texas and
North Carolina. Two participants have served in the US Air
Force, and one just returned from a tour in Afghanistan. The
majority of the youth are second or third generation Hungarians,
but we also have four fourth generation participants and even one
fifth generation. A few of them speak some Hungarian.
Participants come from all walks of life – some are studying
medicine, others have done military service; some have just
graduated high school. We have business-, politically- and
artistically-minded individuals.Together, the diversity in location,
personal interests, experience of being a hyphenated American,
and community involvement make for a dynamic unison and
ensure meaningful connections.
The common theme is that all ReConnect Hungary parti­
cipants feel disconnected at some level from their heritage and
yearn for shared experiences with other like-minded peers. They
want to fill this gap in their identity.
This is the program they have been waiting for!
Participants:
Julian Kerekes James Fogel
Peter Fogel Michelle Geosits
Cassie Chesley Alexandra Petrulis
Lauren Kis Zachari Cramp
Alexandra Poka Alexandria Nieznay
Jonathan Seidman Kati Eszes
Lauren McCarter Owen Pataki
Eva Santon Andrea Simonits
Erika Kovacs Breana Donelly
Karen Horovitz Andras Boros
Rose Seidman Kathleen Muckenhirn
Anton Seiger Csenge Santa
Meghan Ince Natalia Slattery
Laura Haines Ava Cramp
Clauber Santos Joshua Sturgess
ReConnect Hungary
P.O. Box 389, Gracie Station, New York, NY 10028
[email protected]
(Info forwarded by Artur Bartfay, Columbus, OH)
AMERIKAI MAGYAR
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA
A Kálvin Egyházkerület
hivatalos lapja
CALVIN
SYNOD
116. évfolyam
Alapítva 1900–ban
2015. JÚLIUS – AUGUSZTUS
A Püspök visszagondol...
Kedves Barátaim,
Kegyelem és béke Atyánktól Istenünktől és Urunktól,
Jézus Krisztustól!
Mint tizenegy évvel ezelőtt,
haza­érve a Kálvin Egyházkerület évi
köz­gyű­léséről, ismét elgondolkodtam
ar­ról, amit láttam és hallottam. A
szép számban megjelent résztve­vők
tanúskodnak arról, hogy gyüleke­
zeteink igen gazdagok hűsé­ges és
áldozatra kész keresztyén hívőkben.
Az idén a Kálvin Egyházkerület
megválasztott engem, mint püspök, és
ismerve a többi tisztviselőt, biztos vagyok abban, hogy a belénk
vetett hitük nem alaptalan.
Jelenlegi püspök helyettes, főtiszteletű Dr. Csaba Krasznai
Csaba elfogadta tavaly a rábízott nehéz feladatot és sikeresen
elvégezte azt. Úgyszintén egyházkerületi pénztárosunk főtisz­
teletű Tóth Viktor rendbe hozta a pénztári jelentéseket jó ered­
ménnyel. Nagytiszteletű Török Stefán szépen végzi a munkát,
mint egyházkerületi jegyző. Ezen munkatársaim most már két
éve szolgálnak, és én biztos vagyok abban, hogy a következő év­
ben eredményesen fogunk együtt dolgozni.
Teljesen elköteleztük magunkat, és fölajánljuk szolgála­
tainkat nektek, a Kálvin Egyházkerületnek, Urunknak, Jézus
Krisz­tus­nak. Igaz óhajunk az, hogy szolgálatunk idején minden­
ben és mindig Krisztus szeretet indítson, vezessen minket és ez
által az Ő szeretete éljen a világban. Pál apostol találóan mondja
a Korinthusiakhoz intézett első levelében, hogy szeretet nélkül
csak csengő érc vagyunk, valamint csengő cimbalom, valójában
azonban semmi. Majd leírja, hogy a szeretet béketűrő, tapintatos,
nem féltékeny, nem hencegő, nem dölyfös, sem nem durva. Igaz
szeretet nem követeli az övét, nem örvend mások baján, inkább
örömét leli mind abban, ami jó.
Szeretettel hívlak benneteket, hogy tartsatok velünk mikor
Krisztus tanítását léptetitek életetek előterébe: minden gondolat,
minden döntés legyen az Ő jelenlétének tanúsága lelketekben.
Ludwig Kálmán Károly, püspök
7 – 8 szám
Kálvin Zsinat bel- és külmisszió
1. Az „Irgalmas Szamaritánus” árvaháznak és iskolának Nagy­
dob­ronyban, Kárpátalján – folyamatos segítség.
2. Csap (Kárpátalja) a „Morzsákat Lázárnak” ingyenkonyha támogatására segítséget kér Balogh János lelkipásztor.
3. Nagyvárad – Ft. Csűri István segély kérése az egészségház
számára.
4. Nádas Gabriella – Iskola alap.
5. Tőkés Zsolt igazgató kérése a székelyudvarhelyi kollégium
tető fedésére.
6. A Ligonier-i Bethlen Közösség megsegítésére.
7. A Nagykároly-Kertvárosi (Erdély) Református Egyházközség
új templom és parókia építéséhez kér segítséget. Bővebb infor­
máció elérhető: http://kertvaros.freewb.hu/
8. A Székelyudvarhelyi (Erdély) Református High School kér
segítséget az iskola épület tető javítására.
Kérjük ezekre a célokra szíves anyagi támogatásukat!
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Adományaikat kérjük, szíveskedjenek elküldeni:
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CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Gyülekezeti hírek
LELKIPÁSZTOR NÉLKÜLI GYÜLEKEZETEK:
• Beaver Falls, PA
• Cleveland, OH – West Side
• Columbus, OH
• Dayton, OH
Érdeklődő lelkipásztorok vegyék fel a kapcsolatot
a püspöki irodával:
Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig
7319 Tapper Ave
Hammond, IN 46324
219-931-4321 • [email protected]
Passaic, NJ – úrvacsora osztás
Isten áldását kérjük Ft. Ludwig Kálmán Károly püspök életére
és munkásságára, szeretett családjával és a Kálvin Egyház­
kerülettel együtt.
Nt. Vásárhelyi József, minister
MANVILLE, NJ – 2015. június 25 – A gyülekezet 100 éves
évfordulója
NEW YORK, NY – A gyülekezet 120 éves évfordulója
PASSAIC, NJ – 2015 október 31, – A gyülekezet 120 éves
évfordulója, szombat délután 4 órakor.
2015. november 14 – Protestáns bál.
MEGHÍVÓ
A New Brunswick-i magyar napon Ft. Vásárhelyi és a
segítséget nyújtó hölgyek a Passaic-i sátorban
~~
szeretettel hívjuk kedves testvéreinket
a PASSAIC-i MAGYAR REFORMÁTUS EGYHÁZ
120 ÉVES ÉVFORDULÓJÁNAK MEGÜNNEPLÉSÉRE
2015. OKTÓBER 31-én
és a
PROTESTÁNS BÁLRA
2015. NOVEMBER 14-én
~~~
INVITATION
You are cordially invited to the
120TH ANNIVERSARY
of the Hungarian Reformed Church, Passaic, NJ
on OCTOBER 31, 2015
and to the PROTESTANS BALL
on NOVEMBER 14TH
to be held in the CALVIN HALL
Rev. J. Vasarhelyi, minister
Dean of the Eastern Classis
Toronto, Canada – Nt. ifj. Vásárhelyi József átveszi
a teológiai tudományok mesteri fokozatának diplomáját
15
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
AZ ÉLET KENYERE
Alapige: Ján. 6. r.48 és 63. v.
48. ,,Én vagyok az életnek kenyere.”
63. ,,Lélek az, ami megelevenít, a test
nem használ semmit:
a beszédek, melyeket én szólok
néktek lélek és élet.”
A múlt alkalommal igyekeztem megvilágítani Isten igéje
fényével azt az igazságot, hogy a teméntelen gondot okozó
kenyérkérdést is csak az Isten dolgának a cselekvése, mely
nem más, mint a hit abban, akit Ő küldött, oldja meg, ez a hit
hozza létre az emberek között az igaz testvéri közösséget s indít
arra, hogy másoknak a gondját szívesen felvegyük. Ám, ezzel a
kérdés még nincs egészen tisztázva, nekünk azt is tudnunk kell,
hogy Jézus miért mondja magáról, hogy Ő ama mennyei kenyér,
melyből, aki eszik semmiképpen meg nem éhezik? Mikor Jézust,
a kenyérgondok miatt, a sokaság felkereste, Jézus azt mondotta:
,,Én vagyok az a kenyér, mely a mennyből szállott alá.” A
sokaságot megdöbbentette ez az állítás s zúgolódni kezdett
ellene: tudjuk, mondják, hogy ez Jézus a József fia ,,ismerjük
atyját és anyját, mi módon mondja hát ez, hogy: mennyből
szállottam alá?”
Jézus szánja a sokaságot, hozzá akarja hát őket segíteni, hogy
felülemelkedve a múló dolgokon, megértsék Őt, vegyék észre,
a lelki életnek fenséges voltát, örökre megmaradó, megtartó
erejét s ezért ismét hangoztatja az ő életének jelentőségét s még
nyomatékosabban szól: ,,Én vagyok az életnek kenyere,” s
mert a tőle jelt kívánó sokaság előbb az atyákra hivatkozva azt
mondotta, hogy azok, t.i. az atyák a pusztában mannával éltek,
mint az írás mondja: ,,mennyei kenyeret adott vala nékiek.”
Jézus figyelmeztetőleg szól, hogy ti tévedtek, mert igaz
ugyan, hogy a ,,ti atyáitok a mannát ették a pusztában és
meghaltak,” – de éppen ezért az nem volt mennyei kenyér, mert
a mennyei kenyér örök életre tápláló eledel, ha tehát meghaltak,
nem mennyei kenyeret ettek, hanem mannát: ,,Én vagyok amaz
élő kenyér, amely a mennyből szállott alá, ha valaki eszik e
kenyérből, él örökké. Ez a kenyér pedig, amelyet én adok, az
én testem, melyet én adok a világ életéért.” S mikor Jézus
látja, hogy a zsidók tusakodnak egymás között, mondván: ,,Mi
módon adhatja az nekünk az ő testét, hogy azt együk,” – még
nagyobb erővel szól: ,,Bizony-bizony mondom néktek: ha nem
eszitek az ember fiának testét és nem isszátok az ő vérét, nincs
élet bennetek. Aki eszi az én testemet és issza az én véremet, örök
élete van annak és én feltámasztom azt az utolsó napon.”
Ám e beszéd után, észreveszi a mester, hogy az ő tanítványai
közül is sokan megdöbbenve mondogatják: ,,Kemény beszéd
ez: ki hallgatja őt,” épen ezért szükségesnek tartja, hogy most
már kép nélkül, félreérthetetlenül szóljon: ,,A lélek az, ami
megelevenít, a test nem használ semmit: a beszédek, melyeket
én szólok nektek lélek és élet.” Isten igéje azt az igazságot állítja
tehát előnkbe, hogy: Jézus az életnek kenyere és pedig azért,
mert a test nem használ semmit, lélek az, ami megelevenít, az Ő
beszéde pedig lélek, tehát maga az élet.
I.
Azt mondottuk, hogy Jézus az életnek kenyere és pedig
első sorban azért, mert a test nem használ semmit, lélek az, ami
megelevenít. Lássuk, hogyan értsük ezt. A test tulajdonképpen
az anyag, az érzékelhető valóság, az, amit látunk, tapintunk,
érzékeink által észrevesszük. Úgy tetszik nekünk, hogy minden
érdekünk ezer meg ezer szálakkal ehhez a valósághoz, az érzéki
léthez fűz, kapcsol bennünket, és szinte el sem tudjuk képzelni,
hogy e nélkül is lehet élet. Épen azért merésznek, lehetetlennek
látszik előttünk Üdvözítőnk kijelentése: lélek az, ami megelevenít,
a test nem használ semmit.” Ám, Krisztus Urunknak, minden
kijelentése igazság s így ez a kijelentése sem lehet valótlanság.
Lássuk csak, miről van itt szó? Arról, hogy Ő az életnek
kenyere, más szóval az ember valódi létének a tápláléka. Hogyan
indul meg az élet? A mi észrevételünk szerint a test, az anyag
mindaddig tehetetlen, elevennélküli valóság, míg valamely
láthatatlan, érzelmeink alá nem eső s bátran mondhatjuk úgy,
ismeretlen erő tehetetlenségéből ki nem mozdítja, elevenné nem
változtatja. Az ásvány ott ül egy helyben, porlad, málik s élni csak
akkor kezd, mikor megérinti az a láthatatlan, csodás erő s akkor
tán egy növényi vagy állati létbe felszívódva, áthasonulva annak
életműködését táplálja, elősegíti. Erre, nyilvánvaló, az ásványt
nem a maga minősége, tehetetlen volta, hanem az az ismeretlen
életerő segítette, mely porlasztotta, vegyítette, más részekkel
kapcsolatba hozta, mihelyt azonban ez az erő megszűnik reá
hatni, ha növényi vagy állati létbe ment is át, elevenségének
vége: a növény, az állat nem él, hanem korhad, rothad, nincs
benne többé elevenség s visszaesik, visszahull az élettelenségbe,
a tehetetlenségbe. Így van ez az emberrel is. Egy csodálatosan
elrejtetten működő erő hatása alatt alakká formálódnak az anyag
részecskéi s lassankint kiformálódik az ember s míg ez anyag
az életerő hatása alatt áll: az ember, mint a növény vagy az állat
él, fejlődik, növekedik, de ha ez az erő megszűnik működni, az
ember élete is véget ér, mint az írás mondja, porból vétetett és
porrá lesz. És itt már pontot is kellene tennünk fejtegetésünkre,
ha az élet csak érzéki lét volna, úgy, de maga az élet meg nem
szűnő, örökké munkálkodó valóság s mi úgy érezzük, hogy
ennek a valóságnak vagyunk a részesei. el sem tudjuk gondolni,
hogy nálunk nélkül is volna élet. Ez a tudat eleitől fogva ott van
az emberben. Ez nyer kifejezést az írás szavaiban: ,,Isten a maga
képére és hasonlatosságára formálta az embert.”
Ez a kép és hasonlóság az embernél az öntudatosságban
jelentkezik, az egyéniségben mutatkozik. Ám, hogy ez az
öntudatosság az ember magasabb rendeltetésének, tehát az igaz
emberi voltának, isteni hasonlatosságának megfelelő lehessen:
fenntartó táplálékra, más szóval kenyérre van szüksége. Ez a
táplálék, kenyér pedig, természetesen, nem lehet a közönséges
értelemben vett érzékelhető anyag, mert hiszen ez csak addig
tartja az életet, míg a reá ható, elrejtett erő működik s mihelyt ez, a
vegyi hatásokat előidéző erő megvonja a maga közreműködését,
az anyag élete szükségszerűleg megszűnik, – nyilvánvaló hát,
hogy a lelki élet fenntartására lelki táplálékra, lelki kenyérre
van szükségünk, ez a kenyér pedig nem lehet más, mint, ami
a mennyből szállott alá, más szóval, mint amit Isten rendelt a
lelki élet számára. Ennek megtestesülését pedig Isten az ő szent
fiában, az Úr Jézus Krisztusban adta e világnak, és pedig azért ő
16
benne, mert az ő beszéde lélek, tehát maga az élet. Lássuk ezt is.
II.
Krisztus Urunknak az élete története eléggé ismert
mindenikünk előtt. Felesleges azt mutogatni, hogy a testi életre
milyen kevés súlyt helyezett, nem azért, mintha azt megvetette
vagy feleslegesnek tartotta volna, hanem azért, mert jelezni
kívánta a csak anyagiakhoz ragaszkodók előtt, hogy a test nem
használ semmit, lélek az, ami megelevenít. Igaz, hogy ahol
szükségesnek találta, gyógyította, szüntette a testi szenvedéseket
is, de soha sem azért, mintha a testi lét fenntartását tekintette
volna célnak.
A kezünk alatti történetben is, mikor a sokaságot öt árpa
kenyérrel és két hallal megvendégelte s ebben az anyag felett
is rendelkező isteni hatalmát kimutatta, nem azért tette, hogy
a sokaságot ezzel nyerje meg magának, az isteni életnek, mert
mihelyt látta, hogy a sokaság csak az anyagi ellátásra fektet súlyt,
s benne őket a nélkülözéstől megmentő királyt akarnak, elvonult
előlük s mikor mégis felkeresték, első dolga figyelmeztetni őket,
hogy munkálkodjanak ne az eledelért, mely elvész, hanem az
eledelért, mely megmarad az örök életre. Vagy amikor még egy
nagyobb dolgot cselekedett: feltámasztotta Lázárt, visszaadta
őt a testvéreknek, Márthának és Máriának s így mutatta meg
hatalmát a halál felett is, nem azért tette, hogy Lázár itt e földön
örökké éljen, hanem, hogy a nővérek hitét az örök élet valósága
felől meggyőzze, azt a hitet rendületlenné tegye.
Az ő szenvedése, kínos kereszthalála pedig mindennél
meggyőzőbb bizonyítéka, hogy a testi életet csak eszköznek
tekintette az örökéletre való elhivatottságban. s hogy az örökélet
valóság, az Isten örök szeretete aztán az ő feltámadásában és
megdicsőülésében állította az emberek tekintete elé. S mi tette
Jézus életét mennyből alászállott kenyérré? Isten dolgának
a cselekvése. Az ő mindennapi eledele, a földi lét utolsó
pillanatáig az volt, hogy Isten akaratát cselekedje. Ez által lett
szemmel láthatólag az igaz életnek megtestesítője, s mikor a
nagy sokaságnak azt mondja: ,,Bizony bizony mondom néktek:
Ha nem eszitek az ember fiának testék és nem isszátok vérét,
nincs élet bennetek” – tulajdonkép a benne megtestesült lelki
élettel való közösségre, táplálkozásra figyelmeztet.
Mi kedves afiai, az örökkévalóságnak vagyunk gyermekei,
de csak úgy, ha örökéletre megtartó kenyérrel élünk s mert ez a
kenyér Jézus Krisztusban testesült meg, nyilvánvaló, hogy vele
kell állandó kapcsolatban lennünk, mert a beszédek, melyeket ő
szólott, lélek, maga az igazi élet. Ámen.
Vásárhelyi Boldizsár
Dsida Jenő:
EMLÉKÜL
Sokszor imádkozom:
Áldja meg az Isten,
akiket még eddig
soha jobban nem vert –
Áldjon meg az Isten
minden szenvedő,
jövő-magot vető,
béke-szerető,
vendég-szerető,
igaz magyar embert
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
,,...szabad mindenkinek az Isten házába
ajándékot vinni. Egyebek vigyenek
ara­­­nyat, ezüstöt, drágaköveket, én azt
viszem, amit vihetek, tudniillik magyar
nyelven az egész Bibliát."
Károli Gáspár
,,...az örök Isten beszél magyarul"
425 éve jelent meg
az első teljes magyar bibliafordítás
A magyar reformáció nem az egyházszervezéssel, nem is
a megszervezett reformátori egyházak állami elismertetésével,
hanem a Biblia magyar nyelvre való lefordításával lett teljessé.”
A legkorábbi bibliafordítás-töredékek az istentiszteleten használt
szövegek fordításai voltak. Ezekről azonban nem sokat tudunk
elmondani, hiszen csak töredékekben maradtak reánk. A legrégibb
magyar nyelvű bibliafordítás, amelyből nemcsak töredékek, de
hosszabb részletek maradtak fenn, feltehetően Pécsi Tamás és
Újlaki Bálint munkája, amelyet Huszita Biblia néven ismerünk.
Ugyancsak fontos állomást jelentenek a magyar bibliafordítás
történetében az úgynevezett humanista bibliafordítások. Azokról
az Újszövetség-fordításokról van szó, amelyeknek fordítói
a Rotterdami Erasmus által 1516-ban kiadott görög nyelvű
szöveget vették alapul. A kutatók Komjáthy Benedek, Pesti Gábor
és Sylvester János fordítását szokták ebbe a csoportba sorolni. A
humanista fordításokat követik a reformátori bibliafordítások:
Benczédi Székely István, Kolozsvárott Heltai Gáspár és társai
(Gyulai István, Ozorai István, Vizaknai Gergely), Debrecenben,
illetve Nagyváradon Méliusz Juhász Péter, Félegyházi Tamás.
Láthattuk, már a reformációt megelőző időszakban is készültek
szemelvényes bibliafordítások, az anyanyelven olvasható és
hallható Szentírás iránti általános igényt igazából a reformátorok
ébresztették fel az emberekben.
Heltainak és Méliusznak az is volt a szándéka, hogy elké­
szít­sék a teljes Szentírás magyar nyelvű fordítását, ez azonban
nem valósult meg. Ezt az emberfeletti erőt és fegyel­mezettséget
igénylő, de mégis csodálatos munkát Károli Gáspár gönci
lelkipásztor készítette el munkatársaival 1586-89 között. A
fordítás nyomtatott példányai 1590 nyarára (július-augusztus)
jelentek meg Vizsolyban, Mantskovit Bálint lengyel származású
nyomdászmester műhelyében. Megjelenési helyére emlékezve
nevezik Vizsolyi Bibliának. Terjedelme 2412 oldal, tömege közel
6 kg, és hozzávetőlegesen 800 példányban másfél évig tartott a
nyomtatása. Napjainkban 52 fennmaradt példányról tudunk,
közülük 24 Magyarország határain kívül van. Nyomda- és
irodalomtörténeti jelentőségét jelzi, hogy az Európa Kiadó 1981ben hasonmás kiadásban is megjelentette.
Az általánosan elfogadott álláspont szerint a munkát vala­
mikor 1586 folyamán kezdték el Rákóczi Zsigmond erdélyi
feje­delem és Dobó István erdélyi vajda támogatásával. Igaz
ugyan, hogy a Visolyi Biblia előszavában Károli arról ír, hogy
a Biblia ,,megfordításán” (értsd: lefordításán) közel három évig
munkálkodott, nagy fáradtsággal, testi töredelemmel. Szabó
András Károli-kutató irodalomtörténész feltételezése szerint
viszont szinte biztosan állíthatjuk, hogy a tényleges fordítási
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
folyamat nem csupán az 1586-1589 közötti három év alatt történt
meg, hanem ennél jóval hosszabb idővel kell számolnunk.
A fordítási munka elkezdését akár az 1570-es évek közepére
is tehetjük. Így az 1586-89 közötti időre inkább a fordítás
egységesítését, a nyomdai előkészítést tehetjük.
A Károli által írt előszóból tudjuk: a munkát nem egyedül
végezte. Így ír ugyanis: ,,Istennek nevét segítségül híván, mi­
nek utána hozzá kezdettem volna egynéhány jámbor tudós
atyafiakkal, kik nékem a fordításban segítségül voltak, meg nem
szűntem addig, amíg nem véghöz vittem a Bibliának egészben
való megfordítását…”
Legjelentősebb munkatársai, akikre képzettségük és szolgá­
lati helyük, illetve idejük alapján következtethetünk: Huszti
Imre gönci, Thuri Mátyás szántói, Czeglédi János vizsolyi lelki­
pásztorok, Czeglédi Ferenc és Hevesi Mihály esperes társak,
Paksi Cormaeus Mihály sárospataki tanár, majd egri és szepsi
lelkész, Pelei János, a gönci iskola rektora, továbbá a fordító
öccse, Károli Radics Miklós, illetve más munkatársak, akik
nevét egyelőre nem ismerjük. A munkában segítségére volt a
gönci iskola tehetséges árva diákja, Szenczi Molnár Albert,
aki az elkészült fordítás kéziratlapjait vitte Vizsolyba, majd
Vizsolyból Göncre a próbanyomatokat, és ismét Vizsolyba a
kijavított példányokat. Mivel azonban az egész csoportmunkát
ő fogta össze és véglegesítette, méltán nevezhetjük ma is Károli
Bibliának az elkészült (és azóta nem egy revíziót átélt) fordítást.
Az eredeti szövegek mellett áttanulmányozott minden
rendelkezésre álló bibliafordítást. Figyelembe vette a különböző
latin nyelvű fordításokat, különösképpen Tremellius Ószövetségfordítását. Ez a fordítás azért volt jelentős a korabeli latin
fordítások között, mert szerzője zsidó volt, és kiválóan ismerte
az Ószövetség eredeti nyelvét, a héber nyelvet. Fölhasználta
továbbá az addig megjelent magyar nyelvű fordítás-kísérleteket,
viszont minden egyes vers esetében az eredeti nyelveken írt
szöveg volt a mérvadó. Csupán érdekességként jegyezzük meg,
hogy a Debreceni Református Kollégium Nagykönyvtárában
megtalálható az olasz származású református teológus, Petrus
Martyr Vermigli (1500-1562) Sámuel két könyvéhez írt
latin nyelvű magyarázata, amelyben egy kéziratos bejegyzés
tartalmazza magyar tulajdonosának a monagramját is (L.L.),
illetve az 1565-ös évszámot (minden valószínűség szerint ekkor
került magyar gazdája birtokába.) Ez a példány azért érdekes
témánk szempontjából, mert széljegyzeteiben magyar nyelvű
kéziratos bibliafordítások olvashatóak, amelyek kis eltérésekkel
a Vizsolyi Biblia szövegével azonosak. Ez a könyv nem csupán
arról tudósít, hogy a Vizsolyi Bibliának volt egy L.L. monogramot
használó, egyelőre ismeretlen fordítója, hanem betekintést enged
a fordítás folyamatába is.
A fordítás nyelve egységes és átütő erejű volt. Károli
vallomása szerint ,,az fordításban éltünk, amennyire lehetett,
tiszta igaz magyar szóval, idegen szólásnak módját nem
követtük.” Kifejezései, fordulatai kitörölhetetlenül benne vannak
a magyar népnyelvben és köznyelvben.
Szabó András így ír Károli fordításának a hatásáról: ,,nem
túlzás tehát, ha kimondjuk: azt, hogy a magyarság, a magyar nyelv
minden viszontagság és ellenkező jóslat ellenére megmaradt,
többek között a Vizsolyi Biblia ismert és névtelen alkotóinak,
világra segítőinek köszönhetjük.”
17
A fordítás előszavában Károli így ír a Biblia szövegének
esetleges hibáiról: ,,Minden keresztyén olvasókat kérek, ha
valahol az fordításban tévelgettem és az célt nem találtam, azt ne
tulajdonítsák vakmerőségemnek, hanem az én gyarlóságomnak.
Az olyan helyeket az olvasók úgy Regestum szerint jegyezzék
meg, hogy míg az Isten ez testben tart, jobbíthassam meg az mi
fordításunkat, mindaddig, míg nem igen szép és jó leszen.”
Károli Gáspár bibliafordítása kisebb-nagyobb javításokkal
több mint száz kiadást ért meg, és magyar nyelvterületen
mindmáig a legnépszerűbb fordítás.
Papp György
Az imádság haszna
Lekció: Luk 10, 38-42
Alapige: Zsolt 4
Bizonyára ismeritek a szellemes francia filozófus,Voltaire
nevét. A 18. század egyik legszabadabb szelleme és legelmésebb
írója volt. Korának megfelelően Istenben hitt ugyan, de a keresz­
tyénségnek minden történeti és egyházi alakját ádázul támadta.
Ő mondta egyszer ezt a cinikus, de jellemző nyilatkozatot: Ha
Isten nem volna, fel kellene találni.
Azt akarta ezzel kifejezésre juttatni, hogy a vallás rendkívül
szükséges dolog. Mondjuk így: egyenesen életszükséglet.
Illő tehát feltenni a kérdést ma egy budapesti gyülekezetben:
van-e a hitnek valami gyakorlati értéke? Azt a régi kérdést, amit
a 16. században a Református Káté tett fel így: ha mindezeket
tudod, mi hasznát veszed? Abban megegyezünk, hogy szüksé­
günk van élelemre, lakásra, ruházatra, kibontakozásra. De van-e
szükségünk hívő imádságra? Szentleckénkből láttuk, hogy az
Úr Jézus egyszer azt mondotta, csak ,,egy a szükséges dolog.”
Semmi sem olyan szükséges, mint éppen a hit, az imádság, az Úr
Jézus Krisztussal való társalkodás.
Alapigénk az imádság hasznát mutatja fel előttünk.
Megmutatja, milyen döntően hasznos négyféle egzisztenciális
vonatkozásban, mégpedig: a) Istennel; b) emberekkel; c)
magunkkal; és d) a holnappal való vitánkban.
Az Istennel való vitában
,,Az éneklőmesternek a neginóthra, Dávid zsoltára. Mikor
kiáltok; hallgass meg engem, igazságomnak Istene, szorultsá­
gom­ban tág tért adtál nekem; könyörülj rajtam és halld meg az
én imádságomat!”
Először is azt kell tudnunk, hogy ez a szó neginóth, azt jelenti:
hárfakíséret. Voltak zsoltárok, amelyeket nagy fúvózenekarokkal
kísértek, s megint olyanok, amelyek mellett csak a hárfák halk,
meleg zenéje zengett. Rendesen estefelé, az elcsendesedett és
magányos templomban, mikor az áldozati oltáron hunyó lángok
lobbantak fel, zendültek meg ezek a halk, finom, bensőséges
dicséretek és vallomások -, a szent líra legszebb darabjai.
A hárfák tisztán, szinte vidáman zengenek, mert a zsoltáros a
maga boldog hittapasztalásáról beszél. Isten eddig is meghallgatta
18
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
Family comes first at
For inf
or
ma
tion a
bout our
infor
orma
mation
about
Life Insurance or Annuities
CONT
ACT
CONTA
GB
U DISTRICT 3000
GBU
Rev. Leslie E. Martin
Fraternal Secretary
(732) 597-5980
John K. Morey
Treasurer
(330) 758-2971
Hungarian Reformed Federation of America • A Division of GBU
s ezután is meg fogja hallgatni. Itt azonban roppant nagy kérdések
ágaskodnak fel.
Istennel nagy vitája van az embernek s azt hiszem, közületek
is soknak, éppen az imádság kérdésében. Alig van ember, aki ne
vetette volna fel magának a kérdést: miért is imádkozom? Vagy
fel nem jajdult volna: Hiába imádkozom! Ez a meg nem hallgatott
imádság örök problémája. Tulajdonképpen ez az egyetlen
imádságprobléma, mert azt, hogy Isten meghallgassa minden
kérésünket, nagyon természetesnek vesszük. Éppen úgy mint azt,
hogy kérés nélkül is jósága és kegyelme ezer jelével halmozzon
el. De mikor valami nagyon hiányzik, valami nélkül nem tudunk
meglenni, mikor létkérdéssé vált az imádság meghallgatása – egy
drága haldokló elvesztése, egy elveszett gyermek hazatérése -,
akkor a meg nem hallgatott imádság keserűségbe, hitetlenségbe
visz. A hárfák komoran szólnak, beszédük elnyomott jajgatás.
Miért nem hallgat meg Isten? Először hadd utaljak arra,
hogy Isten szabados Úr mivélünk és a világgal. Ő nem kötelezte
magát arra, hogy meghallgat és nekünk semmiféle jogigényünk
nincsen annak a megkövetelésére, hogy Isten meghallgasson.
A mi emberi voltunk lényege az, hogy teremtmények vagyunk
s már maga a lét is ingyen ajándék, amit tetszés szerint ad és
visszavehet. Hogy gondoljuk mi ebből, hogy Isten köteles
minket meghallgatni? Az, hogy Isten egyáltalában meghallgat,
és sokszor, hihetetlen sokszor, újra meg újra meghallgat, az a
saját szuverenitásának korlátozásából, mégpedig kegyelmének
és irgalmának szabad jótetszéséből származik. Mégis Isten az
imádság meg nem hallgatásával atyai nevelésben részesít.
Először arra figyelmeztet, hogy imádságainkban ne le­
gyünk kegyetlenül önzők. Az önző ember képes olyant kérni
magának, ami felebarátjának ártalom, és ami Isten szeretetével és
gondviselésével összeférhetetlen. Nem volna szép, ha egy örökös
azért imádkoznék, hogy minél előbb meghaljon, akitől örökséget
vár. Ez az éles példa csak típus, amelyik sok hasonló imádságnak
adja a jellemzését. Ó, az ember hamar rászokik arra, hogy egy
külön Istent képzeljen el magának, aki mindenhatóságát és
legfőbb bölcsességét az ő kiszolgálására fordítja. Vizsgáld meg,
a meg nem hallgatott imádság nem szelíd feddés-e a mindenek
Atyjától?
Sokszor nem hallgat meg Isten azért, mert keveset kértünk és
Ő többet akar adni. Kérünk tőle kényelmes életet. Ő nehéz életet
juttat nekünk, de benne az Ő segedelmének csodáit. Kérünk tőle
csupa édességet, Ő keserű itallal táplál, de a hitünket, erkölcsi
erőnket, belső emberünket táplálja. Lehet, hogy testi romlás árán
életszentséget akar juttatni, lehet, hogy az élet eltékozlása által a
legfőbb jót, önmagát. – Hány vérig megpróbált ember mondotta
nekem: kibeszélhetetlen jótétemény volt, hogy Isten így bánt
velem, mert sohasem tudtam volna, hogy ilyen nagy és szent és
jó Istenem van. S az élet célja és értelme mégiscsak az, hogy
ezt a nagy és szent és jó Istent ismerjük és az Ő ismeretében és
szolgálatában boldogan éljünk.
A hárfák vidám zenéje ünnepi himnusszá magasztosul.
Isten megígérte, hogy meghallgat, de csak azt az imádságot,
amit Jézus nevében mondunk.
Folytatás/befejezés következő (szept-okt.) számunkban.
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
19
BETHLEN COMMUNITIES
SHORT TERM REHABILITATION • LONG TERM CARE
PERSONAL CARE • HOME HEALTH: HOSPICE AND
COMPANION CARE SERVICES AND INDEPENDENT LIVING
We’ve been caring for our brothers and sisters
since 1921 in a beautiful, rural environment.
We provide loving nursing care, cultural programs,
Hungarian Church Services and on-site Ministry.
Medicaid/Medicare approved facilities.
NYUGDÍJAS FALU • ÖREGEK OTTHONA
IDEIGLENES ÁPOLÁS – HOSSZÚTÁVÚ ÁPOLÁS
1921 óta gondozzuk magyar testvéreinket szép, dombos,
vidéki környezetben. Gondos ápolás, rendszeres programok,
magyar nyelvű Istentisztelet és lelkész szolgálat áll rendelkezésükre
Medicaid/Medicare igazolt.
Bethlen Communities
125 Kalassay Drive • Ligonier, PA 15658
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: 724-238-2235
ISSN 0161-6900
PERIODICAL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
BUTLER, PA
POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to:
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD
264 Old Plank Road • Butler, PA16002-3810
Amerikai Név....Amerikai Szellem....De Magyar Szív
Serving families, our heritage & our communities
Since our founding by 13 Hungarian coal
miners in 1886, William Penn Association has
continually fulfilled its mission of providing
financial security to our members and their
families, preserving our founders’ ethnic heritage
and performing charitable and benevolent work in
our communities.
We offer permanent and term life insurance
plans for people of all ages as well as tax-deferred
annuities and IRA’s. Each year, we sponsor a trip
to Hungary, conduct a week-long Hungarian language camp and welcome more than 1,200
visitors to our Hungarian picnic. We provide
college scholarship grants and other free, fraternal
benefits not offered by commercial insurance
companies. Through our network of local
branches, we also conduct social events for the
whole family and charitable programs to assist our
neighbors in need.
We invite you and your family to help us
continue our mission by becoming members of
our Association.
WILLIAM PENN
ASSOCIATION
Fraternal Life Insurance and Annuities
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The only Hungarian fraternal benefit society in the U.S.A.
To learn more, call us toll-free at 1-800-848-7366
or visit us online at www.williampennassociation.org