Reformátusok Lapja, 1968 (68. évfolyam, 8-12. szám)
1968-11-01 / 11. szám
Hungarian Reformed Religious Paper Founded in 1900 OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE CALVIN SYNOD—UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ®fje is>eeb£ ©i <§ob By the grace of God and the labor of man, the earth has again brought forth its fruit. Despite the avalanche of human knowledge in the fields of Technology, Biology, Chemistry and the Social Sciences in our time, the mystery of the Seed is still a mystery. Man plows, sows, and waters, but it is God who gives the increase. The earth is inseminated with a dry, inanimate seed which with proper care and nourishment grows and flourishes and at its appointed time brings forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. The mystery of the seed has again come to pass. And we rejoice and are glad! As we contemplate the mystery of the seed and the mystery of the universe, our thoughts turn to the Creator of the vast Master Plan in which the seen and the unseen find their predestined places in the fabric of nature. And suddenly we are struck with the thought that we, too, are part of the fabric and part of the mystery. We, too, are seeds. Seeds of God! And we, too, must bring forth our fruit in due time and season. The fruit we bring forth is the fruit of the Spirit. Paul in his letter to the Galatians calls these, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. (Gal. 5:22) Thus, as we share in the harvest of the seed of the earth, so we share in the harvest of the spirit. Three-fold Celebration in McKeesport, Penna. The First Hungarian Reformed Church of McKeesport, Penna, on October 20th celebrated the ordination and installation of their pastor, Dr. László Ber- zeviczy, and at the same time, observed the 60th anniversary of the congregation. For this most outstanding occasion, the main speakers were Dr. John Bu- tosi, President of Calvin Synod, and Dr. Harold E. Scott, a professor at the Pittsburgh Seminary. Many other ministers from the surrounding area, and professors from the Seminary, also took part in the Worship Service. Dr. Berzeviczy was born in Hungary and attended the Universities in Debrecen and Budapest, where he earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree. He served in the Department of Interior and was made a County Judge. Then in 1957 he arrived in the United States, but it was not until 1965 that he enrolled in the Pittsburgh Seminary. Following his graduation this past spring, Dr. Berzeviczy received the pastoral call of the McKeesport Church and accepted it. God has provided for man lavishly and generously. As Seeds of God, growing in His image, we become increasingly aware of our privileged place in the Scheme of God. Our pride and ego fade away as we contemplate the unmerited generosity and goodness of God to us. And there is something deep within us that calls us to reflect the generosity of God in our own lives. The fruit of the earth and the fruit of the spirit is only truly ours as we share it with others. For it is in the generous sharing of our goods and hearts with our fellow man that we truly yield the harvest befitting the Seeds of God. ★ Installation, Dayton, Ohio The installation of the Rev. Julius Paal took place on November 10th in the Dayton Hungarian Reformed Church. The installation was performed by the Rev. Aaron Elek, president of the Lake Side Classis. At the Installation Service Dr. Stephen Szabó of Cleveland, and Rev. Andrew Harto of Toledo preached. Giving and sharing precede thankfulness to God. And we must give and share both the fruit of the earth and fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the earth has again come to us in overwhelming abundance. Our response to the needs of the world must reflect this abundance. The fruit of the spirit is the recognition of God’s love towards us in His priceless gift—the Lord Jesus Christ. This gift, above all else, we must give and share, take and carry, to the uttermost parts of the earth. Giving produces thankfulness and thankfulness thanksgiving to God. Giving and thanks make for Thanksgiving! Rev. Arpad Beretz The main speaker at the Installation Banquet was Dr. Joseph Piri, member of the Synod Council. Rev. Tibor Toth of Detroit was the toastmaster. Rev. Paal was born in Hungary and received his ministers diploma in Budapest. In 1937, he received a scholarship to continue his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, where two years later he received his Master of Theology. From 1938 to 1943 he served the Bethlehem Hungarian Reformed Church, and from 1943 until October, 1968, he was pastoral minister of the Homestead, Penna. Hungarian Reformed Church. Rev. Paal has served as vice-president of our Calvin Synod, president of the Middle Classis, is now the president of the Board of Church and Ministry Committee, and a contributor for our Reformátusok Lapja.
