Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-11-01 / 11. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD their lives were not aimless. They knew who they were, and where they were going. Nothing is emptier than an aimless life. But it was Jesus who filled their lives with hope, faith and love. What a small group of believers, and yet they conquered and succeeded. 8. The pilgrims felt responsible for each other. They were one soul and body — the body of Christ. This responsibility was twofold: spiritual and material. They had everything in common. They shared in their spiritual food. The chanels to God were open to their prayers and for the blessings from above. They were fed from the altar of God. Their devoted and thankful lives were openings for further blessings from above because the Lord cared for His people, for those who cared for Him. They shared in their material wealth also. Their daily food was the same for all, for they wanted to survive as a community, not just as an individual. Sharing their food made them stronger not only in body, but in Spirit. Hand in hand they marched forward! Their sharing of only a handful of bread led us to share our surplus with the needy world. Thus, we Americans — the late descendants of the pilgrims — are still a sharing nation — even to our enemies.... We share our surplus, but where would we stand with our last morsel? I have tried here to single out for you the valuable principles of those first settlers. By comparing their principles with ours, we find that some changes must be made. We see that life is not God or church centered, but self-centered. Think about these words as you pray, as you sit down to your Thanksgiving feast and as you make your offerings to God... . Realize that you also are a pilgrim and march forward in the way of the first pilgrims. Carry your pilgrim staff in such a way that it may burst into bud — just as the staff of Moses did — so that no one may take your heritage from you. Amen. Francis Vitéz IF all the sleeping folks will wake up, And all the lukewarm folks will fire up, And all the dishonest folks will confess up, And all the disgruntled folks will sweeten up, And all the discouraged folks will cheer up, And all the depressed folks will look up, And all the estranged folks will make up, And all the gossipers will shut up, And all the dry bones will shake up, And all the true soldiers will stand up, And all the church members will pray up — And the Savior for all is lifted up — THEN you can have the world’s greatest renewal. — Richard Cardinal Cushing THE CHRISTMAS STORY FIRST READER: Isaiah 9:1a, 2, 6-7 “There will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. — The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” CAROL: O come, O come Emmanuel.... SECOND READER: Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” CAROL: The first Noel.... FIRST READER: Luke 2:1-5 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” CAROL: O little town of Bethlehem.... SECOND READER: Luke 2:6 “And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.” CAROL: Joy to the world.... FIRST READER: Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” CAROL: Away in a manger.... SECOND READER: Luke 2:8 “And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” CAROL: O holy night.... FIRST READER: Luke 2:9 “And the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.” T
