Calvin Synod Herald, 1982 (82. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1982-12-01 / 6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

CALVIN SYNOD NEWS

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

Official Organ of the Calvin Synod, Conference of the United Church of Christ. Dr. John Butosi, Bishop

963 Laurel Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn. 06604 Telephone: (203) 368-3658

MANAGING EDITOR: Paul Kantor 601-611 Plum Street Fairport Harbor, Ohio 44077 Telephone: (216) 352-4836, 357-5203 PUBLISHING OFFICE:

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Second Class postage paid at Painesville, Ohio ISSN 0161-6900

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

A Kálvin Egyházkerület (United Church of Christ) hivatalos folyóirata.

Dr. Bütösi János, püspök

963 Laurel Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn. 06604 Telefon: (203)368-3658

ÜGYVEZETŐ SZERKESZTŐ: Kántor Pál 601-611 PlumSt., Fairport Harbor, OH 44077 Telefon: (216) 352-4836,357-5203

KIADÓ HIVATAL: Classic Printing Corp.

9527 Madison Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Telefon: (216)631-3626 Megjelenik kéthavonként Egyéni előfizetés $6.00 évente Csoportos előfizetés $4.00 évente A nem kért kéziratokat bélyeggel ellátott válaszborítékok csatolásával küldjük csak vissza. Fényképet nemőrzünk meg. Minden levelezést az ÜGYVEZETŐ SZERKESZTŐ címére kérünk.

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THE SHEPHERDS' VISIT

There came upon them, suddenly A deafening noise from out of the sky.

The lambs were bleating, and The shepherds cringed in terror Certain that they were going to die.

For descending swiftly upon them Were beings with enormous wings:

Their bodies glowed, and with each motion The air around them rocked in waves Then, one of them spoke to the men In angelic tones, “Be not afraid".

And instantly, the sheep lay down Placidly, upon the sod;

And the shepherds fell to their knees, Bowing their heads,

In the presence of God. James Poharik

AS CHRISTMAS FAST APPROACHES, the

old question emerges in the hearts of the faithful ones: “Where is He?” (Mt. 2:2) Where is He today?... Locating Christ is a treacherous undertaking (Mt. 24:23), but He Himself gave us unmistakable hints. He said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Mt. 18:20). Jesus is present in true worship. — Then again He declared, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt. 25:40, 45). Jesus can be found in serving the needy. — He also said, “He who receives you receives me” (Mt. 10:40). Jesus is present in our faithful witnessing... These are some of the authentic hints: worship, service, witnessing still offer us opportunities to find Jesus today! Use them in these days!... With these thoughts our Conference Council wishes HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

In closing the year, please, keep the following suggestions in mind:

— All payments for 1982 should be mailed to Synod Tresurer K. K. Ludwig (7319 Tapper Ave., Hammond, IN 46324) in 1982. Deadline is Dec. 31, 1982. Payments postmarked in 1983 will be credited for 1983.

— This policy refers to both Synod assessments and mission giving. The figures were published in the Minutes of the Annual Meeting. (Some churches use Nov. 30 as the closing date for current year, and include December for the coming year. You may try it!)

— Among the mission designations consider the following Synod Appeals: our Latin American Churches (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela); our Transylvanian Projects; Projects in Hungary (Xerox Machine to Sárospatak, Raday Academy in Budapest, “Csendes Percek”, etc.); Bethlen Home, Archives in Ligonier, Calvin Synod Heralds, Youth Mission, Am. Hung. Foundation, Human Rights Committee; OCWM, etc. But you do not need to designate everything. We greatly need undesignated money for various needs.

CHRISTMAS FUND OFFERING (“Veterans of the Cross”) helps to assist financially hard hit pastors, widows and their families. Will you respond generously when special envelope reaches you?

THE NATIONAL UCC NOMINATING COMMITTEE IS ACCEPTING NOMINEES FOR BHM, BWM, OCLL and other national leadership positions. If you or someone you know would be interested in such an opportunity, call the Bishop’s Office for more information before Dec. 31, 1982. (GS 14 will be held in Pittsburgh Convention Center beginning at 8:30 A. M. on June 24, 1983 through 10 P. M. on June 28, 1983.)

THE CONFERENCE COUNCIL met also in Pittsburgh on Nov. 16—18. Some of the important items and decisions are as follows:

— The dissolution of our Morgantown church

was approved and the establishment of the Morgantown Fund was gratefully acknowledged in accordance with the congregation's “last wishes”.

— The situation of our Coatesville church was

reviewed and the Bishop was asked to convey our concern with the congregation.

— Bishop Butosi represented our Synod at celebrations in Indiana Harbor (Sept. 26), South Norwalk and New York City (Oct. 3), Gary and

Hammond (Oct. 17), Lorain (Nov. 7); also in consultations held in Princeton (Oct. 8), New Brunswick (Nov. 1).

— We participate in UCBHM Census Project which will provide our congregations with profile of the community in which they live. Churches will be asked to defray the cost of $12.50 per church. It can help your church mission planning.

— Reviewing Ref. Lapja, Youth Camp, Synod Sunday, Council decided to publish the OCLL information card on Calvin Synod, and asked Dr. Vitéz to coordinate the work on a scholarly treatise of our Synod.

— We congratulate Bishop D. Abraham on his reelection; also the Rev. J. Apostol and the Christian Reformed Church in Brazil at their Golden Anniversary.

— Synod Treasurer was authorized to send $2,700 for the Xerox machine to Sárospatak in the hope that contributions will make up the amount.

— Thanks was expressed to the AHR Presbyters' Association for making the booklet, “On Being a Hungarian Reformed Christian" available free to our elders. (Do you have a copy?)

— Bishop was authorized to represent our Synod in a Council of Hung. Reformed Ecumene which would work out the details of this ministry. (Bishop K. Toth represents Hungary.)

THE JOINT MEETING OF DEANS AND Conference Council held on Nov. 17 in Pittsburgh Pa reached two important mile stones: (a) it completed the revision of Synod’s Constitution and By-laws as well as that of the Classis By-laws; (b) it suggested unanimously to assess our churches NOT SOLELY on membership figures, but on financial basis as well. — Conference Council will make the appropriate steps in accordance with our Constitution and By-laws.

CHURCH GROWTH was also considered at the joint meeting. Deans reported that all of our four classes devoted their fall meeting to this issue and our congregations show encouraging signs of being involved in this priority of our Synod.

THE REV. DR. CORALYN MEDYESY represented our Synod at a UCC conference on Family Life and Women’s Concerns held on Oct. 12—14 at Stony Point.

THE REV. DR. LASLO MEDYESY chaired the Youth Camp Preparatory Meeting held in Calvin Ref. Church, Lynwood, IL on Nov. 26. 1982.

THE REV. K. KARL LUDWIG will substitute the Bishop at the Conference Executives meeting to be held in Chicago on Feb. 3—5, 1983 while Dr. Butosi attends World Alliance of Ref. Churches meeting in Montreal, Canada on the same days.

ARE YOU ORDERING the Calvin Synod News — Reformátusok Lapja to your people. Pittsburgh decided to order for all those members who pay $100 or more per year to the church.

ATTENTION! UCC Pension Board study reveals that in 1982 the average base salary of a UCC pastor has been $14,810, but in Calvin Synod it has been $12,343. (Only 3 conferences are lower than we are.) ...And if you need more bad news: rumors say that UCC group insurance premiums will increase 17%, deductible $200 from $100, and dental insurance will be terminated as of Jan. 1, 1983...