Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1985-02-01 / 1. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 6 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Pedig nagy világ-szelek elé emelted hős, vak, kicsi gyertyád — mit akarsz velem, Isten? Inog a láng már és tövig ég bölcs, szent, konok kezeidben. — S új szelek jönnek, fattyú vihar, vakarcs-poklok szégyen fuvalma — . . . gyötörni tud, eloltani nem . . . . . . Miért tart magasra nagy tenyered? . . . mit akarsz velem, Isten? Harangi László, áldott barát, Isten hű szolgája, most már tudod mit akart veled Isten és miért tartott magasra nagy tenyere egy életen át. Isten Veled! Legyen áldott nyugvó helyed az Avashegy békés oldalán! Legyen áldott ébredésed, mikor a Feltámadás pirosló hajnalán poraid felett Megváltód megáll! Pataki ős-diák, Harangi Laci, te is ott tanultad meg velem együtt a pataki Főiskolán a Kórus-énekkarában Bató János karnagy pálcaütéseinek ritmusára a felejthetetlen pataki búcsú-nótát, mit egy életöltőn át mindvégig énekeltél is bariton hangodon ahányszor csak az alkalom diktálta: “ Vállásra int immár az óra! Isten veletek búcsúzára! Elválásom nektek ne fájjon! Fiúk! Fiúk! Isten megáldjon! Üzenjetek! Üzenjetek!” Lacink! Elválásod nekünk nagyon fáj! És ma délután innen alulról odafenntre íme üzenetünk! Isten megáldjon! Isten veled! Remembering a Friend My friend, DR. FERENC ÚJLAKI was a scholar with a fertile mind and he believed that life was a trust for a definite achievement and it was his to live it, and to show his estimate of a man’s mission by the deep furrows that he has to cut by the precious seed which he scattered. There was wrapped up in this remarkable thoroughness from the beginning, all through his college life and afterward as a pastor and preacher, to give his best powers to that which he undertook. Even after he retired, he toiled ceaselessly, stacking and filing documentations with the stamp and finish of his own manhood — preparing them to go out and do the work of a man who gave life and utterance to them. Another marked characteristic was a conscientious loyalty to what he believed to be right and true. He was fervently patriotic — loyal to his mother country and a loyal citizen of this country. This led him and strengthened him all through the years of his life. He was not seeking honors — though he won many — but he was seeking that which was above honors, with which he could enrich life and strengthen himself for bearing his part in enriching the lives of others. Another characteristic was perfect sincerity. Did it ever occur to you what an expressive origin that word has? He explained it to me once. In Florida we were practically neighbors and would visit quite often. Of course the instability of the world and people was always a topic. He said once “Pistikém, the word sincerity comes from two latin words which signify ‘without wax’ — ‘pure honey’ — igen viasz nélkül — tiszta méz.” That is the thought that comes to me in regard to the Rev. Francis Ujlaky’s life. Surrounded by the dissipating and cloudy influences of life, I never saw in the 50 years of our friendship the least wavering from that high and pure purpose — from that manly and sincere life which characterized him from the very first. Rev. István Csutoros UCC and the Public School The Division of Higher Education of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries recently conducted a survey on educational ministries beyond the usual forms of Sunday school, youth groups, etc. The survey drew responses from 2,300 of the 6,427 congregations is the United Church of Christ. The results of the survey give added perspective to last year’s election debate over the separation of church and state, a debate that often took the form of argument over prayer in public schools. Boardman W. Kathan, Secretary for Ministries in Public Ecucation of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, notes, “There’s a difference between the schools being used to promote religion and churches carrying forth their mission in public life.” Commenting on the survey results, Mr. Kathan praises UCC churches for “significant activities in cooperation with public schools.” For example, the survey showed that: At least 217 congregations are cooperating with public schools through courses on such topics as aging, hunger awareness, ethics and religion, and death and dying; through career and family counseling; through artists in the schools; and through summer school programs. At least 98 churches have helped with tutoring programs, most commonly in English as a second language. At least 236 churches have participated on school district committees. Mr. Kathan admits that he had expected to see “more instances of partnership” than those reported, and he hopes that the survey’s findings “will encourage more United Church of Christ congregations to get involved with public education.” HUNGARIAN FREE CHURCHES Within the great family of Hungarian Protestantism there are about 100,000 Christians that belong to the free churches of Hungary. Recently they had a three-day jubilee celebration to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their founding and organization. The following church bodies belong to the Council of Hungarian Free Churches: • The Congregation of the Living God, • The Evangelical Pentecostalist Community, • The Seventh Day Adventist Church, • The Church of God, • The Hungarian Baptist Church, • The Congregations of Christian Brethren in Hungary, • The Hungarian Methodist Church, • The Primitive Apostolic Church, • The Free Christian Congregation. PROTESTANTS BELIEVE — Our spiritual authority is in the Bible. — All believers have direct access to God. — We are justified by faith. — Every Christian should read the Holy Scriptures, try to understand them, and live up to the dictates of an enlightened conscience. — There are two vital necessary sacraments — Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. — Church and state should be separate, but not exclusive of each other. — As Christians believing in the freedom of conscience, and as Americans believing in our national traditions, we are deeply and resolutely committed to the separation of church and state as a sound principle verified by our own experience. (Bulletin, National Council of Churches)
