Calvin Synod Herald, 2002 (103. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2002-09-01 / 9-10. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD So What Is so Wrong with Grape Dances? The Practice of Community Journalism God deals with people in covenant communities. The Hungarian nation and the Reformed Church did not appear suddenly without context. They are products of God’s careful and patient Providence. Grape dances and sausage-making festivals do not belong in the confessional testimony of the church. One can be a Christian without garlic on his breath. At the same time, these and many other cultural activities reflect the heritage with which God has blessed us. Hungarian Reformed is a people, not only a theology. The refugees coming to the Hungarian Reformed Church need to learn our culture just as people have to learn English when they settle in America. Grape dances and sausages are elements of the cultural context in which God has sheltered our doctrinal treasures. Never assume outsiders understand what we do or why we do it. For that matter, when our children move to towns without Calvin-starred steeples, how will they teach their children our heritage? Community journalism adds the culture to the catechism. Collectively, Calvin Synod is doing something interesting every weekend. Standing together we are a large community. We have sons to marry our daughters when we take the trouble to introduce them to each other. Spirits revive in a congregation of 20 people meeting on Sunday when the Herald arrives with the report that around the country we have thousands of members. Community journalism keeps us united as a people and keeps our hopes focused on what is to come rather than what has passed. The process begins with photographs. Use pictures to help people get the picture. Every time we have a social event someone should take pictures. Then send the roll to the Calvin Herald. We won’t print them all. Ansel Adams, America’s greatest photographer, once said it was easy to get a good photograph; just take 100 shots and something will work. Perhaps you should send four rolls of photographs if you are not a nationally prominent artist. Get at least one photo from each category listed below: Introductory - Usually a wide angle or aerial shot is best. Medium - This one focuses on one activity or one group. Close-up - Zero-in on one element such as a person’s hands or an intricate detail of a building. Portrait - Usually this is either a dramatic tight head shot or a person in his distinctive setting. Interaction - Summarize the situation getting all the key story-telling elements in one photo - often called the decisive moment. Sequence - This is a how-to, before and after, or a pattern demonstrating a sense of action. Clincher - The closer summarizes the story. Now, if I could only get someone to write a convincing explanation for why we have six communions each year rather than four like the Scots or 52 like the Swiss we would be on our way toward community journalism. Dr. Edwin P. Elliott A believer’s only comfort (continued from page 3) true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent. (John 17:1- 3)-I- Let nothing be done trough strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3-11) C. Believers owe an enormous debt of gratitude to God for redemption. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you our of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10) + For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8-10) Dr. Edwin P. Elliott
