Calvin Synod Herald, 2004 (105. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2004-01-01 / 1-2. szám

2

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

sÄd herald

Official Organ of the CalvirLSvoDd - United Church of Ghcist „Founded in 1900

AMERIKAI MAGYAR

, REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA.

Volume 105 January-February 2004 No. 1-2

Official Organ of the Calvin Synod United Church of Christ - Founded in 1900

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD (ISSN 0161-6900) is published bi-monthly for $10.00/year for individual subscriptions; $8.00/year for groups; $6.00/yearfor 50 or more copies Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald

Editor-in-Chief: Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop

Co-Editor: Rev. Dr. Edwin P. Elliott 9400 Fairview Avenue • Manassas, VA 20110 Tel.: 703-335-2844

Co-Editor: Rev. György Cseh, Dean 344 East 69th Street • New York, NY 10021 Tel.: 212-734-5252 • Fax: 212-734-4803

Newsletters prepared by: Cathy Paksi 419-942-1763 Newletters printed by: Gazette Printers 724-349-3434

Periodicals postage paid at Butler, PA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 264 Old Plank Rd„ Butler, PA 16002-3810

Manuscripts and photographs are not preserved or returned. Send all correspondence to the Editor.

The views and opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the magazine or Calvin Synod.

CALVIN SYNOD HEADQUARTERS:

Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop 607 Plum Street, Fairport Harbor, OH 44077 Telephone: 440-357-5203 Fax: 440-352-9256

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Interested ministers must contact the bishop’s office first, and an informative dossier for the church will be sent to qualified clergy.

Communion - Abiding in Jesus

Psalm 80:1-19; John 15:1-27/Deuteronomy 5:1-21

I. Christ is United to the Father

A. Jesus describes His relationship to the Heavenly Father. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

(John 15:1)

B. Christ brought to life a dimension beyond a pattern for living well. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

C. Every item in the life and work of Jesus ties in to the grand messianic picture of the Old Testament. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. (Psalm 80:8) along with Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. (Zechariah 3:8)

D. The vineyard, and the communion symbolism of wine, necessarily illustrate the sovereign Providence of God. In

that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard or red wine. I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. (Isaiah 27:2-3)

E. The vineyard’s relationship to the vine-dresser is responsive. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60:21)

F. The beauty and joy of the vine follows the vine-dresser’s intervention. When To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment ofpraise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3)

II. Believers Are United to Jesus

A. Carry the analogy into life. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARETH FRUIT, HE PURGETH IT, THAT IT MAY BRING FORTH MORE FRUIT. (John 15:2)

1. Some branches are going to be trimmed. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (1. Corinthians 13:1)

Live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday!

2. Experience demonstrates that some things do not last. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were