Calvin Synod Herald, 2004 (105. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-11-01 / 11-12. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Good News! As we enter the “Holiday Season” of our country, each of us has the opportunity to reflect on his or her life. Shortly, we will be celebrating “Thanksgiving Day,” the day we are reminded of the many blessings we enjoy. Then we will come upon the “Christmas Season,” and prepare for that most festive holiday which we celebrate. And finally, the “big day” itself. And it will pass all too soon. Over the years, upon reflecting on the sacrifices my ancestors made, sacrifices for which I reap the benefits, I have often contemplated what they have done, what they went through not for themselves, but for those who would come after them, for you and me. Amongst them were those who fought and died in wars to defend their nation, their culture and their faith. There were those who were willing to die rather than recant their faith in Christ. There were those who stood up for injustice, and risked everything for the principles in which they believed. And we, as Hungarians, can even say that it was our predecessors in Transylvania who first stood up and defended the rights of every man to worship in his or her own way, granting “freedom of religion” even to those who did not believe in God as did they. And finally, there were those who left their homes, their families, their native language and native land, to go to a strange country so that their children and grandchildren would live in a land free of war, persecution and famine, and enjoy equality and freedom of worship and religion. But just as Moses could not enjoy the “Promised Land,” so our ancestors knew that the real blessings of their adopted land wouldn’t be fully theirs, the full measure of the blessings would be for their children and their children’s children. I am especially reminded of this at the time of the Thanksgiving holiday. How do we, how do you, celebrate Thanksgiving? When your parents or grandparents left the land where they were politically oppressed, where they could not earn a wage which would be adequate to feed their children, what was their dream for you? Did they have in mind a future day when their children or grandchildren, when you, would celebrate by gorging yourself on a meal adequate to feed a family in any other part of the world, followed the next day by a shopping spree? Is that what they had in mind as they risked their life and future? Was that the dream which gave them strength to strike out for a new life? We should honor their sacrifices by celebrating a “Day of Giving Thanks” in their honor, and their memory. I purposely used the very un-religious term “Christmas Season,” because for many in this country it is just a season which disappears before we remember the essence. Indeed, the “season” evokes many wonderful memories for those of us who were reared in a Christian culture. Alas, we can not say that for those who are experiencing Christmas now for the first time. The culture celebrates Santa and the “shopping days until Christmas,” not mentioning Christ. The rest of the world does not make Christmas a shopping spree: visitors from other countries are totally shocked at the commercialism and non-religious emphasis of this very important Christian holiday in America. Again, ask yourselves the question: “When your ancestors risked death for their faith, did they even conceive that their children’s children would be celebrating “Santa Clause” on Christmas morning, and not the Birth of the Savoir? When Christ was bom, His coming was the turning point of history. God had come into the world, to be with us, to give us the greatest gift in history - Himself! That must be our focus at Christmas! As we remember this wonderful gift of “reaching out” by our God, the gift of His Son Jesus who offers us fullness of life, we honor not only God”s gift to us but also the faith of those who risked everything so that we could experience the fullness of that gift in our lives today. May this season be a “Season of Giving Thanks” in your life, and may Christ find a place in your home and in your heart this Christmas! Rt. Rev. Koloman Karl Ludwig, Bishop Karasz Exhibition (Continued from page 3) illustrations for book jackets and magazine covers. Karasz, a native of Hungary, moved to the United States in 1913 and settled in New York’s Greenwich Village. She quickly established herself as one of the foremost promoters and practitioners of modem design in America. Karasz’s career was lengthy and multi-faceted and quickly gained the attention of critics as well as other artists because of her distinctive style. Karasz’s career spanned over six decades and encompassed a variety of media including graphic and fine art, as well as textile, furniture, silver, ceramic, and wallpaper design. Ashley Callahan, Curator, will be at the Sunday, September 26th opening reception. The reception is open to the public and takes place between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. The Museum hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM and Sunday 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. The suggested donation is $5. Guided tours are available for groups. The Museum is located at 300 Somerset St. in Brunswick, NJ. For more details call 732-846-5777 or visit the American Hungarian Foundation web site at www.ahfoundation, org New Bethlen Almanac There will be a combined 2003-2004 Bethlen Almanac printed. The deadline for all church reports is November 30, 2004. Please send all the articles and photos to: The Bethlen Home 125 Kalassay Drive Ligonier, PA 15658 Attention: Rev. Imre Bertalan, Executive Director It is very important that every church sends in a report!
