Calvin Synod Herald, 2009 (110. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-11-01 / 11-12. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 80th Anniversary John Calvin Magyar Reformed Church Perth Amboy, New Jersey The following Sermon was given by Rev. Albert W. Kovács on June 14, 2009 at John Calvin Magyar Reformed Church, Perth Amboy, NJ “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1). Also see Eccl.3:1-15 Mt.15:32-39 This is a historic day, the 80th Anniversary of the church. I’m sure no one, on the 16th day of June in 1929, the third Sunday, thought they would be doing something historic. They were intent upon the needs of their day, and had no inkling that in 2009 somebody would be looking backward at what they had started. But here we are! It must have been just like that almost 2000 years ago, when the outspoken Jesus of Nazareth met two fishermen at the Sea of Galilee: “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. ” (Mark 1:17) Shortly after Simon and Peter were joined by James and John, and then again by more, as Jesus called 2, then 4, then 12. But what can fishermen do? I’m sure no one was more surprised than they, when a while later, with Jesus on a hillside, their “few small fish, ” and seven loaves of bread were able to feed four thousand. The Lord blessed the food and - like our potluck dinners - as they shared, there were leftovers. He has been calling apostles, prophets, ministers, evangelists, teachers, elders and others ever since to become fishers, and call yet others to join them in gathering His churches in all places. It was faithful followers of Jesus who did that here for eighty years. So we come together to celebrate their labors - and yours. I was the Pastor of the First Reformed Church in Wilkes- Barre, Pa, and left there in 1968. Just four years later, a terrible hurricane roared up the Susquehanna River and broke a huge dam in upper New York State. A tragic floodwater raged down the river, and soon Wilkes-Barre was under 10-15 feet of water, including the church. When I volunteered to help the victims, I met many members I knew so well. With all their losses, they said the one that hurt the most was the loss of their family pictures - of their marriages, old Continued from page 7 imperative will (in contrast to His permissive will) we are in His hands. The other characteristic feature of Calvinism is the so-called T.U.L.I.P. and these letters stand for: T = Total depravity of man. U = Unconditional election. L = Limited atonement. I = Irresistible grace, and P = Perseverance of the saints. But to examine these at this moment is beyond the scope of this short essay: What does it mean to be a Calvinist? Rev. Alexander Jalso parents, children and friends. They could buy new living room or bedroom furniture, washers and refrigerators, but not pictures. Today I invite you to think, as we look back, at how many scenes from the past are forever lost, but each precious to our memories. Bill Toth has done a wonderful job of putting the church’s collection of pictures on a CD for posterity. But as we look at them, we realize we cannot remember the names of all the people in just eighty years. None of us can remember all, even all of us together. Just think of the ministers. Who can name all ten? I was here when the first one baptized me, Rev. George Tukacs. Some of you can remember Rev. Antal Szabó. More of you the ones who followed, and all of you Dr. Francis Vitéz. But they served with a long line of Chief Elders and tens of Elders. One was my uncle, and you probably remember one who was your father, brother, aunt or friend. Too, who could ignore the Sunday School teachers and helpers, the Choir members and the always-present Organists - we wish we could recall all the names. Then again, the Ladies’ Guild and the Mother’s Club, the Brotherhood, and - I owe my life’s direction to it - the Young People’s Society. We dare not forget the names on the plaque in the hallway, of our armed service veterans and their 24/7 dedication to our freedom. Oh my! The sound of Hungarian hymns, which many of us didn’t understand, but listened to quietly with respect as God was given His due praise: Tebenned bíztunk! - Csendes éj! - Mint a szép híves patakra - Isten áld meg a Magyart. But beyond the names, let’s look at what they did. The measure of success is in the product. I think as we look at the combined efforts of all these - and of yourselves - we have just reason to turn to God with thanksgiving. Success is hard to measure when we talk about people but as we look at many members and their offspring, we see so many who live lives that are moral, responsible and caring. After so many years away, you know them better than I do. Imagine how many snapshots or sound bites we would have if we recorded all of them - parents really caring and nurturing their children; or husbands and wives loving and respecting one another year after year; or good workers diligent and honest at work. Yes, so many just good Christian people as taught by their church. We are blessed to be in this church today because our history is not 80 or even 2,000 years old. Our wonderful Bible is a history of the family of God, our Christian genealogy, going back beyond Jesus, even beyond Moses. Yet for all its stories, just think how many more could be written. For example, there’s so little about the childhood of Jesus or how Mary and Joseph were betrothed, their wedding and how they lived together. Wouldn’t it be insightful to have pictures of Jesus, his sisters and brothers? And some stories about their childhood in Nazareth, Jesus as an uncle, and maybe Jesus as he earned a living before He began His ministry? The history in the Bible and of the John Calvin Church are so alike, and so individually different. They are the story of God’s people of many generations, in deeds of honor and occasionally shame, of glory to God and of words that should never have been spoken. They are of people, but - yes, more than that - of the saints of the Militant and Triumphant Church. They record the
