Calvin Synod Herald, 2010 (111. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-05-01 / 5-6. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 3 The Church of Jesus Christ “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. ” Ephesians 3: 7-10 These words of the Apostle Paul are an eye-opening reminder of why we come together in our congregations. The Christian Church embodies, recalls for us, brings to life, celebrates and interprets the “Good News” of Jesus the Christ. The Christian Church is the earthly living body of the Creator’s continued care for and involvement in mankind. We often hear that “all religions worship the same God”. The difference is that Christianity understands that God is not only a creator, a law-giver and a judge, but He is also a loving God, one who cared for His creation from the very beginning, one who came into the world at a particular point in time to renew His relationship with His creation, and one who even now continues to watch over the creation that He loves. This is the message that Paul reiterates in Ephesians. This is why we are together in communities, in fellowships which we call “congregations.” For the past six years the Lord has allowed me to serve the congregations of Calvin Synod as your bishop. This has been an UPCOMING EVENTS May 18-21: Annual Calvin Synod Meeting will be held at the Ramada Inn, Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Church service at 9 AM Tuesday at the Moriah Chapel, Bethlen Communities - Opening session at 1:30 PM at the Ramada Inn. July 18-24: Youth Camp at Laurelvillc Mennonite Church Center, Mount Pleasant, PA. This year’s camp theme: The B.I.B.L.E. That’s the Book for Me. From Genesis to Revelation, His Truth Revealed. For more information call: Gabe Csapó 609-758-5113 or Les Török 614-497-1026 August 28-29: 64th Annual Conference of The American Hungarian Reformed Presbyter's Association will be held at the Bethlen Communities Conference Room in Ligonier, PA. For additional information please call Wilburn A. Roby Jr. AHRPA President at 724-285-8851 or e-mail warairfa emharqmail.com September 25: Johnstown + Windber 110th Anniversary. The last Saturday of September has been set to welcome those churches and ministers who might be able to attend a celebration of the church’s life. honor, and I thank you for the privilege. Much more than that, it has been a wonderful opportunity for me to meet and be with many dedicated Christians in our local congregations, fellow “laborers in the vineyard” which our Lord allowed our ancestors to plant in this new land. The local congregations of Calvin Synod are the place where our Christianity truly has the opportunity to come to life. Each congregation is a “vineyard”, planted by our predecessors, entrusted to us for a short while. We did not plant the vineyard, but we have been allowed, we have been called, to care for it until such a time that the Master sees fit to return, or to call us to account. Like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, we will be asked to account for those gifts with which we have been entrusted. I have learned much from the leaders of our congregations. I have seen your dedication, your perseverance, your desire to make that particular vineyard that the Lord has assigned to you be as fruitful as possible. But let me remind you: just as the office of “bishop” is an honor and a privilege, it is also a position in which one accepts and agrees to greater responsibility. This very same thing is true in our local congregations. The leaders of our congregations hold offices not only of respect, but also of responsibility and accountability. I am always reminded of the Letter of James, chapter 3, verse 1, where he warns: “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. ’’ Every leader of every congregation accepts this “greater responsibility” when they accept the office of elder in the Lord’s vineyard, in the local congregation. They, like the ordained pastor of the congregation, will be called to accountability, and are equally responsible for the life of the congregation, equally charged to ensure that the congregation is indeed fulfilling its purpose: “to preach ... the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known .... ” I encourage each member of every congregation to hold sacred that fellowship entrusted to you by the Lord, just as the vineyard was entrusted to the servant. Remember the sacrifices made by those who founded and built your congregation, and hold fast to the ideals which they held so very high, that Christ is first and of foremost importance in life. Tend your vineyard, your fellowship, so that it may flourish and be fruitful, so that whenever your Lord calls you to accountability, you will be proud of what you have done with the blessings He entrusted to you, that His response to you may be “ Well done, good andfaithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, 1 will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master. ” Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop
