Calvin Synod Herald, 2010 (111. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-01-01 / 1-2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 9 Youth Bonfire 2009 The annual Bonfire at Drew and Kathy Smith’s home (aka Casa Da Smith) in Valley View, Ohio was held this year on Nov. 7 and 8. We could not have ordered better weather with evening temps hovering at around 60 degrees and clear skies. Thank you Lord! We had 48 in attendance coming from Trenton, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Toledo, Columbus, Fairport Harbor and Cleveland. The theme of the Bonfire this year was Yearn for the Bum based on Malachi 3:2-3. We began the evening events with our usual fun games of purse/ pocket scavenger hunt where I call out common things we carry and see how many teams have those items. Next is a favorite, Play Dough Charades. Instead of gestures you have to get your team to guess what you are making with the play dough. Each of the 5 teams now would participate in a two-part team challenge: First they had to take the word HARVEST and come up with things you harvest using each of the letters. After they reported their decisions they had to pick one and make a presentation on why that item would be pleasing to God. Along with their presentation they would take one of their team members and dress them up with items given to them to represent their group. The creativity is amazing and this always brings a lot of laughter. The chosen subjects were humans, happiness, vegetables twice, and rainbow fish. Each team even provided a scripture verse. We did not have a speaker this year instead we did a recap of last summer’s Youth Camp Theme “My Heart Christ’s Home’. I started with a short explanation of the theme for anyone who had not attended Camp and went on to explain Salvation, Sanctification (which is what we went on to learn more about) and finally Glorification. Three camp counselors - Kristina Sorfozzo, Kristen Porter, and Julie Furj - shared how they were incorporating the lessons from Camp into their lives. Pizza, the fire, some night football and a game of “signs” followed. A short vesper service ended the evening. Sunday morning at 10:30 AM brought most of us back together for Worship in the bam. Praise and Worship songs are always our favorite way to start since our group loves to sing and we know God loves to hear our praise. The sermon was “Yearnin’ for the Bum” from Isaiah 6:1-8 and was a call to ask God to purify our lives so we could go forth and serve Him. Our offering is always a time where we write on a piece of paper our prayer requests, straggles, desires or sin confessed then we take those out to the fire where they are left as a “burnt offering” to our Lord. The Service ends at the fire pit with prayer and the singing of the song “Sanctuary”. (“Lord prepare me, to be a Sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanks-giving, I’ll be a living Sanctuary for you“). A flurry of activity begins as we transform the bam from a church to a dining hall for a lunch of chicken soup and walking tacos, tacos built using a bag of Doritos instead of a taco shell. Too soon it was time for hugs, “goodbyes” and “see you soons”. Now we begin the plans for 2010 - the Counselor Retreat, the Youth Conference, Summer Youth Camp and of course the next Bonfire. In Christ, Kathy Smith Reverend Stefan Istan Torok Installed as Pastor I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. - Ephesians 3:16-17 These are the words with which Bishop, the Right Reverend Koloman Ludwig, greeted the congregations of the John Calvin Magyar Reformed Church, Perth Amboy, N.J., and the Hungarian Reformed Church of Woodbridge, N.J. on October 11,2009, upon the installation of Right Reverend Stefan M. Torok as pastor of their respective churches. Bishop Ludwig welcomed Rev. Torok and his wife, Cindy, to the Calvin Synod. He told the congregation that Rev. Torok “brings wisdom to the congregations as well as knowledge of both English and Hungarian.” Bishop Ludwig spoke of the future, whether to take control or just let it happen. It’s up to the congregation to decide. It’s all about attitude. The life or vision can be taken out of something or it can be enhanced. Bishop Ludwig referred to Rev. Torok as a “new gift.” How will the congregations decide to use him? Bishop Ludwig addressed Chief Elder Ernest Balogh at the John Calvin Church service as to the congregation’s decision concerning Rev. Torok. At the second service in Woodbridge, Bishop Ludwig asked Chief Elder John Keleman the decision of that congregation. Both men declared their respective congregations’ to be in full support of Rev. Torok as their pastor. After administering the oath to Rev. Torok, Bishop Ludwig asked the congregations to promise their support “with the help of God.” Following the installation at the Woodbridge church, a fellowship social was offered through the combined efforts of both congregations.
