Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALV IN SYNOD HERALD 3 Peace be with you! "While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you. ’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that 1 have. 'And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat? ’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. ’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. ” Luke 24:36-49 Dear Sisters and Brothers! “Peace be with you!” These are the words of the risen Lord. He conquered death and became victorious by the power of God over sin and corruption. Through His resurrection from the dead, He opened the gates for God’s given possibility for new life and salvation. Jesus presented himself in human flesh as an acceptable sacrifice to God the Father as payment for the sin of humanity. In His solidarity with us and as a suffering servant of God, He fulfilled His mission to be our Savior and Redeemer. Christ demonstrated that a life such as He lived on earth in total obedience and dedication to God is a victorious life against the power of darkness and demonic opposition of God and His will. Jesus' story, without the Easter faith, can be seen as a defeat of love, truth, goodness, and holiness and the triumph of corrupted human and devilish powers. Only without the Easter faith, the story of Jesus is a sad event. But those who experienced the power of His resurrection and those who are experiencing it even today, Easter is a source of tremendous joy and hope for life eternal. Even His disciples had difficulty accepting the new reality of the miracle of the resurrection. We live in a sinful world and are surrounded by the power of death and destruction. This makes it difficult to see God’s miracles of saving and restoring life. It is even more difficult to believe that we are chosen to be the instruments of God’s restoring love in this world. We are called to manifest His power and victory over sin and death and to live a life in fullness in harmony with God and in peace with our fellowmen. “Peace be with you!” says the risen Lord. He commissioned and is commissioning his followers anew with these words, “...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20. A Blessed Easter to all of You! Bishop Póznán CALVIN SYNOD CONFERENCE of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Rt. Rev. Koloman Karl Ludwig, General Secretary 7319 Tapper Avenue Hammond, Indiana 46324 219-931-4321 •KKLudwig@aol.com CALL TO ANNUAL MEETING THE SEVENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING of the CALVIN SYNOD CONFERENCE of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST MAY 8- 11,2012 LIGONIER, PENNSYLVANIA The SEVENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING of the CALVIN SYNOD CONFERENCE of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST will be held from Tuesday, May 8th through Friday, May 11th, 2012 The Annual Meeting will open with a Service of Worship and Holy Communion on May 8th at 9:00 a.m. at the Bethlen Home Chapel in Ligonier. Subsequent sessions will be held at the Ramada Inn, Ligonier. We will close with a Worship Service at noon on Friday, May 11th. The attendance of every elected pastor serving a Calvin Synod congregation is expected, unless excused. Each member congregation is expected to send an official Lay Delegate, and may send an Alternate Delegate. The attendance of every Ordained Minister with Standing in Calvin Synod is also expected. Further details will be provided by mail. Your fellow servant in Christ, Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig General Secretary
