Calvin Synod Herald, 2017 (118. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2017-11-01 / 11-12. szám
2 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Jesus is the Greatest Gift “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) Volume 118 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 NO.11-12 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Official Organ of The Calvin Synod - United Church of Christ Founded in 1900 AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Official Organ of the Calvin Synod United Church of Christ - Founded in 1900 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD (ISSN 0161-6900) is published bi-monthly $15.00/yearfor individual subscriptions; $10.00/year for groups, 50 or more copies Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald Editor in Chief: Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai, Bishop 14530 Alexander Road • Walton Hills, OH 44146 Tel.: 440-221-5334 • Email: revkrasznai@gmail.com Co-Editor: Rt. Rev. Stefan M. Torok, Auxiliary Bishop 68 Cherrywood Drive • Somerset, NJ 08873 Tel.: 732-917-4566 • Email: sctorok@comcast.net Interim Hungarian Editor: Rt. Rev. Stefan M. Torok Business Manager: Wilburn A. Roby, Jr. 264 Old Plank Road • Butler, PA 16002 Email: warajr@embarqmail.com Newsletters prepared by: Cathy Paksi 419-733-5829 • cathy.paksi@gmail.com Newsletters printed by: Gazette Printers 724-349-3434 Periodicals postage paid at Butler, PA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 264 Old Plank Rd„ Butler, PA 16002-3810 Manuscripts and photographs are not preserved or returned Send all correspondence to the Editor The views and opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the magazine or Calvin Synod. CALVIN SYNOD HEADQUARTERS: Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai 14530 Alexander Road • Walton Hills, OH44146 Tel.: 440-221-5334 Email: revkrasznai@gmail.com OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS • Beaver Falls, PA • United Church of Christ of Bridgeport, CT • Cleveland, OH - West Side HRC • Columbus, OH • Dayton The proper procedure is for all interested ministers to send their completed PROFILE (as provided by the United Church of Christ) to the Bishop’s office: Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai 14530 Alexander Road Walton Hills, OH 44146 Tel.: 440-221-5354 • revkrasznai@gmail.com Dear brothers and sisters Christmas is a time of giving. It means Christmas is a time of shopping. This year, just like every year, millions of people go and buy gifts for their loved ones. Gifts are very important in our lives. They bring joy to each and everyone’s heart as we express our love and appreciation. It is so great to give and to receive gifts. Two thousand years ago, at Christmas, mankind received the greatest Gift. This Gift is entirely different from those gifts that we can purchase in stores or online. There is one Gift that meets everyone’s need, one Gift that will never wear out, never break or require repair. There is one Gift that you do not have to return. A Gift that is appropriate for a small child or a teenager, an adult or a senior loved one. Boy or girl, man or woman, rich or poor, it makes no difference. The Gift we all need, the most valuable Gift of all, is that baby in the manger. The One that Christmas originally was about. On Christmas we celebrate the fact that God gave us the Gift of His Own Son, Jesus Christ, so that through faith in Him we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’’, says the Word of God (Jn. 3:16). The Gift that the Father offers us is to know His Son, Jesus Christ and to have fellowship, a relationship with Him. Maybe you have never heard before that it is important to have a relationship, fellowship with Jesus. Perhaps it sounds a little strange for you to spending time with Christ, as if He would be a flesh and blood person, someone you could see and hear and touch. Well, no it isn’t like that. We don’t see Him with our physical eyes. But that doesn’t make our fellowship with Him any less real. Christ is present, He is with us. His Spirit lives in us. He speaks to us through the Bible and we speak with Him through prayer. People sometimes think of Christianity as nothing but a set of burdensome responsibilities. Doing things that people would rather not do. Like going to church, when they would rather stay home, reading the Sunday paper, watching football, cleaning the house, or cook. Some people see the I
