Magyar Egyház, 1961 (40. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1961-01-01 / 1. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 mergers, to crush all opposition just to promote our own definition of unity. The ministry of Christ, the true task of the Church, requires a more serious understanding of unity than this. No one dare overlook the need for a united witness on the part of all Christians in our time. But if this is used as an argument of expediency to justify and sanctify bigger budgets, more power for leaders, silencing of theological non-conformists, we have set our feet upon a way of “unity” much different from the way of Jesus Christ, the way of the cross. The foundation of our unity is the one Lord, the Crucified, the Ascended, the Servant King. The true use of unity, which is His costly gift and our holy trust, is to serve and obey Him in total identification of ourselves with Him as His “body” in this time of travail. The purpose and goal of that unity is that the world may know and believe that the Father sent the Son not to condemn it, but that through Him it might be saved. 0 CARDINAL BEA WARNS AGAINST “ILLUSIONS IN SEEKING UNITY” (Ferrara) — Augustin Cardinal Bea, head of the Vatican secretariat on Christian unity, has warned against “too many illusions” in seeking Christian unity, because it is “a task which will require much time, charity and patience.” “But all the same,” the Cardinal told a meeting in Ferrara, Italy, “we must have the confidence which is based on prayer and on the fact that a constantly growing number of Christians of all confessions are joining in the High Priestly prayer of Jesus’ut omnes unum sint’ and are reminding themselves of Jesus’ words, ‘What is impossible to men is possible to God.” The Cardinal said that the Roman Catholic position in the quest for unity must be characterized by two attitudes. First, the church must protect the Faith and give “the greatest care in safeguarding the complete integrity of Catholic dogma.” Secondly, it must have “a readiness to understand and (show) genuine active charity towards the separated brethren.” He said the first of these attitudes is not a restriction of charity, “but rather the necessary guarantee that charity should remain authentic, i.e., absolutely loyal to Christ and to His Bride, the Church, by full acceptance of the Truth which Christ makes evident through the Church.” The secretariat was set up last spring to deal with relations with non-Roman Catholic Christians in preparation for the Second Vatican (Ecumenical) Council. Cardinal Bea, 79, a German-born member of the Jesuit order, was formerly rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and private confessor to the late Pope Pius XII. EPS, Geneva. NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS BETHLEHEM Pa. Church: North Ave., & High St., Cor. Chief Elder: John Vörös Supply minister: Barnabás Rőczey In our newly acquired and beautiful church, worship services will continue in both English and Hungarian languages. Our members and friends are urged to attend and to bring along their friends. Confirmation Class will continue every Saturday. Sick visitation Saturday and Sundav afternoon with the Chief-Elder and the church officers taking the supply minister around to visit our members. In case of need for special services get in touch with Mr. John Vörös, Chief Elder, who in turn will contact the Dean of our Classis, until a full time minister will be elected. CARTERET Our Sunday School gave a very successful Christmas program presenting the Christmas story in six scenes under the title “God’s Gift”. The “Visit of Santa Claus” brought each child a nice gift, donated jointly by the Board of Elders, the Lorantfy Societv. the Junior Women’s Guild, and the Men’s Club. All Sunday School teachers received a copy of Latourette’s great one volume church history. Attendance on Christmas Eve suffered somewhat from the inclement weather and bad road conditions, Christmas communicants, however, were about 300 and donations during the holidays exceeded $2,500 equalling or surpassing previous years. Our Youth Fellowship revived the thrilling custom of carolling. They had a grand time, were very well received and collected a nice sum which, among others, will be used for their adopted “daughter” whose recent picture we are showing in this news column. The Youth Fellowship was also host to the Eastern Classis Quarterly Conference which featured a panel discussion on the theme “Religion In A Technological Age”. PERTH AMBOY, N. J. The election of officers in our various organizations stirred up the interest in the beginning of the new year. The Women’s Guild and the Women’s Club unanimously reelected their officers. The Men’s Club elected Norman Rhodes president, Louis Szilágyi vice president, Norman Bright secretary, John Tariska treasurer, George Tóth chaplain, Steve Orosz publicity director. The Christian Youth Fellowship officers for the year of 1961 are the following: Mevin Deák president, Barry Kertész vice president, Patricia Moran secretary, John Bacsó treasurer, Rodney Matto chaplain. John Latkovics, member of the Church Council is adviser; Mr. Herman Dykes, student minister from Princeton, is on sick leave at the time of this report. A trip to Hungary and Europe is being planned from July 9th to August 6th by jet plane. If you would like to go together to visit the “old country”, relatives and friends, contact the church office. Round trip ticket is $645. Details upon request.
