Magyar Egyház, 1961 (40. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1961-02-01 / 2. szám
10 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH "Jesus Christ, The Light Of The World" (Geneva)—An intensive effort to bring the quest for Christian unity home to local congregations around the world will get underway soon. The occasion is the publication of the World Council of Churches’ preparatory study booklet for the Third Assembly to be held in New Delhi, India, November 18—December 6, 1961. During the next year the 76-page booklet will be studied around the world by tens of thousands of Christians belonging to the Council’s 178 member churches. In small village churches in Asia and Africa, in big city congregations in Berlin and Chicago, men and women will come together to study and discuss the Assembly theme, “Jesus Christ, the Light of the World”. In the preface Dr. W. A. Visser ’t Hooft, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, explains that the Vigyan Bhavan Hall in New Delhi where the Assembly will be held cannot possibly accommodate the hundreds of thousands of members of churches to whom the brochure will go “in all parts of the world, and in very many languages. But we need your spiritual presence, your personal participation in this event.” The churches meeting in New Delhi, through their chosen delegates, Dr. Visser ’t Hooft says, have their “relevance in the local congregation, in the common worship, and the working and living together of individual Christian men and women”. Christians often ask “how they can play their part in this new ecumenical movement of our time. Here is one opportunity.” “As your congregation takes up the study and discussion of themes of this booklet, you will implement your membership in a world-embracing community of the people to God,” Dr. Visser ’t Hooft says. “As you seek to understand anew our common obedience to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, you will discover something of the glorious mystery of the varieties of spiritual gifts He inspires. You will see your own tasks in the setting of the common calling of the whole Church of Christ.” The illustrated booklet includes a treatment of the main theme of the Assembly, along with eight Bible studies, and a section on the World Council called “The Local Task in a Total Vision”. * Every pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America has received an advance copy of this study booklet with the request to use it as a guide for group studies or as a basis for a series of sermons. We hope that our congregations will fully avail themselves of this opportunity of spiritual participation in the work of the World Council of Churches General Assembly. CHURCH WORLD SERVICE Fifteen Million Asked For 1961 Overseas Relief (CWS)—Nearly $15,000,000 is being asked by Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches in America for their 1961 program of assistance to homeless hungry and destitute people abroad. Announcement of this record-high target of the churches was made by Bishop Frederick B. Newell, acting executive director of Church World Service. Church World Service, a major department of the National Council of Churches, sponsors the United Appeal in the interest of its member communions. Highlight of the 1961 appeal will be the One Great Hour of Sharing observances on Sunday, March 12, when designated offerings for overseas aid will be made at special simultaneous services in thousands of American churches. Funds realized through the United Appeal will make possible both individual denominational programs of overseas assistance and cooperative projects carried on through Church World Service. Because these projects are carried on largely by dedicated volunteer personnel, they are effected at minimum cost, Bishop Newell declared, thus bringing assistance to a maximum number of those in distress —men, women and children suffering from floods, famines, earthquakes and other disasters, those uprooted and suffering from war and aggression, and the ill, the underprivileged and undernourished in more than forty countries. A large portion of the increased funds sought will be utilized for vastly broadened programs of assistance in the areas of acute human need, particularly among politically emerging peoples. These far-reaching efforts will be developed in conjunction with Protestant churches of other countries throughout the world, with general coordination through the World Council of Churches.-----------o----------TO ALL PASTORS AND BOARD OF ELDERS! THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (MARCH 12) SHALL BE SET ASIDE IN ALL OUR CONGREGATIONS TO REMEMBER THE NEEDY OF THE WORLD. ON THIS SUNDAY WE SHALL JOIN THE NATION-WIDE APPEAL OF PROTESTANT AND ORTHODOX CHURCHES UNITED IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES PARTICIPATING IN THE “ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING” PROGRAM. A SPECIAL OFFERING SHALL BE TAKEN IN ALL OUR CHURCHES THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE MISSION FUND (“KÖZALAP”). DR. ZOLTÁN BEKY, BISHOP
