Magyar Egyház, 1995 (74. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1995 / 4. szám
10. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ A CHRISTMAS PLAY Our Sunday school children of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Carteret, New Jersey are happy to present and share with you their Christmas program under the guidance of Rev. Peter Toth, Zsuzsanna Prundl and Helen Hargreaves. Scene 1 - Soldier (Robert R. Legeny) Hear Yea! Hear Yea! Everyone listen to the decree of the mighty Caesar Augustus. It is hereby ordered that everyone must take part in the census. All people must go to the place of origin to be enrolled. Joseph - (Justin Castor) Mary, you know my ancestors are from Bethlehem and are descendants of King David, we must go there for the census. Mary - (Jennifer Ruskowski) We must be very careful. It is almost time for the baby to be born. “0 Little Town of Bethlehem” Scene 2 - Bethlehem Joseph - Innkeeper, we have been looking for a room all over town and found no vacancy. Please give us a place to spend the night. Innkeeper - (Garnet Hargreaves) We are very busy because of the census, but I may be able to give you shelter in the stable where the animals are. Joseph - We must have a place to sleep. Please take us there. Mary - Look how beautiful our little boy is. Perhaps we can let him sleep in the manger. We will fill the manger with fresh hay. “Go tell it to The Mountain” Scene 3 - Countryside Shepherd 1 - (Michael Ruskowski) It is a cold night out here. Let us make a fire. Shepherd 2 - (Emily Harris/Nicholas Sbordone) Look! Something is coming. I am afraid. Angel - (Matthew Castor) Don’t be scared, I came to tell you that the Messiah has been born. Now you are saved. Heavenly Host - Let us sing for joy - “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace among men.” Angel Shepherd - If you want to see him, you must go to Bethlehem. You will find him in a manger. Shepherd 1 - Let us go see the Messiah. We have waited a long time. Shepherd 2 - Let us leave right now. Scene 4 Shepherd 3 - I wonder where he is? Shepherd 1 -He maybe where all those people are gathering! Shepherd 2 - Can we get to see him? Soldier - Let us worship the newborn King. “0 Come All ye Faithful” Pearl Hatten - Secretary GOD LOVETH THE CHEERFUL GIVER We have not talked much about the financial problems and needs of the Church. It is part of our Christian worship that we should give according to our ability. We say and hear these words in every worship service, again and again: “God loveth the cheerful giver”. (2 Cor. 9:8)...Let us take the old Biblical verse quite seriously. As a pastor, let me bring to your attention the financial standing of the Church. Thank God, we are not on the point of bankruptcy right now. But we are facing serious problems in the long term. The increase in expenses, combined with the decline in membership and donations, is a cause for concern, not only for the leaders of the Church, but also for the general membership. Please do not misunderstand; thank God, we are not in serious financial danger or difficulties just now. Nevertheless, each and every one of us can increase our contributions to the Church in a number of ways. One of the most important ways - perhaps - is to attend worship services regularly. Your presence and participation in the Church services and activities best reveal your continued and active support. Let us think about the future of our congregation and let us implement it with an extra effort and money in our stewardship. Let the words of the Apostle Paul II, Corinthians 9:7-8 inspire us all “Each one should give then, as he has decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loveth the cheerful giver. And God is able to give you more than you need so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.” A clergyman wrote to a wealthy and influential businessman, requesting a subscription to a worthy charity and soon received a curt refusal which ended: “As far as I can see, this Christian business is just one continuous give, give, give.” Replied the clergyman: “I wish to thank you for the best definition of the Christian life I have yet heard.” Therefore, Think, Pray and possibly Give with cheerfulness to your Church. May God Bless you all Rev. George Nagy Windsor, Ontario, Canada
