Magyar Egyház, 2010 (89. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2010-07-01 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 13. oldal 10th edition of it was published in 1919. It bears Roman Catholic characteristics, but its liturgical framework is genuinely Reformed. Sermon Prayer Exhortation Words of Institution Invitation Nicean Confession / formerly: Apostles’ Creed Agnus Dei Intercessions Sursum corda Thanksgiving Anamnesis Sanctus Epiclesis The Lord’s Prayer Breaking of the Bread Administration of the Elements Pax Exhortation Thanksgiving Intercessions for the Church Thanksgiving for the triumphant church Hymn Benediction 1940.: Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland. This book had a strong impact ont he English-speaking Presbyterian churches (England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New-Zealand and the British Colonies). Further editions: 1942, 1945, 1949; amended editions with a new lectionary: 1952, 1955, 1957, 1959). 1979.: The Book of Common Order - a Revision of the 1940 version. The Liturgy of the Church of Scotland Today: Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland, Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, 1994. III. Calvinistic Impulses in the Hungarian Reformed Liturgies in the 20th Century No direct influence of Calvin can be traced in the early Hungarian Reformed liturgies. The Calvin-anniversary of 1909 gave impulses for this. László Ravasz, as chief editor, published a book of liturgy in 1927 (Agenda - The Book of Liturgy of the Hungarian Reformed Church). He was not able to apply consequently the liturgical legacy of Calvin. The Transsylvanian book of liturgy (Our Worship Service, 1927), published under the leadership of Sándor Makkai and Lajos Gönczy, highlighted the Calvinistic elements, and included Calvin’s own prayer of confession and the absolution (Jn 3,16), as a standard element of the litugry. The new Order of Worship (1998), published by the Consultative Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Churches, follows this tradition. There was an attempt of a liturgical reform in 1949-1951, under the leadership of László Ravasz and Sándor Makkai. It failed because of political reasons ( c.f. the forced resignation of the Bishop Ravasz.) Following the theological impulses of Calvin and of Karl Barth, they started to create a liturgy for the „full worship service”, i.e. the integration of the parts of homily and of the Communion, including a liturgy of the administration of Baptism, too. This rich liturgy has, unfortunately, never been introduced. The General Convent of the Hungarian Reformed Churches has set up a Committee of Liturgy in 2004. A new Book of Liturgical Samples is being worked on. IV. Our Church Service in a Postmodern Age Our negative heritage: a. / A Shortage of Miracles - spiritual dryness. There is a burning need for a spiritual recharging of our services. b. / A cut-back of artistic value - an excuse for low quality. As the earthly context of the joining to the heavenly liturgy may not be indifferent, a lot must be done for high quality of worship. c. / The lack of rites — the loss of structure. The meaning of the worship is to lead us out of the society, into the realm of the Holy. Goal: the worship life should preserve and signal the structure of time. d. / The awareness of sinfulness may not weaken the proclamation of grace. The absolution has a counseling value. Challenges in the present-day social context The characteristics of our age are often in conflict with the traditional practice of worship. All the following „labels” made me ask a question: Consumers’ society - Consumers’ (worship) service? - We need more nurishment in our worship services, which invites us and welcomes us back to the presence of God in order to praise Him. Information-society - How authentic is our worship? - In the midst of dubious slogans and in the world of commercials we need genuine voice in our services! Secular society — How can we bring back the Holy that is excluded and alienated? The Worship service must be a road to the Holy God. Communications-society - Is it possible to maintain the monologue in our services? - The worship service may not be indifferent to the context of the congregation, but it must have an imminent and effective reaction based on the Word. Experience- society - A dry, burn-out, worship, without any experience? - In order to change that we need the force-field of the Holy Spirit, who can create an extraordinary sphere at our worship services. V. How Should Our Reformed Worship Service Look Like? - Some Theses: The liturgical principles of the Reformation needs to be revisited, including the concept of adiaphoron. Instead of uniformization, it should have unity in its theoretical-theological foundations. The order of worship should be shaped by theological insights instead of the vanity of some church leaders. The collection of liturgical samples should offer a variety of liturgical styles. The synchrony of proclamation and of the Sacrament are the two foci of the worship service. There should be a balance between the free and the prescribed elements in worship. The congregation should actively participate in the liturgy. The ecclesial year should be taken seriously. The eternal liturgical values, the Calvinistic principles and the practices of the world Protestantism should be taken seriously. These principles are followed in Committee of Liturgy of the General Convent, while we work for the renewal of Hungarian Reformed Worship Service. May the Holy Spirit help our efforts. (Translation: GSL)
