Fraternity-Testvériség, 2008 (86. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2008-07-01 / 3. szám
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS másikat. Szükségünk van a másik emberre, meg kell bocsátani neki, hogy együtt munkálkodjunk, együtt örvendezzünk, együtt imádkozzunk, mint az Atyának a gyermekei. Együtt gyülekezzünk az Ige köré, hogy együtt növekedjünk a Krisztus ismeretében, és így együtt szolgálunk Istennek embertársaink között, és együtt reménykedünk az örökéletben. Karácsony nem képzelhető el egyedül, ennek csak a közösségben van értelme. Fogadjuk hát együtt Krisztust, és legyünk egymásnak biztatói, bátorítói, hogy a karácsony értelme valósággá váljon életünkben, és közösségeinkben. Az Amerikai Magyar Református Egyház vezetősége, lelkipásztorok és gyülekezeteink tagsága nevében köszöntőm az Amerikai Magyar Református Egyesület vezetőségét, tagságát, kérve mindnyájukra Isten áldását és boldog karácsony ünneplést. Testvéri szeretettel a Krisztusban: Szabó Sándor, püspök CALVIN SYNOD-UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 2008 Luke 2:8-12 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. ” These words have been repeated by Christians for almost two- thousand years as they celebrated and remembered the day when the Good News of God’s gift to man was first announced. In our families, these words were also read on Christmas Eve as they have been generation after generation. “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy ...” We remember these words because with them, we have wonderful memories of “Christmases past,” those times when we experienced the wonder and joy of a special time in our families. The words are especially meaningful - and important - to our ethnic group, we who immigrated from or are descendents of immigrants from central Europe. Our churches were founded by immigrants who came from difficult circumstances. We are in this land because war, poverty, political and religious oppression forced us and our ancestors to seek a new and better life on this continent. Immigrants from such circumstances do not arrive with wealth; rather, they come with virtually nothing but their faith. In the midst of such dire circumstances, they never forgot the wonderful news that they were not alone, that God continued to keep them in His care. Those were difficult years; yet those are the Christmas celebrations that many of us remember as the most meaningful. The Good News gave them the ability to go forward to a better life for themselves and their children. Today is a new day in the life of our people. We live in very different circumstances. In this new era, we must continue to remember how we were able to achieve the blessings of life that we enjoy today in order that we be able to pass them on to our children and grandchildren. First, our ancestors always gave thanks to God in every circumstance - even in the most difficult of times. Then, they shared these blessings as Christ had taught them in Matthew 25, through caring for each other. This was the “Golden Age” of our churches, when mission organizations were first created and were most active in our churches; this was also the era that the fraternal organizations were created in order that we care for our own brothers and sisters, one of the most positive results of our efforts on behalf of the “common good.” At Christmas, we must renew our goals and remember how we were able to come this far and why we are together: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy ...” The Good News of Christ strengthened and guided our ancestors and is still the source of all strength, hope and joy for us today. Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig Bishop, Calvin Synod FRATERNITY - TESTVÉRISÉG 11
