Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1971-01-01 / 1. szám

A

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

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IMPORT on ^le Nothing relief action for Presbyterian (Reformed) victims flEjlURl 0f tjle 1970 flood in Transylvania, Romania.

The initial positive response of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown to requests for help coming to us from fellow believers in Transylvania enabled us to start the relief action. A letter sent by the Rev. James H. Chesnutt to the pastors and congregations of Newton Presbytery resulted in the brotherly help by clothing and money of another six congregations.

The cleaning of clothing was done free of charge by Nazarro Cleaners in Wharton. The Bartley Agency of Mrs. Doris Garrison Olsen in Flanders donated the notarization of cleaner’s certificates for each package. The ladies of the Flanders Church helped in packaging.

We sent 111 packages of 20 pounds or so to individual addressess. Letters of fellow believers in Transylvania who have already received their packages show that beyond the greatly needed material help they are strengthened by the

fact that their brothers and sisters in faith think of them.

INCOME:

Morristown Presbyterian Church, The Rev. Robert C. Holland .......... $ 433.50

Mendham Presbyterian Church, The Rev. Robert A. Phillips .............. 200.00

Stanhope Presbyterian Church, The Rev. Raymond E. Little .............. 125.00

Bloomsburry Presbyterian Church, The Rev. John R. Dodd .................. 90.00

Irónia Presbyterian Church, The Rev. Charjes L. Ringe III................. 72.50

Panther Valley Church, The Rev. William H. McGregor ...................... 53.00

Morris Plains Presbyterian Church, The Rev. George A. Vorsheim .... 41.50

Flanders Presbyterian Church, The Rev. Bela Szigethy ........................ 30.50

$1,046.00

EXPENSES: Postage, 111 packages ...................................... $ 805.62

Canvas, double for each package .................. 117.85

Correspondence, etc.............................................. 4.05

$927.52

BALANCE: $118.48. — If the Romanian government will not extend the deadline for the customs free entry of packages beyond December 31, 1970, we shall send the money to a congregation in Transylvania for the repair of their damaged church building.

As we gratefully thank the pastors, their congregations, and all who helped to do this good thing, we feel that Matthew 25:34-40 is applicable here: “I was naked and you clothed me . . . Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” The 111 packages helped hundreds of our fellowmen in the name of the Lord. Many thanks!

Bela Szigethy

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP REPORT

At the Eastern Classis meeting and Fall Conference held in Bridgeport, Conn., at the Laurel Avenue Hungarian Reformed Church, U.C.C., on October 18, 1970, the youth of our classis were represented by 40 young people from the following churches: Bridgeport, Wallingford, Fairfield, South Norwalk, Conn., and Passaic, N.J. Under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Kecske- methy, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Napoleon, and Mrs. J. Sowik, youth advisers, the following subjects were discussed:

1. A classis youth retreat to be conducted in the spring, possibly at Pauling, N.Y. A planning committee made up of delegates from the various churches will meet on Nov. 15 at the Norwalk church where they will work out their retreat program.

2. Possible inter-church basketball games or other sports events followed by socials, to be held first at the Passaic church and repeated in other churches.

3. An inter-church youth choir to be organized for the purpose of singing annually at the Palm Sunday Conferences; each church choir to be sent copies of the music well in advance of the conference.

Our church youth hope that these proposed activities will become realities and will help bring our churches, but more particularly our church youth, closer together.

Barbara Murray

NEWS ITEMS

The Hungarian Reformed Church in Romania is to participate in talks which were planned at a recent meeting of Lutheran and Orthodox churchmen at Brasov. A theological study commission will be appointed to examine the theme “The unity of the Church and the diversity of the churches”. Professor István Juhasz, of Cluj Theological Seminary was the Reformed representative at the Brasov meeting.

The Reformed Church was also represented at the subsequent Conference for Minority Churches sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation.

RPPS

PRINCETON, N.J. — The ninedenomination Consultation on Church Union (COCU), responding to appeals for more time to study a possible plan of union offered last March, has extended until June 1, 1972, the

period for study, criticism and suggested changes.

The extension followed conferences

around the nation in which regional leaders of the nine churches repeatedly expressed the feeling that the study period was too short.

Responses to the plan originally

were due at the end of 1971.

Dr. Paul A. Crow Jr., general secretary of COCU, said the executive committee action to lengthen the time was in the interest of the fullest possible study with genuine desire for local-level participation in drafting a final plan.

The plan of union calls for a “Church of Christ Uniting” that would bring together the nine denominations in one 25 million member church with wide diversity in belief and practice.

“We genuinely want and need participation by grass roots churchmen in drafting the plan of union,” said Dr. Crow. “And the message from the regional conferences has come loud and clear, ‘We want more time.’ Since in many regions of the country plans already have been initiated for interdenominational study of the plan of union, the executive committee felt this to be a positive sign.”

The nine denominations are: African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Epis-