Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-11-01 / 11. szám
2 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING “Who makes you, my friend, so important: What do you possess that teas not given you? If then you really received it as a gift, why take the credit for yourselfF’ I Cor. 4:7 (NEB) We like to think of ourselves as self-made men. We like to think that our possessions are the result of our hard work and cleverness. We like to think that we are self-sufficient and have no need of anything or anyone. But Paul insists on deflating our baloon. He says: “What do you possess which was not given to you.” What indeed! Life, itself, is a gift. Without the spark of life there would be utter blackness and dismal darkness. Without life there would be no concept of universe or space. God would rule the world, but alone. God gave life to give the whole meaning to all of creation. Life is the gift of God. So that life might praise and worship God: Man does not posses life. Life possesses man. Why then do you take credit for life? You are part of the miracle of life. You have been selected, predestined, if you will, to five a life. God created! Yet, procreation is man’s responsibility. He must learn to cope with life. He must learn to control the engendering of life or else the resources of the earth will not suffice to maintain life on this planet. Despite all the science-fiction novels and films, (its still only science-fiction), the plain truth is that we have only this planet to live on — we have only earth-life in the universe. And until this changes, let us respect life — all life — on planet earth. It is a gift of God — let us be thankful that we are given a part in the miracle of life. Freedom and justice, law and order are the heritage of men who believed that these self-evident things are inherent to man because he was made in the image of God. The sacrifice of men and women who came to these shores first of all to worship God as they believed, paid the price — so that we might enjoy the benefits of a society dedicated to freedom and liberty for the Children of God. Our Reformed faith asks: What can we give God for his goodness? Paul replies: There is nothing with which to repay God’s generosity to us but with our gratitude. We must not usurp the gifts of God. We must continuously be mindful that we possess nothing. We ought always, in all things, be grateful unto God for all that we have. Calvin says “It is a beastful business when people start eating without prayer, and when they are full, they run out without as much as mentioning God’s name.” What do you possess that was not given you? What can we give God for his goodness? Our communion liturgy replies: “All the days of our life, we will proclaim the richness of thy mercy, by which thou hast adopted us as thy children and hast chosen us for thine inheritence. O God! thou hast redeemed us at a great price. And for this the joy of our life will be to praise thee, and to dedicate both body and soul to thee.” For the Christian, for the Reformed Christian especially, everyday is a day of thanksgiving. We observe this national Day of Thanksgiving — not as a thanksgiving to ourselves and our greatness, but rather as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God in the sincere hope that it will be found acceptable in the sight of God. What do you possess that was not given you? Nothing. What then must our response to God be for all His blessings? Praise and thanksgiving! Arpad L. Beretz, Bishop STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION Title of Publication: Calvin Synod Herald — Reformátusok Lapja. Date of filing: 9-28, ’73. Frequency of issue: Ten (10) times a year. Location of Publication: Standard Press, 364 Somerset St., New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901. Location of the headquarters or general business office of the publishers: 493 Amboy Avenue, Perth Amboy, N. J. 08861. Publisher — Editor: Rev. Francis Vitéz, 493 Amboy Avenue, Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861. Owner: Calvin Synod, Conference of United Church of Christ, Rt. Rev. Arpad Beretz, Bishop, 7520 Woodmar Avenue, Hammond, Indiana 46323. No Share Holders: Non Profit. Total No. of Copies Printed ............................................................. 2,900 Mail Subscription ..................................................................................... 1,920 Total paid circulation ........................................................................ 1,920 Free Distribution ...................................................................................... 740 Total Distribution ..................................................................................... 2,660 Office use, left-over, unaccounted, spoiled after printing ... 240 Total .............................................................................................................. 2,900 CALVINlirQ A I P) synod HtryALU Reformátusok Lapja Official Organ Of The Calvin Synod — United Church of Christ Founded in 1900 November 1973_______________________Volume 73, No. 11 Published monthly except June-July and August-September when bi-monthly. Editor-in-Chief: The Right Reverend Arpad L. Beretz, Bishop EDITOR: REV. FRANCIS VITÉZ 493 Amboy Ave., Perth Amboy, N. J. 08861 Phone: (201) 826-3513 Subscription—Előfizetés: évi $3.50 yearly. Printed by Standard Press, New Brunswick, N. J. Second class postage paid at New Brunswick, N. J. 08901 Send Form 3579 to Calvin Synod Herald — Reformátusok Lapja, Circulation Department, New Parker Photo Offset Printing Co., 163 Albany Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 I certify that the statements made above are correct and complete. Rev. Francis Vitéz, Editor, 493 Amboy Ave., Perth Amoy, N.J. 08861 —o— Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald —o— Send all correspondence to the Editor
