Calvin Synod Herald, 1974 (74. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-10-01 / 10-11. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD tables are spread like today hallow the bread which is broken and the fellowship of those who share in it. Nurture our souls and our bodies, shape our lives, guide our destinies—so we may fulfil Thy purpose spreading the spirit of love to others and regaining Paradise lost through Thy great mercy. We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and His promise assures us that Thou wilt hear our prayer. Amen. —Dr. Andrew Harsanyi WELCOME ADDRESS A part of the welcoming address given by Rev. Imre Bertalan, General Chairman, to a gathering of over 6,000 people at the Garden State Art Centers auditorium at the First Hungarian Festival held on September 14, 1974 at Holmdel, N. J. The Hungarian Community of New Jersey is happy on this day to add to the Garden State Art Center’s colorful mosaic of various ethnic groups who preceded us in presenting the finest of their cultural traditions. Through these presentations we wish to help the Cultural Fund pf the Art Center to continue the invaluable service of the day-time programs for the school children and the senior citizens of our state. In turn, the performing ethnic groups are being helped by the Art Center to a new cultural awakening, namely, that instead of casting their cultural heritage into a melting pot, they serve this country best by enriching the fabric of the American folklore with the colors of their own cultural heritage. The millions of immigrants — the Hungarians among them—were for too long the unsung heroes of American history. They worked in the mines, filled the factories, built homes and cities and kept them clean. The churches built and the fraternities organized by them are still serving later generations. Among the Hungarian immigrants were Joseph Pulitzer, the founder of American journalism; Janos von Neuman, the greatest mathematician of our age; Theodore von Karman, the “Father” of the American Air Force; and the Hungarian “Big Three” in atomic science, Edward Teller, Eugene Wigner and Leo Szilard. The Hungarian immigrants gave modern Michelangelos and have written brilliant pages in the history of American music. But for almost a century, which is a long time in the history of this young nation, the soul of the American ethnic remained veiled and unknown. The soul of the people finds expression in art, in music, in song and in dance. This first Hungarian Festival gives us an opportunity to unveil a bit of the Hungarian soul and to share its treasures with our many friends. STEWARDSHIP Stewardship Sunday, November 10th, is an ideal time to show your gratitude to God by pledging your support to the ministries of the United Church of Christ at home and abroad. Many congregations in our conference will be participating in the Christian Enlistment this month. The Enlistment is a five-phase, yearlong effort to build support for the total work of the church. According to those who have made use of the newly revised Christian Enlistment Guide and related materials, the program is readily adopted to every size and sort of congregation. The Christian Enlishment process can help members of your congregation to understand the program of the church at every level —local, conference, national, and worldwide—and to understand afresh the motivation of gratitude which lies at the very heart of the gospel. Watch in your own church for the 1974 Christian Enlistment poster and related material on the theme: “Give: Show You’re Grateful.” Then prepare yourself to indicate the support you anticipate giving to your congregation and to its local and wider ministries during the coming year. You’ll be glad you did! HUNGARIAN STATE OFFICIAL VISITS WARC HEAD OFFICE Geneva—Dr. Imre Miklós, Minister of Church Affairs for Hungary visited the ecumenical centre here on July 10, when he had discussions with staff members of the World Council of Churches and other organizations. Dr. Miklós was also received by the general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Rev. Edmond Perret, the associate secretary, Miss Paulette Piguet, and the secretary of the department of theology, the Rev. Richmond Smith. RPS ANYBODY COULD - BUT NOBODY DID Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Pete Anybody, and Joe Nobody, were neighbors, but they were not like you and me. They were “odd” people and most difficult to understand. The way they lived was a shame. All four belonged to the same church, but you couldn’t have enjoyed working with them. Everybody wanted a Sunday once in a while to go fishing, or on a picnic, or visiting friends. Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid Somebody wouldn’t speak to him, so Nobody went to church. Nobody was the only decent one of the four. Nobody did the visitation. Nobody worked on the church building. Nobody sang in the choir. Once they needed a Church School teacher. Everybody thought Anybody would do it; and Somebody thought Everybody would do it. Guess who did it finally? That’s right . . . Nobody! So with Nobody as a teacher there were no Sunday School classes. When the church building needed to be painted, Everybody talked about it. Anybody could have organized the group into a painting crew, and Somebody could have gone after the paint and brushes. But guess what happened? You’re right again — Nobody — painted the church, and it became such a delapidated looking church that Everybody was ashamed to have Anybody come and even if Somebody would have wanted to come, Nobody would have been there. It just so happened that a new neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the same neighborhood. Everybody thought Somebody would try to win him to Christ. Anybody could have at least made the effort. But guess who finally won him to Christ? That’s right — Nobody! Author Unknown
