Calvin Synod Herald, 1976 (76. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1976-07-01 / 7-8. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 7 PRAYER AT FUNERAL SERVICE FOR DR STEPHEN BESSEMER Our Gracious Heavenly Father.... Thy faithful servant, who faithfully discharged his duties as Pastor of his people is now with Thee. We make this sorrowful journey this morning, through the valley of the shadow of death. We walk together with his family, his beloved wife and children and grandchildren, who brought so much happiness to him through the love and affectionate concern, that they all had for him. What a source of joy they were to him. We walk in sorrow with his people, whom he served so faithfully and who are now overwhelmed by a deep sense of loss. There is no fear or anxiety in our hearts in the valley of the shadow of death, because Thou art and has always been a Good Shepherd, who leads us beside the still water and who restores and replenishes our soul, with Thy comfort in the time of sorrow. We thank Thee for this long and fruitful life, in which Thy servant was permitted to minister to his people for a half century. How many he brought comfort and peace to in the time of sorrow. How many seeds he planted in the hearts of many and saw these seeds grow into a fruitful and productive life of dedication and service. For this we are truly grateful. There is peace in our hearts in the knowledge, that as he passes through the tunnel of darkness, that we call death, that tunnel is carved into a mountain of light, where he shall see Thee face to face. May he hear these words of commendation: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of thy Lord.” We know that life is an unfinished symphony, it becomes a finished symphony in Thy presence and as Thy servant enters Thy presence, the glorious crescendo of Amens burst forth in triumph and well deserved victory. This beloved Pastor’s song of devo­tion among us is now ended, but the good and fra­grant memory of a life, for his people will continue to linger on. Thy servants sun will set in his final resting place and as the sun leaves a beautiful after­glow, so there remains an afterglow to this life in which his loved ones will continue to live. His work is finished, and in this afterglow the work of his beloved Congregation in the one, selected to continue his good work for the future and well being of the people whom he loved, will go forward. And now may faith, love and hope abide with us. May the sorrow, that we feel, become a bridge over which we pass into the glorious realization that everything works for good for those, who love Thee. And now may we say with faith.... “Servant of God, well done, rest from your loved employ, the battle fought, the victory won, enter your Master’s joy. The pains of death are passed, labor lAJ/iat é^uan^efiám? BY THE REV. ALFRED COLBY Chairperson, Task Force on Eveangelism The word, “Evangelism” brings to mind a host of images and experiences that are somewhat distasteful to the tradition of our learning. One has only to be halted by a stranger in downtown Providence and have our lapel pulled upon and the stranger asks us, “Are you saved, brother?” Needless to say, we are embarrassed and in­wardly we say to ourselves, “Evangelism, that’s not my cup of tea!” Yet, the 10th General Synod affirms evangelism: “Believing that the UCC has begun to recapture the strong Biblical-theological concepts that undergird our word-in-deed emphasis on evangelism and celebrating that fact, the 10th General Synod requests that the Board for Homeland Ministries develop materials and programs which will provide indepth foundations for evangelism and encourage the Conferences, Associa­tions, local churches, and the individual members to be responsible to the mandate to ‘get the word out’ as we respond to Christ who ‘Frees and Unites.’ ” Realizing the importance of the mandate from the 10th General Synod and the credibility of the word, evangelism, in current day society, it becomes the responsibility of the Task Force on Evangelism to bridge this chasm. Evangelism means announcing the Good News . . . telling people about Christ and about his death and resur­rection in a way they can realize that they are being invited by God to turn to Christ (convert), change what they are living for (repent), and enter into a relationship with Chist (be baptized). In the early church and in many Christian groups to­day, evangelism is the invitation to join the life of a com­munity which holds to the message and is living it (Word and Deed). A person is drawn to the community sees what the message means in daily life, and finds himself attracted by a fellowship that has more vitality than those he has been in before because it has a strong commitment to a purpose. Even if a person heard a well-preached message in church or in school, he would be unlikely to respond, be­cause his experience (the Christian fellowship he lives in) has nothing to correspond to the message. It is almost al­ways the case that when evangelism and instruction are done successfully, both in the church and outside of it, they are done in the context of a community that is alive, and they are done as a means of inviting people into the life of the community. The Task Force on Evangelism does not have the answers to many of these thoughts. We invite you as people of our community to share your thoughts and concerns. It is the hope that we will be able to find answers and direction in developing a Spirit and Force that will be felt once again in a world seeking the living Christ. That is evangelism. Ed’s Clipsheet, May '76 and sorrow cease, And life’s long warfare, closed at last, Your soul is found in peace.” Amen. Rev. Emil Nagy i

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