Calvin Synod Herald, 1982 (82. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1982-12-01 / 6. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 8 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA a spiritual and a financial aspect. On the financial side let me mention just one item. We are in 1982, — this is 25 years after the Hungarian Revolution, — this is high time for us to realize that we are not newly arrived refugees in this country anymore. We do not need the assistance of mission boards or government agencies in order to have our own free local churches. We have our own homes, our automobiles, our vacations, we go to Hawaii, to Hungary and to other places. If we desire a local, free Hungarian Church then let us support it, and don’t let anyone else do it for us; neither the government (like communist Hungary does it), nor any few rich individuals. It is not enough to want the church, we have to maintain the church; and with casually thrown-in alms only, this cannot be done. Permit me to give you some directions even in the area of the pastor's renumeration. I read that in modern American society, the minister’s job in significance, in preparation and in other aspects is somewhat comparable to that of a highschool principal. Then, his renumeration should likewise be comparable. I will mention only one thing about supporting him spiritually, but this is the most important thing. Attend the worship regularly! There can be no free local church where people do not attend. I realize that there are many legitimate excuses: distances, transportation, old age, health problems and many others. And yet, if deep in our hearts we decided, that with the help of God we shall do everything so that His Word would be proclaimed among us in freedom and in the Hungarian language, (for how long it will be possible is not our concern now, we trust our future to God), then we realize that every one of us matters. It matters that I am here today; it will make a difference to this community whether I will be here next Sunday. I shall arrange my whole life, my time accordingly, so that if at all possible I would not miss next Sunday’s worship. There is no other way you can better show your appreciation to your minister than by being present here. If Sunday after Sunday this church will be filled with people, that will solve every problem we may have to face. Finally, (every sermon has a “finally”), remain open-minded and honest with your pastor. If you like what he is doing, tell him. He needs encouragement, it gives him wings of power for his work. If there is something you do not understand, something that you do not happen to like, or if with something he hurts you, — be sure to tell him that too, but in a loving and constructive manner, — and most of all, — tell him in a private way. Paul says: “None of us lives unto himself; if we live we live to the Lord.” (Romans 14:7) The issue is much more than any individual pastor or any particular church. This is God’s Church: we are in mission together! And being a Hungarian church we need more prayers, more patience, more dedications and love from each and every one of us. God is using both, pastor and congregation, to bring the Kingdom of God nearer to our lives: so let us both, — pastor and congregation, — be faithful in this wonderful God-given task. Re». Kalman Szabolcs • • • HUNGARIAN PROTESTANT BALL • • • The 23rd Annual Protestant Ball was held Friday, November 12th at the Wayne Manor in Wayne, New Jersey. This event is sponsored by the members of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, and members of the Calvin Synod. Both Bishop Abraham and Bishop Butosi were honorary patrons. The ball was held for the benefit of the Scholarship Fund. Debutantes presented at the 1982 Hungarian Protestant Bai): Francine Halo and Michael Hallman, Dona Vitéz and Jerry Krzyzanowski, Tünde Bodnar and George Dózsa, Barbara Nagy and John Cook, Teresa Nagy and William Kantor. Recipients of the Scholarships were Francine Halo and Christian Varga. ZOLTÁN KODÁLY Zoltán Kodály was a great figure in the history of Hungarian music. He was born in Kecskemét on December 16, 1882. During his early years the music of Hungary was greatly influenced by German trained professors. But at the turn of the century the young people yearned for independence, and Zoltán Kodály with Bela Bartók, two young students at the Academy of Music, also sought the native voices. A great treasury was discovered in Hungary's ancient folk music. In 1905 Kodály went to the villages to collect folk songs and soon discovered an untouched reserve of musical culture which were unknown to the public. Kodály and Bartók, who discovered a vast treasury of melodies were thus able to create a new music that was truly Hungarian. In this new form did Kodály write his great choral works, which brought him world fame. He rose above the local folk music to a wide universal horizon. Kodály was also a great educator. Kodaly’s motto was that, “Music belongs to everybody". He taught for almost sixty years. He trained an entire generation of composers at the Academy of Music. He based his instruction on folk music. He felt that music makes a person complete so he strongly advocated the teaching of music in every school. Throughout the world the Kodály method is being used to teach music in thousands of schools. In the United States there are more than one hundred institutions that implemented the system of Zoltán Kodály. He died fifteen years ago, but his music belongs not only to Hungarians but to all the people of the universe. (RPK)
