Calvin Synod Herald, 1983 (83. évfolyam, 2-4. szám)
1983-04-01 / 2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 4 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA “Come Celebrate with the UCC!’’ “United Church of Christ: Come Celebrate with us!” was the open invitation extended by colorful billboards to travelers along major roads in the Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania) last year. Part of a Shout out project of UCC churches comprising the Bethlehem Area Mission Council, the billboards were designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UCC and to promote the name and identity of our denomination to the general public. Approximately $3,000 was collected from UCC congregations to fund the seven billboards and several newspaper advertisements in Lehigh Valley newspapers. The Rev. David DeRemer, pastor of First United Church of Christ, Bethlehem, and the Rev. Tyson Frey, pastor of St. Thomas United Church of Christ, Bethlehem, initiated and completed the project. Many creative ideas for celebrating UCC identity were made visible in our UCC conferences last year. Perhaps this fresh approach from churches in the UCC Penn Northeast Conference will suggest ways your church may want to promote and celebrate our denomination this year! Ministry to Refugees Did you know that your church could engage in an important ministry to the homeless and enrich your community at the same time? Many churches in the United Church of Christ are providing this important ministry today — by sponsoring refugees in their communities. By law, refugees are not admitted into this country until a local sponsor has agreed to assist in resettling them. We in the UCC join with fourteen other denominations to work through Church World Service, the service arm of the National Council of Churches. Together, we resettle about ten percent of the refugees admitted to the U.S. each year. The number of refugees currently allowed to enter the U.S. is being reduced, but sponsors for refugees are still urgently needed. While churches willing to take full responsibility for resettling refugees are needed, churches are also needed as co-sponsors for refugees who have already made arrangements to join relatives in the U.S. If your congregation is ready to provide this important ministry — or if you would like more information about refugee resettlement — write or call: The Refugee Resettlement Office United Church Board for World Ministries 475 Riverside Dr. New York, NY 10115 (212)870-3369 or 870-7294--------------- A GROWING CHURCH --------------------Dr. Andrew Laney shared the eight causes of a growing Church with his people. 1. THE CHURCH GROWS where there is a spirit of love and unity among all the members. 2. THE CHURCH GROWS where its leaders are men and women of integrity, enthusiasm and total commitment to Jesus Christ. 3. THE CHURCH GROWS through the establishment of small fellowship groups. 4. THE CHURCH GROWS where the people have a mind to work and pray. 5. THE CHURCH GROWS when each member realizes that God called him to the ministry of service when he was baptized. We are all “in the Ministry” of Christ. 6. THE CHURCH GROWS when it plans for the future. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” 7. THE CHURCH GROWS as the individual Christian in it grows toward spiritual maturity — in Bible un derstanding, in prayer life and in bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 8. THE CHURCH GROWS when its members scatter across the city to be involved wherever there is human need and lostness. God has called this Church to grow because of your life! THE POWER OF PRAYER The day was long, the burden I had borne Seemed heavier than I could longer bear, And then it lifted—but I did not know Someone had knelt in prayer. Had taken me to God that very hour, And asked the easing of the load, and He, In infinite compassion, had stooped down And taken it from me. We cannot tell how often as we pray For some bewildered one, hurt and distressed, The answer comes, but many times those hearts Find sudden peace and rest. Someone had prayed, and Faith, a reaching hand, Took hold of God, and brought Him down that day! So many, many hearts have need of Prayer: Oh, let us pray. — Copied “Charity begins at home? We don’t disagree. But coming to the assistance of refugees is not only an act of charity. It is also a matter of reasoned self-interest. Unresolved mass refugee situations can severely strain the social fabric of host communities ... Providing refugees with a safe place to live, and with the means to once again become productive members of society, is to advance the cause of peace.” January news reports in Reader’s Digest (circ. 17.9 million) and CBS television’s “60 Minutes” (audience: 22.9 million household) have accused the National Council of Churches of using the donations of church members to promote Marxism. The NCC produced dozens of bulletins denying the charges. The evidence for the two reports were supplied by an organization, called Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded by David Jessup. The I.R.D. produced a 100 page booklet recently in which more documentation is provided about the many Protestant agencies that lean toward the leftists causes. According to basic data of the NCC their money is spent the following way: 78% for foreign assistance and ministry, 6% for U.S. ministry, 5% for administration and research, 4% for publications, 3% for Bible study and religious vocations, 2% for church-unity programs and 2% for planning and publicity. In our Calvin Synod we do not face the problem of the NCC. Most of our mission donations are sent directly to those people, churches or organizations that are in need of our help. Some of our recent missions include the giving of a heartlung machine to a hospital in Budapest, helping churches in Transylvania and South America and supporting continously the Bethlen Home of Ligonier, PA. CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
