Calvin Synod Herald, 1994 (94. évfolyam, 2-6. szám)

1994-09-01 / 5. szám

CflLVIH SYNOD HERALD- 8 -REFOMflTÜSOK LAPJA

In the year 1992, in Budapest, the "John Calvin" publishing hand of the Reformed Church of Hungary printed a Hungarian version of Transylvanian Bishop Kálmán Csiha's book Fény a Rácsokon. It is the story of the Bishop's six and a half years of imprisonment by the Romanian Communist regime. It is a unique publication with immortal poems. An English translation is being prepared at the present time. The Light Through The Bars will be a sensational publication.

Song from the Prison-Cell So Deep

by Bishop K. Csiha of Kolozsvár

The corner of the cell is a flaming wonder,

Because the sun flickers there from out yonder.

For you, O golden ray, no man has waited for the way I myself did, no one ever before.

Here I'm holding my palm into my tears waterfall,

Blue sky's x-ray glances as into all in all.

It bathes in its bright light my sun-deprived face,

And my pale, ashen bones between my veins and lace.

And through that small ray-slit, I look

into the sun.

Glistening and shining with true, strong light upon.

I make a step backward, as ifhalf-ablinded,

Even place where I am not quite comprehended.

All I now realize is that faraway light

Falling, Dear, on your hair so silky and so bright:

All I know that the sun with a shining, gold thread

Ties us both together for moment ahead.

□ ____________

P*4t, P^C4C4^t %

s - -____________________________________

By Rev. Aladár Komjáthy

You know by now that I prefer the Good News Bible. But especially today as it feels so good to bring you good news, a message of hope.

I mean the Hungarian Reformed Youth Conference, our Andy Toth will tell you about his experiences from the viewpoint of the FUTURE,

I obviously will see it from the perspective of the PAST, but what we both talk about is the PRESENT. Thus, the sermon of today is entitled "PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE".

Our youth was well represented from the states of Vermont, CT, NJ, PA, Ohio, and Michigan - SIX STATES. There were large groups with their own local youth counsellors, there were young people alone from their churches. VERY GOOD NEWS INDEED. The representative from the state of Vermont was really part of the Bridgeport group. Yet, he insisted to be confirmed in his home church and he paid his way to come. Very good news indeed.

I must say that the ministerial and lay leadership is superb. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Rev. Albert Kovács and Rev. István Nyeste are

three different generations: one is in midstream, another is just near retirement, which his congregation refuses to accept, the third is young (he was born when I began my ministry). The finest, caring, compassionate pastors blessed with the gift of how to deal with the youth of today After my lecture on Monday, I had to go back twice just to see and observe this aspect of the youth conference. The heart of the conference, however, is Piroska Hunyadi. For more than 30 years, she was part of this very blessed work.

The trouble I had was the fact that confirmation instruction is not very good. May I add, it is not the young people's fault. The boy from Vermont who is so faithful to the Bridgeport church of his ancestors could not give me the proper name of his church. He did not know the years when that church was founded and who was the founding minister. It was the Rev. Ernest Komjáthy. I hope he will never forget it. I was so proud of our Andy, who was not hesitant to give the three proper answers.

Consequently as they are in a very sensitive and vulnerable age and they are not firm in their own faith and tradition they are easy prey to the emotionalism of the shallow but fashionable fundamentalism. Again I was so proud when Andy told me on the way home: he does not like the modern hymns, he prefers the ones he grew up with.

The closing consecration and holy communion worship service was a very sound and moving really Christian event and fellowship. In a beautiful way it united our past and future in the context of the present.

During my lecture I kept on looking into the eyes of a young counsellor. He was from Trenton, N.J. By the end of the morning session I knew that I was the pastor to his great grandparents. I knew his grandparents, I knew his father when as a teenager I joined the order of deMolay. Altogether four generations. There were several similar discoveries as the week went by. 0 Lord Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. May God bless the continuing ministry of the Hungarian Youth Camp.

I Shall Arrive

by Bishop Kálmán Csiha

>__________________________________________________________________

Once the sad years will have to move on, On one joyful night I shall show up,

And where so long I have been waited on, On my home's door my shaking hand will knock.

My close-cropped hair tends to silverishblue,

On my forehead shadows of my wrinkles grew.

Sorrow becomes visible on me anew,

As suffering with passing-time also.

You will not know who's the one out there, Later or tomorrow you may expect my coming,

The joy on your face visibly will dwell,

As with laugh and sob you'll start crying.

On my heart your heart again will rest, Once again my arms will hold you my way, My lips again will say: “Yours at last“,

And the tears from your eyes I'll kiss away.

Have faith, my dear, for that evening will come,

God yet will surely take me home.

And like the shining star in the evening-balm I shall yet see your pretty eyes in foam.

Have faith, my dear, pray for this rare event, I shall arrive on one joyful night,

And after so much tears and sorrow spent, My arms again will clasp you by God's might.

From Lorain Immigrant Family to the Hall of Fame

Steven Doha nos (Dohányos István), well-known magazine cover artist, died at his gracious curia-home on the artist colony hillside of Westport, CT., where many of us magyars have been his welcomed guests during his lifetime.

He was born in Lorain, Ohio as the third son of a magyar immigrantfactory worker. He grew up in the Lorain church and started his art career in Cleveland, the American Debrecen.

His paintings graced 125 covers of The Saturday Evening Post. Over the years, he rendered the artwork for 40 postage stamps.

He was a member and past president of the Society of Illustrators and was inducted into its Hall of Fame.

He was 87.