Calvin Synod Herald, 1996 (96. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1996-11-01 / 6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 3 -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTÜSOK LAPJA

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Now that it is getting close to Christmas, we hear different advertisements about what we should buy for ourselves, for our loved ones and for our friends.

Our children write wishlists of what they want for Christmas. Husbands and wives suggest what they expect as gifts. We send some gifts to our close friends also, because it is Christmas and we want to give them something.

The stores are packed with different goods. Believers and unbelievers try to set a good shopping mood with the hope that we would purchase everything available for a Merry Christmas.

On our Christmas Eve comes the happy or disappointing surprises over the received gifts even if we add a cheerful Merry Christmas greeting, even if the Christmas does not seem very happy.

What does “Merry Christmas" mean in reality? We can learn from the Bible and from the church. The church is also preparing for Christmas. Through the worldly influence the church is also preparing a colorful, candle light and inspiring Christmas. A month ortwo before Christmas, we hear Christmas hymns, we hear the Christmas story, but when Christmas Eve comes, in an hour, the celebration is over. In spite of all the preparations, there are a great number of people who did not have a “Merry Christmas”.

How do you prepare to celebrate Christmas? Is there a Christmas expectation in your heart and life? Let me ask what do you want to get for Christmas? Read the Christmas story!

God at Christmas sent His Son as a Christmas gift to those who were waiting for Him. It means that the real, unique and irreplaceable gift and content of Christmas is Jesus Christ Himself. If our Heavenly Father would not have given Him to us, if He would not have been born, we would not have Christmas! We celebrate Christmas because Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, rather the Saviour of those who were

waiting for Him, was born.

The original, real and irreplaceable gift at Christmas is Jesus! God, your Heavenly Father, wants to give Him to you, and to His church. There is no Christmas without Jesus! You cannot substitute anything or replace Him. All the gifts of this world, all the glitter and artificial Christmas mood cannot be a substitute for the Saviour! Your Christmas will be happy only when you are waiting for Jesus, if you become a roadmaker for Him to enter your heart and the heart of your loved ones and friends.

Christmas is a blessed occasion to meet Jesus, to welcome Him into your heart and to start to walk with Him from here to eternity...

My dear brethren, friends, congregations, classis, synod and all who are reading this message, you can have a “Merry Christmas" if you come to the manger, if you open your heart to Him. You will have a Merry Christmas, a blessed life if you start to walk with Him here, that you might reach His Heavenly Kingdom.

A very blessed Christmas to all of you.

1996 Christmas Dr. Francis Vitéz, Bishop

(Bawls c4 a/co/is

When Christmas time approaches And familiar carols ring,

The peoples of the world march in,

Each with a song to sing;

I think the Heavenly Father planned That is should be this way,

To bind a broken, shattered world In one, each Christmas Day.

The Englishman, George Handel,

Joins with Isaac Watts to sing Joy to the world, the Lord is come,

Let earth receive her King."

While Frenchman Adolphe Adam The organ 's chambers swell,

To play a matchless melody,

His “Cantique de Noel."

The British sing their rousing carol Driving gloom away,

"God rest ye merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay”;

While Hungarians gathered round the tree,

In festive celebration Unite to swell the chorus,

“Krisztus Urunknak áldott születésén. ”

“The First Noel" from Britain, and "Torches Bring" from France;

“It came upon a midnight clear"

From a Unitarian manse;

Phillips Brooks, Bostonian,

Now lifts his voice on high:

“O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we thee lie";

While unknown ancient Latins The same old story tell In “Adeste Fidelis"

And “Veni Immanuel".

The Polish children sing a song As lovely as them all,

“Infant holy, infant lowly,

For his bed a cattle stall."

While German children sing A native lullaby instead,

In Luther's “Away in a manger, No crib for a bed".

The humble poor of every land Sing all the world around,

“While shepherds watched flocks by night All seated on the ground";

And “Angels from the realms"

And “As with gladness men of old";

While ‘We three kings of orient The guiding star behold.

We “Hail to the Lord's Anointed"

“In Dulci Jubilo",

While Frenchmen sing their “Gloria In Excelsis Deo".

And “Good King Wencelas looks out"

To see the wonders there,

While Americans are caroling,

"There’s a song in the air".

For Charles Wesley, Methodist,

The heavenly anthems ring,

With Mendelssohn, the Great In “Hark, the herald angels sing";

While Mohr and Gruber, Austrians Put darkness all to flight And sing for us the universal fav'rite, “Silent Night, Holy Night".

Around the throne of God we'll join And sing these songs one day,

With “every kindred, every tribe"

When earth has passed away.

We'll “hail the power of Jesus's name" While “angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem And crown him Lord of all!"

QQQ