Calvin Synod Herald, 1997 (97. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1997-07-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 8 AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA WE THREE COLORS Sándor Remenyik From our bleeding bosoms Three colors were stricken, They became forbidden, Moved inside and hidden. Until blood will be red, Until snow stays white, Until grass green abide, They’ll be signs to remind! Pastor Celebrated by Synod for 50 Years In Same Church by Rev. Dr. László Kovács While the gass keeps its green, Magyar hearts will be seen From bosoms they can strike, All three they can smite, Chests slide them more yet inside, Hearts retain them yet more bright! These hearts three colors after Screaming will blame the snatcher, Wailing, bleeding ever foremost. Let them tear what’s innermost! (Translation by Editor) FOURTH OF JULY REFLECTION A Nation Under God In the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin stressedJhe necessity of prayer and emphasized that if this nation did not place its trust in God, it could not endure. When Franklin came out of the Convention, it is related that a lady asked him, “What shall it be, Mr. Franklin, a monarchy or a republic?" Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it." To keep our republic we must keep our religious faith strong.” □LU Judge Roy Moore is the heroic circuit court judge in Etowa County, Alabama, who, despite the vicious attack from the ACLU, is unwilling to remove the Ten Commandments from the wall of his courtroom. Details will follow regarding the developments in this most recent move. The Calvin Synod wholeheartedly joins the crusaders! Rt. Rev. Dr. Desmond Parragh Our esteemed fellow pastor, Dezső Parragh, announced his retirement recently from the Norridge Hungarian Reformed Church, where he served for more than fifty years. It is fitting for us to ponder, for a moment, and pay tribute to a senior fellowservant of our Hungarian Reformed community, comment on his life and note some of his accomplishments. The fine Chicago West congregation extended a call to him, where he devoted more than an ordinary career. His parishioners recall his careful preparations for Sunday services and for all occasions. His tireless efforts to aid new arrivals in this country, the many chores as interpreter and guide in the labyrinth of a major city, were appreciated. He served as Synod Secretary and was elected to the office of Bishop of Calvin Synod in 1979 (1979-81). During that period, he visited many Calvin Synod congregations, and presided over some very sensitive issues. While some of these appeared to be unsettling, he always proved himself a fair and good administrator. While we shall miss him, WE also benefit from his retirement. LET THE RECORD SHOW that with his departure, the average age of active pastors in Calvin Synod will change from the present 58 to a record low of 56 years of age. So his retirement has a major, beneficial impact on the demography of our pastors. What a wonderful way to rejuvenate our pastoral fellowship! We all wish Dezső Parragh, pastor and friend, and his wife and fellow-worker Grace, a long, happy and healthy retirement. God bless you both and your family. His Norridge congregation will honor him and his wife on June 22, 1997. A solemn service in the Norridge, Illinois church will commence at 3:00 pm and a farewell banquet will be held at the Itasca Country Club at 5:30 pm.
