Calvin Synod Herald, 2004 (105. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-03-01 / 3-4. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD HOLY COMMUNION A Minister’s View It is Sunday morning, and the Lord’s Table has been prepared with the Elements of Bread and Wine. Not just any Sunday, it is Communion Sunday. The sermon dealt with the special day we are celebrating, we touched on the importance of sharing the body and blood of Christ, together, in His name. We sang the Communion Hymn, asking Christ to “Break... the Bread of Life...” as he did beside the Sea of Galilee over twothousand years ago. We read of how Paul recorded the words of Christ’s Last Supper, wherein He instituted the Holy tradition of Communion. We prayed over the Elements, asking God’s blessing be on them. Throughout all this my mind, my soul, is in awe that such a wondrous thing is here in our midst. That Christ would have given his very life for those in this church today. That I am included in the blessing which comes in sharing Christ’s Body and Blood, here before me. And perhaps the greatest source of awe and trepidation, that He has allowed me, instructed me, to offer His Body to others. I take the Bread, the Body of Christ, and offer it to those who have come forward, saying to each of them the words with which Christ offered himself to his disciples that last evening: “Take, Eat, This is my body, broken for you; This do in remembrance of me.” The first to receive the bread is a faithful church member, who never misses a Sunday. When I look at him and offer the bread, I also see his mother, whose life was the church, whom I buried several year ago. Next an older Hungarian man, to whom I offer the Bread saying Christ’s words in Hungarian: „Vegyétek, egyétek, ez az én testem...”, and I remember his wife for whom he lovingly cared at home after her stroke. After almost two years I had to watch his pain and loneliness at her funeral; yet her smiling face is here now. Next is a Slovak man and his wife, who reared their children in our Reformed congregation; his mother, though blessed with long life, seldom misses an opportunity for worship, saying all her prayers in Slovak. The wife’s mother attended virtually every Sunday till one day God called her to eternal life’ yet now I see her face too, joining the congregation around the Lord’s Table, part of our Reformed fellowship transplanted to a new land. And I begin to realize what Paul meant in Ephesians when he spoke about “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” I offer Christ’s body to a young lady whose father chose to die at home, in the peaceful surrounding of his family, and I see his face, and the strength of his faith, which endured till the end. I see tears in the eyes of a woman, just a little older than I. And in her face I see the reflection of her mother, who had always lived for the church, which eased the ever-present pain of having tragically lost her husband at the hands of a criminal. Her family cared for her till her death; this morning she is present at the breaking of bread. And I look in the eyes of a young man whom I taught in confirmation class. As tears stream down his cheeks, I see his grandmother, who spent most of her life in the church, but never joined in Communion, because she was born a Catholic. Until her grandson joined with the congregation at his first Communion. Then she came to the Lord’s Table, responding to Christ’s invitation. She too has joined the host of saints; but still, she is present with us, beside her son and her grandson. In another woman’s eyes I see the reflection of her infant child that was called back by God even before life had begun in this world; she doesn’t stand alone either this morning. And so it continues. As I offer the broken bread to each member of the congregation in turn, the sense of Christ’s presence steadily increases. In the offering of Christ’s body to those who have presented themselves this morning, I come face to face not only with them, but also with the heritage they bring to the Lord’s table which I have been allowed to share. None of those standing before me is alone. Each is accompanied by mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands, and wives. Each is now one of the host of saints surrounding us, in our midst. They stand together with us, along with “the Apostles, the Reformers, and our professing Fathers.” My feeling of awe, of participating in a Holy act, is reinforced as I share with these same people the Cup, the blood of Christ. The thought that God allows me to play a part in this act of sharing the Body and Blood of His Son is overwhelming. And then I too take the bread and the wine, and become one with those present in the name of Christ. And I ask those gathered around the Lord’s Table to depart in peace, taking with them the peace of Christ. In a short few moments I have proclaimed to the congregation the forgiveness of sin offered by Christ, shared with them the Body and Blood of Christ, and have called each of them to allow Christ to also be part of their spirit. And now with a little sadness we close this portion of our worship, not wanting to let go of this moment. But the Service of Holy Communion is not so easily forgotten, nor are the spirits of those seen this morning quick to leave me. For on this day, a Holy Day, the Lord’s Day, Christ and all who now belong to Him linger on, having been brought closer again at the breaking of the Bread and the sharing of the Cup. They are not easily forgotten. Their legacy is renewed, their life continues around me, I am again in their midst. Rt. Rev. Karl Ludwig MINISTER’S SON ACCEPTED TO STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM Steven Nyeste, son of Rev. István and Judit Nyeste, is a tenth grade student at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus. He was recently accepted to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador Program to Australia this summer. This 20-day exchange consists of meetings with government officials, interaction with other high school students, educational activities, and home stays with host families. President Dwights D. Eisenhower founded People to People in 1956. Only excellent students with exemplary conduct are selected. Steven is one of only 40 high school students chosen to represent the United Stated in Australia this year. Steven is currently seeking financial sponsors to help him with the $5,500 program tuition. Donations of any size are appreciated and can be made any time before the deadline date of May 3 when his full tuition must be paid. Steven plans to share his experiences with his contributors through photographs, articles, and video presentations. To learn more about this program or to get Steven Nyeste’s mailing address, please contact him by e-mail at nvistvan2 @wmconnect.com.
