Calvin Synod Herald, 2014 (115. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-01-01 / 1-2. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Telling The Story RECAPITULATION - HEILSGESCHICTE Our late Bishop Francis Vitéz was studying in Paris when the Russian Communists controlled Slovakia after World War 2, and they refused to let him return to his family in Györke, near Kassa. After many difficult and often hungry days he was allowed to come to America as a refugee. His English was still about zero when he was suddenly given a chance to seek election in a small Pennsylvania church. One of the members asked him not to use big words. In his usual light hearted manner, he recalled saying, “I wish I knew some big words.” Sometime big words are a big problem, but they can be a shortcut in expressing ideas when communicating. Two big words are recapitulation and heilsgeschicte. If we look at the first, it looks a lot like recapture, and it means thoughtfully reviewing a subject for its meaning. The other word, heilsge-schichte, speaks about the entire holy drama of salvation - recounted historically in the Bible - as a soul-redeeming act of God from Alpha to Omega (A-Z in the Greek alphabet), from the beginning to the ending, from before Genesis to after Revelation. A New Year Task In the Advent-Christmas season just past, the people of God in their churches have recapitulated the part of the story covering the fall of sinful humankind and the promises of God to restore them by a Savior. Then they gathered in the churches to retell the story of the Savior who came among them, with joyous celebrations in the churches to review the events in scripture readings, with the witness of sermons, prayers and hymns. The New Year brings with it weekly worship when the story told in the Gospels will recapitulate the life of Jesus, the Son of God, beginning with his adoration by the Magi, its meaning for the salvation of the Gentiles, the Christ’s temptation by Satan, and his brief ministry. Shortly, it turns to Jesus’ last days among his disciples, his abandonment and death, and the awesome days of his resurrection and ascension. This part of the story ends with his gift of the guiding Spirit, as he had promised, and his creation of the Church. The New Church ’s Dramatic Role It was never the intention of Christ that his Church should be a historical society, with ancient scrolls in its archives to be protected. The Church of his people was from its beginning to be a living part of the drama of salvation, writing the story just as it was written in the past by the ancients, Hebrew patriarchs and prophets, kings and psalmists, slaves in Egypt and Babylon, and builders of Jerusalem. The holy drama of salvation was to be written in the times to come by those obedient to Jesus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the close of the age.” This drama, like an unfinished symphony, is still being written this year by the Savior’s true followers, the Christians who bring their children, family, friends and strangers to baptism. These hear the story recapitulated by the Church, worshipping with long time members and in study of the scriptures, and learn to tell it to yet others themselves. Through the year the Church retells the old, old story, and its members live daily guided by it as they write their stories next to the ones alongside and before. When New Years Are No More The New Year has its turn and its time passes, and so for the children of God. But when there are no more, and even time is no more, God is still writing: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth. ... Blessed indeed, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.” It is here in this life that our roles and faithfulness are recorded. “Also another book was opened which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what was done.” And so we know, there will be a recapitulation of our lives and place in the holy drama of salvation. Rev. Albert W. Kovács “Anyone who imagines Christ as he will gets nothing but a mere blur. So, we must first hold that Christ is known rightly nowhere but in Scripture. If this be so, our chief purpose in reading the Scriptures must be to arrive at a right knowledge of Christ. Whoever turns aside from this aim, even though he wear himself out with learning all his life, will never arrive at truth; for what wisdom can we attain apart from the wisdom of God? .... Many are deprived of this blessing because they neglect reading the Scriptures, or do it cursorily or superficially. ” -Commentaries - John Calvin CALVIN SYNOD SCHOOL FUND Gabriella Nadas, coordinator News from Kolozsvár: Dear Supporters, If you were a student attending the Kolozsvári Református Kollégium and a member of the chorus, preparation for Christmas would center around choir practice and performances. On Dec. 8th the choir traveled to the Nagy Templom (Large Church) in Debrecen, Hungary and performed there followed by a performance at the theological seminary. This was followed on the 14th by a performance for the school in the Farkas Street Church and on the 18th, by an outreach concert with the orthodox school choir. And then on Dec 20th vacation time!! Principal Árpád Székely brings us up to date on the newest changes at the school: “First of all let me thank you all, for your support, we are so grateful. I read this year’s letter aloud to all the students and staff about your generous donations, it truly means a lot to so many in need. This year we have two preschool classes, whose teachers are our former students! Our grade school from kindergarten through 8th is doing very well. We had great results on the universal graduation exams and this has added to the good name of our school, which makes us one of the top choice schools. Our ninth grade is filled to capacity with Continued on page 10
