Calvin Synod Herald, 2016 (117. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-05-01 / 5-6. szám
2 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD CALVIN UrDAI h SYNOD titrlpLU Official Organ of The Calvin Synod - United Church of Christ Founded in 1900 AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Volume 117 MAY-JUNE 2016 NO. 5-6 Official Organ of the Calvin Synod United Church of Christ - Founded in 1900 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD (ISSN 0161-6900) is published bi-monthly for $15.00/year for individual subscriptions; $10.00/year for groups; 50 or more copies. Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald Editor in Chief; Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop 7319 Tapper Ave ■ Hammond, IN 46324 Tel.: 219-931-4321 e-mail: KKLudwig@aol.com Co-Editor: Rev. Stefan M. Torok 68 Cherrywood Drive • Somerset, NJ 08873 Tel.: 732-917-4566 e-mail: sctorok@comcast.net Interim Hungarian Editor: Rev. Stefan M. Torok Business Manager: Wilburn A. Roby Jr. 264 Old Plank Road • Butler, PA 16002 e-mail: warajr@embarqmail.com Newsletters prepared by: Cathy Paksi 419-733-5829 • cathy.paksi@gmail.com Newsletters printed by: Gazette Printers 724-349-3434 Periodicals postage paid at Butler, PA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 264 Old Plank Rd„ Butler, PA 16002-3810 Manuscripts and photographs are not preserved or returned. Send all correspondence to the Editor. The views and opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the magazine or Calvin Synod. CALVIN SYNOD HEADQUARTERS: Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig 7319 Tapper Ave • Hammond, IN 46324 219-931-4321 • KKLudwig@aol.com OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS VACANCIES The proper procedure is for all interested ministers to send their completed PROFILE (as provided by the United Church of Christ) to the Bishop’s office: Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig 7319 Tapper Ave • Hammond, IN 46324 KKLudwig@aol.com 219-931-4321 The Fellowship of Believers Dear Friends: This is my final column as your Bishop. Thank you for having the faith in me to call me to serve you this past year. I enjoyed visiting your congregations again, and I thank you for your hospitality. In my faith journey I found one of the most important, impressive Scriptures to be in the 24th Chapter of Luke, which takes place when two of Jesus' disciples are on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection. They had met Jesus as they travelled, but in spite of having been with Him for 2 or 3 years, they did not recognize Him when He joined them as they traveled. Subsequently, He responded to their doubts concerning the empty tomb, and what this means in terms of God's fulfilling the Scriptures. They still didn't recognize Jesus, but they invited Him into their home as they enjoyed speaking with Him. Then we read in verses 30-31: "When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him..." This was a tremendous moment in the relationship - they recognized Him in the fellowship of a meal, and they were again one with Jesus. This has been the legacy of Christianity ever since. We meet as a fellowship, strengthening our bonds in those moments we are together. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we likewise often forget who Christ is, and in the fellowship we are drawn to recognize again what His message is, how He showed us and taught us we should live with each other. Central to being Christians is living in true "Christian fellowship." Without this, we cannot be part of the Universal Christian Church. Unlike some denominations, we do not participate in the "common meal" of Holy Communion every week. However, Christ did not have a formal "common meal" every time He was with his disciples. It was the bond of fellowship which kept the disciples together with Him. So our "Christian fellowship" is the central part of being one of His followers even today. This is true at our Calvin Synod Annual Meeting which we will hold in May, our yearly opportunity to meet with fellow "workers in the vineyard." Our fellowship is renewed, renewing acquaintances with old friends and meeting new ones. I especially enjoy being together with the "lay representatives" at Synod, learning of life in their congregations.
