Magyar Egyház, 1966 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1966-04-01 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 A PRAYER OIK MARCH 15 The following prayer was offered in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 15 by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Zoltán Beky, president of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, former bishop of our Church: Eternal God, Father of all nations, Creator and Keeper of all people. We stand before Thee in humble reverence as leaders and chosen representatives of this great Nation. We invoke Thy blessing upon this great assembly. We confess that we are unable to carry the heavy responsibilities of our enormous tasks, without Thy help. We pray for Thy guidance and Thy wisdom. Our entire world, divided as it is, needs Thy deliverance. Make us all the instrument of Thy will. We pray for our beloved country, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” We pray for our Nation, for our dedicated men and women with the Armed Forces, for our sons fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, against the most cruel enemies of our civilization — fighting for the freedom and liberty of all mankind. Grant them victory that their sufferings and sacrifices will not be in vain. On this day, O God, we remember the heroic sacrifices of a small, but brave nation, the people of Hungary, who defended the frontiers of civilization and faith for thousands of years, and rendered many sacrifices for the freedom and peace of others. Since it is the day of freedom in their history, we pray for Thy help that the true day of lasting freedom may come to this nation which is now subjugated by its oppressors and forces of evil. We pray for our beloved President, our Speaker. Strengthen them in these most difficult and challenging times of our history. In Jesus’ name. Amen. DR. HARSANYI NEW DEAN OF EASTERN CLASSIS Congregations of the Eastern Classis elected Dr. Andrew Harsányi, pastor of the Carteret Church and editor of Magyar Egyház to serve as their new dean. At the same time John Nemish, from Carteret, was elected chief elder of the classis. They succeed Dean Dezső Ábrahám and Chief Elder Albert St. Miklossy whose terms have expired. The new dean and chief elder were installed at the annual meeting of the Eastern Classis held in the Trenton Church on March 27. Bishop Louis Nagy installed Dean Dr. Harsányi and Chief Elder John Nemish. The new dean then installed the following officers of the classis: the Rev. Barna Röczey (Roebling) and Elmer Danch (Trenton) secretaries, Anthony Beke (Trenton) treasurer, the Rev. Stephen Kovács (Trenton), the Rev. Kálmán Göndöcz (Bethlehem), Stephen Wargo (Roebling) and Edward Erdei (Bethlehem) members of the judicial commission, the Rev. Dezső Ábrahám and John Marincsák (both from Perth Amboy) delegates to the diocese. Dean Ábrahám’s detailed report showed 3,446 communicant members on the roll of the Churches and recorded 33 baptisms, 37 confirmations, 28 weddings and 54 burials in 1965. THE SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION RENDERED IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SECTION XIV Repentance and conversion of man. 1. What is repentance and conversion? Repentance and conversion mean that we recognize the corruptness of our nature and all our actual sins; and we not only despise and confess them before God but most sincerely endeavor to return to God and all virtues and renounce Satan and all sins. 2. Are we able to awaken true repentance and conversion in our soul by our own power? No. The Holy Spirit brings about our spiritual change by having the forgiving love of God preached to us which we accept with faith. Only in this way can we have true repentance and conversion. 3. What is the proper way of confessing our sins? The proper way of confessing our sins is when, either privately or in the congregation, we tell our sins to God. 4. Why do we reject the Roman Catholic confession? We reject it because there is no commandment in the Bible that we should secretly confess our sins to a priest who would absolve us. The Bible teaches this: “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; then Thou, 0 God, did forgive the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32). Also Jesus taught us to say: “Our Father. . . forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” 5. What is the true meaning of these words of the Bible: “Confess your sins to one another”? (James 5:16) a) These words mean first that, as brethren, let us admit honestly if we did wrong to each other and restore peace among ourselves. b) Furthermore, let us turn to the minister or any understanding man for advice, instruction or encouragement when we are burdened with guilt or any other serious problems. (To be Continued) Stephen Kovács The Second Helvetic Confession in Preaching The Reformed Church in Hungary will celebrate in 1967 the 400th anniversary of the adoption of the Second Helvetic Confession. Preparing for this occasion, the official church monthly Református Egyház began in its January number the publication of a series of sermon outlines based on the Second Helvetic Confession. The 52 outlines will serve the purpose of helping the work of preaching in the congregations. The fellowship of the writers responsible for the series began the publication of the outlines under the following titles: “Confessing our Faith before God and Men,” “The Holy Scriptures and the Sermon — the True Word of God,” “The Right Interpretation of the Scriptures,” “The Revelation of God —- the Mystery of the Holy Trinity.” It is an old tradition in the Reformed Church that, on certain occasions, the Sunday afternoon or evening sermons take their themes from the confessional standards of the church. Preparing for the jubilee of the Second Helvetic Confession of Faith, this tradition is being revived in many congregations. The photo on the title page is by Steve Lane (Washington, D.C.) taken for Magyar Egyház.
