Magyar News, 1997. szeptember-1998. augusztus (8. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1997-12-01 / 4. szám

SUPPLEMENT TO THE DECEMBER, 1997 ISSUE OF THE MAGYAR NEWS

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The United Church of Christ, 2200 North Avenue, Bridgeport, remembered the 1956 Hungarian Revolution with a Commemorative Church Service on October 26, 1997. The worship service was given by Reverend Dr. Alexander Havadtoy. His prayer and sermon were very enlightening and inspiring.The MAGYAR NEWS wishes to share it with all our readers. Those who didn’t join in the service, missed out paying tribute to all the heroes and martyrs who put the interest of the Hungarian nation and the world above their own life.

Let us pray. . .

Almighty God, by whose hands all things have been created, we delight to be your creations and servants. We praise you for making us in your image and likeness, and calling us to be and become daughters and sons. We stand in wonder in sight of this autumn. The seasons are your messengers, the seas and mountains and the changing colors of the forests are manifestations of your greatness. Lord, our Lord, how excellent is the workmanship in all creation. We praise you for this wondrous habitation of which we are a part, and by which we are sustained.

As we lift our petitions, spoken and unspoken, before your mercy seat, we remember the events that took place in Hungary and here in America 41 years ago. We hold in sacred memory those who gave their lives for the sake of independence and freedom during those faithful days of Revolution. We particularly pray for the families of those who died tragically. We pray for souls there deeply shaken, their backs to the wall, all but overthrown by anxiety, grieving for those dearly loved, brokenhearted with bereavement at their death. Come lord to all needy people. - We thank you, as a nation, that we do not need to stay defeated; that we can be reborn transformed, redeemed from defeat to victory. We give you thanks that you have proven to be victorious over the evil powers. We give you thanks that our old country is free once again. Grant this triumphant experience to all oppressed people.

Have mercy on all who do not, or not yet, acknowledge you and your victory over the demonic forces of this world. Have mercy upon humanity in the present distress, anxiety and foolishness. Have mercy in particular on our nation. Enlighten the thoughts of all those in authority who seemingly do not know their course. Grant to the leaders and representatives of the people, to the magistrates, teachers and civil servants, and to the journalists the insights and incisiveness they need for responsibly doing their work. Give those who are to preach the necessary and helpful words. Open the ears and hearts of those who listen. Comfort and encourage those who lie sick in body and soul in hospitals, in mental institutions and elsewhere. Comfort the prisoners, the distressed, abandoned and despaired with the only effective help, the clarity of your word and the secret work of your Holy Spirit.

We are grateful to know that we do not pray in vain, and never will. We are grateful for the light of victory over evil which you made to shine in the darkness and which the darkness can not comprehend.

We are thankful that you are our God, and we are your people. In Christ 's name.

Amen.

My dear friends:

We have all come together on this lovely Sunday morning to commemorate together the 1956 Hungarian revolution in the light of the Word of God. It is right and proper that we do this as Americans and Hungarians for the 1956 Revolution in Hungary was a joint American and Hungarian undertaking. Before this historic event that shook the world would fade from the memory of the nations, it is important to recall those circumstances which brought it about. And we want to undertake this not as politicians or political commentators but as Christians who want to know what the Word of God is saying about this heroically tragic event that shook the Soviet Empire. According to our text, God is telling us: "In the world you face anxiety."

Anxiety has a good deal to do with "tightness." Anxiety is constriction, oppression, affliction by some danger thai threaten us. And now the Lord does not tell us that we might face or should or ought to face anxiety. Nor does he reproach us for being anxious. He simply states it as a plain fact:"In the world you face anxiety."

During the Summer of 1956 there was

plenty of anxiety in our hearts. Parishioners and friends who visited Hungary brought the exciting news about a breakdown of the Communist order. Criticism of the regime became open and loud. People began to dare to criticize the Communist party and government officials. The ex-prime minister became the center of derision. Most people felt that he was disgraced by the Kremlin and therefore was thrown open to the anger of the people.

These events disturbed us deeply here in America for we knew that in a dictatorship the revolutionary fennent is brewing not when the screws are tightened but when they are eased up a bit. On the other hand we saw no signs that Moscow would be willing to let the satellite countries go free.

In September of 1956 at the Ligonier Conference of the Hungarian-American Reformed Clergy the representatives of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe appeared to talk about their activities. They gave a glowing report about their effectiveness and great impact of their broadcasting. They reported that among all the countries behind the Iron Curtain Hungary was the most receptive to their presentations. While we cautioned them about their enthusiasm, they would not want to hear of our warnings, and stated very clearly that their efforts to impress the Hungarian population would continue. They were supported and encouraged by their masters in the State Department where the policy of the then Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, about “rolling back the Iron Curtain” was still dominant.

This encounter with the official American press filled us with deep concern, knowing that the policy of “rolling back the Iron Curtain” was not supported neither by the military forces, nor by the political realities.

President Eisenhower was engaged in electioneering to secure for himself another presidential term in November. His slogan was: "Peace and Prosperity." He wanted to assure the public that during his reign there would be no more military adventurism like the war in Korea. The general public was tired of wars, and merely wanted to amass wealth and security after the lean years of depression and war. The status quo of dividing Europe between the winners of the Second World War, the division of Germany and the pacification of Central Europe were quite acceptable to®=