May 2008 Newsletter

A History of Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church, Part 7
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Adapted from a handwritten article provided by Elsie Drahovzal

Our Three Josephs

From the land of Hus they came, these three Josephs. They are Joseph Havlik, Joseph Leksa and Joseph Teply. They were born and raised in Bohemia, where most of their folks are still living. Early in life the call of the western world came to their heart. As soon as they had finished public school, they came to America. And their immediate goal was Dubuque for they had learned of Dubuque College and Seminary and its opportunities for the education of the foreigner as a religious leader of his own people.

Not a word of English did they know, nor a word of German, and who of us knew any Bohemian besides Professor Barta and his Bohemian students? But they entered the classes with the rest of the boys. They got English and German by induction and absorption and in any way languages can be acquired. In due time they finished the academy and entered the college. After four years they took their B.A. with honor. Then they entered the Theological Seminary and last spring they were finally ordained to the Gospel ministry and are now in the active Word among their own people. Rev. Joseph Havlik in Iowa, Rev. Joseph Leksa in Nebraska and Rev. Joseph Teply in Kansas.

This their first ten years in America 1907 to 1917 marked their great development. They have become loyal American citizens, well trained ministers of Christ able to preach the Gospel not only in their native tongue but in English and German as well. During their student days they were leaders in the school life. We confidently expect that they will be leaders in their chosen life work among their own people.

Throughout their course they gave an example of most loyal friendship and devotion one to the other and also to their alma mater. We feel confident that this friendship and loyalty will stand the test of time.

The case of our "Three Josephs" is unique in that all three came at the same time from the same place, were of the same age and finished their course as ordained ministers at the same time. It is typical of our work, however, for we have a large number of students who in a similar manner have left father and mother and native land to find in Dubuque College the great opportunity for their life work.

Because of Him ~ Terry

"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I'm taking."

John 14:1-4 (MSG)

The Kings of Israel

Introduction

God has intended for his people to live in obedience to him from the beginning. God led the Israelites out of Egypt and provided for their daily needs. God gave them leaders to guide them. He provided victory over their enemies. They responded with grumbling, complaining, and by turning away because they wanted a god that they could see, ultimately leading to their demand for an earthly king.

God’s intent for the Israelites

God’s intent for the Israelites is that they would look to him and only him as their king. God told the Israelites “You shall have no other gods before me” (May & Metzger, 1977, p. 92). It is easy for us to make people and objects more important than God by making them our idols, our gods. Moses left the Israelites under the direction of his brother Aaron when he went up Mt. Sinai to talk to God and before he could return the people had already made and idol. Prior to the Israelites demanding that a king be appointed to rule over them the God chose leaders like Abraham and Moses as well as the judges to lead and guide them. One of the judges, Gideon, defeats Midian and then he is asked to be king, but “he refuses by affirming that “the Lord will rule over you”” (Birch, Brueggemann, Fretheim, & Petersen, 1999, p. 217). Gideon knew what God wanted as did others, but “in time, there came pressures upon Israel to become like other nations” (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2007, p. 1). “At God’s behest Samuel delivers a severe lecture on the evils of kingship before yielding” (May & Metzger, p. 340) to their request.

God’s “ideal king”

God chose Saul to be the first king over Israel. Samuel told Saul that “the spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you” (May & Metzger, p. 343). The role of king was a great won and God realized this so he added to the role of the prophets to include “intercession and guidance” (Birch et al., 1999, p. 233) for the kings. This is seen most notably in the role that Nathan plays in David’s life. God chose David to take Saul’s place as king of Israel. When this happened, the spirit of the Lord leaves Saul and goes to David.

David knew what God wanted in an “ideal king” and he wrote about them in Psalm 72. “Give the king thy justice, O God, and they righteousness to the royal son! May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor” (May & Metzger, p. 709)! Even before he was made king, David cared about those who were being oppressed. Before becoming king David heard that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah so he went to the Lord and asked “Shall I go and attack these Philistines” (May & Metzger, p. 362)? God told him to go.

David was righteous, but as it is with all of us, he had his faults, his sins. God knows we are going to sin and he knew that David would also sin. We see this in 2 Samuel 11 when David covets Uriah’s wife Bathsheba with whom he commits adultery and when they find out she is pregnant with his child he has Uriah murdered. After being rebuked by Nathan David admits his sin and by God’s grace is spared. The child that was born to Bathsheba dies after which David “went into the house of the Lord, and worshipped” (May & Metzger, 1977, p. 390).

Was David God’s “ideal king?” He likely was God’s ideal earthly king, but not his “ideal king.” God knew David’s limitations and he knew that David would fall short. No one on earth could fill this role.

A king’s sovereignty

God’s sovereignty is not limited to ruling over a region or a people. “God’s sovereignty is not morally and theologically neutral” (Birch et al., 1999, p. 220). By the time the Israelites were demanding an earthly king they no longer understood God’s kingship. An earthly king was incapable of maintaining the neutrality that God could. How could they? They had not created the heavens and the earth. God set the moral standard and there has been no one in since the beginning of time that has been able to live up to that standard except for Jesus.

Saul and David were both chosen by God to be king. This immediately limits the extent of their sovereignty to what God wants it to be. God sent the prophets to guide the kings. The earthly kings’ sovereignty is much different than God’s.

Today we say that nations are sovereign. This sovereignty is similar to that of the kings of ancient Israel in that the sovereignty covers a specific area and people. They differ because the kings of ancient Israel were appointed by God. Today Kings are in power because of their lineage, not divine appointment. Nations are sovereign because, not because of God, but because in most cases the land that they hold was either bought or taken by force.

Conclusion

The Israelites should have listened to the warning that Samuel gave them from God about the earthly kings. Whereas God is not susceptible to sin, we are. God is the same today as he was yesterday, but man changes many times over the course of his life based on the many influences that he will experience. We see over and over in the scriptures man’s inability to keep covenants with God or with other men. The constant pressures that we face each day prevent us from ever being able to fulfill the role of the “ideal king.” God’s “ideal king” came to be in Jesus Christ and who is sovereign over all creation and whose kingship is for all eternity.

References

Birch, B. C., Brueggemann, W., Fretheim, T. E., & Petersen, D. L. (1999). A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Grand Canyon University (2007). BIB 113 Lecture Five, Monarchy and God's Sovereignty. : .May, H. G., & Metzger, B. M. (1977). The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha Expanded Edition and Revised Standard Version. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.

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April 2008 Newsletter

A History of Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church, part 6

Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Adapted from a Historical Treatise Written by Charlotte Stelcik

The Second Church

In 1906, when plans were formulated for a new church, a building fund was created. Eight years later, in 1914, a total of $5,000 was on hand. On June 23, 1915, the old church building was sold and moved away to make room for the new structure. On July 6th, Jan Hus Day, ground was broken for the new Bohemian Presbyterian Church.

On July 15, 1915, the elders met in the German Evangelical Church where the congregation held services while the new church was being built. The corner stone was laid on August 21, 1915. The building, complete with furnishings, was to cost $24,000 but actually the final total reached $30,000. On Sunday, January 9, 1916, Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church was dedicated free from debt. Dr. J. Bren preached the dedicatory sermon assisted by visiting ministers from Cedar Rapids and vicinity, and other Czech churches in the Middle West.

The following article appeared in the January 11, 1916 edition of the Cedar Rapids Republican”

“The dedication services of the Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church were celebrated Sunday to the satisfaction of all participating. It was a day long to be remembered by those who were in attendance.

Short services at 10 o’clock in the morning were held before the opening of the gates of the edifice. Many persons from adjoining towns, Center Point, Walker, Vinton, Fairfax, Luzerne, and Mt. Vernon, were present. The meeting was opened with the signing of the Hundredth Psalm after which Rev. A. Paulu of Vining offered up a prayer and Rev. Pokorny of Ely, gave a short address. Miss Marie Pudil presented the keys of the church to its pastor, Rev. V. Hlavaty, the articles being laid on a platter bordered with roses. Rev. Hlavaty, with suitable remarks, opened the doors in the name of God.

The regular service began by the singing of ‘How Amiable are Thy Dwellings, O God,’ and in a short time the auditorium was filled by its congregation. Rev. Hlavaty offered a dedicatory prayer and Rev. Bren, of Hopkins, Minnesota, preached the dedication sermon. Rev. Pokorny read a poem, composed by himself, especially for the occasion. A collection of $1,500 was taken up which leaves but a very small debt. Thirty new members joined the church.

In the afternoon at three o’clock, services continued, this time in the English tongue. After the opening hymn, Rev. F. H. Shedd conducted a session of scripture reading and Rev. Dr. Ferguson followed this with prayer. Two quartets form the Sinclair Memorial Chapel rendered two songs. Rev. R. B. A. McBride spoke at length on ‘The Church of Today’ and Rev. E. R. Burkhalter spoke on ‘What the World Owes Bohemia from the Religious and Historical Standpoint.’

A second hymn by the congregation followed the close of this address. Rev. A. M. Jayne spoke on behalf of the Ministerial Union and with singing of America and the benediction by Rev. E. R. Burkhalter, the services were closed.

In the evening the third service consecrated. Short addresses were given by Rev. Paulu, Rev. Dudycha, and Rev. Bren. Rev. M. Spinka, pastor of the Reformed Bohemian Church, extended greetings. Several songs by the choir, under the direction of Joseph A. Popelka, were thoroughly enjoyed. Rev. Hlavaty brought the celebration to a close by his speech of thanks to the contractors, the building committees and the ladies who so generously prepared and served dinner and supper to the guests.”

The church was a brick structure (which is still standing and being used for worship by another congregation) which measures thirty-six by thirty-six feet. It was divided in the middle by a door which could be raised or lowered. The auditorium seated five hundred people. Above the main sanctuary, on the balcony, were four rooms used for Sunday School. In the basement there was a large hall in which dinners were served, meetings held, programs given, and plays presented. Adjoining this room was an adequately equipped kitchen. On the other side of the large hall there was a smaller room which was used for recreation, and half of the room served as the nursery for the youngest group in the church.

On December 12, 1916, an interesting meeting of the Czech people was held in the church which was filled to capacity. Dr. Bohumil Simek, a professor at the University of Iowa, was the speaker. The purpose of the meeting was the liberation of the Czech people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The people of the church always try to help in the old country’s freedom—morally, politically, and financially. A collection of $379 was taken.

In the winter of 1917 the church installed a new organ at the cost of $2,100. It was finished on December 15th and dedicated at a special program on December 24th of that same year.

In October, 1916, the girls decided to organize a society. Thirteen girls then established a club which they called Esther. Their purpose was to help needy families. This organization, like several others, faded away in time. The Boy Scouts undertook their first organization under the auspices of the church in 1916.

The Christian Endeavor organization can be traced back through the minutes almost to the very beginning of the church. In addition to their program of religious education and fellowship, they sponsored ice cream socials, presented plays, and presided over booths at the bazaars. In the late 1940’s the group changed their name to the Westminster Youth Fellowship. This group also faded away in time.

An annual event of the church is the Christmas program which was given on the Sunday evening preceding Christmas. All age groups form the Sunday School took part. The church platform in the main sanctuary was decorated and in the afternoon of the day of the program two Christmas trees were decorated by the young people. The program, which was directed by the superintendent of the Sunday School, consisted of recitations given by individuals, and usually exercises were offered by various age groups. Each Sunday School group had something to offer. The choir also took part in the program. It was customary for several children each to recite a poem or some small selection in Czech.

In 1918 a number of Sunday evening programs were held by the congregation. These were not necessarily religious in nature but consisted of lectures of educational nature. Various speakers came to talk to the people on these evenings.

Because of Him ~ Terry

¹⁹This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "The special days when you fast in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become good, joyful, happy feasts in Judah. But you must love truth and peace." Zechariah 8:19 (NCV)

2008 Holy Week Worship Schedule

The above schedule is for Hus Presbyterian Church. Hus Presbyterian Church and Christ Church Presbyterian are joining with one another for the Maundy Thursday Service and the Good Friday Service. Please visit both churches websites for more information:

• Hus Presbyterian Church (directions to the church)
• Christ Church Presbyterian (directions to the church)

March 2008 Newsletter

A History of Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church, part 5
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Adapted from a Historical Treatise Written by Charlotte Stelcik

The First Church
The year 1889 was the most important year in the history of the church. On March 10, 1889 the church permanently organized as a Reformed Church with about one hundred members. By-laws were written and the church was incorporated. The brethren at once began thinking of building their own sanctuary. It so happened at the time that the Congregational Church wanted to sell their building; therefore on May 2nd this church was bought for $1600 and moved to its new site on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Seventh Street SE. On July 7th the church was dedicated by Rev. Kun and several American preachers before a huge crowd of people.

On September 29, 1889, this church became part of the Cedar Rapids Presbytery which did much to help the Protestant Czech work. Until 1910 the church was a member of the Cedar Rapids Presbytery; in that year it became part of the newly organized Central West Bohemian Presbytery which was talked about earlier.

In the summer of 1890 Vaclav Dudycha, who was the son of one of the first elders and a student at Union Theological Seminary, preached without remuneration in this new church. That fall Vaclav Hlavaty came to the United States as a candidate of theology. He was born in Bohemia, studied in the gymnasia in Kolin, Bohemia, and had studied theology in Vienna and Edinburgh. He came to Cedar Rapids during the Christmas holidays and preached in this newly organized church. On January 7, 1891, the congregation called him to be their minister and on January 25th he was ordained by the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids and installed. From that time on services were held every Sunday and the work of God continued favorably but many times with difficulty. A few months after Rev. Hlavaty’s ordination, a debt of $735 on the church property was paid with the help of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches. After a thirty year struggle to attain their goal the people of this congregation at last had their own place of worship and a regular minister of their own nationality.

The church maintained a preaching station in Walker, whose population consisted of about seventy Czech families, and in 1892 Rev. Hlavaty was requested to visit the community and preach the Word of God. From that time on he visited them regularly and preached in the country school, four miles southeast of Walker. About thirty-five members composed the congregation while most of the others deserted Christianity for atheism. Services however were well attended. This work stopped after Rev. Hlavaty ceased to work in Cedar Rapids.

Rev. Hlavaty’s ministry was an epoch of progress for the church. Within a period of two years, 1891 to 1893, the enrollment of the Sunday School grew from twenty-five to one hundred fifty members and from 1891 to 1900, the church membership increased from ninety to 220 people. In the spring of 1892 a Christian Endeavor, which met on Sunday evenings, was organized with fifty members. By 1900 this organization had grown to seventy members. On Wednesday evenings, biblical and prayer meetings were organized. In 1900 the church had 220 members; 150 pupils in Sunday School with 15 teachers. The following brethren, F. Nemecek, Jos. A. Popelka, V. Horak, John Dudycha, Jos. Troyak, and Frank Stary served as elders.

In the fall of 1892, a fine new manse was built for $1600. This parsonage, which was built on the lot adjoining the church, was erected mainly through the efforts of the women of the church to raise the money.

On August 21, 1906, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen was founded and the local chapter “Jeronym” was established in this church. The name Jeronym was chosen to venerate the name of a professor at Prague University in 1416 who was later burned at the stake. The organization was a secret lodge which was conducted for insurance as well as fellowship of Protestant people. It was in existence until 1918.

The highest number of church members was reached in 1913 with 297 making up the congregation. It is also evident from the minutes that the church partly supported a Czech Home Missionary, Miss Mary Belerad.

In October, 1913, several women decided to organize a ladies society. They gave their club the name “Martha.” Soon they changed it to “Tabitha,” the name it held until it no longer had any members. The organization began with nine members but by 1915 had grown to twenty-two. By 1949 there were ninety-two members. In 1915 the annual bazaar was started and became one of the main events of the organization. They also served a supper that was attended by a large crowd each year.

Because of Him ~ Terry

³⁴Peter began to speak: "I really understand now that to God every person is the same. ³⁵In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. ³⁶You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people! ³⁷You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after John preached to the people about baptism. ³⁸You know about Jesus from Nazareth, that God gave him the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good and healing those who were ruled by the devil, because God was with him. ³⁹We saw what Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem, but the Jews in Jerusalem killed him by hanging him on a cross. ⁴⁰Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus to life and caused him to be seen, ⁴¹not by all the people, but only by the witnesses God had already chosen. And we are those witnesses who ate and drank with him after he was raised from the dead. ⁴²He told us to preach to the people and to tell them that he is the one whom God chose to be the judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³All the prophets say it is true that all who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus' name." Acts 10:34-43 (NCV)