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Presbyterians study Calvin's works
Presbyterian churches in the Fredericksburg area recognize importance of John Calvin's 500th birthday on Friday
Date published: 7/4/2009
BY MEGAN WILLIAMS Local Presbyterian churches won't be putting candles on a birthday cake for John Calvin--500 wouldn't fit anyway. But church members recognize the importance of July 10. Sunday school classes and study groups at the Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church have been reading the works of the man whose principles eventually founded the Presbyterian faith. "Calvin would be unimpressed that people were celebrating his birthday," said the Rev. Allen Fisher Jr. of the Presbyterian Church downtown, "but deeply edified that people were still reading his works." John Calvin was born July 10, 1509, in France. During his 55-year life he was instrumental in furthering the Protestant faith during the reformation. The idea of predestination was defined by Calvin. Movements such as Puritanism, capitalism and representative democracy are in part attributed to the theologian. Calvin left behind behemoth volumes outlining his beliefs. For many of the local church groups, it has taken a year or more to study the tomes. The Rev. Shawn Smith of Hartwood Presbyterian in Stafford County has been studying Calvin on his own. He saw the year of Calvin's 500th birthday as a good time to take up the challenge. Steven Doe, pastor of Bethel Reformed Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg, uses Calvin's teachings every week. "He had the ability to synthesize and summarize a huge amount of biblical material," Doe said. "He asked, 'How are we going to establish what is true?'" The church on Princess Anne Street will host a presentation and discussion on Sunday, July 12, at 6 p.m. concerning how Calvin came to his conclusions of what is true, and the overall significance of his life. "His view of the Christian faith is a model for how we do faith today," Doe said. Because July is a busy time for family vacations, the Rev. Alan Hager of Spotsylvania Presbyterian said that he and his congregation will be celebrating Calvin at the end of October on Reformation Sunday. "The order of the service will be like they had in Geneva 500 years ago," Hager said. "I will preach a first-person sermon and we're looking for appropriate music for the service." Megan Williams: 540/374-5000,
Date published: 7/4/2009
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