Bethlen Naptár, 1980 (Ligonier)
Egyesült Államok - Kálvin Egyházkerület
1980 87 Az egyház lelkipásztorát Ft. Parragh Dezsőt a Kálvin Egyházkerület 1979. május 23-án választotta meg püspökének. Beiktatása Labor Day alkalmával, szeptember 3-án történt meg a ligonieri templomban. Az egyház presbitériuma és körei úgy érezték, hogy ezt az ünnepi alkalmat Chicágoban is meg kell ünnepelni és ezért 1979. november 4-én ünnepi istentisztelet és bankett keretében tisztelték meg lelkipásztorukat. A Nőegylet ezen az ünnepi alkalmon magyar palástot ajándékozott a püspöknek, amihez a süveget a Nőegylet elnökének, Kish Sándornénak ajándéka képezte. WHITING, IND. — Pastor: Koloman Karl Ludwig Chief Elder: Louis Kish. Ladies Aid President: Mrs. Sylvia McClelland. The Whiting congregation has been blessed these many years with dedicated workers, and because of them this congregation has continued to work, to serve the Lord, and to provide service in the community. The church membership continues to be strong, and in the past several years the congregation has taken several projects as its own in the service of the Lord. There is regular collection of clothing and food, which are made available to the needy in our area. At Christmas and Thanksgiving the Whiting congregation takes up a special collection and distributes food baskets to those who would not otherwise have these “special” things during the holiday season. Also, the Whiting church has traditionally made donations to the South American churches and to the Bethlen Home. Most recently this past year, the congregation has begun a special fund to assist those of our members who find that medical expenses as a result of accident or illness have become overburdening to their families. In these endeavors the congregation has had support from the local community, from non-church members, which has been very much appreciated. Though we are small, we have had to do some major renovation to our church building, as time has taken its toll on the physical structure. The church bell tower was enclosed, new carpeting was donated for the sanctuary, and one of the washrooms was totally remodeled, so that it is now accessible to the handicapped. The church has also, in the past two years, made its facilities and equipment available to a local handicapped organization for their fund raising projects, and through this assistance of both equipment and expertise this organization for the handicapped has been able to take giant strides forward. Our church participates in all the traditional “Hungarian” fund raisers: noodle-making, sausage-making, and bazaar. The Ladies Aid is always busy working for the church, and adds its financial support to the congregation. The men in the church work together making sausage which brings a considerable amount of revenue to the church yearly. Our annual picnic was very successful this year, and is an important part of the income of the church. With the Lord’s help the Whiting congregation, which is celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 1979, will continue to be privileged to serve the
