Bethlen Naptár, 1982 (Ligonier)
Egyesült Államok - The United Presbyterian Church in the USA
176 BETHLEN NAPTÁR Azóta a megélhetést nyújtó környék bányái bezártak, a gyülekezet tagjai elköltöztek és kihaltak. 1924-től, 57 év távlatában már csak egy elnéptelenedett, maroknyi gyülekezet, havonta egy alkalommal dicséri teremtő és megvátó Istenét kis templomában. LACKAWANNA, N. Y. — Pastor: Rev. Nickolas F. Wesley-Wesselényi This report covers the period from October 1, 1980 to September 30th 1981. Our membership consists of 53 adult churchsupporting members and 8 confirmed youg people. The total confirmed membership is 61 souls of whom 29 are pensioned people. They are geographically scattered in 12 municipalities. In spite of this, with the exception of the summer months, the average per Sunday attendance of worship is 75-80% of the membership. In this period of time 49 English and 9 Hungarian church services were held. The English services were attended by 1,415 and the Hungarian by 158 souls, in total 1,573 souls. The Hungarian services are attended by Displaced Persons and some refugees of 1956 who are less devoted toward the Church than others. Our old timers all have passed away. The Holy Supper of our Lord was administered for both groups 7 times. Partakers of it at the American service were 211, at the Hungarian 66, in total 277souls. Church attendance, compared with the previous and same period show an increase of 47 soul and the partakers of the Holy Supper show an increase of 38 souls. In a mall congregation of 53 members these increases are meaningful, inspiring joy. Baptised was 1 child, confirmed 2 children. There were no marriages, 1 burial service was conducted and 1 person was re-instated into membership. The 1980 income of the church treasury was $13,853.47. It was the highest the church ever had in the 73 years of its existence. It was all pure offering as no church socials were held for fund-raising purpose, except the one card party of the Ladies’s Aid. Important repair works were made, by repainting all the woodworks of the church, new roof was put on the garage and other repairs. During this period the Lorántffy Ladies’ Aid Society donated $1,500.00 for paying the cost of repairs. The officers of this group are: Mrs. Margaret Mandy, president; Mrs. Irene DePasquale, vice president; Mrs. Elizabeth Dvornski, treasurer for immemorable years and most active promoter of work and the pastor’s wife is the secretary. The Executive of the Presbytery of Western New York in an official letter has commended the congregation, Session and the Pastor for the achievements of 1980, stating that among the 74 congregations of the Presbytery the highest per capita giving was in our little church. The members of the Sessions ending with 1980 were: Stephen Paar, Chief Elder; Clerk of the Session and Elder Paul Mendy, Jr.; Treasurer
