Bethlen Naptár, 1983 (Ligonier)
Kálvin Egyházkerület
1983 101 and Pastors participating. It was a truly beautiful and inspiring Worship Service and very well attended in spite of the very bad weather. Also, our Christmas Eve Worship Service was made unforgettable with the participation of our young Sunday school members. We are now in the midst of our preparations for our 90th year celebrations as a congregation and our merger with our Windber Congregation. We will celebrate this great event in our Church life with a special Worship Service on Sunday, October 31st beginning at 11 AM, and it will he followed by a family style dinner at noon in our church dining room. We may be small in number but our people are great in dedication and sacrifice. The special event in our Vintondale Church was the special Worship Service held on the 5th of September in conjunction with Vintondale’s ‘Home Coming Event’. The Worship Service was very well attended. Our Vintondale Church was the recipient of $400.00 from the ‘Home Coming’ proceeds. Statistics: Johnstown: 1 Marriage, 2 Deaths. Vintondale: 2 Deaths. “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will he glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.” Psalms 9:1-2 McKEESPORT, PA Lelkipásztor: Dr. Fábián Éva M. Chief Elder: Mr. Richard W. Kyslinger Much is written and said about church growth in these days of declining church membership and shocking statistics. Methods are recommended and even enforced by church authorities and at higher level church meetings. We welcome these new approaches and sound pieces of advice ;we are always open to learn. However, we must not forget either that the blessed Head of the Church “gathers, protects, and preserves... a congregation chosen for eternal life” — “by his Spirit and his Word.” (Heidelberg Catechism Q-A 54.) That is why in our Church the quality of the preaching and teaching of the Word of God and the administration of the Sacraments have been and intended to be in the focus of our ministry. We still believe that this is the best “method” in aiming for church growth. Seasoned by inspired prayer, solid faithfullness on the little, and hard yet cheerful teamwork: it really works. In this context we are happy to report: our Church is alive, well and growing. Some Signs of Our Growth. The ties of love and service have been continually strengthening between the Ligonier Bethlen Home and our Church. The annual Bethlen Home Sunday brings for us the most appreciated services, good sermons and lively reports of the Reverend Paul Kovács, Administrator. The mutual exchange is also promoted by our regular visitations of those who most need our fellowship. This year two of our own members, Mr. and Mrs. Endre Kacsó also
