Bethlen Almanac 1997 (Ligonier)

Amerikai Magyar Református Egyház

L. to r: Linda Martin, Leslie Martin, Rev. Imre Bertalan, Mrs. Vilma Vitéz, Rev. August Molnár, Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz.

How strong these words of faith are! Yet they are so meaningful to the members of the Magyar Reformed Church of Staten Island who faced many challenges this past year. We are forever grateful to our Master for His gifts, and we pray for the strength and courage to serve our Lord and continue His work.

The 38th annual Church Women United-Eastern area conference was held on May 4,1997, and was well-attended. Emily Varga-Comella, Chaplain of the Reformed Church Home in Irvington, New Jersey, and her husband, Rev. Tom Cornelia, pastor of the Brookdale Reformed Church in Bloomfield, New Jersey, spoke on the topic “Challenges in the 21st Century for the Christian Church: Its aging membership and the role of women.”

Following the business meeting, members of the conference joined the congregation on the front lawn to dedicate two newly-installed flagpoles. Bishop Alexander Forro offered the dedicatory prayer. Both the American and the Hungarian flags now fly in front of our beloved church.

We continue to honor our rich Hungarian heritage. Last fall, we exhibited the traditions of our culture during Heritage Day where we displayed a variety of foods, embroidery and the arts. The Sunday School children helped decorate home-baked honeybread ornaments for the Christmas tree, which was also decorated with foil-wrapped candies and gilded walnuts.

In April, Rev. August J. Molnár announced he will step down from the pulpit after serving 24 years as supply pastor to the Staten Island congregation. He has been our spiritual leader and, more importantly, a member of our church family for many years and he will be missed enormously. A luncheon was held on September 21 to honor his 24 years of dedicated,

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