Bethlen Almanac 1999 (Ligonier)
Az amerikai egyháztestekben - In other denominations
Első Magyar Evangélikus Egyház First Hungarian Lutheran Church Cleveland, Ohio Supply Pastor: Rev. Frank Juhász Chief Elder: Ernest Mihály Church Officers: Chief Elder: Ernest Mihály; Vice President: Theodore Bolla; Secretary: Olga Balia; Treasurer: Andrew Rapas; Auditors: Irene Marik and Eleanor Kotabish; President: Lutheran Ladies’ League: Ethel Szabó; President, Altar Society: Anna Rapas; Assistant to the Pastor: Eugene Szabó; Hospitality and Outreach Chairperson: Aranka Mihály; Organist: Alice Fazekas. It was ninety-three years ago that this congregation was founded on Lower Buckeye Road, and it was fifty years ago that this present edifice was built where we are presently worshipping. Our Supply Pastor, the Reverend Frank Juhász Shepherd has been serving us for the past eighteen years. The loyalty of our leadership has blessed us throughout these many years. Without them our survival would not be possible. We are grateful to God for the many blessings we have experienced throughout the years and for our opportunity to continue to serve Him. Our outreach is bilingual - English and Hungarian. This congregation once numbered almost one thousand in membership during the hey-day of Buckeye Road - which at one time was a solid Hungarian community. With the passing of time and the multiple changes all around us, we now number somewhere between two-hundred-fifty and three hundred. Our Sunday Worship Services are bilingual. Hungarian Worship Services are held on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Pentecost. In addition to our Christmas Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve, we also feature a Sunrise Service on Easter Morning, followed by our traditional Easter Breakfast. These Services are always in English. Attendance at these Worship Services number from ten to fifty every Sunday, unless there is a special celebration or anniversary. Communion is served regularly during the Liturgical Year. We were saddened by the death of our former, retired Pastor, the Reverend Dr. Gábor Brachna, who passed away in January, 1998, along with the former President of our Lutheran Ladies’ League, Dorothy 214
