Bethlen Almanac 2000 (Ligonier)
Keleti Egyházmegye - Eastern Classis
Passaic-i Magyar Református Egyház Passaic, New Jersey Lelkipásztor: Király Marianna Főgondnok: Szőnyi József As we stand at the beginning of a New Year, a new century, we have questions to ask about the future, i.e., “What will this new era bring to our church? To our nation? To our individual lives?” No one can answer these questions for sure. One thing that we can be sure of is that the New Year will bring some great challenges to us and probably some great difficulties. We will most assuredly find ourselves traveling paths in the New Year that we would never have chosen for ourselves. How are we to handle the strange paths we often have to tread in life? When we walk strange paths, the first thing we must do is to still our hearts in the midst of our circumstances. We do this by reminding ourselves that God, in His loving purpose for us, will not allow anything to come our way that does not promote our good. Whatever strange and challenging paths this New Year may require us to walk, we may rest assured that God is at work in them for His glory and for our good. We must stand still in trust then move forward in obedience. Last year in spring I gave a series of sermons on the Parables of Jesus; and, in the fall I preached on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal.:5). We learned how important it is to produce those spiritual fruits in our lives and to be productive in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal.: 5:25). My plan for 2001 is to have a sermon series and Bible study events on the Biblical feasts so that we may study all types and kinds of Feasts in the Bible. Church events in 2000: On February 25th, I gave a presentation at the Calvin Adult Fellowship Meeting Hall on the Thomas Christians in Southern India. In March, we welcomed the Concordia Choir from Felvidék with Bishop Dr. Géza Erdélyi. They gave a beautiful concert on March 13th. We were happy to host them for a week and share some time with brothers and sisters of the Felvidék Hungarian Reformed Church. On March 18th, we had the commemoration for the 1848-49 Revolution in Calvin Hall. On Thursday evening, April 27th, there was a lecture with slides given by Dr. Janos Kubassek, director of the Hungarian Geographical Museum, on the life of Sándor Körösi Csorna, PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY 45
