Bethlen Almanac 2001 (Ligonier)

Nyugati Egyházmegye - Western Classis

conducted by Reverend Robert Szép, for which we are grateful. The Reverend Zsuzsanna Bakk also preached for us during one Sunday in July. Another guest pastor was the Reverend István Danyi. The Lord’s Supper was served at least 6 times, and two children were baptized.

In capital improvement, our congregation completely replaced the worn carpeting throughout the entire church, and repainted much of the interior. Spearheading this tremendous work was Presbiter Ferenc Hudák, assisting him were Ibolya Hudák, Viktor Hudák, Eszter Hudák, Béla and Tünde Bácsa, Anthony Cariaga and Tünde and Ilona Garai. We thank God for the people who worked so hard, and all those people who made special donations toward this great expense.

Regarding the work of our Women’s Guild, in Hungarian we would say that our Women’s Guild “szorgalmas munkát végez” (is very hardworking.) They have been instrumental in organizing and cooking a Hungarian lunch each month, providing coffee and pastries after the services, making noodles, pastry and jam that they sell a number of times a year, putting on 2 yearly Bazaars that feature hurka/kolbász dinner, raffles and Hungarian music and dance, plus organizing and cooking for the regular holidays, both Hungarian and American. We are grateful to Ilona Garai for spearheading these efforts, and to all the ladies (and men) who work so hard to ensure the success of these events. Not only do we enjoy Christian Fellowship during the Guild sponsored times, but the funds these events generate help with the operational expenses of our church. We are grateful to Annette Vanila and her mother, Rose Marie Markus, Eva Castillo and her son, Hilarion, and Éviké Bagoly for helping with cooking and kitchen work at the Bazaars for many years now, and also to Bill Kovach for helping with the wheel. They are not formally church members, but they come several times each year to help with the tremendous work of the Bazaar. We could not do it without their help. “Isten áldja meg őket a szorgalmas munkájukért.” (May God bless them for their dedicated service.)

Our mission donations last year totaled $1,511, which consisted of a $300 donation to the flood victims in Eastern Hungary, which we gave through the Synod. Also we organized a musical-lunch benefit. László and Mária Cser - two incredible musicians - donated their talents to this event raised $1,211. We sent half of this amount to the Kertvárosi Református Egyház in Nyíregyháza, for their program to assist the destitute elderly, and the other half to the Sajósenyei Református Szeretet Otthon to assist the disabled adults that they serve.

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