Calvin Synod Herald, 1988 (88. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1988 / 2-5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD-5-REFORMATUSOK LAPJA ERDELY The Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, Bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, reported the following in his November newsletter about his recent trip to Hungary: "The number of refugees from Transylvania to Hungary is steadily growing; continuous financial help is needed to care for them. While attending the 450th anniversary festivities of the Reformed College of Debrecen, Hungary, my wife and 1 visited the Care-Center for the Refugees at the Reformed Church of Budapest-Rákossszentmihály. It was heart-rending to read from the eyes of these refugees the despair caused by broken families and hopeless future. But, then, it was reassuring to see the active concern for them: clothing piled up to the ceiling, hundreds of boxes of medication and food, to see the busy registration work for residence and work permit, to watch the cash distribution. The Rákosszentmihály Church (a Budapest suburb) under the leadership of the Rev. and Mrs. Lóránt Páncél took upon itself the burden of caring for the refugees. Every Friday afternoon is the main meeting time. Pastors from the city churches, from the Office of the Synod, elders, church members come up to do the work of registration, interviewing and distribution. The afternoon is concluded with a worship service. When we were there the church was filled over capacity: people were sitting on the chairs, on the floor, standing at the walls, even in the chancel. There were maybe four hundred people, maybe more; but hearing as they sang the XL1I Psalm you would say there were a thousand voices, particularly the verse which says (the English translation is from the Hymnbook) ‘Why cast down my soul? Trust God and He’ll employ His aid for thee, and change these sighs to thankful hymns of joy.’ You should know that care for the refugees from Transylvania was taken up first by the Reformed Church. The Church is still the leader in this service in close cooperation with State authorities. You should also know that the Reformed Church maintains similar Care-Centers in Debrecen and Miskolc.” “A final request from Mrs. Páncél: send copies of the devotional booklet ‘Csendes Percek’ (in Hungarian, of course). Any date, any number of copies.” "HELP IS NEEDED” THE BETHLEN MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES The Bethlen Museum and Archives adjacent to the Bethlen Home, a nursing home for the aged operated under the auspices of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, in Ligonier PA, provides a home for precious documents, photographs, books and artifacts of Hungarian heritage. The collection is presently stored in extremely crowded conditions above a maintenance shop; the materials can not be enjoyed by viewers or properly used by researchers. We are in the possession of precious historical materials! These items of our valued Hungarian heritage have been collected for over six decades from various Hungarian churches and organizations. A new 6,000 square foot building is planned to house the collection. The Archives are to be located on the lower level, and the Museum and Exhibition Room with offices on the upper level. The upper level will also provide a large Conference Room for meetings of pastors, Lay People and Youth. The all brick construction, meeting specifications required for the museum and archives, is estimated to cost $350,000.00. In addition to sizeable contributions by the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, the Bethlen Home, and major memorial gifts, generous contributions are needed from churches, organizations and individuals to make this project a reality. The Bethlen Museum and Archives will document the history of the immigration of our ancestors into the United States and Canada. The facility will document their heroic perseverance in establishing their churches and fraternal organizations, and through exhibits will display our precioius heritage for all future generations. Please help with your financial gifts to establish this much needed Museum and Archives, which will preserve YOUR HERITAGE! NEW LUTHERAN GRAMMER SCHOOL On September 15, 1988, representatives fo the Hungarian government met with leaders of the Lutheran Church to finalize an agreement to reestabalish the Fasor Lutheran Grammer School. Currently in government hands and housing the National Pedagogical Institution, the building will be vacated by June 30, 1989, and will reopen as the Lutheran National Grammer School in the autumn. Currently a seperate agreement is being prepared on the question of restoring the building to its original state. Then the church will take on the task of restoring and furnishing the facility, and hiring teachers of "high standard”. The Lutheran church is currently in the process of raising the necessary funding for the initial costs and continuing costs of this school by appealing to its church membership, chcp) T
