Calvin Synod Herald, 2004 (105. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-07-01 / 7-8. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Woodbridge Marks 50th Ordination and Marriage Kovács Parsonage Family The Reverend Albert W. Kovács and his wife Theresa were honored by the congregation of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Woodbridge, NJ, with a special service of thanksgiving and a Hungarian style dinner. The event was held on May 23rd, which coincided with the date of his ordination in 1954. The service also lifted up in celebration their marriage on June 13th of that year. Commemoration of Ordination - Rev. Albert W. Kovács, Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, Rev. Stefan Torok, Rt. Rev. Alexander Form Following a processional of ministers, ten participating in the liturgy, the worship was opened in English and Hungarian by bishops emeriti Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz and Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, who also pronounced the closing benedictions. The sermon in English was delivered by the Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan, who represents Calvin Synod on the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ. Singing the Hymn ‘‘God of the Prophets ” -A. Kocsi, L. Ujj, B. Poznan, Dr. F. Vitéz, A. W. Kovács, A. Forro, S. Torok, Dr. A. Kocsis Special music in the service featured the hymn “Of the Father’s love created,” with lyrics by Rev. Kovács, and ended with the same plainsong-derived music but a different verse, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.” It also included the hymns, “Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,” and “God of the prophets.” Verses of the Holy Scripture were those of the original ordination worship: Jer. 1:4-9, John 20:21-23, Eph. 4:4-13, II Tim. 4:2-5, I Pet. 5:2- 4, by Rev. Leslie Martin. Isaiah 6:1-8 was read by Rev. Anikó Kocsis, preceding a Prayer of Thanksgiving in Hungarian by Dr. Vitéz. A responsive call to worship led by Rev. Csilla Lucskay was followed by her prayer of invocation in Hungarian. After Rev. Dr. Attila Kocsis offered the invocation in English, he led the responsive Question 1 from the Heidelberg Catechism and unison Apostles’ Creed. The offering was dedicated, upon the request of Pastor Kovács, to the new church building program of the Norridge, Illinois congregation. During his Elmhurst College days it had encouraged him in his ministerial career by providing opportunities to assist with youth and church school work, and to participate in the area’s Hungarian Reformed church life. He was enrolled in the Hungarian language studies program at the college. The prayer of dedication was by Rev. Leslie Ujj. Wedding Anniversary Recognition An old Hungarian “Wedding Hymn” was translated and put to verse by the Reverends Vitéz and Kovács, and introduced a brief segment lifting up the parsonage couple’s fifty years together. Rev. Kovács read Proverbs 31:1-10 from the Bible, and escorted his wife to the front, to read to her two verses: EVE “Eve was made of a rib out of the side ofAdam - not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved. ” (Matthew Henry) GOD KNEW “God knew I needed someone and so He sent me you, to love and cherish always all my lifetime through. He filled your heart with love, dear, and made it kind and true, God knew I needed someone and so He sent me you. ” (Author unknown) Remarks and a Prayer of Thanksgiving were led by Rev. Stefan Torok, President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. A moment of silent reflection followed with the organ playing “O perfect love.” Testimony of Faith During the service, the bishops with Rev. Torok read from the original order for ordination. Then Rev. Kovács witnessed to his Call by Christ, noting his indebtedness to the faithful of the ages who lived and often that the faith could be passed along to him,
