Calvin Synod Herald, 2005 (106. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 7 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. ” Philippians 3:10-11. Our Dear Members and Friends, One of the most universal observations and rules is that life is a power struggle. It could have started with having different views, and continued as well as intensified by rivalry, competition, adversity, and enmity. All these could lead to a brutal showdown and end with one annihilating the other. Think of two gory events we were exposed to recently, the movie: The Passion of the Christ (a sadistic virtual brutality) and the terrorists’ bombing of trains in Spain on March 11, 2004 with the casualty around two hundred (a heartbreaking bloody reality). Jesus Christ’s teaching, ministry and life had been focused on keeping this animosity under control. In doing so He went as far as saying: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.’” Matthew 5:43-45. Our Savior not only had preached but also had practiced this. Remember the severe beating He had to endure - think of the movie - and while He suffered He had said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. However, the greatest victory came Easter morning when he gloriously had left the tomb as He had been raised from the dead. His resurrection - while totally unique and never to be repeated again in this form - is the promise and guarantee of our own resurrection: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. Having this in mind could Apostle Paul write: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ..” 1 Corinthians 15:57. May we hope and pray for victory of love over hatred, forgiveness over retaliation, and understanding over bigotry, as Jesus had demonstrated it with His teaching, life, and resurrection. Yours in His service, Rev. Alexander Jalso, Pastor First Hungarian Reformed Church - Homestead, PA BETHLEN HOME STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS DECEMBER 16 2004, and JANUARY 20 2005. COMBINED REPORT The last two meetings of the Strategic Planning Committee represent a major step forward in the process of planning the future of the entire complex at the Bethlen Home. This complex includes the new nursing home to be opened in just a few short months now, the retirement cottages that are already on the premesis, the existing building of the nursing home which will become vacant as residents will move into the new building, the office/conference building next to the nursing home, the picnic shelter, the utility buildings, the chapel, and a significant amount of available undeveloped land up on the hill; and the assisted care units in the Ligonier Gardens building down the hill alongside Rt. 30 in Ligonier. In this complex Ligonier Gardens, the new nursing home, and the current cottages are currently functioning or shortly will be functioning. The focus of the Strategic Planning Committee is to plan a future use for the other elements. What would God like us to do with the old nursing home building after the residents will be moved into the new one? How could we utilize the current conference/office building, the chapel, the available empty land to glorify God, and to better serve the need of our larger community? Some of our plans, hopes, or dreams for these assets include things such as: more retirement units to be built on the property, reutilization of the old building for other possible purposes (assisted living units, special therapy areas, visitor housing etc) creating facilities for a museum and archives, creating a conference/meeting center, creating facilities for youth camp etc. naturally all these plans, hopes and dreams need to be carefully checked against a realistc assessment of real need, available funds (or possibility of fundraising), compatibility with our land configuration, zoning requirements, and over all financial sustainability. To find answers to these questions the Strategic Planning Committee seeks guidance from God in prayers and reflecting on His word, advise from the leaders of the Bethlen Home and of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America - the main organization that stands behind this planning effort both morally and financially - ideas from any and all interested members of our larger Hungarian Reformed Church communities, and the expert help of specialists in the fields of health care, planning, construction, landscape, architecture, design etc. At the December 16,2004, meeting we had several interesting and very informative presentations relating to various aspects of our planning process. What follows is a brief list of these presentations. If you are interested in greater detail about any of these presentations, or about any other aspects of the planning process, please feel free to contact me, or any other members of the Strategic Planning Committee, or the Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Executive Director of the Bethlen Home. 1. Mr. George J. Pogan, with 40 years of experience in Long Term Health Care Industries and Therapies, gave an overviev of current trends in the industry. He emphasized that in order to be competitive health care providers we need to plan to utilize stateof-the-art equipment, and be on the cutting edge of the new therapies offered in the long term care industry. He offered his further services to the committee on an “as needed” basis. 2. Mr. Robert Fiok gave a presentation about the current condition of the existing nursing home building. The report pre(Continued on page 8)
