Calvin Synod Herald, 2005 (106. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-01-01 / 1-2. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Anniversary in Bridgeport, CT The United Church of Christ of Bridgeport, Connecticut, celebrated their 100th Anniversary with a Special Worship Service on November 7, 2004. Conducting the service were the Rt. Reverend Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop of Calvin Synod, Reverend Betsy G. Blomfield, Pastor, and Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi, Pastor Emeritus and Bishop Emeritus. The scripture reading was Deuteronomy 8:1-19, read by Chief Elder Joseph Poruban. Bishop Ludwig gave the sermon based on the text from Deuteronomy 8:7-10. He said that all of the Hungarian Reformed congregations are truly blessed and should be thankful to God for our many years. He referred to the Hebrews and just as they, by faith, came into a hostile land and saw from afar the blessing that the new people would receive. We all, including the Bridgeport Congregation for 100 years, are blessed that our founding fathers had this vision. Several hymns including, “Faith of Our Fathers,” “Now Thank We All Our God,” and “The Church’s One Foundation” were sung in both English and Hungarian. (L-R) Chief elder Joseph Poruban, Rev. Betsy Blomfield, and Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi. Rev. John Butosi gave the prayer at the banquet Following the service, we went to Mountain Grove Cemetery and had a wreath-laying ceremony and prayer at the graves of Rev. Ernest Komjáthy and Rt. Rev. Stephen Bessemer, our first two pastors. We then went to Liedle’s in Stratford, Connecticut, for our banquet, where a wonderful dinner was served. In addition to Bishop Ludwig, Bishop Butosi, and Rev. Blomfield, in attendance were Rev. Bela Poznan, Pastor of the Calvin UCC in Fairfield, Connecticut, Rev. Leslie Martin, Pastor of the Calvin Reformed Church of Norwalk, Connecticut, and Rev. Carolyn Johns, Interim Pastor of the First UCC in Bridgeport. Father Louis Pintye of St. Emery’s Roman Catholic Church in Fairfield, Connecticut, extended greetings at the worship service. Mr. Steven Varga, Chairman of the Board of the William Penn Association also extended greetings. Bridgeport church members Jackie and Victoria Visinski performed several flute duets for our entertainment. In addition to the many members of the Bridgeport congregation, many of our friends and guests attended, as well as groups from our neighboring congregations in Fairfield and Norwalk. Several letters from local and state politicians were read by Rev. Blomfield, and from many of our fellow congregations and Synod ministers. M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, sent a proclamation declaring Sunday, November 7, 2004, as United Church of Christ Day in the State of Connecticut. Greetings were also read from our Congressman, Christopher Shays, and Senator Chris Dodd. Rev. Blomfield gave special recognition to the many long time members of the church in attendance, some members for over 90 years. Each of the church organizations also extended greetings and thanks for the many years of their existence. In all, it was a wonderful day. We are all thankful for our first 100 years and look forward to the future. It was a truly a day to be thankful to God! Submitted by: Jim Balias Bridgeport Church Member and Synod Presbyter Congregation Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Their Pastor’s Ordination On November 6, 2004, at Heritage Church UCC of Davison, Michigan, the Reverend Zoltán Süttö celebrated the 10th Anniversary of his ordination with a beautiful church service and luncheon at the church. Participants in the service were the Rt. Rev. K.K. Ludwig, Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Rev. Ferenc Baumann, and Rev. Sylvia Bouvier. The Calvin Synod Treasurer, Lisa Toth, and Mrs. Louis Medgyesi were also in attendance. The congregation presented Rev. Süttö with a plaque commemorating the occasion. Eileen Nagy Hungarian Conductor Inducted Into Artists’ Hall of Fame Maestro István Jaray, the internationally acclaimed conductor of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, was inducted into the Artists’ Hall of Fame on November 13, 2004, at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Jaray graduated from the Franz List Academy in Budapest where he studied under the direction of Zoltán Kodály and György Ligeti. His sister from Hungary was in attendance and prayed in Hungarian. Upon further conversation she stated that she is a faithful member of the Reformed Church in her village. Representing our community were the Rev. and Mrs. Levente Molnár, Eugene and Shirley Sabo of the Johnstown Hungarian Reformed Church, and the Rev. Ilona Komjáthy, Frances Matthews, Pauline and Endre Kovács from the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh. The gala evening included Hungarian food, music and folk dancing in addition to the awards ceremony. Rev. Ilona M. Komjáthy FHRC Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
