Calvin Synod Herald, 2010 (111. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-11-01 / 11-12. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 7 Celebrating 110 Years Hungarian Reformed Church of Johnstown-Windber eleitől fogva. ” - to in You we have trusted from the very beginning. May God continue to bless our church in Johnstown- Windber! Rev. Albert W. Kovács With a Divine Service of Thanksgiving, Johnstown-Windber Hungarian Reformed Church observed 110 years of worship, fellowship and service to God. On the last Saturday in September, nine ministers led the congregation and guests were led in praise and prayer to express gratitude to the Lord for His continued blessings upon those who founded and sustained the life of the church over more than 100 years. Bishop of the Calvin Synod, the Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan, addressed the church with a sermon based upon the 8th Chapter of Romans. The Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Dean of Central Classis, assisted in the service liturgy. The Rev. Albert W. Kovács, the congregation’s pastor, led the worrship. It was begun, following the ringing of the bell, with the ministers singing “Te benned bíztunk eleitől fogva. ” In “Words of Remembrance,” the congregation was reminded of those who organized the church - immigrants - and how it was in the early days and throughout the years that followed and the faithful offerings of their diverse gifts and talents in service to God and their fellow human beings. Reverends Alexander Jalso, Ilona Komjáthy, Gabor Nitsch, and Dr. Joseph Posta, who was pastor of the church for many years, led the remembrances. Also participating was the Rev. John Palkó, pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage, Pa., who was baptized as an infant in the church, before his family moved away. Former pastors, their wives and families were remembered. Mrs. Edith Kovács was present in the church, the wife of the late pastor, the Rev. Paul Kovács. The service concluded with a personal prayer of thanksgiving for the ministry of the Johnstown- Windber church and the worshippers petition for grace to keep the vows which each had made in Christ’s churches. Guests enjoyed a luncheon afterward in the social room served by the ladies of the congregation with the gracious help of their family and friends. Brief remarks by the clergy celebrated the church’s anniversary, also the Rev. Lisa Kerestesi, and greetings by Mr. Endre Csornán who presented a gift of the William Penn Association. It was noted that several years prior to the organization of the church in 1900, sick benefit societies had already been created in town, predecessors of the William Penn and of the Hungarian Reformed Federation. As so many communities in the northeast, and most severely in the “coal regions,” lost their employment, so did Johnstown, dropping from about 70,000 to 22,000. Windber, which is ten miles away, suffered similarly, the small town church was closed years ago - the building later burned - and the Windber congregation merged with the Johnstown Church. The Reformed Church Cemetery there continues under the united congregation’s control. Following the death of the Rev. Paul Kovács in April 2009, Rev. Albert W. Kovács aided in the Lord’s Day Services. The congregation then elected him to serve as the church’s minister. As the Johnstown-Windber church begins our 111th year, we remember and continue to trust in Him - “Te benned bíztunk ORDER BLANK - MEGRENDELŐLAP Please send all subscription orders and address changes to: Wilburn A. Roby Jr. 264 Old Plank Rd. Butler, PA 16002 e-mail: wuraitia embaramuil.com Please enter my subscription for the Calvin Synod Herald. Megrendelem a Reformátusok lapját. ( ) for one year or years ($15.00 per year) ( ) egy évre vagy ____ évre ($15.00 évente) Payment enclosed / Előfizetés mellékelve $___________ ( ) Renewal ( ) New Subscription ( ) Change of address only — (Please attach old label) Name............................................................................................ Address........................................................................................ City, State, Zip............................................................................
