Magyar Egyház, 1997 (76. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1997 / 1. szám
10. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ TRENTON HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH THRIVES BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND GOOD CHRISTIAN WORKERS. Since June 1, 1996 the Trenton church has been without a permanently installed minister. Many have asked “How do they continue their services and programs ?” The answer is multifaceted. First, the Elders, the congregation and friends of the church have continuously prayed for God’s blessing and guidance. Secondly, the church officers, Elders, organizers and Sunday School staff have worked hard to provide continuous services to our congregation. And finally, we have had God’s blessing in providing us with wonderful help from the clergy of the Hungarian Reformed Faith. More specifically, everyone in Trenton is extremely grateful for the services of Bishop Emeritus Dezső Abraham. He has provided the vast majority of the sermons since June 1. His warm and personable manner has brought back many of our former members. And he has personally helped individuals among our congregation with needed counselling and spiritual guidance. Although Bishop Abraham is retired, he has been willing to help the Trenton church in our time of need. We believe this is truly a selfless and giving Christian act, and the Trenton church will always be grateful for Bishop Abraham’s contribution to providing a normal Christian environment for the Trenton church during our time of need. While we have been provided help from Bishop Abraham, on occasion we have also had help from other ministers who have visited the Trenton church recently. We were very grateful to have the services of Rev. Judith Meyer, who was recently elected permanent minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church in South Norwalk, Connecticut. Everyone got to know her from the several occasions she preached in Trenton, and I can say that the congregation loved her intelligent Christian inspiration and warmth. Congratulations to you, Rev. Meyer, and may God bless ypur ministry in South Norwalk. We should also mention that the Pulpit Committee has been working hard to select and recommend a candidate to the Church Council and the congregation. The Committee, under the leadership of Mr. Anthony C. Beke, has interviewed several very good candidates, and we believe a minister for the Trenton Hungarian Reformed Church will be named very soon. Thank you Mr. Beke and Pulpit Committee members for your tireless efforts. We recognize there are a number of churches in search of a minister and we pray for their success in filling the pulpit. We also ask that our Hungarian Reformed Christian brothers and sisters pray for our Trenton church so that we all can continue to spread the word of God in our Hungarian Reformed tradition. Leslie Martin THE GOLDEN YELLOW SUNFLOWER It was the Lenten season again! We were once more celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. To guide us through Lent and prepare us for an Easter experience this year, we have chosen to consider the parables of Jesus. Painting word pictures are called parables. Those stories He told to help us better understand God and the His kingdom. Jesus said that the kingdom was all around and within us. He said that nothing was more important than, first, our relationship with God and then, the relationship we have with others. As we join in prayerful thought throughout this season, we see ourselves as the child of God that we truly are experiencing all the wonder and joy of God’s kingdom. In my research and readings I have been very impressed with the following which I would like to share with you. It is about the Easter Sunflower. There is a charming Easter story about the sunflower. It says that long ago the sunflower was a dark brown blossom and it always drooped toward the earth. Sunflowers grew in the garden in which the Lord was entombed. The light of the Resurrection swept across them. Ever after, their petals have been transformed into golden yellow, and while they hang downward toward the earth at night, at the first break of sunlight, they spring upward toward the sun. LIFE EVERLASTING — Easter is the Feast of life. The risen Christ is now rejoiced as victor over suffering and death. We are all part of this victory. As the Father raised the son, we are also raised to life everlasting. Pearl Hatten Secretary of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Carteret
