Magyar Egyház, 2000 (79. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2000 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 15. oldal we found that there was severe deterioration of the structural members which hold up the roof and frame of our fellowship hall. We had a structural engineer come in and evaluate the damage, and he determined that it was unsafe to use our hall until repairs were made. This was of great concern to the entire congregation since the hall is the center we use for our bazaars, dinners and parties that are so important to church life and to fundraising. After removing the walls and ceiling to reveal the extent of the damage, we received an estimate for the structural repair in excess of $67,000. Including the preparation work, contracting for the necessary engineering design, and the work necessary for acquiring the appropriate permits, the total estimate reached approximately $80,000. Our church membership was in shock. We did not have $80,000. In prayer, we asked our Heavenly Father to show us the way. We prayed that he would allow us to continue to serve as an active Hungarian Reformed Church just as we have done for many decades. Over the last six months, we have made an appeal to our members, our friends, our Hungarian Reformed sister churches and our Staten Island community to help us financially. Our Chief Elder, Linda Hauck, sought and applied for various grants and loans in order to keep our church alive and functioning. We are blessed by God to have such a hard-working and dedicated person. She was successful in many areas, and we how have the construction of our hall completed with only a few details to finish. It is now usable and we have already held our holiday bazaar, where we were able to raise more than one thousand dollars. Thanks be to God, he has answered our prayers. The following is an accounting of our receipts thus far: Donations from congregation, churches and friends ............................................................ $15,000 Matching Grant from the New York Historic Preservation Society................................ $10,000 Richmond county Savings Bank Grant (Staten Island)............................................................$15,000 Donations and Grant Total............$40.000 Our church cashed its savings CD in the amount of $15,000, and acquired a low-interest mortgage at 3% from the New York Historic Preservation Society for the remaining $25,000. These together brought the total to $80,000 and we have paid our contractor. However, we are a small church and we are asking our friends to contribute whatever amount they can to help us pay the $25,000 mortgage. Any help our friends or sister churches can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to Perth Amboy Hungarian Reformed Church for their $2,000 donation. Thanks to Roebling Hungarian Reformed church for their $1,000 donation. Thanks to the Huguenot Reformed Church for their $1,000 donation. Thanks to the Trenton Hungarian Reformed Church and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America for sponsoring a fundraising dance in Trenton which raised $980. And we thank the many individuals who also contributed to our emergency fund. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful Christian community. We ask God’s blessings upon our dear friends who have helped us at this time. Your help to pay the remaining debt will be greatly appreciated. God’s Richest Blessings during this Holy season! Yours In Christ, Rev. Leslie E. Martin, Pastor TRENTON, NEW JERSEY Pastor: Ujj László 180 Home Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey 08611 Telephone: (609) 396-9751 Chief Elder: Beke Anthony Telephone: (609) 298-2988 A Concordia Kórus szép szereplése felpezsdítette egyházi életünket. Örömmel nyugtázzuk a részükre azóta már elküldött anyagi támogatás mellett azon felejthetetlen emléket melyet Bili Kraemer testvérünk video felvétele igen jó kép és hangminőségben megőrzött az utókor számára! Az ez évben későbbre ütemezett indián-nyári piknikjeink a Katona farmon ugyancsak jól sikerültek. Kicsinyek és nagyok egyaránt élvezték a finom ételeket és a sportjátékokat. Jó volt látni azon testvéreinket akik fizikai okoknál fogva már nem járhatnak templomi istentiszteletekre, amin sajnos templomunk építészeti kialakítása, legfőképpen a sok meredek lépcső miatt nem tudunk segíteni. Ám tudunk és kell, hogy tudjunk segíteni azon egyháztagjaink lelki szükségletein akik a jelenlegi istentiszteleti rendünket túl formálisnak tartva új énekekkel kívánják dicsérni az Urat. Egyháztanácsunk bölcs megértése e testvérek számára ilyen új istentiszteleti módok bevezetését teszi lehetővé a jövőben. Természetesen mindez gyülekezetünk lelkipásztorának teljes bevonásával, fog megtörténni, ami elmaradhatatlanul szükséges egyházunk tiszta tradícióinak gondos megőrzéséhez. Hisszük, hogy ezen imádságos szolgálatainkon keresztül válik valóra Trentonban a Reformáció „Semper Reformanda” tanítása, amely megköveteli tőlünk azt, hogy az Ő Szentlelkét követve folytassuk atyáink harcát Istenünk dicsőségének hirdetésére! Ujj László, lelkipásztor
