Fraternity-Testvériség, 2005 (83. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2005-10-01 / 4. szám
Fraternity- Testvériség Page 4 Hands Day activities and contributions we made to relieve the sufferings of Hurricane Katrina victims. So, let’s increase our membership and help HRFA recruit those who support the heritage, language and religious traditions of Hungarians in America. With your support and God's blessings, we will succeed. Leslie L. Megyeri LJhe MiuigxvUan Űlefaxmed Redeflation a/! (Imexica ceaxyiatuiatcs Űteuexend Jnvie Űí&datan an hh 25th (Innwviscvtty in the d&uiice! Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington, D.C. Celebrates Reverend Imre Bertalan’s 25 Pastoral Anniversary The Rev. Imre Bertalan Sr. On September 25th, members of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington. D.C., celebrated the Reverend Dr. Imre Bertalan’s 25th anniversary of pastoral service with the congregation. For 12 years, Rev. Bertalan served as the president of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, in Washington, D.C. During his service as president of the Federation, he joined the Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington, D.C., and led the congregation with other ministers. After he retired as president of the Federation, he devoted his entire time to the leadership of the church. During the celebration, the congregation’s chief elder, Zoltán Bagdy, greeted Rev. Bertalan, and on behalf of the church thanked him for his long service as a pastor. “We celebrate with a great deal of joy and thanks,” said Bagdy, “because the life of our church has been exceptionally successful during the past several decades, and these successes are permanent, and for all this we must thank Rev. Bertalan.” In his reminiscences, he mentioned that Rev. Bertalan for years held very popular Bible classes at his home for adults, on Wednesday nights; he prepared several generations of children for their confirmation, and held Bible studies for them, in Hungarian. Rev. Bertalan has been a patron and leader of the Hungarian Scouts in the Washington area; he maintains close contacts with Reformed Church members in Hungary, Transylvania, Slovakia; he helped Hungarian students for years; and he has been a supporter of the Bethlen Home for decades. “It is extremely important, that there is, in the capital city of America, a successful, well organized Hungarian Reformed Church, and that everyone in the capital be aware of that - the American Presbyterians, the politicians, “Embassy Row,” the press and the local Hungarians. For the fact that this indeed exists, we owe a great deal of thanks to Rev. Bertalan,” said Zoltán Bagdy. The church elder mentioned as well that Rev. Bertalan, with the financial contribution of the Chikesz family, established a unique program several years ago, which provides scholarships for Hungarian students to study at Wesley Seminary, and to serve as assistant ministers at the church during their studies. It is well known that Rev. Bertalan, in addition to his pastoral work, is a selfless civic and community leader. He established several well known Hungarian American organizations and continues to serve as a leader of some of them, including the American Hungarian Federation, the American Hungarian Federation of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and the Hungarian American Coalition as honorary president. Scouts honoring Rev. Bertalan After Zoltán Bagdy’s remarks, the representatives of the Joseph Batori Scout Troop greeted the Rev. Bertalan. They sang in his honor and recited poetry. Zoltán Bagdy presented Rev. Bertalan with the congregation’s anniversary gift, and the scouts also presented him with a gift, a plant in a hand painted flower pot. Members of the congregation also spoke, expressing their personal thanks to the minister. One of the speakers was Frank Koszorús, Jr., a well known Hungarian civic leader and an elder of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington. The celebration continued after the religious service with the “szeretetvendégség.” Here too, members of the church congratulated the Rev. Bertalan in person. Zoltán Bagdy Chief Elder of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington, D.C.
