The Eighth Tribe, 1980 (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1980-08-01 / 8. szám
August, 1980 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 9 CHURCH YOUTH CAMP 1980 From July 20 to 26 the Youth Camp of the Calvin Synod Conference (United Church of Christ) and of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America was held at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Pennsylvania. Eighty-five hoys and girls took part in the camp, most of them in the 13 to 19-year old age group. 16 adults provided leadership and supervision virtually around the clock every day. The theme of this year’s camp was: “Our Christian Roots”. Under this general title five lectures were presented hy the main speaker, Rev. Nicholas Novák of Pittsburgh. The Monday through Friday morning sessions comprised the review of some 3000 years of Christian history under the headings: The Old Testament Church, The New Testament Church, The Medieval Church, The Age of Reformation, and The Church in Our Century. Devotional periods of prayer and song were conducted hy the camp directors, Rev. László Medgyessy and his wife Rev. Coralyn Medgyessy, as well as by Mrs. Elizabeth Turrell of Fairport and Mrs. Kathy Maday of Springdale. The afternoons were free for swimming and other recreational sports. In charge of the evening worship services were Bishop Desmond Parragh and, on one occasion, senior members of the camping youths. In the early evening the campers were free to choose between six workshops. Stained glass design was taught by Rev. László Medgyessy, Hungarian folk dances by Mrs. Szabó of Detroit. The group of Spiritual Interests was led by Rev. Coralyn Medgyessy, the Hungarian Heritage group by Rev. Paul Mező of Toronto, Canada. A Leadership Seminar was conducted by Miss Ethel Molnár and Principal Frank Nagy of Toledo. Teacher of the Dramatic Photography class was Rev. Louis Illés of Duquesne, who also served as associate camp director. After dark representative arrays of color slides were shown of the Holy Land and of Hungary. One film, dealing with juvenile delinquency, was projected — at the request of the 16-and-over group — at 4 o’clock in the morning! (How about that for a dramatic effect!) Wednesday we visited the Bethlen Home in Ligonier. At the recently completed Meeting Hall packed to capacity Rt. Rev. Árpád George and Elmer E. Vargo, chief executives of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America presented their donation for the much needed and appreciated support of our youth work: $1,000.00 each for the two participating sister-denominations. The donation of the William Penn Association, $1,500.00, has been presented to the camp leaders by president Elmer Charles and vice-president Stephen Szilágyi. The most moving highlight of the week was, however, the service of dedication on Friday night. Bishop Parragh conducted the open-air service, Rev. Louis Illés the communion. Group by group, from East and West, from North and South our youths came to stand around the bonfire and cast their twigs of pledge and friendship onto the flames. Saturday morning came. Packing. Clean-up the cabins. Friendship circle: hands holding all around. Drivers announcing: Detroit - Toledo, all aboard... Bridgeport - Wallingford, all aboard... Smiles and tears of farewell... See you next year ... May this brief account give our members a glimpse of a happy and successful camping, and expression of our sincere thanks to the Association and the Federation for their gifts. Without their generous help this memorable event could not have happened. Rev. Nicholas Novak, Camp Registrar
