Bethlen Almanac 1997 (Ligonier)
Az amerikai egyháztestekben
we will continue to minister to the American-Hungarian community of several thousand people, here on the western shores of Lake Erie. Calvin has been blessed with good pastoral leadership throughout its history. Under the guidance of Rev. Bertalan, Calvin has been able to continue its great tradition of having weekly services in the Hungarian language, in addition to our English worship. Many other Hungarian traditions and customs are being carried on, such as classes in Hungarian embroidery, noodle and kolbász making, and, most recently, the offering of classes in the Hungarian language. Through the Toledo Sister Cities program, we continue to have a close relationship with our sister city of Szeged, Hungary. Spiritual Growth is extremely crucial to the church, for without emphasis on this area, the church would have no reason to exist. An active and strong Worship Committee is in place, helping to plan worship services, developing special programs, and assisting the pastor in any way possible. The committee is currently working on planning an alternative form of worship service, geared to people who may not be familiar with a traditional church setting. This is outreach to the community at large. Also, as an outgrowth of this committee, a Christian media center is in place, with many volumes of spiritual works and self-help, appealing to all ages and interests. Also in the media center are audio cassettes of a Christian nature, which have proved to be very popular, including the Bible on tape. Currently, the emphasis is on the use of the library by the youth of the church. Special programs of study are held during the seasons of Lent and Advent, which were very inspiring and spiritually nurturing. These are in addition to the weekly Bible Study sessions which are taught on a variety of topics to meet the spiritual needs of the people. As the church continues to grow, Calvin has two persons, Judy Shumaker and Marie Wharton, who have completed the 5-year Lay Ministry program of the United Church of Christ. Judy is currently serving as Youth Coordinator/Lay Minister, and Marie works primarily with caregiving and visiting the sick and shut-ins. Anne Coughlin is also enrolled in the program. With the work of these three individuals, more of the important ministries of the church can be carried out, serving many more of the members of the congregation. The congregation of Calvin Church is proud of its history and is excited about its present and future. We greet all who read this volume with the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Pastor 186
