Calvin Synod Herald, 2010 (111. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2010-03-01 / 3-4. szám

10

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

On Feb. 8, we had the General Meeting of the Congregation and Dinner. On Feb. 8th, Kovács Róbert, representative of the HRFA, held a seminar. On Feb. 15th we had our traditional Zsuzsanna Day Dinner, with great success. On March 15th we had dinner and a program remembering the 1848 revolutionary events. On May 3rd the performing artist, Pataki Attila, from Hungary, was our guest. We also had a chance to listen to the lecture of Bernád Ilona about the powers of natural healing.

On June 28, we had a Special General Meeting of the Congregation, and a decision was made for the installation of the air conditioning system in our Calvin Hall. Following the meeting, we had our traditional garden picnic in our church garden.

In May our Pastor was the Official Delegate of the Calvin Synod to the Constitutional Synod, held in Debrecen, Hungary. In the pastor’s absence the Rev. Rőczey Barnabás held Church services and served communion at Pentecost. Thanks for his service amongst us. In the absence of our organist Fomwald László, Vásárhelyi Mária and Papp Attila were the substitute organists. Thank you.

For New Bread our Church was decorated with wheat sent to our Church by the Varga & Meyer families of Michigan, through Julia & Richard Yuhasz. Thank you.

All year around, we prepared for celebrating the 50th Anniversary Of Our Calvin Hall. The building was a must following the 1956 Revolution in Hungary, when so many Hungarians came to this area that our Church and hall, built in 1905, became too small for the crowds. With the leadership of The Rev. Imre Bertalan, who was the pastor at the time, Calvin Hall was built, and became a school and center of different events and activities. It was able to seat 450 people with a stage, kitchen and hall upstairs, along with 10 classrooms, kitchen & platform downstairs. We started our fundraising for the air conditioning system in 2008 and continued all last year. The name on the Calvin Hall was repaired and coated in golden bronze by Tamás István. Part of an inside wall was decorated with ceramic tiles by Márton Károly & Anna. An Anniversary Book was prepared with the help of Tilger Ibolya. Thanks to everyone for their help & support.

October, being the month of Reformation, and based on the fact that our Calvin Hall was used for many events during the years, we decided to combine celebrations with events. For John Calvin’s 500th Anniversary, and our Calvin Hall’s 50th Anniversary, we sent out a call for everyone to join us. On October 10th the Eastern Classis of the Calvin Synod U.C.C., held it’s meeting in Passaic and Rt. Rev. József Vásárhelyi, Dean of Eastern Classis, opened the meeting. The Rt. Rev. Karl K. Ludwig, Bishop, gave the devotion. Lehel Deák, Secretary-Treasurer of the Classis, read the minutes and treasurer’s report. The attending pastors gave reports about the life of their congregations. At 12:30 pm the representatives of the classis entered the Church together with the singing choir as the standing congregation greeted them.The following pastors & delegates participated in the Church Service which focused on John Calvin’s 500th Anniversary and our Calvin Hall’s 50th Anniversary: The Rt. Rev. Karl K. Ludwig, Bishop; The Rev. Stefan Török, Woodbridge Pastor; The Rev. Zsolt Papp, New York Pastor; The Rev. Peter Mauer, Manville

Pastor; The Rev. Anita Fogarassy, Supply Pastor; Mr. Lehel Deák, Classis Secretary/Treasurer and Synod Presbyter; Rt. Rev. József Vásárhelyi, Passaic Pastor, Dean, and Auxiliary Bishop of the Calvin Synod, U.C.C. Following the Church Service the celebration continued in the 50 year old Calvin Hall, where we dedicated two Calvin paintings. One was painted by our church member Pady Sándor, the other was donated by the American Hungarian Reformed Ministerial Association. We also dedicated the newly installed air conditioning system.

The festive program included “Lant & Toll” lead by Kertész Anna, along with songs & verses of religious and folk nature. The Hungarian school, as well as the scouts, were well represented. Patakfalvi Anna, our guest speaker, and Dr. Deák István, Tormási Judit, Simon Zoltán, remembered 1956. Valu Olivér sang psalms and patriotic songs. The English Master of Ceremonies was William Kiss Jr., while the Hungarian one was Dr. Kerekes Judit. Judit, a member of the theatre, held a short obituary in memory of Cserey Erzsi, the late director of the New York Hungarian Theatre, who held many performances in our Calvin Hall. The program ended with the National Anthems and benediction. We gave thanks to God for the beautiful day, and despite the fact that it was October, we had to put on the newly installed air conditioning because of the large crowd. Glory to God!

On Nov. 1st we dedicated the gravestone of Tilger István, in the George Washington Cemetery, and prayed at the graves of Vas Erzsébet and Dr. Ray Raymen with members of their families.

In 2009 we held our traditional Food Fair twice, on April 25th, 26th, and November 7th and 8th. Many thanks to all our helpers. We had our Tricky Tray four times, lead by Betty Chace, who also organized a daytrip to Atlantic City.

Major repairs were done on all our church properties. On the 4 family house, we changed all the windows and performed major repairs inside and outside of the building. Our Chief Elder, Béla Kiss, organized most of the work. Many thanks for his time and help along with our Assistant Chief Elder, Frank Sera.

The Lorántffy Zsuzsanna Ladies Aid and the Calvin Adult Fellowship held their meetings regularly. The pastor had Bible Classes and prayers at these meetings. We also started Confirmation Class and Religious Education for our young children. The pastor continues preaching the Word of God on the New York Hungarian Radio, WPAT 930, AM. He visited families, gave communion to those who could not participate with the congregation due to illness, in hospitals, nursing homes or at home.

Our Church always participates with the other Churches in Passaic in helping the needy at Thanksgiving, and we enjoy our joint Ecumenical Services. On Christmas Eve, Ft. Vas László, priest of the R.C. Church, preached in our Church while Rt. Rev. Vásárhelyi preached the midnight mass at St. Stephen R.C. Church.

The Pastor was the President of the American Hungarian Reformed Ministerial Association, and good relations were built with Canadian and Overseas Churches. The Rt. Rev. Vásárhelyi is the Co-Editor of The Calvin Synod Herald. As Auxiliary Bishop the pastor visited congregations with Bishop Ludwig and members of the Conference Council. As Dean of Eastern Classis he paid visits to the Classis Churches. At times the Pastor was