Magyar Egyház, 1958 (37. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1958-08-01 / 8-9. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

9

MAGYAR

CHURCH

Hungarian Reformed Church In Hollywood

It sounds incredible. Yet without the sensationalism which is characteristic of that city, we simply state the fact: a new congregation of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America was established in Hollywood, California, on July 20, 1958. That was the date when 85 Hungarian Reformed Chrisstians gathered to worship and at the closing of the service solemnly declared their wish to form a congregation and become a part of our historic Church. The congregation was accepted into the Western Classis by Dean Locus Nagy and greeted by the writer, the General Secretary of the Church; they were sent out to California by the Bishop’s Council in an answer to the ardent pleas of the organizing committee.

Hollywood is known as the capital of the American film industry. Who would have thought that someday a Hungarian church would be established there? It should be pointed out, however, that the present location of the congregation is not final. It may be moved to any other part of the Greater Los Angeles area as it may become necessary in the future, For this reason the official name is: Hungarian Reformed Church of Los Angeles, California.

Only a poet could discribe the emotions, dreams and plans, which filled the hearts of our brethren as we gathered for worship. Three Sundays in succession the number of worshippers steadily grew to reach about one hundred. On the first Sunday they declared the congregation established, on the second they elected officers and on the third they partook of the sacrement of Lord’s Supper. 84 lived with the sacrament on that hot summer Sunday. The house is being built on rock, surely, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

It seems so simple as we look back. It wasn’t so as we began. We were fearful that we may be proven weak instruments in this cause. We prayed for the help of the Holy Spirit who, like on the first Christian Pentecost, moved the hearts of the people and strengthened us in our faith and hope. People of diverse background and education, different types of immigrants, united into one solid group. There were the “oldtime” Americans living in California for decades or moved to the West after spending a lifetime in the eastern parts of America, others migrated to this continent during the last ten years, already well established in this fast growing community, and still others, who more recently found refuge in this free land and are groping for a new start. All kinds— all faithful to the faith of the fathers. All united by

the soul-burning desire to worship as free Hungarian- Americans of the Reformed Christian faith.

Distance was no obstacle. Some came only ten or twelve blocks, others fifteen-twenty miles, and some from a distance of forty-fifty miles. The majority of these people never met before yet greeted each other as brethren. They felt at home and departed as old friends to meet again. Los Angeles is an immense community of five million people. To travel for an hour at high speed to reach the destination is a very common and accepted fact. The problem of distance will have a special mark on the life of this congregation, but will not keep the faithful away.

Did you ever see a happy congregation? I am sure you did. But it was especially true of this one. Surely, they were glad to enter into the house of the Lord. They were in festive mood and even if the eyes were tearfilled at times, the hearts were full of thanksgiving and hope. These were natural human emotions, such as our Lord seeks to have. They were not indifferent of each other’s needs and feelings. They shared the happiness as well as the sorrows of the other. There was the breaking of bread, not only in the sacrament but also in the homes of friends, there were visitations of the sick, also sharing of sorrow in the death of the first honorary chief elder of the new congregation. The brethren soon heeded the exhortation of the great Apostle, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

Naturally the language used was Hungarian, almost exclusively, only here and there one could hear English. Yet the leadership is planning to have a bilingual Sunday School right from the start. There is a need for this and it is a good sign. The children will not leave their parents’ church as did so manv 25-30 years ago in our older congregations. Thev will learn and practice the faith of their fathers in the language they understand — and the door will also be open to non-Hungarian Americans.

The leadership is truly representative of the congregation, as it should be. They are sincere and serious minded. The chief elder or curator, John Néző, is a hard working young man, enthusiastic and tireless. It is a new position for him and he will be a good leader. He has four fellow-officers to help him, as well as seven additional elders — a good mixture of old and young of various backgrounds. One of the honorary chief elders, the great Alexander Finta, a genius of artistic interpretations, died a week after his election; the other is the beloved “uncle”, Dr. Géza Réthy, whose eloquence and wisdom is sur