Magyar Egyház, 1959 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1959-04-01 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 NEWS FINLAND The Lutheran quarterly “Theology and Church”, published in Helsinki, says that a total Roman Catholic community of 2,100 in Finland required the services of twenty-two Roman Catholic priests, twenty-one of whom are non-Finish. In addition the periodical lists five lay brothers and 32 non-Finish sisters. # * # The Methodist Church in Finland is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Finish church has 3,200 members, 25 ordained ministers and 30 congregations. # # # HUNGARY The Rev. Stephen Szamosközi, 48, Senior of the North Presbytery of the Hungarian Reformed Church, has been elected bishop of the Danubian District. He succeeds Bishop Albert Bereczky who resigned last year. # # * JAPAN Three groups of theologians in Japan are working on the Japanese translation and publication of collected works of John Wesley, Martin Luther and John Calvin to mark the commemoration of the centennial of the missionary work of the evangelical churches in Japan. * * * PHILIPPINES President Carlos Garcia of the Philippines has informed the Philippine Federation of Christian Churches that he will personally view the Martin Luther Film before reconsidering whether it may be shown in the Philippines outside church buildings. The film has been banned for public showing for several years. * * * POLAND A survey on marriage carried out in the Polish periodical “Banner of Youth’’ in cooperation with sociologists from the University of Lodz and the Polish Academy of Science shows that 73 per cent of the 2,000 interviewed were married in church. Of these 40 per cent came from working class families, 40 per cent from the petite bourgeoisie and 20 per cent from peasant background. # # # GERMANY (Cologne)-—An appeal for understanding of the situation of churches in Eastern Europe has been issued by Dr. Hanfried Krüger, director of he Central Ecumenical Office of the German churches at Frankfurt. In a speech ot Cologne Dr. Krüger listed three insights that had kept contacts open since the Evanston Assembly of the World Council of Churches in the USA in 1954. He said these insights were “that Christ died for all men, in both Eastern and Western blocs, that faith in Christ is stronger than all political tensions” and “that we must not leave the people in Eastern Europe in isolation”. Dr. Krüger warned against condemning the churches in Eastern Europe. He said church life was active there, in spite of oppression. According to Dr. Krüger many Christians in Eastern Europe feel responsibility toward the socialist state simply because they are Christians. The German church leader said that Christians in Western Europe must be more modest and not pretend that everything in the West is in order. Christians from both sides should try together to find the foundation of true Christian life in the light of the Bible. * * * CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Prague) — A secular ceremony, similar to the one introduced in East Germany as a substitute for Christian baptism, is now being held in Czechoslovakia. At the “substitute baptism” in Czechoslovakia, the mayor gives a short address, a Russian cradle song is played and members of the Communist Youth Organization, wearing their uniforms, recite a poem. At the end of the ceremony, the parents are given a wreath of flowers. jSewA 3rom ZJhe ConcjregationJ CARTERET, N. J. In many years this Easter we had the highest figures in church attendance, communicants, and donation. Communion elements were donated by the Junior Women’s Guild, Paul Erdélyi, Frank Erdélyi, John Lazar and William Lazar. On May 8 the Junior Women’s Guild will have a Mother and Daughter Social. Two skits will be presented, one in English and another in Hungarian. The Guild had an Easter Hat Social in March attended by some 150 members of guilds from sister churches; they had a great time and fine fellowship. Ascension Day services will be conducted in Hungarian at 7, and in English at 8 P.M. Preparatory services prior to Pentecost will be held in English on Friday, May 15, 7:45, followed by examination of the confirmation class; in Hungarian on Saturday at 7:45. Pentecost communion service at 8:30 in English with confirmation; 10:30 in Hungarian. DUQUESNE, PA. The churches are filled on Easter Sunday and ours was no exception. The services preceding Easter as well as of the whole month were very well attended. One of the Protestant Unon services was held in our church, on Maundy Thursday we had a Communion Service, Good Friday evening the Passion Story was shown on films. 311 members lived with the sacrament of Lord’s Supper, which is 88 per cent of our communicant membership. Consequently the amount of contributions, too, was praiseworthy. On March 15 we observed “Bethlen Home Sunday”, the Rev. Alexander Daroczy being our guest minister. The pastor was preaching in Washington on that day. According to plans we shall celebrate the fifth anniversary of the dedication of our new church on Sunday, May 3rd.
