Magyar Egyház, 1978 (57. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-01-01 / 1-2. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS ALLEN PAKK, MICH. The Wayne State University Hungarian Room Committee had a successful fund raising “winter festival” in the Holy Cross church auditorium, January 14. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Zoltán Oláh who in the true ecumenical spirit helped to make it a memorable venture. The annual congregational meeting is scheduled for sometime in February when the reports will be completed. Hungarian Heritage Day was observed January 8, when Professor August J. Molnár, New Brunswick, N. J. was our guest minister. Thanks and appreciation to all, who gave generously. Lent began on February 8, Wednesday. Church service was held 7:30 P.M. (Combined English and Hungarian service). The annual dinner of January 28 (disznótoros vacsora) was successful: thanks and appreciation to all workers and helpers. HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH COOK BOOK (11,000 copies sold) order from: The Dorcas Guild 9901 Allen Road Allen Prak. Mich. 48101 $3.00 - postage JO additional. CARTERET, N. J. Christmastide worship services were attended by congregations much larger than expected; so were the gifts brought up by our people. The Youth Fellowship visited close to forty families and sang Christmas carols in their homes in English and in Hungarian. Also, members of the Youth Fellowship were in charge of the Christmas Eve candlelight service where except for the Pastor’s Christmas Story all parts were said or read by the young people; they rendered an excellent service. At the close of the prayer service on New Year’s Eve the vital statistics from 1977 were read: 6 baptisms, 5 confirmations, 1 wedding, 10 burials (also 4 more burials of non-member relatives of church members). On New Year’s Day, following tradition, the congregation visited the parsonage after the service; the Pastor’s family and the people wished each other a blessed new year. Burials: Michael Gall, 79, on December 16. He was a member of our church since 1920. — Mrs. Joseph Kertis (Margaret Katkó), 65, on December 17. She was a member of our church since birth. — Mrs. Miklós Csabina (Sophie Tami), 80, on December 28. She was a member of our church since 1915. The annual financial statement for 1977, as submitted to the February 5 congregational meeting, showed $38,- 400 total receipts and $36,000 expenses. 76.4% of the receipts came from the church members’ “direct” giving, only 23.6% were received from rents, dinners and interest. 282 members have the right to vote; their annual per capita contribution was $84. The congregation was organized in 1903 thus 1978 is its 75th anniversary year. The refurbishing of the sanctuary’s interior and the purchase of a new organ are planned to be completed before the anniversary celebrations in the Fall. The Junior Women’s Guild was the host to a Valentine’s Day Inter-Guild Social where close to a hundred women from area sister-churches were their dinner guests; among them were members of churches of the Calvin Synod thus making the affair a fine witness to Hungarian Reformed ecumenical fellowship. The chorus of the Senior Citizen’s Club of Fords provided the much enjoyed entertainment. Funeral: Louis M. Bartha, 59, on January 31. The deceased worked as coach and athletic director in several of the area high schools and was loved and respected by all. DUQUESNE, PA. During the Christmas Season 171 members received the Holy Elements in communion. Funeral: Mrs. Mary Kish was laid to rest in our cemetery on January 17. She was a life-long member of our congregation, residing in California for the last few years. Our congregational meeting was held on January 29. Newly elected members of the governing body of our congregation are: Frank Demes, chief elder, John Estu and Joseph Walker assistant elders, Eileen Halpern secretary and Eileen Jenulevich treasurer. New council members in addition to the officers are Helen Sapos, and honorary elder Kalman Helmeczi. We honored our officers and council members at a congregational dinner on February 5. Our financial status at the end of 1977 was: Income (including interest on our savings accounts) $30,797.20. Expenses (including transfers to our savings accounts) $25,045.34. Grand total of cash on hand: $33,857.73. Our congregation grew moderately in finances and in numbers in the year 1977. We thank the Lord for crowning our humble efforts with the above results. Looking into the year 1978, we began our annual Lenten Vesper Services, each Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. Communion will be observed on Maundy Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and on Easter Sunday 9:30 a.m. in Hungarian and at 11 a.m. in the English Service. McKeesport, pa. During the Christmas Season approximately 144 partook in communion in the English Services, 36 members participated in communion during the Hungarian Services. The Social Activities Group held a Christmas Party, our newly organized Bowling Group held their mid-season bowling banquet at the American Legion Hall in White Oak on January 7. On January 29 the Rev. Dr. Csaba Baksa held services, both in English and in Hungarian. On February 5 we had Rev. Zoltán Szucs conduct services in both languages. On February 12 we held communion, the Rev. Csaba Orosz officiated. A congregational meeting was called for February 19 to elect a new pastor for our church. Funeral: on January 6 we buried one of our oldest members, Michael Heller. The Rev. Louis Dies conducted the services. PERTH AMBOY, N. J. This year will be our “Diamond Jubilee”, when we will remember the 75 years of our church existence. As we look forward with confidence and joy into the future, we are saddened to recall some of the happenings in the past year. The Lord has summoned us together to stand beside the coffin of our brothers and sisters 28 times. May His love and grace embrace those whose hearts are bleeding with sorrow. Beside the sadness, our hearts were also filled with joy. Especially on the joyful occasion of Baptisms and Weddings. In the great name of our Lord, 12 infants were received into the Church of Christ through Holy Baptism. We gathered to unite loving friends in Holy Matrimony 8 times.
