Magyar Egyház, 2011 (90. évfolyam, 1. szám)
2011-02-01 / 1. szám
MAGY AR EGYHÁZ 21. oldal NEWS FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS GYÜLEKEZETI HÍREK THE MAGYAR REFORMED CHURCH 179 Somerset New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Tel. (732) 828-3165 Pastor: Rev.Zsolt Ötvös Chief Elder: János Samok We can look back to our 2009 year with thanksgiving to God for His guidance and blessings in our church's life and service. We held our English and Hungarian services on Sundays, and our special New Years Day, Ash Wednesday, New Years Eve weekday services. We gathered around the Lord’s Table to take part in Holy Communion 8 times. On Sundays members of our church participate in our services with Scripture and responsive readings. One of the greatest projects of our congregation was the renovation of our sanctuary. As Rob Kovács, one of our consistory members tells about the renovation: "After nearly one hundred years of service the brick structure was badly in need of repair. Time had taken its toll on the building. The walls were no longer plumb and the roof weighed too heavily on them. This situation allowed water to get into the structure, compounding the damage and accelerating the deterioration. Some of the large beams that made the roof trusses became rotted and no longer held the roof in place. In concert with our contractors the Church developed a plan to raise steel columns around the outside of the building and rest the repaired roof trusses on them. This effectively let us build a modem steel structure around our existing brickwork, saving the building. The walls were brought back into plumb and the interior renovated. The renewed church was rededicated on Sunday, March 22, 2009." Our Church Renovation Financing Committee organized various fund raiser events to help with the costs of the restoration. After holding the Rededication Sunday in March, we planned a Commitment Sunday in August when our members made commitment pledges toward the expenses of the repairs. With can say with thankfulness to the Lord that our members and friends through of our church have committed over $130,000 donation to be made in the following 5 years. The committee also planned a Fundraiser Dinner Dance in November, when the local Hungarian American Athletic Club provided their new building for this event to support our congregation. In March we restarted our Sunday School classes, and with thanks to God, we now are glad to witness a stable Hungarian Sunday school with 5 children attending on Sundays. With the Sunday School teachers we prepared a Palm Sunday Children Sermon and Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday. We organized a Christmas children program for our Christmas lunch with the participation of 12 children, and we handed our Christmas gifts to 24 children. We continued to do the mission projects with the "God's Love" Christmas Coat Give-Away program. We sponsored a family for Christmas purchasing gifts for the children of the family. We have sent care packages to five of our college students, one high school student and one military member of our church family serving in Iraq. We held our annual Bethlen Home Sunday when Rev. Imre A. Beratalan represented the Bethlen Communities and preached the word of God. As part of our mission commitments to our community we provide home for the Saturday Hungarian School for 1 -8 graders, and recently we welcomed the Hungarian Saturday Kindergarten and the Hungarian Girl Scouts who are using our Educational Building. Our Men's Club continued its successful dinner projects. As our Men's Club president, Henry Senko retired, Jeffry Tibok took over his service. Our Women's Guild with the leadership of our dear member and one of our Vice Chiefs, Irene Danna serves the Lord with passion and untiring willingness with the Spring and Fall Auction and many other projects our ladies carry out throughout the year. The Worship committee held its meetings under the leadership of Julia Bertalan. We have started to have new responsive readings during our services, planned a special liturgy part for our Christmas Eve service, continued learning New Hymns in our English and Hungarian services and are planning to prepare welcoming packets for our first time visitors. We established the Long Term Planning Committee to oversee the future possibilities of our congregational life and church properties. The Property Committee of the church held its meetings Congregation at the installation service of Rev.Zsolt Ötvös every month to oversee the condition of our sanctuary, educational building, parsonage and rental properties. Our By-Laws committee, as in every five years, has reviewed our church bylaws to make some practical changes and additions. Our church Choir has been active throughout the year with holding their weekly practices and singing in our regular and special holiday services. Recently we also started a choir for the Hungarian service with the leading of our new member, Ildikó Rozs, we are thankful for her services among us. In the past year we organized a few specail events, bowling with the youth and young adults, a trip and cruise to New York City The installation of the new minister, rev. Zsolt Otvos took place on October 18. He was welcomed to the church with the support and love of the members. From September of 2009 we received a seminary student, Julia Bertalan who spends her seminary internship from September, 2009 to May 2010. With the history of her family, her great-grandfather Rev. Kosa and grandfather Rev. Bertalan serving our church for many years, Juli received a warm welcome in our congregation. Her services and presence are bringing many blessing to our church.
