Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-11-01 / 3. szám
Calvin United Church of Christ in Fairfield celebrated its 75th anniversary on Sunday, October 24, 2000 with a Worship Service of Thanksgiving in the church sanctuary followed by a banquet at Three Door Restaurant in Bridgeport. The church sanctuary was filled with parishioners and guests at the Worship Service at which both the English and Hungarian languages were used. The Bible Reading, I. Cor. 3:10-15, was read by Dr. Annemarie Kool, the president of the Protestant Mission Institute in Hungary who is presently studying at Yale Divinity School. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Dr. Anthony Szilagyi, pastor of First United Church of Christ in Bridgeport, Father Louis Pintye and Father Emeric Szlezak from St. Emery's Parish, and Rev. Betsy Reed, pastor of the United Church of Christ in Bridgeport. The English meditation, "Strengthening our Foundation," was given by the Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop of Calvin Synod, and the Hungarian meditation, "Krisztusban elrejtett elet," was delivered by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, Bishop Emeritus of Calvin Synod. The service was enriched with the singing of two selections by Reka Leszay accompanied on the piano by Teleff Johnson and the reciting of two poems by Lajos Peterfy and Annamária Gall from Transylvania. The benediction was offered by the host pastor, Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan, Auxiliary Bishop of Calvin Synod. The 75th anniversary banquet was attended by 150 members and guests. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Robert Wargo, the secretary of the Consistory. The singing of the American and Hungarian national anthems was led by Reka Leszay accompanied by Teleff Johnson. Opening prayers were offered in English by Rev. Albert Kovács, pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Woodbridge, NJ and in Hungarian by Dr. Vitéz. Mrs. Elizabeth Turrell, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, read the names of those families who have been members of the church for three generations and they were presented with flowers. All the guests in attendance were also presented with red and white carnations. Mrs. Karolina Szabó, vice chief elder of the church, expressed her thanks to Mrs. Turrell for organizing the memorable event. Mrs. Szabó also read Lajos Peterfi reciting Hungarian poems the greetings of the chief elder, Mr. Kalman Jonas. Reka Leszay performed two beautiful selections before the dinner was served. During the dinner, the guests could browse and enjoy a beautiful display of photographs from the church's history. A slide presentation, narrated by Elizabeth Turrell, included a wide selection of pictures from the church's past up to the present. Hungarian poems were recited by Lajos Peterfy and Annamária Gall of Transylvania. The members of the church were greeted by pastors and delegations from area churches as well as the former chief elder of the church, Mr. Raymond Gilliam, who was visiting from South Carolina. Closing remarks were made by Rt. Rev. Poznan followed by the benediction offered by the bishops. A BRIEF HISTORY OF CALVIN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Calvin United Church of Christ of Fairfield began as a Sunday School which was established on February 1, 1925 by the First Magyar Reformed Church on Pine Street in Bridgeport under the leadership of Rev. Alexander Ludman. Mrs. Annette Fiske Mereness donated a lot on King's Highway for religious work in memory of her father, Asa Fiske. As enrollment grew, The headtable at the banquet. At the microphone are Elizabeth Turrell and Karolina Szabó Page 2 75th Anniversary of Calvin United Church of Christ
