Fraternity-Testvériség, 2010 (88. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2010-10-01 / 4. szám
Fraternity I Testvériség Pastor Alexander Jalso, who began his ministry 52 years ago in Morgantown, WV, is delighted that there is now a Clergy Appreciation Day, unheard of before 1992. Although now retired, Pastor Jalso serves the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Homestead in Munhall, PA outside Pittsburgh as a part-time minister for a congregation that tries to keep the traditions alive of the previous generation of congregants. Pastor Jalso sums up the feelings of most HRFA-affiliated ministers when he says that the best way to appreciate the clergy is through peaceful, harmonious cooperation of a church’s members, but unfortunately, and especially in ethnic churches, a power struggle occurs more often and more intensely than one would expect. At the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Homestead, it is probably due to Rev. Jalso’s intelligence, sense of humor, and longevity as a pastor that he feels honored each day to continue to serve. Rev. Attila Kocsis, formerly pastor of the Magyar Reformed Church in Perth Amboy, NJ and now employed by the Hungarian Government in Budapest, Hungary, says, “It is important that at least for one day a year that the members of the congregation take into consideration that their pastors are human beings too, that they have joys and sorrows, and that they can be tired or even burned out. It is good if the congregation knows that pastors have families, and their wives and children wait for them at home. Ministers need to recharge and enjoy mental refreshment periodically. They are servants but not slaves, and they have to account for their words, acts and thoughts with God and the people. Please pray for us so that we do not tire of this service to God and to the members of our congregations.” Thus, it is the hope of many parishioners and pastors that Clergy Appreciation Day grows in popularity because when we need our faith the most, when we need confirmation that we are indeed God’s children, and when we need assurance that our loved ones are waiting for us in God’s home, we turn to our ministers. It is they who see us at our weakest, at our most needful times, and at moments that we need to feel closest to our Lord. So isn’t it just one way of confirming our faith to say “Thank You” to those who have made their life’s work caring for us parishioners? The Ordination of Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan Rev. AI Kovács T he Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan was ordained Bishop of Calvin Synod, a UCC Conference, on Saturday, Sept 18, in Fairfield, CT. The sermon, in English, was offered by the Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ. The Rev. Dr. John Deckanback, Central Atlantic Conference Minister, presided and presented the Conference Ministers’ Medallion of Office. The Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi officiated in administration of the rite of ordination, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, both Bishops Emeriti. The Reformed Church of Hungary was represented by the Rev. Dr. Zsolt Kadar, Dean at Eger and General Secretary of Doctors of Theology, Debrecen. Many pastors participated from the Hungarian Reformed churches. The UCC Connecticut Conference was represented by several officers and local pastors, as the service emphasized the Church’s connections and its unity, a principle of authentic Calvinism. Several hundred were in attendance and at the traditional Hungarian church dinner afterward. Tájékoztató Szerezze Meg Magyar Állampolgárságát! Örömmel tájékoztatjuk olvasóinkat, hogy elérhető a www.allampol- garsag.gov.hu weboldal, amelyen megtalálható az Állampolgársági törvény (1993. évi LV. törvény) módosításával, így az egyszerűsített honosítás lehetőségével és az ehhez fűződő eljárásokkal kapcsolatos minden lényeges információ. A honlap készítői igyekeztek az egyszerűsített honosítással kapcsolatos minden felmerülő kérdést összefoglalni és közérthetően megválaszolni, valamint széleskörű tájékoztatást nyújtani az érdeklődő határon túli magyarok számára, ezzel is megkönnyítve a magyar állampolgársághoz jutásukat, ügyük intézését. 7