Calvin Synod

The Calvin Synod convened in Ligonier, PA on Tuesday May 8th with a Service of Word and Holy Communion at Bethlen Communities’ historic chapel. After worship, photos and lunch at Bethlen, the Synod reconvened at the Ramada Inn conference center a few blocks away with Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan presiding.

In addition to its normal business and reporting, the 74th Synod received greetings from denominational heads and of the United Church of Christ and the Hungarian Reformed Church in America.

During its business sessions, the Synod in its capacity as a conference in the United Church of Christ voted against ratifying the Unified Governance Proposal after spending a significant amount of time discussing the Synod’s relationship with that body.

In addition to the wonderful fellowship and enjoyable times at Penn Scenic View for the annual picnic and the awards banquet hosted by Bethlen Communities, the highlight of the Synod was the ministry of God’s Word. Stirring sermons in the worship service (in both Hungarian and English) were complimented by the high quality of three presentations given by Dr. Robert Gagnon on the subject of Paul’s Understanding of Unity from 1 Corinthians. In those presentations Dr. Gagnon discussed the doctrinal and ethical pre-requisites for Christian Unity which are so frequently overlooked in our day. In the subsequent presentations, Dr. Gagnon discussed the the type of discrimination going on at the Lord’s Table to discern its application in the modern church.

Next year’s Calvin Synod will convene May 14-17 in Ligonier.

Kedves Barátaink!
Dear Friends!

Szeretettel hívunk Húsvéti istentiszteleteinkre!
We cordially invite you for Easter Sunday Worship!

Los Angeles-i Els? Magyar Református Egyház
Április 8
HÚSVÉT VASÁRNAP
Úrvacsoraosztással egybekötött
Istentiszteletek magyar és angol nyelven 11:00-tól
Istentisztelet után ebéd amire szeretettel várunk mindenkit!
12717 York Ave.
Hawthorne, CA. 90250
310-355-1475
www.elsoegyhazla.org

April 8th
EASTER SUNDAY
Worship Service with Holy Communion
11 AM in Hungarian and English
Lunch and pastries follow!
12717 York Ave.
Hawthorne, A 90250
310-355-1475
www.elsoegyhazla.org
The First Hungarian Reformed Church
of Los Angeles welcomes you!

Services for Holy Week at Third Avenue Calvin Reformed Church, Beaver Falls, PA:

Worship Service 9:30 a.m. April 1st. – Palm Sunday
Rev. Imre A. Bertalan

Worship Service 6:00 p.m. April 6th. – Good Friday
Fish Dinner 5:00 p.m.
Rev. Imre A. Bertalan

Worship Service 9:30 a.m. April 8th. – Easter
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Rev. Lisa Kerestesi
________________________________

JOHNSTOWN+WINDBER HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH – Rev. Albert W. Kovacs, Pastor

PALM SUNDAY 8:45 AM – Festival of the Palms

EASTER SUNDAY 8:45 AM – Festival of the Resurrection – Holy Communion
___________________________________

First Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh, PA Holy Week Services:

Palm Sunday – April 1 – 10 a.m. English worship service
11 a.m. Hungarian worship service

Good Friday – April 6 – 7 p.m. worship service

Easter Sunday – April 8 – 10 a.m. combined worship service with Lord’s Supper

Here is the Bethlen Communities holiday schedule:

March 28 – 12 Noon – Ecumenical Lenten Service – Covenant Presbyterian Church – preaching: Rev. Gabor G. Nitsch

April 1 – 10:00 am – Bethlen Home – Palm Sunday Service – English
11:00 am – Hungarian
1:45 pm – Ligonier Gardens – Palm Sunday Service – English
2:30 pm – Hungarian

April 5 – 11:00 am – Ligonier Gardens – Maundy Thursday Service – English

April 8 – 6:30 am – Easter Ecumenical Service in Ligonier, on the Diamond (Central Square)

April 8 – 10:00 am – Bethlen Home – Easter Holy Communion – English
11:30 am – Moriah Chapel – Easter Holy Communion in Hungarian for the community
1:45 pm – Ligonier Gardens – Easter Holy Communion – English
2:30 pm – Hungarian

Provided courtesy of Tunde Garai

Tornado Relief Fund

Dear Congregations,

On Friday, March 2, 2012 violent storms and tornadoes spawned throughout Indiana, Northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio. Throughout its path, the tornado caused widespread destruction and 38 deaths (as of March 4) across 5 states. “In Indiana, an EF-4 tornado –the second-highest on the Fujita scale that measures tornadic force– packing 175 mph winds hit the town of Henryville, and stayed on the ground for more than 50 miles” (Plain Dealer Sunday, Tales of survival, heartbreak after storms, March 4, 2012).

The Conference Council of the Calvin Synod asks for your support to help the victims. Please, pray for the victims and make generous contributions to help them at the time of this great tragedy. Donations may be sent to the Calvin Synod Treasurer:

Ms. Lisa Susan Toth-Maskarinec

1836 Timothy Drive • West Mifflin, PA 15122

When sending your donation, please write in the Memo section of your check: Tornado Relief Fund. We are thankful for your prayers and generous support!

Yours in Christ,

Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai

Auxiliary Bishop

Homeland and Overseas Mission Coordinator

Dear Congregations and Members of the Lakeside Classis,

You are cordially invited to attend our upcoming Lakeside Classis spring meeting on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 12:00 Noon at the Hungarian Reformed Church of Lorain, UCC.
Lunch will be served at 12:00 Noon. The Opening Worship will follow the lunch, starting at 1:00pm, then at 2:00pm our Regular Meeting.
Please, inform Rev. Rev. Péter L. Tóth how many people from your congregation plan to attend. Tel. (440) 277-8177.
The main speaker will be Mr. Gabor Ferenczy, Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship, Hungary. The title of his presentation is: Child Evangelism Fellowship in Hungary.

May God bless all of you!

In His Service,
Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai
Dean of the Lakeside Classis

Dear Congregations and Members of the Lakeside Classis,

Just a friendly reminder for those of you who plan to attend our upcoming Lakeside Classis fall meeting on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at 12:00 Noon at the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Walton Hills, 14530 Alexander Road, Walton, Hills, OH 44146.

Please, inform me how many people from your congregation plan to attend by Sunday, October 23rd. Tel. (440) 221-5334. Thank you.

The main speaker will be Ms. Gabriella Nadas. The title of her presentation is: Our Twenty Year Mission in Transylvania.

I hope to see you at our meeting!

In His Service,

Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai

Dean 

Dear Pastors and lay leaders of Eastern Classis,

The Fall Meeting of the Eastern Classis of Calvin Synod Conference of
the United Church of Christ will take place on Saturday October 15th,
2011 at 10:00 AM at the First Hungarian Reformed Church of New York
City, – 344 East 69th Street, New York, NY.

There is major subway construction in the church’s immediate vicinity,
therefore street parking is very limited, – please arrive early.

Blessings and peace to you and yours,
Lehel F Deak,
Secretary-Treasurer

Dear Congregations and Members of the Lakeside Classis,

You are cordially invited to attend our upcoming Lakeside Classis fall meeting on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at 12:00 Noon at the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Walton Hills.
Lunch will be served at 12:00 Noon. The Opening Worship will follow the lunch, starting at 1:00pm, then at 2:00pm our Regular Meeting.
Please, inform me, Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai how many people from your congregation plan to attend. Tel. (440) 221-5334.
May God bless all of you!
In His Service,
Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai
Dean of the Lakeside Classis

Dear Friends:

“The Bethlen Home”, now known as “Bethlen Communities”, has been a joint mission of the HungarianReformed Churches, both of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America and the Calvin Synod, since its founding in 1931.

Today the “Bethlen Home” still depends on the support of our churches for its continued work.

This current year “Bethlen Communities” is projected to assist people in need with over $200,000 in “benevolent care”, continuing the tradition of care for individuals who are in need.

In the beginning, our mission was first to orphans, their widowed parents and grandparents, then the elderly. Today our mission is primarily to those who are approaching the end of their lives, are infirm and without adequate financial means to care for themselves in the sunset years of their lives.

Bethlen Communities has been accepted into a not-for-profit fundraising program which has a fantastic benefit: on Monday, October 3, every donated dollar designated to Bethlen Communities will be matched with an additional $ 0.50 (fifty cents) by the Westmoreland and Pittsburgh Foundations!

Please encourage your congregations, your friends, and I especially encourage YOU to make a donation to support this mission of ours. Every dollar YOU donate is worth one and one-half dollars to Bethlen Communities on Tuesday, October 4th.

I would also encourage you to be generous. Whatever you would normally contribute to a cause you know to be worthy, DOUBLE your donation on Monday, October 3; The net benefit will be TRIPLE what you originally planned to give to Bethlen Communities!

The attached flier explains how to donate over the internet. Please be generous!

Your fellow Servant in Christ,

Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I am very pleased to extend to you this invitation to the Fall Meeting of the Central Classis, Calvin Synod Conference, United Church of Christ, which will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2011, at Bethlen Communities, Ligonier, PA.

The meeting will begin at 9:00 AM with registration and refreshments in Bethlen’s Conference Room, 125 Kalassay Drive. Our opening worship will be at 9:30.

Our featured speaker this year will be Ms. Dolores J. Taylor, who will present the topic: “Relationships: Conflict, Anger, Reconciliation and Blessings”. We will explore, through Scripture, our relationships and dialogue with God, self and others. The topic will be introduced at the Fall meeting, and will become the focus of the Central Classis Fall Retreat, scheduled for Friday evening through Saturday, October 21st and 22nd.

Ms. Taylor will lead us, through practical Biblical teachings, to a hands-on, Scripture-based approach to gaining the most and giving the most in our relationships with God and others. Please mark your calendars for both events. More information will follow via email. Both events are open to all members of Calvin Synod, the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, our local congregations and our friends, all interested people. May God bless our worship and fellowship together with a rich outpouring of His Holy Spirit!

In Faith,

Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Dean
Central Classis, Calvin Synod Conference
United Church of Christ