Partner Church Committee

Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

M U F L I N K S

Symbol of American Unitarianism

Symbol of Transylvanian Unitarianism

Don Price donaldprice@optonline.net
Gabor Kiss gabor@gaborkiss.com

Partner Church - related events

The Partner Church Committee maintains the relationship with the Fellowship's partner church in Sinfalva, Romania (Transylvania (Erdély)), which was Hungary until after WW I. Sinfalva is about 15 miles from Torda, the birthplace of Unitarianism. The committee raises funds, disseminates information about the origins and history of Unitarianism and its state in modern-day Romania, and encourages contacts between the members of the two congregations.

Maps to get to our Partner Church (new 9/2/14)

Updated 4/14/15 - The Partner Church Committee would like to thank the MUF community for your generosity during the Special Collection to support our Partner Church in Sinfalva, Romania (Transylvania). Between the two services we received over $1500 to continue our long-standing tradition of a yearly Christmas gift to help preserve Unitarianism in the land of its origin.

Updated 1/11/15 - We've added some photos from Christmas 2015, both the Incredible Edible Decorations activity and some photos from Sinfalva. Have a look: https://mufphotos.shutterfly.com/partnerchurch/140 . Rev. Palfi asked that we provide clarifying instructions on the use of the money we send as a Christmas gift. Since this was a potentially touchy subject I wrote it in English and asked Tunde to do a translation in perfect Hungarian. You can see both here:

Finally here is a link to Tim Atkins' Time For All Ages today, called "The Crime of Innovation" about Francis David and Giorgio Biendratta (based on the work of Charles Howe)

Added 9/19/14 Transylvania Tidbit from September Newsletter, including lyrics to Song #352 and Gabor's translation of the original Hungarian words

Updated 5/16/14

The Winter/Spring 2014 Partner Church Newsletter has two articles of special interest. One was written by Gabor, about his trip to Transylvania last August, called "Feathers, Flames, Flying, Fun—and Gulyás" (p. 13). The other is "400 Years as Unitarians" on p. 10, written by Jonothan Bass of Devon, PA, describing their the trip to Várfalva (Sinfalva's next-door neighbor) which Gabor participated in.

Updated 3/6/14

A presentation (pdf) (Powerpoint) (photos): TRANSYLVANIA TIDBIT: ILDIKO PALFI TO ATTEND ICUUW LEADERSHIP SCHOOL (See 3/2014 Newsletter, p. 5)

Updated 2/23/14

A recording of a webinar "Global Sisters worldwide webinar concerning women’s projects in Transylvania and Hungary ". One hour long, excellent quality

Zsófia Sztranyiczki, International Women's Convocation's Executive Director – brief background and partnership between International Women’s Convocation and UNOSZ, the National Association of Unitarian Women of Romania

Krisztina Páll, Global Sisters Coordinator and member of International Women’s Convocation's Global Sisters Leadership Council – Global Sisters Projects in Transylvania and Hungary

Gizella Nagy, Vice-President of UNOSZ and Secretary of International Women’s Convocation – Leadership Development in Transylvania

Moderator: Rev. Carol Huston, President, International Women's Convocation

Note: you will have to register to view it and possibly download a file to enable it to play. Call Gabor 201-602-3598 if you have any trouble with viewing the video.

Updated 12/26/13

Christmas greetings - email from Minister Dénes Pálfi 12/19/13

Prisoner in a Pear Tree

The controversial gold mine at Rosia Montana (Verespatak)

New photos - There is a tab marked Partner Church and three albums within it (set up by Jerry Weinstein)

updated 9/22/13 - There will be more information about Gabor's trip to Transylvania in an upcoming program, but in the meantime:

- A brief explanation of the Feathers and Flames singing mask

- Composite photo of Sinfalva folks wearing the "Feathers and Flames" Singing Mask

- Composite photo of MUF folks wearing the "Feathers and Flames" Singing Mask

- Gabor introduces the Feathers and Flames singing mask to MUF on August 4, 2013

- Norman Lowery Singing Mask performance Private Prayers, Public Rituals at MUF June 23, 2013

02/24/13: Ildikó Pálfi report from the Second International Convocation of UU Women (ICUUW) October 4-7, 2012. (We provided financial support for her attendance)
In English: Seeking Balance in a Changing World
In Hungarian: Egyensúlykeresés változó világunkban

Information about the upcoming trip to Transylvania August 12-20, 2013 together with the Devon, PA congregation, partnered with Várfalva, Sinfalva's immediate neighbor and Dénes Pálfi's hometown. Trip Description

...

2008 Christmas cards emailed by Csongor Palfi (the minister's elder son)
- in English - in Hungarian

Letters sent via email from Ildikó and Dénes Pálfi, with special thanks to the Caring Committee 12-22-08

Letter sent by Rev. Dénes Pálfi on 1/31/08 (translated by Gabor)

Partner Church Photos: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v218/MUF/

Transylvanian Unitarianism (in English):
http://www.unitarius.hu/uch.htm

Denes and Gabor buy a computer (published in Partner Church Newsletter).
Read the story (Word document)

Mission Statement of the MUF
Partner Church Committee
1) Inform the members of MUF about the historical origins of American Unitarianism, from its beginnings in Transylvania onwards.
2) Give the members of MUF some insight into the differences in beliefs and style which have evolved, and some of the major events that caused this evolution.

3) Develop personal relationships with individual residents of Sinfalva and members of MUF, including letters and visits. Foster mutual growth, sympathy, encouragement, and emotional and moral support, to the residents and congregation of Sinfalva and MUF.

4) Provide assistance, including but not limited to financial, to help the Unitarian Church in Sinfalva and Transylvania as a whole to survive and thrive.

5) Be open to learning and guidance from the Transylvanian Unitarian tradition.

Partner Church - related Events

Incredible Edible Christmas Tree Decorations (Szaloncukor) – A Hungarian Tradition (December 2006, 2007, 2008). Here is the handout (1.5MB) for the event.

FEB 1 - 12:15 PM & FEB 2- 7:30 PM : Transylvanian Photo Exhibit. Photographer and raconteur, Stephen Spinder, has travelled the fabled folk landscape of Transylvania and is currently on a USA tour. He will present his photographs of Transylvania and anecdotes about his experiences taking them. Stephen's work can be seen at http://www.spinderartphoto.com/gallery_transylvania.html. He will also describe a UUA/PCC initiative for a fine art photo guide to Unitarian churches in Transylvania . Hosted by the Partner Church Committee. Contact Gabor at gabor@gaborkiss.com .