HR1457

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to honor the pastor and 
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congregation of St. John's United Church of Christ in Breese as 
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they celebrate the church's sesquicentennial; and

 
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    WHEREAS, St. John's Church was organized in 1858 and was 
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called the "Evangelische St. Johannes Gemeinde"; in the summer 
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of 1858 the first framed church building was erected; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The first services were held in the homes of the 
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early settlers in Breese and conducted by the people 
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themselves; in the spring of 1859 Reverend Christepler F. 
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Starck was called and became the first resident pastor; in 
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addition to serving the people of Breese, he also served in 
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Trenton, Carlyle, Central City, and other neighboring 
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communities; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1861 the first parsonage was built at the cost 
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of $600; over the years new pastors would come and go, 
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buildings would be updated or rebuilt, and changes would come 
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to the church, but their mission of serving the community would 
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not change; and

 
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    WHEREAS, St. John's continues to be a vital part of the 
 


 






HR1457
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LRB095 22019 KXB 52288 r




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community; they are involved with the House of Manna, the local 
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food pantry, and organize a vacation bible school for the 
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community; they participate in a yearly ecumenical service with 
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other churches in Breese and Beckemeyer; and they deliver 
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dinners to their shut-in members on Easter and Thanksgiving; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, In addition, they walk the Stations of the Cross 
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with local Catholic churches yearly; they send care packages to 
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servicemen and women in Iraq and other overseas areas; they 
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open their church to a local theater group to use as a practice 
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area; and they have built a float along with St. Dominic Church  
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in Breese celebrating both churches' 150th anniversaries; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the church family of St. John's United Church of 
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Christ on this momentous date in their history; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the congregation of St. John's United Church of 
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Christ as a symbol of our respect.