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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Grace United Methodist Church of Springfield is
3 celebrating its 108th anniversary this year; the Church will
4 celebrate this momentous occasion with a three-day event that
5 will mark the Church's long-standing presence in the community
6 with ceremonies of respect, festivity, tribute, and praise; the
7 festival will include a dinner at the Crown Plaza in
8 Springfield featuring Guest Speaker Bishop Leontine Kelly; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The original church was founded in 1898 when the
10 Reverend W.E. Wilson was sent to Springfield by the Old Central
11 Missouri Annual Conference to organize a church; in 1968 the
12 Grace United Methodist Church became a part of the Central
13 Illinois Conference of the North Central Jurisdiction; and
 
14     WHEREAS, For 108 years, Grace United Methodist Church has
15 sought to hear and follow the Word of God, as it pertains to
16 being in ministry to all of God's children, within the church,
17 the neighborhood, the city, the State, and all corners of God's
18 earth; although it has been through struggles and trials, Grace
19 United Methodist Church has always remembered upon whom it
20 should lean and its strength was regained in following the
21 Great Commission to, "Go therefore, making disciples."; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Grace United Methodist Church takes pride in the
23 changes it has seen over the last 108 years, but remains
24 focused on ministering to its brothers and sisters in Jesus
25 Christ, remembering that we are truly blessed that God is
26 always the same; Grace United Methodist Church has never given
27 up and presses on with its mission with pride in its past and
28 faith in its future; the Church has survived by holding true to
29 the principles that God loves, strengthens, and calls us
30 yesterday, today, and forever; if past history can predict the
31 future, Grace United Methodist Church will continue as a
32 congregation that is representative of God's grace; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Since its inception, the church has been led by
2 many distinguished pastors and is now under the caring
3 direction of the Reverend Sylvester Weatherall, Directing
4 Pastor and the Reverend William "Bill" Burton, Associate
5 Pastor; the church continues its ministry in the community,
6 working cooperatively with Kumler United Methodist Church as a
7 two-point charge for the purpose of reaching out to the east
8 and near north sides of Springfield; in the future, Grace
9 United Methodist Church hopes to expand its church facility and
10 provide more room for program ministries, Sunday school, music,
11 computer classes, meeting space, and a larger sanctuary and
12 fellowship hall; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15 we congratulate Grace United Methodist Church on the
16 celebration of 108 years of ministry and community service; and
17 be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 delivered to the Reverend Sylvester Weatherall, Directing
20 Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church.