HR1457 LRB095 22019 KXB 52288 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor the pastor and
4 congregation of St. John's United Church of Christ in Breese as
5 they celebrate the church's sesquicentennial; and
 
6     WHEREAS, St. John's Church was organized in 1858 and was
7 called the "Evangelische St. Johannes Gemeinde"; in the summer
8 of 1858 the first framed church building was erected; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The first services were held in the homes of the
10 early settlers in Breese and conducted by the people
11 themselves; in the spring of 1859 Reverend Christepler F.
12 Starck was called and became the first resident pastor; in
13 addition to serving the people of Breese, he also served in
14 Trenton, Carlyle, Central City, and other neighboring
15 communities; and
 
16     WHEREAS, In 1861 the first parsonage was built at the cost
17 of $600; over the years new pastors would come and go,
18 buildings would be updated or rebuilt, and changes would come
19 to the church, but their mission of serving the community would
20 not change; and
 
21     WHEREAS, St. John's continues to be a vital part of the

 

 

HR1457 - 2 - LRB095 22019 KXB 52288 r

1 community; they are involved with the House of Manna, the local
2 food pantry, and organize a vacation bible school for the
3 community; they participate in a yearly ecumenical service with
4 other churches in Breese and Beckemeyer; and they deliver
5 dinners to their shut-in members on Easter and Thanksgiving;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, In addition, they walk the Stations of the Cross
8 with local Catholic churches yearly; they send care packages to
9 servicemen and women in Iraq and other overseas areas; they
10 open their church to a local theater group to use as a practice
11 area; and they have built a float along with St. Dominic Church
12 in Breese celebrating both churches' 150th anniversaries;
13 therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
16 congratulate the church family of St. John's United Church of
17 Christ on this momentous date in their history; and be it
18 further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the congregation of St. John's United Church of
21 Christ as a symbol of our respect.