HR0698 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0698 LRB094 12804 HSS 47648 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, First Congregational Church of Pecatonica held a special service on November 7, 2004, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the church; and

WHEREAS, Six pioneers from the East first met Sundays in a grain warehouse on the west side of Main Street in Pecatonica; this group formed a resolution on February 18, 1854, in which they voted to constitute as a church; soon, there were 18 members of the church; the original resolution is on display at the current church facility; and

WHEREAS, In 1855, the First Congregational Church building was built at Sixth and Reed Street; the building served as the church until 1913, when plans for a new building were accepted; the old church was torn down and the materials sold; and

WHEREAS, The new church building was dedicated on Sunday, June 18, 1914; the stained glass windows were restored in 2002 and are part of the present structure; the Mohler pipe organ, still in use today, was installed in 1938; in 1999, the congregation voted to approve plans for an addition, and on June 17, 2001, the groundbreaking for the new addition was celebrated by using an antique plow to open a furrow which began the building project; and

WHEREAS, The new addition includes a parlor area, a large fellowship hall, offices for the pastor and church secretary, Sunday school classrooms, a nursery, and an elevator that makes the sanctuary and fellowship hall handicapped accessible; the addition was dedicated on September 8, 2002; in the fall of 2004, the bell tower was also repaired; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the history of First Congregational Church, there were 18 ministers during the first 50 years, 16 ministers during the next 50 years, and seven ministers in the last 50 years; First Congregational Church remains a vibrant and caring part of the Pecatonica community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of the First Congregational Church of Pecatonica on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the church as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for the continued success and ministry of the church.