HR0512 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0512 LRB100 13242 MST 27675 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wishes to congratulate Grace United Methodist Church of Galva, on the occasion of its 150 year anniversary and on its tradition of Christian discipleship and evangelism; and

WHEREAS, On May 3, 1867, 13 years after the founding of Galva, R. J. Anderson founded the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church with 15 members, all of whom were from Sweden; and

WHEREAS, Later that same year on September 14, land was purchased and construction on a church was started, a significant feat considering that the members made on average one dollar a day, and yet, despite this, they were able to purchase the land needed and build a church for a combined cost of approximately $3000; and

WHEREAS, Tragically, several decades later, the church was badly damaged by a tornado that ripped through the community of Galva, damaging and destroying many of the surrounding businesses and homes; and

WHEREAS, The church members were committed to, in the spirit of the founding members of the church, rebuilding and even adding to the original structure; and

WHEREAS, The official language of the church was exclusively Swedish until the early 1930s when a second service in English was added to accommodate non-Swedish speakers; beginning in the early 1940s, all services were conducted in English; and

WHEREAS, In 1942, the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church became a part of the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Church and, in the process, changed its name to Grace Methodist Church before finally changing its name to Grace United Methodist Church following its merger with another local church; and

WHEREAS, Today, Grace United Methodist Church, under the shepherding of Pastor Karen L. Martin, continues in its 150 year tradition of faith and Christian worship; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Grace United Methodist Church of Galva on its 150th anniversary, and we wish it many more wonderful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the congregation of Grace United Methodist Church of Galva as a symbol of our esteem and respect.