HR1403

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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 congratulate the congregation 
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of the West Village Christian Church on the occasion of the 
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church's 150th anniversary; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The West Village Christian Church was originally 
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known as Village and consisted of a few members who met in a 
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log meeting house; the name was later changed to West Village 
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when another meeting house was built farther east; in 1858, 
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after about 10 years of meeting in the log meeting house, B.P. 
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Reid and his wife, Hannah (Willis) started a school on Sundays 
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for the purpose of studying the Holy Scriptures; after starting 
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a "formal meeting", the charter members constructed a new frame 
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meeting house erected where the site of the present church is 
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located; and

 
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    WHEREAS, By the winter of 1874, the West Village Christian 
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Church had grown to 76 members and had two ministers working to 
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preach alternate Sundays for about $60 a year each; a full-time 
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preacher in the year 1877, Brother Applegath, earned a salary 
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of $95 a year; several preachers filled the pulpit between the 
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early 1880s and the early 1930s, a time period that saw the 
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church's membership rise to 296 members; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, On June 18, 1933, the West Village Christian 
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Church celebrated its 75th anniversary on the church lawn with 
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an all-day meeting and picnic dinner; by 1938, the church's 
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active membership was counted at 235; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On April 15, 1972, Brother Maynard Moser was hired 
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to serve as West Village Christian Church's new minister at 
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$145 a week; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In the summer of 2003, Derek Facculyn-Gous became 
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the newest minister of West Village Christian Church, where he 
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still serves the church today with his wife, Tressie; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Today, the West Village Christian Church seeks to 
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be a witness for Christ in the community and uses the phrase 
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"Enter to Worship, Depart to Serve" as a motto in their daily 
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lives; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The West Village Christian Church serves as a 
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model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of 
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the State of Illinois; 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 congregation of the West Village Christian 
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Church on the occasion of the church's 150th anniversary and 
 


 






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wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the minister of West Village Christian Church,  
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Derek Facculyn-Gous, as a symbol of our esteem and respect.