Full Text of HR0633 98th General Assembly
HR0633 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives are pleased to recognize Zion United Church of | 4 | | Christ in Marion as it celebrates the 125th anniversary of its | 5 | | founding from April through December of 2013; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, The Zion United Church of Christ was organized on | 7 | | October 13, 1888 by a group of farmers of German and Swiss | 8 | | heritage who saw the need for religious and educational | 9 | | guidance; they organized a congregation under the leadership of | 10 | | the Reverend Ed Schweizer and the church's first building was a | 11 | | small-frame structure built largely by volunteers on West | 12 | | Cherry Street; its dedication took place in March 1889 and the | 13 | | church was known as Evangelische Zions Gemeinde zu Marion, | 14 | | Williams County, Illinois; the church had 20 initial members in | 15 | | its congregation; and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, The Zion United Church of Christ underwent changes | 17 | | and additions throughout the years; in 1908, a new steeple and | 18 | | bell tower were dedicated and the congregation had grown to 46; | 19 | | in 1924, a brick church of semi-gothic architecture was | 20 | | dedicated and in 1952, its name was changed to Zion Evangelical | 21 | | and Reform Church; the Education Building was dedicated in 1958 | 22 | | and a larger and redesigned sanctuary was dedicated in 1971; in | 23 | | 1975, with the merging of the Evangelical and Reformed Churches |
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| 1 | | and the Congregational and Christian Churches in the United | 2 | | States, the church became known as Zion United Church of | 3 | | Christ, Marion, Illinois; a new wing to the east of the | 4 | | sanctuary was dedicated in 1989 and additional lands were | 5 | | acquired in 1993; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Plans for the 9-month long celebration include a | 7 | | Confirmation Reunion for all confirmed members and an ice cream | 8 | | social on June 9; in October 2013, a special service and | 9 | | potluck dinner will be held, with conference ministers and | 10 | | former pastors as special guests; in December 2013, some of the | 11 | | early Christmas traditions of the church will be re-enacted, | 12 | | including giving children "goodie bags" called "tuts" when they | 13 | | recite or sing; and
| 14 | | WHEREAS, The Zion United Church of Christ was the first in | 15 | | Marion to have a Christmas tree, or a "Tannenbaum", with a | 16 | | bucket of water nearby in case the tree caught fire from the | 17 | | candles; therefore, be it
| 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 19 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 20 | | we congratulate the Zion United Church of Christ in Marion on | 21 | | its 125th anniversary, recognize the congregation as they | 22 | | celebrate the church's founding throughout 2013, and wish the | 23 | | congregation many more successful years; and be it further
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 2 | | presented to the Zion United Church of Christ in Marion as an | 3 | | expression of our esteem and respect.
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