Bill Text: IL HR0512 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Grace United Methodist Church of Galva on its 150th anniversary.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0512 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0512-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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presented to the congregation of Grace United Methodist Church
of Galva as a symbol of our esteem and respect.