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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives join in celebrating the Universalist Unitarian
4Church of Joliet's 175 years of worship and service to the
5Joliet community; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In 1836, a small group of Universalists gathered
7together in a town that was then called 'Juliet'; from the
8beginning to their present day, they have maintained a common
9focus, to build community; it has continued to be the strength
10of the congregants to dwell together in peace, to seek
11knowledge in freedom, and to serve humanity in fellowship; the
12congregation has continued to serve the community, from those
13early beginnings, by being actively involved in local politics,
14commerce, and the educational development of its citizens; and
 
15    WHEREAS, People of national prominence, including Theodore
16Roosevelt and Thomas Starr King, spoke from the Auditorium
17Block dais; Joliet history was made within the walls of this
18building; plans and programs for a growing city originated here
19as well as cultural activities of all kinds; city, county, and
20school boards all met in the building regularly; Joliet
21Township High School was planned here; and the first Rotary
22Club meetings were held in the building; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, In 1950, members of the church were active in
2community affairs such as: The League of Women Voters, the
3Y.M.C.A., the Rotary Club, the Lion's Club, and the Kiwanis
4Club; the Church also held religious education activities in
5which local children participated; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In 1962, the Joliet church voted to become part of
7the newly forming "Unitarian Universalist Association"; one of
8the church members served on the national board for the merger;
9to retain a sense of history and roots, the congregation voted
10to keep "Universalist" first in its name which became known as
11the "Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet, Illinois"; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The congregation purchased a bank site located on
13the Westside of Joliet at the corner of Jefferson Street and
14Houbolt Road; after remodeling, the congregation dedicated the
15facility on Sunday, October 1, 2010; it is the church's current
16home and place of religious community; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Throughout the history of UUCJ, the people have
18celebrated their diversity in faith which encompasses
19individual searches for truth through Judaism, Ethical and
20Theological Christianity, Ethical Religion, Agnosticism,
21Atheism, Bahai Faith, Buddhism, Deism, Earth-Based Religions,
22Humanism, Mysticism, Paganism, Pantheism, Polytheism, and
23Skepticism; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we celebrate, along with the members of the Universalist
4Unitarian Church of Joliet, the 175th anniversary of the church
5and its service to the Joliet community; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to Michael N. Gorcowski as a symbol of our respect
8and esteem.