HR1103 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1103 LRB098 21309 GRL 59513 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the congregation of Eden United Church of Christ in Jefferson Park on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, In the spring of 1914, a number of pastors of the Evangelical Synod were aware of the religious needs of the Volga Germans in the northwestern part of Chicago; 34 members of area families attended a meeting held in an abandoned carpenter shop held on the corner of Gunnison and La Vergne Avenues on the present site of the United Brethren Church (formerly Calvary Methodist Church); and

WHEREAS, On May 9, 1914, the Deutsche Evangelish Lutherischen Eden Gemeinde was organized following the customs of their Russian homeland; on May 10, 1914, Eden Church applied for membership in the German Evangelical Synod of North America; the membership then unanimously requested that Rev. H. A. Schmidt be assigned to Eden Church as its first pastor; and

WHEREAS, After finding their pastor, the Deutsche Evangelish Lutherischen Eden Gemeinde congregation's next pressing need was a suitable place of worship, eventually finding and purchasing 4 lots on the corner of Gunnison Street and Le Claire Avenue; on May 24, 1914, the cornerstone for Eden's first church was laid; the church's first building was a portable chapel purchased near the Chicago River for $1000, which was later taken apart and re-erected at the present site; the cornerstone of the current church building was laid on September 9, 1928 and the parsonage was ready by November of 1928; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Deutsche Evangelish Lutherischen Eden Gemeinde's name was changed to Eden United Church of Christ; in 1985, the name was changed to Eden Evangelical Lutheran Church - A United Church of Christ; in 2007, the name was once again changed to Eden United Church of Christ, which it has remained ever since; and

WHEREAS, In the 100 years since its inception, Eden United Church of Christ has served as a strong and active congregation in the Jefferson Park community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of Eden United Church of Christ in Jefferson Park on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

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