| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 708 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, For 150 years, many families have come together to |
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| 3 | 3 | | celebrate their faith at the First United Methodist Church of Rio |
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| 4 | 4 | | Grande City; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The history of this treasured institution dates |
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| 6 | 6 | | back to 1859, when services were first held in the homes of area |
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| 7 | 7 | | citizens; in 1875, Clemente E. Vivero was appointed the church's |
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| 8 | 8 | | first minister, and four years later, construction began on the |
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| 9 | 9 | | congregation's first facility; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, At the Annual Conference of 1882, the Reverend |
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| 11 | 11 | | Alex Sutherland reported the completion of the new building, |
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| 12 | 12 | | which cost $2,800 to construct; through the years, the church has |
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| 13 | 13 | | kept pace with the changing needs of the community it serves by |
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| 14 | 14 | | expanding, and a number of additions have been made, including a |
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| 15 | 15 | | parsonage and an annex; the church is also home to a kindergarten |
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| 16 | 16 | | program that has served Valley residents since 1947; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, For 150 years, the First United Methodist Church |
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| 18 | 18 | | of Rio Grande City has served as a source of strength and |
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| 19 | 19 | | inspiration to those who have worshiped there, and the church |
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| 20 | 20 | | stands as a tribute to the dedication of its members, past and |
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| 21 | 21 | | present, who have devoted their time, prayers, and financial |
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| 22 | 22 | | resources to ensure its continued existence as a house of God; |
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| 23 | 23 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 24 | 24 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of State of Texas, 81st |
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| 25 | 25 | | Legislature, hereby recognize the First United Methodist Church |
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| 26 | 26 | | of Rio Grande City on the occasion of its 150th anniversary and |
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| 27 | 27 | | extend to all of its members sincere best wishes for the future; |
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| 28 | 28 | | and, be it further |
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| 29 | 29 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 30 | 30 | | the church as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
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| 31 | 31 | | Zaffirini |
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| 32 | 32 | | ________________________________ |
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| 33 | 33 | | President of the Senate |
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| 34 | 34 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 35 | 35 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 36 | 36 | | the Senate on April 23, 2009. |
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| 37 | 37 | | ________________________________ |
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| 38 | 38 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 39 | 39 | | ________________________________ |
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| 40 | 40 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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