TITLE: Congratulating St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas on its 80th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Congratulating St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas on its 80th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas are celebrating the 80th anniversary of their church's founding; and WHEREAS, Organized in 1933, the church was first known as Saint Paul Mission, later changing to East St. Paul Methodist Church, then St. Luke Methodist Church; although its first sanctuary was destroyed by a fire in 1941, the congregation pulled together and rebuilt several years later; in 1974, members gathered for the first time at the church's current home on R. L. Thornton Freeway; and WHEREAS, United by their shared faith and strong traditions, the members of this notable house of worship support a variety of commendable programs that offer fellowship as well as help to those in need; its many outreach ministries include such diverse areas as career development, homeless assistance, social action, academic skills reinforcement, and physical fitness; and WHEREAS, Over the decades, the church has benefited from the leadership of many excellent pastors; Rev. Merrell T. Reed led the congregation in its earliest years, and Rev. Timothy B. Echols and Rev. John W. Tatum, Sr., guided the church's expansion of social programs in the mid-1960s to early 1970s; Rev. Zan W. Holmes, Jr., assumed leadership in 1974 and served for 28 years, during which time he added "Community" to the church's name to match its civic mission and oversaw the development of its Community Life Center, named in his honor; the current pastor, Rev. Henry L. Masters, Sr., is nationally known and respected and has served St. Luke since July 2012; and WHEREAS, Countless Texans have looked to St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas for spiritual guidance through the years, and this notable milestone provides a fitting opportunity to recognize all who have contributed to its longevity; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church and extend to the congregation sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Giddings Johnson Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 373 was adopted by the House on February 12, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House