TITLE: Congratulating St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas on its 90th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Congratulating St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas on its 90th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas are celebrating the 90th anniversary of their church's founding in 2023; and WHEREAS, In 1933, the congregation was organized as St. Paul Mission Church by ministers from St. Paul United Methodist Church downtown, who recognized a need in East Dallas; the first small structure built by members was destroyed by a fire in 1941, but four years later, they completed a new red brick sanctuary on Wahoo Street and Spring Avenue; and WHEREAS, The congregation became St. Luke Methodist Church in the late 1950s; it moved to its present-day campus in 1974, under the leadership of longtime pastor Zan W. Holmes Jr., who also added the word "Community" to its name; in 2017, St. Luke transferred its old Wahoo Street property to the Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center to support its good works; and WHEREAS, Since July 2020, the church has been ably guided by senior pastor Richie Butler; he worked tirelessly to maintain the congregation's cohesion during the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic and following major storm damage to the church in spring 2021; while repairs were underway, Highland Park United Methodist Church shared its facilities; and WHEREAS, St. Luke sponsors a variety of initiatives benefiting the wider community, including donations of food and clothing, eviction prevention, and emergency and temporary shelter; it has partnered with Harvest Project to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables and with Project Unity to offer COVID-19 vaccinations and testing; moreover, it assists children of incarcerated parents and youth in foster care; and WHEREAS, For nine decades, St. Luke has provided area residents with opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and community outreach, and its continued existence is a tribute to the unwavering commitment of its members, both past and present; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church on its 90th anniversary and extend to its members 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. Jones of Dallas Bowers Bryant Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 244 was adopted by the House on February 28, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House