H.R. No. 721
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The many faithful members of Zion Lutheran Church in
1-2 Sandoval observed a significant milestone in the congregation's
1-3 long and proud history when they commemorated the 100th anniversary
1-4 of the church's founding with a special liturgy service and
1-5 celebration on March 7, 1993; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Contributing to the spiritual and social well-being
1-7 of this close-knit Central Texas community throughout the past
1-8 century, the Zion Lutheran Church was organized in 1893 by a small
1-9 group of families who had been gathering in each others' homes to
1-10 praise the Lord in song and prayer and who decided to form an
1-11 actual congregation and to build a formal house of worship; and
1-12 WHEREAS, After organizing themselves into a congregation in
1-13 March of that year, these early members began the task of obtaining
1-14 the land for their church, erecting the structure that would serve
1-15 as their house of worship, and establishing a school to provide a
1-16 Christian education for the community's children; and
1-17 WHEREAS, The fledgling congregation was immediately energized
1-18 by its mission, and a church and a school soon went up on land
1-19 donated by L. Berst and L. W. Obermueller, Jr.; as the
1-20 congregation grew, so did its need for additional space, and this
1-21 need was met in 1902 with the completion of an addition to the
1-22 original church building; and
1-23 WHEREAS, After 10 years of steady growth, Zion Lutheran
1-24 Church's membership expanded rapidly in 1903 when it merged with
2-1 the neighboring congregation of St. John's Lutheran Church in
2-2 nearby New Bern; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Serving as the spiritual home for a community of
2-4 faithful that now extended farther into the rural communities of
2-5 Williamson County, the expanded Zion Lutheran Church soon outgrew
2-6 its original church building, and in 1932 a new edifice was erected
2-7 for the then impressive sum of $3,000; and
2-8 WHEREAS, Still in service after all these years, this
2-9 venerable church building, like the congregation it houses, stands
2-10 as an eloquent witness to the enduring faith and the lasting
2-11 commitment that has sustained and distinguished this Christian
2-12 community for the past 100 years; and
2-13 WHEREAS, Having proudly celebrated its centennial in 1993,
2-14 the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church now looks forward to the
2-15 future with undiminished faith and with its hope for continued
2-16 success securely resting on the solid foundation of its first 100
2-17 years; now, therefore, be it
2-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
2-19 Legislature hereby honor Zion Lutheran Church on the memorable
2-20 occasion of its 100th anniversary and commend the many members of
2-21 the congregation, past and present, who faithfully have
2-22 demonstrated their abiding commitment to Christian worship as part
2-23 of this exemplary community; and, be it further
2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-25 prepared for the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church as an
2-26 expression of high esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.
2-27 expression of high esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.
3-1 Kubiak
3-2 H.R. No. 721
3-3 _______________________________
3-4 Speaker of the House
3-5 I certify that H.R. No. 721 was adopted by the House on May
3-6 28, 1993, by a non-record vote.
3-7 _______________________________
3-8 Chief Clerk of the House