By Hilbert                                      H.C.R. No. 42

      75R3314 JTR-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, On November 24, 1996, the congregation of Salem

 1-2     Lutheran Church gathered for the dedication of their new worship

 1-3     center, and this historic milestone in the church's history is

 1-4     indeed worthy of praise and special recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The oldest Lutheran Church in Texas, Salem Lutheran

 1-6     Church was originally established in 1852 by German immigrants, and

 1-7     the hard work and dedication of those founding parishioners

 1-8     resulted in the construction of a new church building in 1880; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Having created a firm foundation on which to build,

1-10     the young church's congregation began to grow, and as the century

1-11     unfolded, Salem Lutheran Church established itself as the spiritual

1-12     touchstone of its parishioners' lives; and

1-13           WHEREAS, In 1964 the church was beset by tragedy, first

1-14     suffering the loss of Pastor Paul Eifert and his wife in a car

1-15     accident and then enduring the destruction of the 84-year-old

1-16     church building in a devastating fire; and

1-17           WHEREAS, In confronting this crisis, the congregation

1-18     displayed the same resolve and constancy as their predecessors,

1-19     and, by dint of their firm commitment to their community of

1-20     worship, the church was rebuilt in 1967; and

1-21           WHEREAS, On November 21, 1995, calamity struck again in the

1-22     form of a four-alarm fire that ravaged the church's sanctuary, but

1-23     the indomitable faith of the congregation was aptly demonstrated by

1-24     the record turnout for Thanksgiving services the following night,

 2-1     and this steadfast family of worshipers immediately set about the

 2-2     task of rebuilding the church; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, A year later, Salem Lutheran Church's extended

 2-4     family gathered to celebrate the dedication of a new worship

 2-5     facility, and the rebuilding of this venerable institution is not

 2-6     only a fitting tribute to the strength and faith of previous

 2-7     generations but also a vibrant expression of the church's ongoing

 2-8     ministry; now, therefore, be it

 2-9           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-10     hereby congratulate the clergy and congregation of Salem Lutheran

2-11     Church on the occasion of the dedication of their new worship

2-12     facility; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-14     prepared for Salem Lutheran Church as a token of high regard by the

2-15     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.