[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

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                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the 50th anniversary of St. Paul's Lutheran Church 
in Falls Church, Virginia.
  Located in the heart of Virginia's 11th Congressional District, St. 
Paul's goal of centering their faith in Christ was established at the 
time of their founding. Assembling at George Mason High School in 1953, 
a small group of men and women gathered together to formally give up 
their status as a mission of Arlington's Our Savior Lutheran Church and 
organized their own self-supporting congregation.
  Today, St. Paul's has grown from a suburban congregation on the 
outskirts of Washington, DC, to a large urban congregation. Reflective 
of the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the Falls Church 
community, the congregation stresses warmth and acceptance for all 
people. Through their numerous Sunday school and adult classes, St. 
Paul's emphasizes the strengthening of their faith through education, 
prayer, and service. From its humble beginnings, the church has been 
successful in serving the community and strengthening their faith 
through God.
  As well as offering education on their faith, St. Paul's also 
sponsors many fellowship groups and social events. By offering 
opportunities for members of the church to come together through 
potluck dinners, Bible study groups, and special holiday events, St. 
Paul's furthers its dedication to faith in God.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I extend my warmest congratulations to St. 
Paul's Lutheran Church on this special occasion. With their commitment 
to faith and service to their community, the staff and members of St. 
Paul's are truly role models for us all. I call upon my colleagues to 
join me in applauding the church's 50 years of excellence.

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