[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH ON THE OCCASION 
                        OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 2008

  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ambler on an important 
milestone--its 100th anniversary. Over the past 100 years, St. John's, 
known by many as ``the little church with the big heart,'' has served 
the people of my district. I am honored to represent the St. John's 
community in Congress.
  In 1907, Samuel F. Tholan, a young Lutheran pastor from Upper Dublin 
Lutheran Church, began holding worship services for Ambler residents 
who were unable to travel to Upper Dublin. On April 26, 1908, Pastor 
Tholan's 28 member congregation was organized officially as St. John's 
Lutheran Church. St. John's was housed in the Ambler opera house until 
1913, when it moved to the congregation's current home at the corner of 
Race and Ridge Streets in the heart of downtown Ambler.
  Over the tumultuous past century, St. John's has embraced music as 
the fabric and heart of the congregation. On Sunday mornings, passersby 
are greeted with the swells of jazz, gospel, or Bach's cello suites 
emanating from within the chapel. In recent years, as a result of 
committed service to the Nation at large, St. John's has earned a new 
nickname: ``the little church with big ideas.''
  In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, St. John's held concerts to 
raise money for those who were displaced by the storm and sent a group 
of volunteers to Biloxi to aid in reconstruction efforts. St. John's 
also donated hundreds of musical instruments to replace those that were 
lost in the hurricane.
  In 2007, St. John's turned their attention to the Ethiopian orphans 
of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Harnessing the power of their musical 
congregation, St. John's held concerts that raised funds for the 
Fountain of Life Child Sponsorship Project, which will provide support 
for 300 of these orphans.
  Madam Speaker, once again I congratulate St. John's Lutheran 
Evangelical Church, and all of the men, women, and children of the 
congregation for their dedication to religious and community service. 
This ``little church with big ideas'' has had a remarkable impact on 
our local, regional, national, and international community. I ask that 
my colleagues join me in celebrating the 100th anniversary milestone of 
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and wish the St. John's family 
many more years of community enrichment and service.

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