[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING TWO ROCK VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
sesquicentennial of the Two Rock Valley Presbyterian Church in Two 
Rock, a small community outside Petaluma, California, of which I am a 
member. This small church has a special history in our community for 
the past 150 years.
  The Two Rock Valley Presbyterian Church was founded in 1860, 
approximately 10 years after the first settlers arrived. Fire has 
destroyed the church sanctuary twice, only to be rebuilt by the 
community. The first building dedicated in March 1863 was destroyed in 
October 1895. The second building was dedicated in March 1896 and 
destroyed in July 1949 by a controlled burn that got out of control on 
the nearby United States Army property, now a Coast Guard Base. The 
third and current church sanctuary was dedicated on February 1, 1953.
  The congregation owns and operates the Two Rock Valley Presbyterian 
Church Cemetery located adjacent to the church structure. The first 
internments date back to 1861. Unfortunately, the fire of 1949 
destroyed most of the records. A community project was organized in 
1992 to identify plot locations and prepare a detailed plot map.
  The members of Two Rock Valley Presbyterian Church have a long 
history of community involvement as their mission states ``a tradition 
of witness and service.'' In 1865, they helped found the Tomales 
Presbyterian Church which they now consider their sister church.
  More recently, the church members are involved with the work of the 
Petaluma Food Pantry by working with a coalition of other churches to 
feed the hungry in our community. Their mission extends to regular 
contributions to the Cents-Ability Hunger Program of the Presbyterian 
Church (USA) which provides much needed funds both nationally and to 
Africa.
  Congregants are also volunteers at the Two Rock Volunteer Fire 
Department and the Two Rock Elementary School. Many annual community 
events including the Abelskiver Breakfast on Mother's Day, the Harvest 
Festival in September, and the Turkey Dinner in November rely on the 
volunteers from the church to help bring people from the surrounding 
community together.
  Churches are a place for community members to come together not just 
to worship but to build the community. Two Rock Valley Presbyterian 
Church is that church to the residents of Two Rock.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent the congregation of the Two 
Rock Valley Presbyterian Church in Congress, and I ask that you join me 
in congratulating them on their accomplishments of the past 150 years 
and wishing them the best for the future.

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