[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOQUEL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2018

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 
150th Anniversary of the Congregational Church of Soquel. Established 
in May of 1868, the Congregational Church of Soquel has built a legacy 
of providing a safe and supportive environment for many of my 
constituents in the 20th Congressional District of California. The 
church has a history of service and sanctuary, while actively engaging 
in acts of compassion, justice, and a sense of responsibility.
   The Congregational Church of Soquel--also known as the Little White 
Church in the Vale--has served as a pillar of the Soquel community 
since it was first organized by Joshua and Narcissa Parrish in 1868. 
The Church, both as a brick-and-mortar institution and as a family, 
persevered through many adversities while maintaining a sense of 
service to the community. The Church has repeatedly served as a shelter 
and temporary fire station during natural disasters. Even through the 
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which devastated much of our community, the 
Church remained indomitable.
   The Church not only provides opportunities for satisfying spiritual 
needs, but also works to provide tangible solutions to community needs, 
including hunger and homelessness. Currently, the Church fulfills its 
mission of addressing food insecurity and homelessness through its 
partnership with many crucial organizations in my district such as 
Meals on Wheels, the Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Homeless 
Services Center. In addition, the church also partners with The Great 
Chili Cook-Off, which supports the Mid-County Homeless Coalition--
Shower Trailer Program. Through these partnerships, local organizations 
can ensure that many of those in need are provided with emergency food 
and housing.
   The Church not only looks for opportunities to help within our 
community, but also beyond our country's borders. The Church continues 
to address food insecurity internationally through its work with the 
Panamerican Institute in Tijuana, Mexico. There, the Church provides 
food baskets for families of the Institute and motivates both youth and 
adults to make improvements in schools and homes in the area. In 
addition to the church's service in Mexico, they also participate in 
Solehope, which provides shoes to children in Uganda. In Kenya, the 
church supports Happy Life Children's Home, which helps to find homes 
for abandoned children. These missions and services that the church 
participates in locally and globally show their dedication to uplifting 
communities.
   Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the dedication and 
commitment to compassion and justice that the Congregational Church of 
Soquel provides to the 20th Congressional District. We are fortunate to 
have an institution like the Congregational Church of Soquel call the 
central coast of California home. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Congregational Church of 
Soquel.

                          ____________________