[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22594]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 CONGRATULATIONS TO CORAL GABLES FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON ITS 
                            75TH ANNIVERSARY

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 75th anniversary 
of the Coral Gables First United Methodist Church, and I congratulate 
its clergy and its parishioners.
  Since July of 1926, when 100 Coral Gable citizens gathered to charter 
a United Methodist church, First United has been a spiritual beacon to 
its community.
  With the current leadership of Senior Pastor John Harrington, the 
church continues its mission of serving south Florida by reaching out 
to all communities with its message of hope and love. Church members 
operate a ``Pastor's Pantry'' and a ``Sharing Place'' to provide 
immediate food and clothing needs to the destitute.
  The Church also supports many ministries: Habitat for Humanity, the 
Community Partnership for the Homeless, the Agape Women's Center, and 
the Riverside House, just to name a few. Funding missions all over the 
world that bring the promise of Jesus Christ and that relieve suffering 
in the world have always been priorities for the Coral Gables First 
United Methodist Church.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my congressional colleagues to join me and the 
Matson family in congratulating the Coral Gables First United Methodist 
Church. May it continue serving with love and devotion as a spiritual 
center for many of our south Florida residents.

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