[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16275-16276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE CALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF HARRISBURG, 
        PENNSYLVANIA ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September, 5, 2002

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I am most honored today to recognize and 
commemorate the Calvary United Methodist Church of Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania on their Golden Anniversary.
  On October 25, 1953, the Reverend O.B. Poulson, the appointed acting 
pastor, held the first service in the basement of the Seventh Day 
Adventist Church in Harrisburg with just

[[Page 16276]]

65 people in attendance. Just over two years later on November 6, 1955, 
consecration services were held for the first Calvary Church chapel. 
However, the rapidly growing congregation quickly outgrew their 
beautiful new fellowship hall and so, on June 17, 1962 following a year 
of construction, a congregation of 1,154 members worshipped in a new 
sanctuary.
  Over the last fifty years, the faith community of Calvary United 
Methodist Church has contributed to the greater community of Harrisburg 
and Central Pennsylvania in many countless and wonderful ways. By 
bringing together the faithful, Calvary Church is in fact planting a 
seed of compassion that grows and flourishes as the congregation 
reaches out to the community. The good works of the congregation become 
immeasurable as time passes and the community and the congregation 
become intertwined. Calvary Church has truly become a considerable 
element of the history of Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the Calvary United Methodist Church 
for its commitment to the faithful, and for its contributions to 
Central Pennsylvania. It is churches like Calvary Church that make the 
region, the Commonwealth, and our nation great!