[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17375]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             WAYZATA COMMUNITY CHURCH CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Wayzata Community 
Church of Wayzata, MN, on its 125th anniversary of ministry and 
mission.
  Founded in 1881 by a dozen early settlers on Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata 
Congregational Church grew to 70 members within 2 years. In 1912, a new 
church was built, but it burned down 4 years later. Remarkably, it was 
rebuilt by a determined congregation in only 7 months.
  Then, in 1948, the church officially became Wayzata Community Church, 
and ground was broken for a new building at Ferndale Road and Wayzata 
Boulevard in Wayzata, where this dynamic community of faith is located 
today.
  With nearly 3,000 members, Wayzata Community Church is one of the 
five largest congregations of the United Church of Christ. My family 
and I are grateful members of this loving and nurturing congregation. 
Our church is a place of spiritual growth, compassionate support and 
committed service.
  For 125 years, Wayzata Community Church has been a place of growth 
and renewal, fellowship, outreach, community service, music ministries, 
and children and youth ministries.
  For 125 years, Wayzata Community Church has been there to help people 
in need, people suffering the ravages of poverty, homelessness, hunger, 
addiction, broken homes, disease and despair.
  One hundred twenty-five years of providing food, shelter, clothing, 
transportation, counseling and support groups.
  Wayzata Community Church, Mr. Speaker, is a key partner of Interfaith 
Outreach and Community Partners, a partnership of faith communities, 
other community organizations and individuals that serve low-income 
people in eight of our west suburban communities.
  Wayzata Community Church's extensive commitment to doing the Lord's 
work here on Earth also includes programs such as Adopt a Family, 
Families Moving Forward, Hurricane Relief, Loaves and Fishes, Meals on 
Wheels, Salvation Army bell ringers, the legendary Women's Fellowship 
annual rummage sale, and the Sleep Out for the Homeless, to name but a 
few.
  Wayzata Community Church, Mr. Speaker, is truly a church that lives 
out the biblical command to love God, love others and serve the least 
amongst us.
  The church is also a lively hub of activity in the Lake Minnetonka 
area for seniors, children and their friends and people of all ages. 
From music performances, authors, workshops, scouting, support groups, 
basketball games, nursery schools, you name it, it is all there at 
Wayzata Community Church.
  Wayzata Community Church has also been blessed with truly visionary 
and dedicated leadership over the past 125 years.
  On this historic anniversary, we are especially grateful for our 
current senior minister, Reverend Dr. John Ross, and the entire 
pastoral staff, the Reverends Teresa Chamberlain, Kristen Jeide, Dr. 
James Newby and S. Linda Purdy.
  We are also very thankful to all of the clergy who have served 
Wayzata Community Church during the past 125 years, as well as the 
other church staff, lay leaders, teachers, musicians, choir members, 
volunteers and other friends and members of Wayzata Community Church.
  Mr. Speaker, on this special anniversary of Wayzata Community Church, 
let us pay tribute to 125 years of ministry and mission and pray that 
this wonderful community of faith will provide many more years of 
spiritual growth, support and service to the people of the Lake 
Minnetonka community.

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