[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15132]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO SILVER LAKE LUTHERAN CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 15, 2008

  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Silver Lake 
Lutheran Church of Northwood, Iowa, on celebrating its 150th 
anniversary as a congregation.
   On July 20, 1858, twelve families met under a tree in rural 
Northwood for Silver Lake's first service. Today's congregation still 
worships in the church built by the original founders. Silver Lake 
Lutheran Church, which has had several upgrades, is the oldest church 
in Worth County, Iowa and was moved from its original location. Built 
by the Silver Lake cemetery, the church was later set on logs and 
rolled to its new location.
   During the Civil War the church faced some difficulties and a split 
between some church members, but Silver Lake's congregation remained 
strong in faith and continued to grow despite the struggle. Today, 
Silver Lake has 226 baptized members, and they support local and 
international charities with their Mission Endowment program.
   Silver Lake Lutheran Church of Northwood is dedicated to benefiting 
the lives of those in Northwood and the surrounding rural areas, and 
for this I offer Silver Lake my utmost congratulations and thanks on a 
prosperous history. It is an honor to represent all the parishioners of 
Silver Lake and current Pastor Randy Baldwin in the United States 
Congress, and I wish them continued success, peace, and celebration as 
a community.

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