[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14764]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF BURBANK

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                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th 
anniversary of the First United Methodist Church of Burbank, 
California.
  In 1883, when Burbank was a rural area with a population of a few 
scattered families, the community needed a place for worship, so a 
Sunday School was organized in the Providencia School House. One year 
later, on September 14, 1884, a church, located at Empire Avenue and 
Lincoln Street, was dedicated. After four years of use, the church was 
sold to a congregation member and a new church was erected in 1888, one 
year after the establishment of the City of Burbank. The church was 
established as the Providencia Church, and eventually merged with the 
First Methodist Episcopal Church, taking the latter's name. In 1919, 
construction began on a new church at Olive Avenue and Third Street, 
which was completed and dedicated in October of 1922.
  After World War II, the church membership grew to 1,000 parishioners, 
signaling the need for a new church building. In 1944, a building fund 
campaign began and property was purchased on Glenoaks Boulevard. In 
1949, another fundraising campaign was launched to construct a new 
church on the Glenoaks property, and one year later, construction began 
on the new church, which became known as the First Methodist Church of 
Burbank. On May 25, 1952, the first official services were held in the 
First Methodist Church of Burbank and Consecration Sunday was held on 
September 14 later that year. The full construction plan was realized 
in 1956 with the completion of the Education Building. In 1968, when 
the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged, 
and the entire denomination changed its name, First Methodist Church of 
Burbank became known as the First United Methodist Church of Burbank.
  First United Methodist Church of Burbank offers a wide variety of 
programs and ministries to the Burbank community. The church hosts 
multiple Girl Scout troops, Boy Scout Troop #209, Cub Scout Pack #225, 
and offers opportunities for youth that include the Partners with the 
Parents Program and the Youth in Performing Arts Ministry. Other 
programs include the We Care Committee, which supports members of the 
congregation when they need assistance with meals, transportation and 
other services, as well as active chapters of the United Methodist 
Women and United Methodist Men organizations. In addition, members of 
the congregation volunteer on a regular basis at Burbank Temporary Aid 
Center and actively support our military by periodically sending care 
packages of personal items, telephone cards, books and other items to 
our troops overseas.
  I consider it a great privilege to recognize First United Methodist 
Church of Burbank and I invite all Members to join me in congratulating 
the congregation for 125 years of service to the community.

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