LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Bethany
Presbyterian Church in Greece, New York

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
100th Anniversary of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Greece, New York;
and
WHEREAS, To celebrate this landmark occasion, Bethany Presbyterian
Church will be holding a special worship service on September 13, 2009,
to mark the beginning of its Centennial Year; and
WHEREAS, Bethany Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbyterian
Church USA, whose ministry team is led by the Reverend Robert Spratt,
who came to serve the congregation from Kentucky with his wife, Brenda,
and their two children, Journey and Piper, in 2008; Jane Lyth of Roches-
ter, New York, is Assistant to the Pastor; and
WHEREAS, The Bethany Presbyterian Church congregation supports a
number of community and mission outreach projects, including the Two
Doors Community Resource Center, the Greece Ecumenical Food Shelf and
Clothing Closet and Greece Churches Habitat for Humanity; and
WHEREAS, Music plays an important role in worship and programs at
Bethany Presbyterian Church; there are vocal choirs for children, teens
and adults, hand bell choirs for teens, adults and seniors, as well as
music based enrichment programs such as Musikgarten for children and
God's Children for children and toddlers; and
WHEREAS, The congregation of Bethany Presbyterian Church began as a
group of families that gathered for Sunday School classes; in 1910, they
incorporated the church and affiliated it with the Presbytery of Roches-
ter in 1929; and
WHEREAS, The first Bethany Presbyterian Church building was at the
corner of Dewey Avenue and Havilland Park, where a branch of Chase Bank
is currently located, on land purchased by the Ladies Aid Society; and
WHEREAS, At that time, Bethany Presbyterian Church was named the Dewey
Avenue Church, although it was referred to as the little green church by
the community; a new sanctuary was built at its present location in 1952
and an Education Wing was added in 1956; and
WHEREAS, Bethany Presbyterian Church stands on the threshold of tomor-
row, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retain-
ing that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Bethany Presbyterian Church in
Greece, New York, fully confident that this commemoration reflects the
belief in those values which enhance the dignity and purpose of life;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Bethany Presbyterian Church in Greece, New York.