LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary of St.
Stephen's United Church of Christ of East Amherst, New York, to be cele-
brated on April 21-22, 2012

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
150th Anniversary of St. Stephen's United Church of Christ of East
Amherst, New York; and
WHEREAS, To celebrate this most auspicious occasion, an open house
will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012, with a meal and performance of
the Frontier Fiddler Club; on Sunday, April 22, 2012, a celebratory mass
will be held which will include special music, followed by a pot luck
lunch and the burial of a time capsule; and
WHEREAS, St. Stephen's United Church of Christ was founded in 1862 as
the Lutheran St. Stephen's Congregation; and
WHEREAS, Originally established as an Evangelical Lutheran Church, St.
Stephen's United Church of Christ was formed by a uniting of Evangeli-
cal, Reformed Lutheran, Congregational, and Christian denominations in
1957; and
WHEREAS, St. Stephen's United Church of Christ has had a number of
ministries during its 150-year history and has undergone significant
changes, including a renovation in 1919, and the building of the church
hall in 1931, due to the efforts of the Ladies Aid Society; and
WHEREAS, St. Stephen's United Church of Christ is involved in Opera-
tion Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse that provides
gifts to children in need; and
WHEREAS, In addition, St. Stephen's assists the Angel Robes program
for the Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network, providing burial
clothing for families following perinatal and early infant loss; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable congregation also delivered items to the
International Institute of Buffalo for immigrants in the area, and has
collected products for the Food Bank; and
WHEREAS, St. Stephen's United Church of Christ stands on the threshold
of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while
retaining 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 150th Anniversary of St. Stephen's United Church of
Christ of East Amherst, New York, to be observed on April 21-22, 2012,
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 St. Stephen's United Church of Christ, East Amherst, New
York.