Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-04-15

HONORING ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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Context

On 2026-04-15, Representative Thomas P. Tiffany (R-WI-7) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes, education.

Full Text

HONORING ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)] [House] [Page H2890] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY (Mr. TIFFANY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill, Wisconsin, on its 150th anniversary. First organized by families of German immigrants in a meeting on April 24, 1876, services were held in a public schoolhouse in the town of Jenny, Wisconsin, which later became Merrill. St. John Evangelical has had two subsequent structures within Merrill and, since 1953, has worshipped within a beautiful stone edifice at 1104 East 3rd Street. During its first years, it shared a pastor with neighboring churches and finally called on its first pastor, Reverend Paul Luecke, on August 5, 1883. Today, the members of St. John are proud of their continued provision of a daycare facility and an educational resource for their community in a parochial school. During several decades of its existence, German was the church's primary language. With the close of World War I, the congregation had transitioned to holding its services primarily in English. For continuing its work of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ through 150 years, it is my great pleasure to honor St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill today before the United States House of Representatives. ____________________

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HONORING ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)] [House] [Page H2890] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY (Mr. TIFFANY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill, Wisconsin, on its 150th anniversary. First organized by families of German immigrants in a meeting on April 24, 1876, services were held in a public schoolhouse in the town of Jenny, Wisconsin, which later became Merrill. St. John Evangelical has had two subsequent structures within Merrill and, since 1953, has worshipped within a beautiful stone edifice at 1104 East 3rd Street. During its first years, it shared a pastor with neighboring churches and finally called on its first pastor, Reverend Paul Luecke, on August 5, 1883. Today, the members of St. John are proud of their continued provision of a daycare facility and an educational resource for their community in a parochial school. During several decades of its existence, German was the church's primary language. With the close of World War I, the congregation had transitioned to holding its services primarily in English. For continuing its work of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ through 150 years, it is my great pleasure to honor St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill today before the United States House of Representatives. ____________________