Honor Rome Community Church

21, 2019 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 is justly proud to honor Rome Wesleyan Community Church upon the occasion of its designation for special recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging at its Annual Older New Yorker's Day Celebration on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the Hart Theatre Lounge in The Egg, Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Rome Wesleyan Community Church is a small organization which works tirelessly to serve and aid its community, especially senior citizens, through the efforts of numerous volunteers within the congregation; and WHEREAS, This past year, Rome Wesleyan Community Church relocated to a better location in the inner City to better serve the community with a large parking lot, children's outdoor play area, multi-functional basement area equipped with classrooms, kitchen and dining area; and WHEREAS, The Community Church also provides a soup kitchen which serves lunch and breakfast on the weekends to over 200 clients; in April of 2019, they began serving bag lunches for the community on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and during the holidays, the Church passes out gifts and hosts a family-style dinner for many of its neighbors; and WHEREAS, In addition, Rome Wesleyan Community Church offers Cancer Support Group meetings which are staffed by volunteers from the community and are overseen by the congregation's Senior Pastor, the Reverend Arthur Atkinsons, Sr.; and WHEREAS, In the future, Rome Wesleyan Community Church plans to establish a woman's shelter in Rome, New York, for those who have overcome obstacles and wish to re-enter the community as the valued citizens they are; and WHEREAS, Rome Wesleyan Community Church 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 honor Rome Wesleyan Community Church upon the occasion of its designation for special recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging on May 21, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Rome Wesleyan Community Church.