During the latter part of the 19th century, Lyonsville Church helped start three other area churches that are now thriving U.C.C. congregations.

Our historic original sanctuary (built in 1858) is now being used by the Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church for worship and other activities.

We participated in the capital campaign of the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, Into the Future - by the Spirit's Power. Part of this campaign will be used to start new churches, revitalize existing churches, and train church leaders, both clergy and lay, for the future.  Some of those funds were recently used by our church to support Merlyn Lawrence, a student at Chicago Theological Seminary, as a Ministry Intern.

We regularly participate in the Strengthen the Church special offering of the United Church of Christ.  This offering goes to help new and renewing U.C.C. congregations.  Gifts to Strengthen the Church in 2011 were $430.  The 2012 Strengthen the Church offering was received on Pentecost Sunday -- May 27.

We also participate in the Christmas Fund offering, which goes to provide assistance to retired ministers and their spouses who are living on less than adequate retirement income.  Gifts of $102 were given in 2011.

Christ calls us to discover and to be good stewards of our God-given gifts to fulfill this mission.

Lyonsville Church supports the ministries of the wider church by giving to Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM).  These gifts go to support the work of our Fox Valley Association, the Illinois Conference, and the national ministry of the United Church of Christ.  We gave $7273 to OCWM in 2011.

Church members are encouraged to discover their Spiritual Gifts and to find ways they can use them in the ministries of the church.

We also seek to support people who feel called to ministry in the church.

Church member Bennett McNeal was ordained in 2001, and is now the pastor of Community Congregational U.C.C. in Elburn, Illinois.

Church members Bill Ressl and Penny Taylor were ordained at Lyonsville Church in 2003, and now serve as co-pastors of Trinity Community United Church of Christ in Berwyn, Illinois.

Our Administrative Assistant for more than 12 years, and a ministry intern at Lyonsville Church, Curryanne Hostetler has served as Pastor of Sparta United Church of Christ in Kimmell, Indiana since August, 2005.

Nicolette Siragusa, who served as a ministry intern with us while she was a student at Chicago Theological Seminary, was ordained on November 23, 2008, and is now serving as the Pastor of First Congregational Church of Grand Ledge, Michigan.

The Rev. Marlea Waber grew up in Lyonsville Church and served as Associate Pastor at Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus, Wisconsin for 16 years until her death in 2007.

Kathy Cihak, who was an active part of Lyonsville's Christian Education program, served as Director of Christian Education for a Presbyterian Church in Orland Park for several years.

Merlyn Lawrence was a seminary intern with us 2010-11.  She has now completed her seminary education and is serving as an Associate Minister at the United Protestant Church in Grayslake, IL.

Stephen Loonam, from Houston, Texas, was a seminary intern 2012-13.  He plans to complete his seminary education in 2014.