LYONS MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH

We are holding hybrid worship services to accommodate both online and in-person worshippers. We are having fundraising events - dinners Market Cafe and rummage sales - to support our own food security initiatives and numerous other programs including the United Church Mission and Service Fund The Effect Hope Leprosy Mission the local food bank disadvantaged students at both the high school and elementary school levels a local camping ministry community garden and a bus for transporting seniors. Our Youth Choir has resumed practicing and performing once a month during our Sunday service(previously shutdown during COVID). Coffee & conversation takes place during the winter months. Exercise classes in our Hall 3 times per week (a volunteer from the church organizes). Pastoral care visits continue with delivery of soup. During the Christmas season we collect food & knitted items to donate to Manitoulin Family Resources which package up Christmas Hamper baskets to distribute to needy families on Manitoulin Island. Also during the Christmas season we choose a Special Project (UCC Vision Fund) to donate to. In July our town hosts a Harbour Days weekend festival our Church takes part in an outdoor ecumenical service on Sunday morning and all funds collected (free will offering) are donated to a predetermined cause(all churches agree on the cause).

While we did not start any new programs per se we allocated proceeds from some of our ongoing fundraising events to local needs that we have not previously supported. The proceeds of one rummage sale went to purchasing a bunker suit for our local volunteer fire department. We also helped to finance our local high school’s Robotics Team to travel to Houston Texas and compete in the World Robotics Championships after they qualified in Ontario Provincial Championships. We also supported our local Special Olympic Athletes with a donation geared to purchase sporting equipment and provide transportation to events supporting individuals with both physical & intellectual disabilities.