Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person worship services and activities at Lyonsville are cancelled until at least April 12. Our office is also closed. Phone, email, and mail messages are being checked. Please join us online for worship, fellowship, and prayer using the information below.

Sunday Worship – 10am

Click Here on Sunday Morning to Join Worship On Zoom
This allows you to connect with video and audio, and requires a one-time software download (see more information below about the software).

To Connect by Telephone
Call 312-626-6799 and enter Meeting ID: 996-871-027. If prompted for a participant ID, simply press #.

Click Here to Watch Worship via YouTube Live
This allows you to watch video and audio of Sunday’s worship service, but is not interactive like the Zoom or telephone option. This is a good option if you cannot download software and would rather prefer to see worship by video even if you cannot directly interact. If you prefer to interact over seeing video, call in using the information above.

Click Here for the March 29 Worship Bulletin
For those calling in by phone or who wish for a printed bulletin. We can mail bulletins in advance — simply notify the office you would like to be added to that list (708-246-1255 or lyonsville@sbcglobal.net).

Check-In and Prayer Times
Tuesdays at noon and Thursdays at 7pm

Click Here To Join By Zoom
To join by phone call 312-626-6799 and enter Meeting ID 573 411 5112.

These are times for open conversation and prayer. In a time of high anxiety this is a chance to check-in, share how you’re doing, pass along needs and resources, and pray with and for one another.

Worship Kits for Holy Week and Easter

We will be sending worship kits to each household that is active at Lyonsville so that we can share in the services of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter together. These kits will arrive before Palm Sunday, which is April 5. They will include palm crosses, Communion elements for each household member (sealed and sanitized), and a blessing. Pastor Sean will bless each kit before sending them.

If you have participated in Lyonsville’s worship within the last year or so, you will get a kit automatically. If you have not recently participated in Lyonsville’s worship but would like to receive a kit, please contact Nayna Byers.

Additional Information

Download the Zoom Software Here.
It’s easiest if you do this in advance. You can also download from the app store if you are using a smart phone or tablet.

If you need assistance with meals, here are some resources:

https://www.argohs.net/

https://www.cnnssa.org/meals-on-wheels/lyons-township

https://www.lths.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=59&ModuleInstanceID=38681&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=41236&PageID=11208

Willow Springs School District 108 is also offering assistance for its students. Contact the district for details.

Dear Neighbors,

Our Pastor was quite surprised to get an email from Indian Head Park’s Village Administrator recently, saying he’d heard we were closing. It turns out that at the last Village Board meeting a resident said the church had voted to close. You can imagine our surprise, since there has been no vote to close, and certainly we would know!

We don’t know why this was shared, but it’s out there now and we all know how rumor mills can work. So let’s clear the air: Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ is open and in active ministry. We gather for worship, prayer, study, and service. Our vision is to be a home for the spiritual journey. We have been that home for countless people for 175 years and counting.

It’s true that we are a small congregation – though the numbers shared at this meeting don’t square up. One thing our faith tells us is that God can do amazing things even with small groups of people. Jesus started with twelve, after all! If you’ve joined us for worship, eaten delicious turkey at the Harvest Home Dinner, joined us at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, or purchased gifts from the Fair Trade sale at Christmas, you know that this small group does big things!

It’s true – a lot has changed in the last 175 years – and so has church. We’re asking where God wants us to go next, actively examining all of our options for the future. No matter where God takes us next, you can count on hearing directly from us. Check us out at lyonsvillechurch.org or like us on Facebook!

If you like pizza and games, we’d love to have you at our Pizza and Game night this Friday, June 21 at 6pm. We gather for worship at 10am on Sundays and would love to meet you there (though this coming Sunday, June 23, we’re worshiping with our friends at Burr Ridge UCC and Highlands Presbyterian).

Have any questions? Please contact our Pastor, Rev. Sean Weston, directly at pastor@lyonsvillechurch.org or 708-246-1255. He’s planning to be at the next Village Board meeting and would love to meet you there as well.

Thanks for being our neighbor! We’ll see you around.

Chuck was a long-time member and leader at Lyonsville. His obituary is below.

Charles (Chuck) Waitman Helms, 74, of Countryside, Illinois died on March 14, 2019 at his home.

He was born June 30, 1944 in Chicago, the son of Albert and Juanita (Heatherly) Helms.

Chuck married Gail Marie (Wardo) Helms on April 20, 1974 in Chicago.

Chuck was committed to his family and community. He owned and managed Helms Lawn & Landscape in Countryside for nearly 30 years. He was a member of Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ in Indian Head Park, where he served in many roles over the years.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Juanita (Heatherly) Helms, and his brother, Herman.

Survivors include his wife, Gail; two children, Edith (Paul) Ruez, Centralia, Illinois, and Arthur (Nikki) Helms of Countryside; one granddaughter, Madaline, and three grandsons, Cody, Charles, and Russell.

Cremation is planned. A memorial service will be held at Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ in Indian Head Park on Saturday, April 13 at 11am. The Rev. Sean Weston will officiate. A lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Lyonsville Church or the charity of your choice.

Due to current and forecasted weather conditions, worship and all activities tomorrow, January 20th, have been cancelled.

Per our bylaws, this decision was made by myself and our Moderator, Doug Adams, after reviewing road conditions and weather forecasts. We also consulted with Wilma Mrazek, chair of Worship & Spiritual Growth, and Lauren McSweeney, Assistant Moderator. These are always challenging decisions, but after weighing all of the factors we wanted to make a decision that ensured the safety of each person in our community of faith.

After all, though I will miss seeing you, God surely does not wish us to risk hurting ourselves or others in order to participate in worship tomorrow. I will be sending a video and text copy of my sermon tomorrow morning (and posting on Facebook and our website) for those who want the chance to hear the scripture and sermon that was planned.

A call tree is being organized to notify active worshipers, but please make sure your friends know not to come tomorrow.

I encourage you to mark Sabbath tomorrow by sleeping in a bit, having some coffee or tea, and considering tuning into the sermon.

Blessings,