Our church is 5 for 5!
We tithe regularly from our annual church budget to give to Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) to support the wider church and we give to the four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ: One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, and the Christmas Fund. For more information about these offerings, click on one of the images below.
Mission Endowment Fund
Joan Norris and her husband, Tom, were long-time members of the United Church of Byron. Joan was a homemaker and a loving mother to their three children and also worked as a kindergarten aid. Joan and Tom were married in 1951, having tied the knot shortly after Tom returned from serving in the Navy. Joan is remembered as an impeccably attired, stylish woman who had a passion for family, playing bridge, and enjoying potlucks. Tom established this fund to honor the memory of his wife and to provide opportunities for all ages to participate in local, regional, and international missions.
Our Public Schools
At the United Church of Byron, we are a local church planted square in our community to serve our community. Our church building location is also directly next to our great public schools. We take this seriously. Over the past several years, we have raised money to provide school supplies for indigent families, contributed school supplies ourselves, and provided desserts to share our love for our teachers. We take seriously God’s call to build up our community in love. We recognize that as our community goes, so goes the United Church of Byron.
Love Meals
Every Tuesday evening the United Church of Byron Meal Ministry organizes a dinner to go out to shut-ins in the Byron community. Sign up to bring a main dish, vegetable, or dessert to participate in this way of connecting and re-connecting with people in our community.
St. Vincent DePaul
Our church works closely with the good leadership at the St. Vincent De Paul Society to provide for the local needs of indigent folk in our community. We have participated in the Walk for the Poor with walkers and a rest stop here at the United Church, made regular donations, taken special offerings, and have one of our Mission Committee members sitting on their governing board.
Local Food Pantries
People Helping People is the food pantry in Byron. Our church regularly develops a friendly competition to meet the needs at the food pantry, has youth that help organize the food pantry, and takes offerings to support the work of the food pantry.
Bread of Life Food Pantry in Stillman Valley is headquartered in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Youth and adults work to stock shelves, act as “shoppers” for and with clients, and to help with carry out. This is part of who we are as the United Church of Byron–acting both as leaders and as “team players” with other individuals and faith communities.
Hands Helping Haiti
Our congregation raised money, brick by brick, to build a school in Jacmel, Haiti. Specific members of our church have taken medical delegations, and we have had visits from the spiritual leadership in Jacmel. Our Sunday School has also supported individual children in the Jacmel community.
