Congregational Church’s Lydia Circle raising funds for project

The Lydia Circle: An integral part of The Congregational Church in Tryon, N.C. It meets every month for fellowship, to learn more about issues that affect them as women, as a church, as a nation, and to aid its church and members and its community as the need arises. 

The group is named after Lydia who was a strong supporter of the Apostle Paul. Lydia was a successful businesswoman who found God through Paul’s preaching, and opened her home and resources for his use. She was known as a seller of purple cloth.

The Refugee Crisis:  Houston is making progress with flood relief and rebuilding. So is Florida. Left in the lurch are residents of Puerto Rico and Al-Quaryatayn, one of the oldest towns in Syria where militants overran the town recently, killing many Christians and leaving hundreds homeless.  

It is difficult to know how to help people in such extreme situations. Church member Amy Correll discovered Sarah Carmichael Parson’s Dolls of Hope and learned of the impact on refugees around the world. 

Dolls of Hope makes stuffed teddy bears, dolls, and baby carriers for homeless mothers and children in refugee camps. Amy presented the idea to Janet Joens, president of The Lydia Circle. The group has taken the refugee crisis to heart, setting up workshops to make these items, mostly the bears. Another church member, Dianne Poague, graciously opened her home for this work.  

The Lydia Circle sponsored a brunch on Sunday, Oct. 22, along with a book sale. It expects to make over $500. These funds will help purchase materials and postage to send the finished projects. And the work keeps going! More seamstresses are encouraged to join in this endeavor.  

For more information, visit 210 Melrose Ave., Tryon, call 828-859-9414 or visit online at ucctryon.org, or search Facebook, The Congregational Church, Tryon NC (United Church of Christ).

– submitted by Ellen Harvey Zipf