What is Ladies Aid?

The Ladies Aid of the Bell Ridge Christian Church has been an active part of the congregation since it began.   The work of these faithful women goes largely unnoticed, yet they are an integral part of the church.  Over the years, one of the responsibilities of these women has been the preparation of weekly communion and also the maintenance of the supplies.  Until just a few years ago, the communion cups were glass and had to be washed and cared for weekly.  Many times the ladies would carry everything home for cleaning.  For many years, the Ladies Aid paid for the cleaning of the church building and the many supplies needed for the cleaning including new vacuum sweepers.  The ladies have also purchased many other items for the church building and parsonage, including paint, curtains, songbooks, Bibles and once they purchased a new water heater for the church…..

     The Ladies Aid has supported many missions’ projects with their monetary donations and by making things to send to these missions.  Some of the projects they have supported have been: Pleasant Meadows Christian Village, Hanging Rock Christian Assembly, Pine Haven Youth Ranch, Oblong Children’s Home, the Community Nurse, Faith in Action, and Lincoln Bible College later known as Lincoln Christian College.
      These women have participated in many projects around the church building themselves such as cleaning days and painting the basement.  The most interesting was in 1950 when a committee of three was appointed to “get rid of mice in the church”.  You can be sure when these women were done, there was not a mouse to be found anywhere near the church!
      There were many times the ladies would vote to give a large portion of their treasury to the church when a call was put out.  Some of these times were to pay for Revival speakers, help with the purchase of a new piano for the sanctuary and purchase coal for the furnace in the winter. One of the more recent purchases of the group was furniture for the new foyer.
      Over the years, the ladies have organized and published three cookbooks.  These have been great fund raising events and the books have become favorites in the kitchen of everyone who owns them!
      The Ladies Aid is still a very active group of women.  They continue on with many of the projects that were started by those before them.  Sometime around 1962 the women began preparing Christmas cookie plates for the sick and shut-in of the church.  This past December, the ladies prepared almost 40 plates for those in our community.    Wedding showers are still planned by these ladies when one in our congregation is to be married.
      There are still Mother/Daughter banquets held every few years, the occasional ice cream social and church picnic.  If you look in the kitchen at any of these events, you can be sure you will find these faithful women of the Ladies Aid working to make the event a success.
      The Ladies Aid is always ready to welcome anyone who has an interest in serving the Lord. 

2009 Ladies Aid Meetings

Date                                 Place                               Refreshments               Devotions

Feb. 18th                           

April 15th            

June 17                  

Aug. 19                   Barb & Debbie Wilson           Barb & Debbie                 Ruth White

Oct. 21                   Lori Higginbotham                  Jill Higginbotham               Jane Sunkel

Dec. 3                    Jane Sunkel                           Potluck/Cookie Plates

Ladies Aid Outing Info: