Bulletin

Ladies Day 2008 Report

On September 13, 2008 "Ladies Day" was held here at Orange Street. We took a new approach this year and did something a little different than in the past. Our ladies are involved in some wonderful works that not all of our members are aware of. Christians are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick, Matthew 25:34-40. The Orange Street ladies are working to do just that. According to James 2:14-20, "faith without works is dead" and we wanted to share our "good works" with others in hopes of encouraging them to join our efforts.

It was a huge success with over 100 in attendance. We began the day with an inspirational lesson. Rachael Shifferd from the Dean Road congregation in Jacksonville, FL helped us to understand our roles as Christian women in the Lords Church and in our homes. Following the lesson the ladies rotated through 5 workshops taught by the ladies of Orange Street.

Session 1
• Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - This program is designed to bring members and our families together for dinner in our homes. These dinners of 6 to 8 people unite families that might not normally get together.
• Secret Sisters - This is a fun program which encourages our ladies of all ages to get to know each other on a more personal level. Sisters pray for, encourage, and send small gifts to one another. After three months we have fellowship and reveal our secret sister.
• Military Basket - This program is especially endearing to us because Amanda's husband, Hector, is in Afghanistan. We collect supplies that our service men and women need. The items are sent to Hector to be distributed to members of his unit.
• *Sunshine Baskets - This gift basket program is designed to bring smiles and cheer to those in the congregation. Baskets are sent for any occasion (get well, new families/converts, babies, college care package, new homes, etc). A basket is placed in the foyer with a list of suggested items which are then donated by the members (items need not be large or expensive).

Session 2
• Infant Program - This program was started at Orange Street in 1999 in response to a newspaper article about clothing needs for the infants of needy families at WH Hospital. The Ladies make gowns, shirts, blankets, quilts, baby caps, sweaters, and booties. A current project is burial gowns for preemies who do not survive. These gowns usually cost families about $75 so this is a great help for needy families.
• *Bottles of Love - Members collect change (in baby bottles). The funds are then used to purchase emergency items for needy families bringing their babies home (a few diapers, a sleeper, blanket, etc).

Session 3
• Wedding Quilts - Wedding quilts are hand made by our ladies. This tradition has been going on for about 12 years. These are truly cherished items for our newlyweds.
• Love Bears - This program started in 1995 by distributing our cloth stuffed bears to a pediatrician's office. These bears are now traveling the world. They are delivered to the Regency Hospital, the local fire dept., EMTs, police dept, the Village of Hope in Ghana and Military bases in Iraq. Each bear is labeled with the church's information.

Session 4
• Cradle Roll - These ladies have such fun teaching the very young and watching them grow in their understanding of God as our creator. They train the babies to listen and stay in their seats at a young age. By 4 or 5 months most can participate in some way.
*Emergency Room Bags - This project involves donations of entertaining items for children who visit the emergency room. Word puzzles, coloring books, etc. and a New Testament are placed in a bag, labeled with the church information. These are given to children who have to wait a long time or are upset.

Session 5
• Food Distribution Program - Food is given to the needy once a week. We currently service the Auburndale area. The members of the congregation can help in three ways:

Bring food for the pantry
Give donations for food by check or cash
$100 per month is given from the treasury

Each family is given a packet of information about the Lord's Church and our worship times.
• Ladies Ghana Fund - The Ladies Ghana fund was started in 2000. These funds are donated over and above planned and purposed giving on the first day of the week. These funds are saved up and sent to help with the work in Ghana. One of the projects funded by this program was to provide a well for one of the villages. Our small sacrifice can go a long way in this country.
• Change Cans – members are encouraged to collect their change throughout the year. These funds are earmarked for Ghana and given to Bob and his group to be used as needed.

As you can see we had a very full day. It was our goal that all who attended would return to their home congregation with information and ready to work!

* Ideas shared by the Great Smoky Mountain Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN