Ladies Aid Society

 

	Our Mission To continue with the tradition of quilting; to unite and promote friendship and fellowship with the women of the Shared Ministry Church; to use our talents in order to raise funds for the church; and to share the love of Christ with each other and members of the community. Anyone interested in quilting or helping with our craft projects please come and join us on a Wednesday. We meet from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Anyone in need of information call or see Bonnie Miller.
Upcoming Events Fundraiser: Wixon's Nine Inch Shoofly pies will be sold at a cost of $4.00 each.  Please order by April 18, and pick up at church (in the chapel) on April 25.  Place order with any member of the Ladies Aid. Thank you to all who contributed items for the Annual Indoor Yard Sale.  The event was a great success!
Ongoing - Prayer Shawl Ministry Have you or anyone you know been seriously ill, in a life crisis, grieving, depressed, or experiencing other difficulties?  At some point in our lives we have all experienced unhappiness.  At these times, wouldn't it be comforting to wrap yourself in a soft warm shawl that someone had knitted for you with caring hands; a person, who while she was knitting, prayed for the person who would be wearing it?  This is the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  Shawls are given to members, non-members, women, men, children and babies.  There is no charge.  If you or someone you know would benefit from having a prayer shawl, please contact Connie Mueller, or call the church office.
Our History
	The Ladies Aid Society has been meeting once a week, in the church, for 75 years.  The Ladies Aid Society of The Western Salisbury Union Church was organized on December 26, 1925.  The first officers were president, Mrs. Edgar Fink; vice-president, Mrs. George Bortz; secretary, Mrs. Edward Strauss; asst secretary, Mrs. Stanley Weida; and treasurer, Mrs. Fred Laudenslager. Forty-one members joined at the first meeting. By the second meeting, held in January 1926, just a month later, the membership had increased to one hundred and ninety-three.  In the first five years, they finished 106 quilts and donated almost $5000 to the church.
In the early years, the ladies spent countless hours in the church kitchen preparing banquets, suppers, and Thanksgiving Dinners.  At the church's 185th anniversary in 1926, they served about one thousand people. They made and sold dozens and dozens of doughnuts for Fastnacht Day and held countless hoagie sales and bake sales. In the 1930s, the Ladies Aid directed, produced, and performed in Pennsylvania German plays. Members presented some plays as often as twenty times. They provided programs for lodges, granges, fire stations and many churches in the surrounding area, and entertainment for the guests at the County Home.
	When meetings had to be canceled due to weather conditions, the ladies continued to work in their homes. They crocheted and embroidered pillow cases, made aprons and sunbonnets, embroidered tablecloths and many other items. They presented the lovely pillowcases to newlyweds, and sold handsewn items to raise funds for improvements and furnishings for the church.
In this new century, the ladies continue to gather in the chapel every Wednesday, to quilt and enjoy each other's company.  We currently have thirteen active quilters.  There is a waiting list for quilts to be quilted.  Most of the time it is a one and a half to two year wait.
	Thank you for reading our story, and feel free to join us. We would love to have you! -The Ladies Aid Society of Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church