Ladies Circle #1
Circle 1 was created in 1928 as an outgrowth of the former “Ladies Benevolent Society.” Even as our beginnings are well established, our purpose today remains to be in service to our church family and community.
As a circle, we participate in a year long study of the Bible. Our meetings are held on the first Sunday of the month, in the church parlor. We meet for a time of prayerful study and reflection. During the year we also have the opportunity to gather for social fellowship, such as a summer outing and our Christmas meal. Collections taken up at these meetings are used to support the Presbytery and General Synod missions.
The ladies of Circle 1 are involved in several projects that are supportive of the purpose of Christian outreach. We fund, through a bake sale and memorials, a scholarship awarded to a graduating high school senior church member. This scholarship, while named the Ruth Brown Scholarship, also honors many other ladies of our circle.
Our outreach mission involves providing snacks for family members of patients at Gordon Hospice House. As a circle, we represent New Perth at the World Day of Prayer, providing helping hands and food for this community wide service. Coordination with other circles when the church has needs such as bereavement meals, receptions, youth activities, and traditional “covered dish meals.” As with any circle, we cultivate a level of friendship, support and assistance to each other as well as others in our church family, through calls, cards, visits and prayers.
Ladies Circle #4
Circle #4 began in 1958 to encourage younger women in the church to become involved in the Ladies Circle ministry and fellowship. Mildred Raymer (mother of Cissie Berryhill) began this circle out of her own living room serving as a mentor and role model for the younger women. This kind of relationship fit the biblical pattern of mature women leading the younger women in becoming women of God. Mildred was an English teacher at Troutman High School, so that the gift of teaching was used not only in the classroom but in her church family as well. Of the original charter members several have remained active to the present day.
We are a group of ladies that love the Lord and serve the church, community and foreign missions. Fifth Street Ministries and the Women’s Shelter are two of our local projects. We support them financially but also by donating needed daily operation supplies, and in clothes for men, women and children. We help people in the community and our church with financial problems by our support and prayers. Sometimes word reaches us regarding a need for utility assistance or in some cases providing food for pantries. We also support the ladies 2 cents per meal program which is a benevolent offering collected on the last Sunday of the month.
We meet on a Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm once per month in the church parlor or it is hosted in one of our homes. Along with compassion projects we also do book and Bible studies. Currently we are studying the “Women of the Bible” by Frances Vander Velde. This book highlights or brings to the spotlight some of the lesser known women of the Bible who did significant things in the life of their Christian community. This encourages us to use all of our gifts and talents, following God’s calling on our lives regardless of how little in significance we may deem it to be. After our meetings we also enjoy refreshments and fellowship. If you have any questions or would like to participate please call Cissy Berryhill at 704-528-4077.
Glory Girls
Glory Girls is foremost and primarily an outreach group. Although it was organized by Michelle Hammond, Beverly Brown and Jill Blackwelder around twelve years ago to be a group geared to the younger women in New Perth, under the love and care of these godly women, it quickly spread into the thriving outreach ministry that it is today.
It is now a group of - and for - all ages of women. There are women who attend that span the age range from twenty to seventy. This is an awesome, unique and wonderful blessing to be able to gain wisdom and insight from all stages of life as we read and endeavor to grow in God’s Word together.
It is a group for all denominations, but with one faith – in Christ Jesus, to grow together as women who love Christ and want to serve Him. But our main passion is for women who don’t know the LORD, or who don’t have a church. Because there are women from different churches, our focus is not upon a specific church but upon women who need to know the joy of the Lord through Christ. We have had many women to pass through our group and go on to establish their own ministries. We are privileged to be a stepping stone for the LORD in this way.
Our Bible studies are held monthly and are casual and discussion based. We try to be sensitive and non-threatening to women who may feel uncomfortable and out of place in a more formal church setting. Our study times are open to much lively talk, laughter and tears, but even perhaps more importantly, one can come and sit quietly and learn and never have to say a word.
The Glory Girl annual retreats are held at the Lail Cabin and from the time we arrive on Friday evening until we leave Sunday afternoon, they are strictly a time for Bible study and worship. There are simply no words to describe this time together. You must come and experience it for yourself. To learn more about Glory Girls call Linda Smith at 704-500-2635 or Sandy Fraver at 704-528-6912.
Mom’s Book Study
New to New Perth this past winter has been the Mom’s Book Study. As this church is located between two schools (Troutman Elementary and Troutman Middle) it was apparent that a ministry to moms with children of those ages was needed. So with much prayer and preparation, the new ministry was organized by Laura Ostwalt and Christy Anderson.
The ladies selected the book The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd to be their resource for learning the ins and outs of being a better mom. This obviously hit a nerve as a dozen women signed up with many more desiring but not able to attend. Each week the ladies cover a chapter which deals with the blessings and opportunities God has given them to be a powerful influence on the children he has entrusted into their care. The atmosphere is relaxed and light hearted. In this group you are among friends who understand the ups and downs of being a mother. They has also received helpful tips and humorous stories from moms who have been there and lived to tell about it.
While the ladies are in their group (which currently meets in the parlor located on the first floor of the Education Building), the children who are not of school age are up stairs being cared for by people from our congregation. This is staffed by adults and teenagers who together share a love for children and for the moms who attend. Without these committed angels the moms study simply would not be able to exist. But this is no mere baby sitting. The children have a curriculum of their own so that while mom is learning, the children are learning as well. There is time for play, snacks and adventure. There is no cost to the childcare, it is done from a spirit of love and service.
The study was kicked off with a brunch and each week a participant brings a snack for the group. Coffee, water, sweet-tea and sodas are provided as refreshments. Meetings are held on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:30. If you have any questions please feel free to ask Laura Ostwalt at 704-528-1291 or Christy Anderson at 704-873-8976.
The Keenagers
The Keenagers is our ministry for the “young of heart” seniors. We put the ‘grand’ into grandparents! We are a fun and enthusiastic group enjoying one another as well as a variety of activities. Luncheons are scheduled on a regular basis but before we eat we have a devotional which reminds us of where our blessings come from. This is a wonderful time of fellowship giving us the opportunity to know one another better.
We also do some traveling and sight seeing as part of our ministry. This past fall we went to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. There was so much to see and learn about the world renowned preacher from North Carolina. Everyone enjoyed the beauty and creativity of this exhibit-it is worth a second trip. There are other places we have gone before but one of our favorites is a day trip to Mt. Airy and Victory Junction. We have a church bus so you need not worry about transportation.
On special events such as holidays we take the opportunity to share with each other. In December we always have a Christmas lunch remembering to celebrate the Reason for the season. We also got together for a Valentine’s lunch complete with BBQ and the works. So whether we are eating, sight-seeing or whatever we’re up to, we always have a good time filled with laughter, prayer and love. Come and enjoy it with us.
