Women
1 Corinthians 12:27 – Now we are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Introduction for New Attendees & Members:
We encourage you to read through the list of Women’s Ministries at Hillside Christian Church. Our goal is to help every woman connect in worship, friendship, and service. If you need assistance in navigating your way through the Women’s Ministries at Hillside Christian Church, you are welcome to contact any of the Leaders listed under each of the Women’s Ministries OR one of the Officers of the Women’s Fellowship Business Meeting and we’ll be glad to guide you in the right direction.
Angel Tree
Each year, in late October or early November, we receive Angel Tree Tags from The Salvation Army. The tags are placed on a tree in the foyer. The tags have the names, ages, and gift suggestions for needy children and senior citizens that live in Berks County. You can choose a tag from the tree, purchase a gift and return the wrapped gift to Hillside by the date listed on the tag. All gifts are collectively delivered to The Salvation Army in Reading for their Christmas party.
Leader: Katie Gahring, Home Phone: (717) 484-0392, Email: Katie_Gahring@use.salvationarmy.org
Bridge of Hope (Outreach)
The Women’s Fellowship Group makes monthly contributions to the Bridge of Hope in Berks County. This church-based ministry provides training to affiliated churches to mentor single mothers and their children from homelessness to wholeness. Single mothers attain permanent housing and financial stability through employment. The Bridge of Hope serves several families in their full-service program while offering life-changing friendships and growth.
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Card Ministry
This ministry is here to provide occasional cards in time of need, such as health issues, recent bereavement and cheer. Names and addresses can be submitted to Christy Seidel if you know someone who would appreciate this act of kindness.
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Carry-In Meals
This is an ongoing rotating ministry designed to aid families during times of illness, recovering from surgery, recent birth or bereavement, etc. Adding your name to the list of “cooks” means that you could be called a few times a year to help out. Prepared meals may be hot or cold. The hot meals generally need to be reheated.
Leader: Mary Ragan, Home Phone: (610) 589-4554, Email: 2rirish@comcast.net
Co-Leader: Patty Ward, Home Phone: 717-435-7399, Email: pbwarddc@dejazzd.com
Chocolate Making
Easter and Christmas season candy making is a major fundraiser at Hillside Christian Church. Daytime and evening volunteer opportunities await you. We desperately need new people to learn the fine art of chocolate coating. The fellowship is awesome! Throughout the years, the candy making project has supported our church by allocating funds to the mortgage fund, youth group, mission trips, Holly Heilman Cancer Fund, Salvation Army, Wounded Warriors and miscellaneous purchases for the church. Future benefits include an outdoor nativity scene and the new kitchen project. The Hillside Christian Church family has been generously blessed with this “sweet” mission!
Leader: Mitzi Wike, Home Phone: (717) 484-2032, Email: crzy4lavender@yahoo.com
Church Dinners
Many of the church dinners are organized by the women and are done “just for fun and fellowship” or to commemorate a visiting guest or occasion. There are always volunteers needed for set up and clean up.
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Communion Preparation
Communion preparation is a weekly function. This takes about 15 minutes of time prior to services and about 15 minutes of clean up after services.
Leader: Sally Lee, Cell Phone: (610) 334-9865, Email: mrs_salee@hotmail.com
Food Pantry
Hillside Christian Church keeps a small pantry stocked with non-perishable items. Our pantry is available to help anyone in our church family, local families, and for emergency situations. The last Sunday of every month is designated as our donation Sunday. However, we accept food at any time. If you know anyone that is in need, please let Sally or Christy know. There is a plastic basket under the table in the foyer (and welcome area) where food can be dropped off and will be put away by volunteers later.
Leader: Sally Lee, Cell Phone: (610) 334-9865, Email: mrs_salee@hotmail.com
Co-Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Haitian Feeding Station (Outreach)
The Women’s Fellowship Group makes a monthly contribution to GMDM. Our Dominican ministry friends have set up a feeding station in Caracol, Haiti. This station feeds 75 plus children twice weekly and distributes clothing. Future plans include building a structure including an orphanage, school, and worship area.
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Kitchen Organization
Kitchen organization is handled by the women in the church. We look forward to an upcoming change in the kitchen structure to make for more improved and efficient candy making and church dinners. The volunteer role is to ensure we have adequate stock of all paper products, utensils, towels, wash cloths, coffee, and more. Additionally, we oversee the maintenance of the refrigerator, appliances, dishwasher and cleaning of the work preparation area. The towels and wash cloths are taken home periodically by a volunteer to be washed.
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Ladies Day
The Annual Ladies Day is like a mini-retreat. It is an event for all the women at Hillside Christian Church and their friends to spend a day together digging into God's word and applying it to their lives. There is also worship, games, food, and door prizes. It is a great opportunity to grow your relationship with God and with the other women of the church while having fun doing it!
Leader: Amy Baker, Cell Phone (484) 345-1412, Email: amyt919@gmail.com
Secret Sisters Program
Secret Sisters is an outreach of the Women’s Fellowship and is for ALL women of Hillside Christian Church as a way to encourage fellowship throughout the year. Names are exchanged each year and a commitment is made to pray for your “Sister.” This outreach begins in June and continues to the following June when there is a Reveal Party to find out who has been your Secret Sister for the year. You can also send small gifts for special occasions in your “Sister’s” life. The most important part of the program, though, is we are praying for each other and you know there is another woman in the church praying specifically for you.
The mission of the program is to encourage all ladies in the church and there are fellowship opportunities throughout the year. Many events sponsored by the Secret Sisters are open to ALL ladies at the church.
Secret Sisters also sponsors a card sending program. This is a small commitment to insure that someone struggling with issues receives a card of cheer or prayer regularly.
Leader: Katie Gahring, Home Phone: (717) 484-0392, Email: Katie_Gahring@use.salvationarmy.org
Seasonal Decorations
Before the beginning of each of the four seasons, we like to make seasonal decor changes so that Hillside Christian Church is as uplifting and festive as possible. If you are a crafty person and would be interested in helping out in this capacity, please contact Christy (see contact info below).
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Showers (Wedding and Baby)
Showers are festive times at Hillside Christian Church. We like to gather to celebrate the next step in a person’s life and share the joy together. When a wedding is being planned, the future bride is asked if they would like the church to host a fun afternoon or get together. Also, a baby shower is provided for the first born baby in each family while attending our church. They are hosted in the fellowship area or at the home of a church member. Volunteers are needed for the event planning about 3 months before the event.
Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Thanksgiving Baskets
This is a ministry of the whole church, but organized by the Women’s Fellowship. We start collecting food and money about three to four weeks before Thanksgiving. Anyone can designate a need for a family or individual to receive a gift basket by telling either Christy Seidel or Sally Lee. The people can be “in or outside” of our church community and this is considered confidential, so NO names should be provided. However, it is helpful to know for planning purposes how many people the basket needs to feed two weeks prior to the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that you may request a basket for something as simple as, “the family / individual has had a rough year and could use some cheer!” In other words, the family or person you designate does not necessarily have to be a low income or have had a major traumatic event occur to receive our gift.
Leader: Sally Lee, Cell Phone: (610) 334-9865, Email: mrs_salee@hotmail.com
Co-Leader: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Women’s Bible Study
The Women's Bible Study is open to ALL women in the church. The studies are generally held Spring and Fall on every other Thursday evening at the church starting at 7:00 p.m. Joining the study is a great way to enjoy fellowship with other women in the church and build new friendships. The study generally runs 2 hours (one hour of group discussion, followed by one hour of DVD lead teaching). If you have a desire to learn and grow in the word and your relationship with our Lord and Savior, please consider joining us. Any questions, please call Chris Lebo (see contact info below).
Leader: Chris Lebo, Home Phone: (610) 301-3978, Email: cllebo@aol.com
Women’s Fellowship Business Meeting
The Women's Fellowship Business Meeting is currently held on the third Sunday of each month, from September through May. The fellowship time and lunch begins immediately following the service with the business meeting starting at 12:30 p.m. The meeting is held in Fellowship Hall after the Sunday church service to discuss the planning and management aspects for many of the Women’s Ministries contained in this list. A Christmas Party is held annually in December and the Year-End Picnic has always been a tradition for the group in May to reflect on the accomplishments of the group for the year, discuss pending projects, and celebrate the beginning of the summer season.
President: Christy Seidel, Home Phone: (610) 796-1123, Email: wsscls295@comcast.net
Treasurer: Sally Lee, Cell Phone: (610) 334-9865, Email: mrs_salee@hotmail.com
Minutes Recorder: Katie Gahring, Home Phone: (717) 484-0392, Email: Katie_Gahring@use.salvationarmy.org
First Vice President: Darlene Dassy, Home Phone: (610) 678-3821, Email: ddassy@verizon.net
Second Vice President: Laura McIntosh, Home Phone: (610) 775-9956, Email: 6applesfamily@gmail.com
Last Updated: August 2013