Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Special Spring Services

Nikki & Doug Krull

will be sharing their musical

 talents & testimonies at

Bangor Liberty Friends Church,

Sunday, April 13, 2003

10:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Monday, April 14, 2003

7:00 p.m.

Everyone is invited to join us for these special meetings featuring this young couple from Marshalltown who are committed to reaching others through the musical gifts God has given them. Their musical repertoire ranges from reflective ballads to rousing praise & worship songs. A free will offering will be taken for Nikki and Doug. Fellowship & refreshments each evening after their presentation.

“I am the resurrection and, the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

- Jesus Christ

Easter Lasts Forever

            I ran across a tract the other day entitled, “Easter Lasts Forever.” Easter lasts forever! Isn’t that what we believe? This life is not always pleasant. In fact it can deal us some harsh blows – death, loss of job, divorce, war, rejection, financial difficulties, and the list goes on and on until it seems like Good Friday every day. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But the believer in Christ looks forward. Yes, it may be Friday, but Sunday is coming! This is our eternal hope. The world may seem to be falling apart, but Jesus still reigns. His resurrection proves that he has conquered sin, death and the devil. It guarantees that those who have died in faith will be raised and will live forever with Jesus and all believers in heaven. When that is considered, all of our problems of this world pale in comparison to the glory to come. Yes, Easter lasts forever!

-Author unknown

Easter Services, Sunday, April 20

    -Sunrise Service, Royal Ranch, 6:30

     -Continental Breakfast afterwards at the Church

     -Praise & Worship, 9:00 a.m.

     -Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.

     -Morning Worship, 10:30 a.m.

     -No Jr. Youth or Evening Service on Easter Sunday

Come join us as we celebrate

our Risen Savior!

LIBRARY LEDGE: 

 Dynamite Devotionals!

            You will find dynamite devotional books in our church library.  Some will make you laugh, others will make you think, but all will challenge you to a closer walk with our Lord.

            The audio tape “When God Whispers Your Name” by Max Lucado reminds us that only God can move us along on our journey with power from beyond.

            Men will find encouragement in the audio tapes “Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper” and “Raising a Modern Day Knight”.

            Charles Swindoll offers motivation to strengthen your Christian life in “Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life.”  Centered on the seasons, this book will help you to apply God’s trust on a daily basis.  Scripture and subject indexes make it a fine source of illustration materials.

            These and many more are available now on the library ledge.

JONAH: IT’S AN OVERBOARD ADVENTURE

A long time ago...in a gullet far away...there was a man who was eaten by a fish...and lived to tell about it! Join us for Jonah: An Overboard Adventure June 1-5.  Jonah’s story is about indecision...and indigestion! And it’s presented in a fresh, new way. Participants will go overboard

with ways to discover how to walk with God by admitting wrong, showing mercy, being compassionate, sharing God’s love, being a servant and more! Kids will learn...just like Jonah...that you can have fun, but you can’t hide from God. This is a program no one will want to miss! Many positions are open and the pay is great...blessings only God can provide! Let Margaret know how you’d be willing to serve God at our Bible School this year.

Do You Have?

Any historical articles or pictures that would be appropriate to include in the historical booklet being prepared for our 150th Anniversary Celebration need to be sent to the church by April 27th. You may send them in the mail, by email or thru the church website – addresses are on the back page.

            The 150^th Committee is also seeking pictures of former pastors and their families, especially those from the past 50 years. If you have any of these pictures that could be displayed during our celebration, we invite you to send them to the church. Be sure to mark them with your name on the back so they can be returned to you.

Children’s Church

            Children in grades K-5^th are welcome to participate in Children’s Church during part of our worship service. We’ll be reviewing the Easter story on March 6.

Liberty USFW

            Members of Liberty USFW will meet on Wednesday, April 9^th at Sharon K. Johnson’s at 7:00 p.m.

Bangor USFW

Ladies are welcome to join us at Ann Nichols’ home, 1:30 p.m. on April 15. An encouraging, fun filled audiotape by Barbara Johnson will be shared while we prepare tray favors for The Villa Del Sol. Miriam will provide us with refreshments.

Monday Night Bible Study

            Join us on Mondays at 7:30 as we look at heroes from the Old Testament. In April we’ll talk about Jonah running from God and Hannah praying through pain. You don’t need to have a study book to participate. Just bring your Bible and join the discussion.

IAYM Spring Body of Representatives Meeting will be held April 25-27, 2003 at Sturgeon Bay Friends, Wisconsin. Steve Pedigo of Chicago Fellowship of Friends will be guest speaker. Mike Gerbo and his musical group will be sharing with us during Morning Worship on Sunday, April 27.

Jr. Youth

            The Jr. Youth will be going to Grundy Center on Sunday, April 6th to visit Ruth Clark.  They will be sharing pizza and fellowship during their time with her. The Jr. Youth will not meet on Easter Sunday. On May 4th they are planning to visit in the community, with more details to be announced. They will wrap up the year with a family picnic and possible pool party.

Thank You

Dear Friends at Bangor Liberty,

            Thank you for the recent contribution toward our ministry in Kenya. We were touched by your generous gift.

            Thus far, the work at Friends Theological College is going remarkably well. The Davises left the college in excellent shape and have very graciously continued to train and advise us via email. Already we are seeing much academic and spiritual growth occur upon the solid foundation they left. And we’ve been blessed to have the Bauers on campus this first term – they provided a vital connection to FUM last term.

            Our entire family is delighted to be living here in Africa. The children are enjoying new friends, games, and songs at Kaimosi Friends Primary.

            We will keep you informed of our progress and developments at the college. Please remember our family and hold us in prayer, just as we will pray for you. And know that your Valentine’s Day package meant a lot to us and gave the girls much enjoyment! God bless,

            Mary Kay Rehard & Patrick Nugent

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Children In Church

-Three-year-old, Reese: “Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is his name. Amen.”

-A little boy was overheard praying: “Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time like I am.”

BLFC Historical Item

(continued from Wilbur Jessup’s historical notes)

A new parsonage was built in 1904 when Hayes Tuckett was pastor. With Nerius Hodgin as pastor, the Endeavors developed into a very serious and active group, and from them came the request to the Monthly Meeting that they consider the building of a new Meeting House. After considerable sacrifice of time, effort and finances, this was completed three years later under the leadership of William S. Kitch. The new building was dedicated free of debt in 1917. In 1949 the parsonage was remodeled and a bathroom and a furnace installed. In 1953 the church was redecorated, new restroom installed and a new kitchen sink put in. In 1963 the south half of the church roof was covered with new shingles and a new furnace installed in the building.

            A new one story, brick parsonage was built in 1972 to replace the old 2 story frame home that had been used as a parsonage for a number of years. In 1993 an addition was added to the original brick Meetinghouse that had served the congregation so well over the years. This addition consisted of new offices, fellowship hall and kitchen, class-rooms, bathrooms and a handicapped accessible entryway that makes the entire building available to all. Much of the work was accomplished by dedicated volunteers from the Meeting.

            Throughout the past years Bangor has been active in God’s work. There have been times when the fires have been allowed to dim somewhat, but at the lowest there have always been a few dedicated souls who were determined to continue His work. It is a privilege which they are eager to share with any who catch the “Heavenly Vision.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

            Meetings in Iowa were first members of Indiana Yearly Meeting, then were listed in Iowa Yearly Meeting after it was organized around 1862.

            Between 1862 and the turn of the century meetings in Iowa continued to grow and develop. New Meetings were set off by the early settlers as they spread across Iowa’s fertile plains. One of these Meetings, helped by the Friends of Bangor, was Liberty.

            On October 10, 1901, seven Christian families, wishing to serve their Lord more effectively, met in the small frame building known as Liberty School No. 1 to establish a monthly meeting, to be known as Liberty Monthly Meeting of Friends. Thirty-five names appear on the record as charter members.

            The first mention of a pastor is in an indirect way in the minutes of the ninth monthly meeting, 1902. It reads, “The pastoral committee reports in part – We are united in keeping Abner B. White for the coming year and that we will help him financially.” So it is presumed that he had the honor of being the first pastor of this meeting and was paid $142.00 to be exact. His son, Arthur, acted as the first janitor. The first yearly report lists two ministers of the Gospel. William R. Pruitt was also a recorded minister and a charter member, so he served as pastor during this time also.

            Records show that this Meeting has always been interested in the support of missions. During 1904 a special collection was sent to Jamaica to be used in replacing buildings which were destroyed by a storm. Records throughout the years show  contributions, to various fields, both at home and abroad.

            During 1907 plans were laid and carried out for the construction of a Meeting House. Four sites were offered to the Meeting and after a ballot vote, the offer of Mark Brindle and his wife was accepted. The new building was completed in December at a cost of $2,109.30. The large room of the structure measured 22 x 34 x 15 feet, the small room 14 x 20 feet, and the hall was 8 x 10 feet. It is interesting to note that three lamps were brought from the school; the organ was bought and paid for by a box social and subscriptions. The Missionary Society provided the carpeting, eleven window blinds, three chairs, pulpit, two side lamps, call bell and a broom. On a stormy day, December 29, 1907, a goodly number assembled for the dedication services         

During the winter of 1915-1916, J.R. Howard purchased the land formerly used by Liberty School No. 1 and presented it to the church organization as a site for a parsonage. Mr. Howard was named chairman of the building committee. We believe the building to have been completed in 1918, and to Carrie Butler goes the distinction of being the first to occupy it.

            Taylor and Erma Guthrie returned in 1919. During his pastorate the Meeting presented him with the keys to a new Ford car when his car wore out.

            The Liberty church passed its 25^th birthday in 1926. In October of that year plans were made to remodel the church building. It was so done, and free of debt, was rededicated to the Lord on January 2, 1927.

            A quotation taken from Monthly Meeting minutes of October 4, 1933, is as follows: “Reported two weeks of unusually good and profitable revival meetings. About sixty-five came to the altar with fifty or more conversions, the rest seeking deeper grace and spiritual strength. Colin Reynolds from North Carolina was the evangelist.” In 1938 the first daily vacation Bible school was recorded in the books. These vacation Bible schools were held each summer for over 30 years and were always very well attended.

            On Sunday morning, December 14, 1941, the Liberty Church building was destroyed by fire. During the next three months of confusion, the services were held in the gymnasium of the Liberty Consolidated School.

            In March 1942, the Bivens Grove Christian Church building was purchased and remodeled for use. Liberty’s cottage at Quaker Heights was built in 1951.

            In the 1950’s and early 1960’s, Liberty was blessed with much musical talent. During those years, under the leadership of Orville Norman, the choir presented two Sunday evening musical services outdoors each summer. These were known as the “Concerts Under the Stars.”

            During the 75 years that Liberty Monthly Meeting was active, 382 names were entered on the membership book. Taylor Guthrie, Wade Dillavou and Lloyd McDonald were recorded as ministers in Iowa Yearly Meeting while members of Liberty Meeting. Perhaps there were others. David Lewis was recorded while pastoring the Meeting.

            Two organizations should be mentioned in this history of Liberty Friends.

The Women’s Missionary Society was organized almost as soon as the Meeting. The members’ “egg” money was used to finance various projects and during the depression the Society served many threshing dinners to help defray church expenses. The other was the Quaker Men who organized several years later.