Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Changed by a Vision

            As we have been preparing for the upcoming 150^th anniversary and celebration it has been interesting and exciting to read about the history of the church here. When this church was established those who had come here had a vision of the living Christ and desired to share that vision and love with those here. This is a wonderful heritage for us to reflect upon and yet it is important for us to continue to live in that vision of the living Christ and be willing to share it with those around us.

There is a story of a German sculptor who had worked for over two years to sculpt an image of Christ. It looked as though it was finished and a perfect image of Christ, at least to him.

            To see if it was truly complete he invited a small girl from the town into his studio to view the statue. When she arrived in the studio he pointed to the statue and asked her if she knew who it was? She replied promptly, “A great man.”

He was crushed and disheartened, realizing that he had failed to sculpt a true statue of Christ. Rather than give up, he took his chisel and began to work again on the statue. He worked another six years and finally he invited another small girl into his studio and asked her the same question, “Who is that?”

            She looked up at the statue. She looked at it for a few moments and then she began to weep. She saw Jesus in the sculpture that had just been finished. The sculptor knew his task had been completed. A friend of his happened to stop by his studio that day and asked him what was different about this statue and the first one that he had done. The sculptor shared that during the past six years the living Christ had come and revealed Himself to him. He had only transferred to marble the vision of Christ he had seen.

            As we celebrate may we also look forward as we see the vision of Christ in our meeting and in the people who make up the church and move ahead with that as our goal. 

                                    -Pastor Keith

Life Is Too Short

To remember slights or insults.

To cherish grudges that rob me of happiness.

To waste time in doing things that are of no value.

To let past sins or mistakes cloud future happiness.

To miss making friends because I am too busy making money.

To give my youth to the devil and my old age to God.

To dream of tomorrow when I may never have one.

To put off making a confession of Christ NOW!

Happiness comes through doors you didn’t even know you left open.

Children In Church

Jason sobbed in the back seat all the way home. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, he replied, “That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.”

Liberty USFW

            Ladies of Liberty USFW will meet at noon at Helen Settle’s home in Marshall-town on Wednesday, June 11. All are reminded to bring items they are collecting to send to Tim Thomas. Plans for serving the Liberty School Alumni Banquet on June 28 will be discussed.

Bangor USFW

Our next meeting will be held Tuesday, June 17, 1:30 at Jeanette’s home. Ann will provide the program by bringing a Woman of Faith video to share. This will be the last meeting until September. The ladies are encouraged to continue collecting change for mission projects and to enjoy the reading course books during the summer months.

Monday Night Bible Study

            Join us on Mondays at 7:30 as we look at heroes from the Old Testament. During June we’ll study Abraham, Caleb and Joshua, and Elijah. 

Jr. Youth

                The Jr. Youth will have a Family Potluck and Pool Party after church on Sunday, June 22. The group will be helping with kids’ activities during the 150^th Celebration Cemetery Tours on Saturday. No other activities are scheduled for the summer. Jr. Youth will resume in the fall in October after the church’s Family Camp at Camp Quaker Heights.

LIBRARY LEDGE: 

Summer Audios

            Books-on-tape are great for the busy month of June. Enjoy them while traveling in your car, or at home while cleaning or relaxing. You’ll find books-on-tape a handy source of encouragement and humor. The audios are located all together on one shelf with the videos. Some will be displayed on the window ledge during June. Following are just a few: Traveling Light, Inspire Your Kids to Greatness, The Power of the Praying Wife, Surprised by God, Introduction to Family Nights, and many more. A complete listing of audio tapes and videos will be in the church bulletin. Check out the library . . . you’ll find growth there. 

Missions

            Although Stan and Karen Bauer have returned from the Friends Theological College as interim administrative staff, they are continuing their role as FUM representatives to East Africa. They were included in the dedication ceremony of the Losuk Medical Dispensary in January and they visited the Turkana Friends Mission. The Samburu Losuk Mission is in a very remote area and serves people from three different tribes. This has become a way to bring the three tribes together in reconciliation. The new dispensary is an impressive structure. First, all the cement blocks were made by hand, then the building was constructed. The building has several rooms for patients and a pharmacy. There are paintings on the walls that help to educate the people about health and hygiene.

            Karen also visited the Turkana Friends Mission, to learn more about the ministry there. Turkana has several churches, water boreholes and schools. The economy is depressed because of the droughts in the area, also the very hot temperature of the desert adds to the hardship of the people. Many eat just one small meal a day and have very little access to water. One of the women’s groups in Lodwar wants to raise money for a sewing machine to sew items for sale to provide income to pay for school fees, supplies and for their children. They understand that those who receive an education become the children who help support the family financially during the drought conditions. They shared how they plan to work together and find solutions to their problems. They all acknowledge God’s blessing in their lives.

            Nancy Maeder had visited Ramallah and surrounding areas earlier this year and found it all very hard to take in. The Palestinians have a great sense of resiliency and hope. There was more mourning, wailing and a crying out for the world to see their humanity and vulnerability, voices speaking out for justice and an end to oppression. She heard over and over the children say things like, “We want people to know that we are normal, that we are human beings, that we are only children and that we are suffering.” How can we as human beings, keep doing these horrible things to one another? When will we ever learn how to live in peace and love?

                        -BLFC Missions Committee

HOUSE OF COMPASSION

MAY REPORT by Betty

Our menu for May 1^st was Chili Dogs & buns (w/venison), Mixed Vegetables, Mixed Fruit Salad, Jell-O Poke Cake with whipped topping & Milk. We served 50 people plus 7 volunteers. The cakes went over well and were real pretty. A knife attacked Vi, which called for a band aid, but we still had everything ready on time. Wayne T. came in time to wrap silverware.   

Robert & Jeanette and Don & Mary came to help serve. Don was in charge of the milk. Mary served the vegetables, Robert the chili dogs, and Jeanette was the waitress taking orders. Diane and Vi stayed to help. Several came back for seconds. We cooked 80 wieners, and had just 8 left. We opened 4 containers of frozen peaches and mixed fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, pineapple and bananas together to make a pretty fruit dish.  We cooked the vegetables with Canadian bacon. Thanks to Sharon K Johnson for giving money to purchase food.

            Wayne T. stayed and helped with the cleanup. Tom came in time to do dishes. Bob & Jeannette stayed and helped clean up, which was much appreciated. Keith & Leondra got there at 6:30. My thanks to everyone! Our next opportunity to serve will be Thursday, June 12. Moved back a week because of VBS.

Shelter Report by Keith & Leondra: There were 3 women and 3 men at the shelter overnight. Everyone checked in and two of them left for quite awhile. One man was ill with a bad cold, he was roofing in Liscomb and caught a cold in the rain. He went to bed at 8 p.m. That left three, all spoke Spanish and two of them hardly any English. We had a very nice visit with them and even through the language barrier found out that one of them has ties to Oregon, and one just became a Grandma. All were delightful to talk with. We worked at understanding each other, but it went well! They went to bed around 8:45. 

Shortly after, our two wanderers came straggling in and we struck up a conversation with them. The person that called earlier in the day and said they would be coming in late never arrived! Most were up at 5 a.m. As they were leaving, one woman left a poem with us. We were once again blessed by the people God placed in our care for the night. 

(The following poem is one written by a woman who stayed in the HOC overnight shelter on May 1, 2003.)

Take Time to Pray

Sometimes you wonder

How much I care

I get so distracted

Running nowhere.

I learned to be strong

A long time ago

I can face wind

No matter how hard it blows.

Now I’m down on my knees

Ready to pray

Yes, I’m begging you please

Please show me the way.

I’m not quite so sure

What’s really going on

Or who I really am

Where do I belong.

I’ll only take a moment

I haven’t much to say

Just lend me an ear

And I’ll be on my way.

I thought I had proven

I could do very well

Not knowing all could see

I was going through hell.

Why’d I make it so hard?

When it’s so easy to do

All that was needed

Was talking to you.

Now I feel much better

It’s time to let you go

I’ll talk to you more often

I should have long ago.

I can get up off my knees now

I have finally found my way

The answer is right before me

Just take time to pray.

New Christian Resource

            The Wellspring Bookstore of Des Moines has opened a satellite store in the First Baptist Church in Marshalltown at 700 E. Olive St. The “store” is located in the east side foyer of the church and is only open on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. As people patronize the store, the hours and days of operation may expand.

            Friends are encouraged to stop by and check out the books, CDs, videos, Bibles and gifts that are available. If they don’t have something specific you are looking for, they can bring it the next week. The First Baptist Church has a buffet available for lunch from 11:30-1:30 for a suggested donation of $4.

IAYM Ministry’s Conference

August 6-9, 2003

Oskaloosa, Iowa

“Committed & Unashamed”

Inspiration                                             Music

Dedication                                         Worship

Celebration                            Ministry Forums

Communication           Coffeehouse, Barbecue

And more!

Guest Speaker: Randy Quate

            Each family will be receiving a mailing for this conference and information will be in the Iowa Friend.

Some Excerpts From A Diary Written in 1896 By A Member Of The Bangor Friends Church:

Jan. 3, 1869 – Joe and Sam went to town and got some oysters which we had for dinner. Looked for Uncle Ryals folks here this morning but it snowed and they did not come. Father, Mother, Jesse and I with the children went to meeting and from there to Uncle Ryals. Father and Mother stayed there.

Jan. 6 – Beautiful day. Mother helped me do up the work and then we put a comforter in the frames and tied it with Father’s help.  Old Star had a calf last night. (During the period of time this diary was written, this family was building a new house and living in a log cabin, so much of the diary deals with building problems—such as going for rock for the cellar and finding none cut.)

Jan. 11 – The men working at the well. I melted snow to wash with.

Febr. 11 – Jesse bought two pumps for twenty-nine dollars. Baby no better. I sent for a bottle of Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup and a pound of crackers. Syrup was 35 cents and crackers 15.

Febr. 25 – Jesse and Joe to Marshall for lumber. Children all sick with colds. Made hominy.

Mar. 20 – Sent 5 dozen eggs and twenty pounds of rags to Marshall. Eggs were 15 cents a dozen, rags 2 cents a pound.

April 3 – Here it is a week since I have written in my diary. This is Jesse’s birthday. He is thirty-seven years old. I made him a birthday cake. He is so kind and good, I wish I was more worthy of his love. I am striving each day to do a little better. Last First day we went to meeting. The south part of our Friends have a meeting by themselves called South Asher. Second day Jesse went to Albion and got some sugar and onion sets and got Emma to come and help me awhile. I planted garden yesterday.

April 25 – Went to meeting in the afternoon and helped organize a First Day School.

May 5 – Planted sweet corn, snap beans, beets, lettuce, radishes, musk and water melon, tomatoes and white beans. Have eight little chickens.

May 11 – Cloudy. I washed and baked. Too wet to plant corn. Rained some last night. Julie and Old Gin had colts last night. Old Gin’s is a mule.

June 6 – Quite pleasant. We went to meeting and Sabbath School. Had a very interesting time.

June 7 – Pleasant. I washed, baked seven pies, a big ginger cake and ironed.

June 11 – Seven men here to cook for besides taking care of the children.

June 17 – Raining in the forenoon. Cleared off in the afternoon so that the men think they will finish the cellar today. This is my birthday. I am twenty four years old. Time seems to pass very swiftly. I wish I might grow in grace as in years. It will be but a few short fleeting years at most before I shall be called to meet my God and I hope I may be prepared to live with Him in Paradise where all is joy and gladness and that my dear husband and children may meet me there.

June 26 – Tried to go to Marshall today, but the creeks were so high that we could not cross.

July 4 – Rather cool this morning for this time of year. A fire is not uncomfortable. We went to meeting and First Day school. Had all the strawberries we wanted to eat.

Aug. 8 – I saw a total eclipse yesterday of the sun. The first I ever saw.

Aug. 21 – Raining in the morning. Has been rainy several days. It has washed several bridges away. Jesse started to go to Albion but could not get there on account of the bridges.

Sept. 9 – Cool and pleasant. Have been having very cold nights. Almost cold enough to frost. Carpenters came back to work on the house.