The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

September 2003   Volume 24, No. 9

Keith Haisch, Pastor

 
BLFC Family Camp

Camp Quaker Heights

September 12-14, 2003

 

            The Family Camp Committee has planned a great weekend at Quaker Heights for the church family and we hope you are all registered to take part. Groovin’ With God begins with a fondue supper on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.  Saturday, Sept. 13th will bring a time of devotions, crafts, games and activities, time for outdoor recreation, and a 70’s style variety and comedy show. Our Sunday morning Worship Service will be held at the camp at 10:30 a.m. No service will be held at the BLFChurch on Sept. 14--come join us at Camp Quaker Heights as T.J. Stanfield will be our guest speaker.

You should have received a schedule of events in your communications box at the church. If you need a schedule, stop by the church and check out your box or pick one up from the back table.

 

New Fall Sunday School Classes

            Bangor Liberty’s Christian Ed. Com-

mittee has scheduled new fall Sunday School classes to begin on Sunday, September 21, the weekend after our Family Camp. There will be classes available for all ages, preschool thru adult. Come join us as we learn from God’s Word! Pastor Keith Haisch will begin a Friends’ Beliefs Class in October.

 

“CHALLENGE OF DEALING WITH TODAY’S CHILD”

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION RETREAT

WHO: Parents, Sunday School Teachers, Youth workers, Childcare workers, etc.

WHAT: Insights, ideas, help and encouragement from a veteran Christian educator on how to handle puzzling/frustrating/difficult situations

accompanying the children in your sphere of influence.

WHERE: Grinnell First Friends Church

WHEN: Saturday, October 4, 9:00-2:30

COST: $15 per person; 5 people for $60

Register through Christian Ed. or the office.

 

HOUSE OF COMPASSION

August Report

We served 58 guests BBQ Pork Loin sandwiches, Green beans and Bacon, Potato Salad, Cucumbers and Onions, Applesauce, Tomatoes, and Ice Cream with crushed Turtles candies. Our volunteers were: Naomi, Betty, Tom, Vi, Fern, Bess, Jeanette and Betty’s neighbor who donated food; Bob, Jeanette, Betty and Fern who prepared, Wayne, Fern, Keith, Leondra who served; Vi, John, Chuck and Ann who were on clean up.

Fern and Betty made the potato salad in the morning and got the pork cooking. When Bob arrived he shredded the pork and put in the spices and BBQ sauce so it was very tasty. Jeanette thawed the applesauce and put it in Dixie Cups. She and Betty sliced the cucs, onions and tomatoes. Wayne did his usual expert job at wrapping the silverware. 

Keith gave the blessing and served drinks while Leondra dished up pork and Fern green beans. Others kept the tomato plate and other salads full. The ice cream (left from the 150th) was a big hit. Our cleanup crew was very efficient. All dishwashers were filled and pans mostly washed when I left at 7:00. John was finishing cleaning the floors. He and Vi later visited with one guest in the parking lot. He was in an old motor home traveling the country. They had to explain the difference between Quakers and Amish and encouraged (Miriam McDonald) him to not judge people on first sight. Since they were sharing a car ride, he assumed they were married!  

            Wayne stayed the night with 5 men. One was bandaging some ankle blisters. Wayne reported he had some interesting conversations, but an uneventful night. Thanks to everyone for their prayers & efforts regarding this ministry!

 

LIBRARY LEDGE: Christian Living

            During the month of September the library ledge will display books to assist you in your Christian life. Since the beginning, followers of Christ have been asking: Why do I often feel I don’t measure up to God’s standards? How can I love people I don’t even like? How does a Christian stay pure in such a dirty world? These and other questions are dealt with in How to Be a Christian without Being Perfect a life-related study of I John.  Check it out!

 

Arise and Shine, 2004

March 12 & 13

Archdale, North Carolina

Choose You This Day - Joshua 24:15

-Steve Pedigo, Randy Quate, and Lewis Drummond will speak on “Choose to Believe”, “Choose to Obey”, and “Choose to Serve.”

The mission of Arise and Shine

            We pray that we might rekindle a passion for Christ Jesus among men who are Quaker and excite them to be reconciled to God, re-centered in Christ, empowered by God in their Christian lives and committed to actively serve God at home, at church and in the community.

 

What’s Going On?

 

Children’s Church

Children’s Church will be held September 7, 21, & 28 for children age 5 through fifth grade. One week we’ll be recognizing grandparents in honor of National Grandparent’s Sunday. Our goal is to encourage children to live their lives to honor Christ. 

 

Liberty USFW

The ladies of Liberty USFW will start off the year with a meeting at Diane Teske’s home on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m. All ladies of the church are welcome to join the group as they discuss and make plans for the upcoming year.

 

Bangor USFW

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, all are welcome (even men) to join Bangor USFW on a trip to visit the White's at the Mesquakie Mission. We plan to arrive at the mission at 1:30. Details regarding lunch together in LeGrand or Marshalltown are in the works and will be announced in the bulletin. Brenda said the kids would enjoy homemade cookies so if possible prepare a sample of your favorites to share. 

 

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner

September 28, 2003

Mark this date on your calendar. It is a lot of fun. The mystery is where are we

going? Or who is coming to our home? Think about it and decide whether to be a Host or a Guest.

            Our problem has been that there are more people willing to host than to be a guest. Further information will be forthcoming. We do want you to set the date aside. Really think about it, it is fun! Questions? Call Judy or Miriam.

 

VBS 2003 Photo & Music Video

Copies of the photo and music video from Vacation Bible School this past spring are still available for $5.00. See Peggy Martin if you’d like one.

 

Missions

            Patrick Nugent and Mary Kay

Rehard send greetings from the Friends Theological College in Kenya. They arrived in January to start their work there. They have designed a new curriculum with greater flexibility and variety, allowing smaller class size. A new spiritual formation program was implemented in May. Also, the college began to provide textbooks to students. Few Kenyan schools have any. They are hoping to develop a kit of books for first-year students to borrow from the college, to be returned each year and then to be re-used. In times of uncertainty, it gives them hope to be doing constructive work in the service of the church in East Africa, encouraging students to work for peace and social justice in their ministries. They thank us for keeping them in our thoughts and prayers, and they would love to hear from you.

            Colin and Kathy South write from Ramallah stating “that it is Friends intention to spell out afresh what it means to have a Friends School in the community. The emphasis will be on values, especially through service, on quality education through creativity, reasoning, appreciation and respect and spiritual awareness , especially through relationships and a sense of the presence of God. We are a Quaker school and a Palestinian school. The school supports the education of just under 1000 children from Ramallah/ElBireh and range in age from 4 to 18 years. They are mostly Muslim families. Only 20% are from Christian families. In the nearly three short years that they have been in Palestine, they have witnessed such things none of us would have wished on our children. These people whom we have come to know and love, have, despite all, remained cheerful, hospitable, and ready to forgive and move on to a better future for themselves.”

                        BL Missions Committee

 

Website for Chicago Fellowship of Friends

http://www.forministry.com/60610CFOF

 

150th Photo CDs

            Photo CD’s of the weekend of our 150th celebration are still available. If you would be interested in getting the two CD’s please contact either Keith or Diane in the church office. We are suggesting a donation of $5.00 to cover the costs of making the CD’s.

 

Email Excerpts

            As some of you know, Edith Ratcliff, a Friends missionary in Kenya for 57 years, passed away on August 4, 2003. For the funeral, Edith was dressed in a beautiful white dress with the normal headscarf and also a veil type headdress with flowers. They even put lace gloves on her fingers. The men loaded the coffin in an ambulance, which they had borrowed because it seemed appropriate for her last journey. She was a nurse for many years in Kenya. They processed to the Kakamega Friends Church for a service. After the service they processed to the shama (farm) along the dirt road to the village and the compound. The men carried the coffin the front door of Edith’s home and out the back, her farewell to her home, and placed the coffin on a bed in the carport. It stayed there until the burial on Saturday afternoon. Someone was with the coffin 24 hours daily, singing and dancing. There were 200-300 school children quietly waiting in the yard. Most likely Edith had treated every one of those children at some time. Friday was a service led by the local monthly and village meeting. It lasted for five hours.

It was estimated that over 1000 people attended her funeral. Edith had worked in the entire village, not just Friends. She is responsible for water at the school and a fence, among other things. She had paid for many to get their education, and talked with the people about their spiritual life and many she introduced to Christ. She bought medications from her own funds. This week was a tribute to Edith that goes beyond an American imagination. I felt blessed to be present..  God bless, Retha McCutchen, FUM