The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

January 2004   Volume 25, No. 1

Keith Haisch, Pastor

 

 

A New Year’s Message

           I said to the man at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may go forth into the unknown.” And the man replied, “Put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light, safer than a known way.”

(A New Year’s message from Britain’s King George to his embattled people at the beginning of WWI.)

 

Peace and Blessings

to each one

in the New Year!

 

 

Turn Around Strategies

For the Small Church

With Dr. Ron Crandall

 

A Ministry Conference

For the Friends of Iowa Yearly Meeting

At College Avenue Friends Church,

Oskaloosa, Iowa - Feb. 27 & 28, 2004

 

The IAYM Pastors’ Association in conjunction with The Board on Church Extension presents this conference. Ministry and Counsel members and others in leadership positions within the church are encouraged to attend this conference.

Registration forms are available from the church office. Fees are as follows: $25 for the first attendee from our church, $20 for additional attendees from the church.

 

An Opportunity

Dear Friends,

            For more than 5 years, I have had the privilege of working with at-risk and conduct disorder boys in two residential programs. One of the young men I worked with, whom I will call “Shane,” was physically abused by his parents and sexually abused by an older neighbor.

            I have watched in great frustration as “Shane” and countless other boys have struggled within a greatly flawed system and fallen through the cracks. Most programs provide too little individualized care and in the end, fail to equip these young men to function in the world.

            It is heart breaking to know that there is a growing epidemic of drug use, physical abuse and sexual abuse whose victims are flooding into a broken system. I believe something can and must be done. That something is CCC or Chrysalis Character Center.

            CCC will meet the need for the kind of treatment that can and will make a difference! We will equip, teach and counsel these young men while modeling Christian behavior.

            In order to meet this need, we need your help. We are asking you to partner with us and help make a difference. You can pledge or give any financial gift to our address below. Please join with us as we start this residential center for troubled boys. You’ll feel good about being a part of this non-profit organization that will make a difference in the lives of the next generation.

            Sincerely, T.J. & Mari Stanfield

 

Pledges/Gifts can be sent to Chrysalis Character Center, P.O. Box 7107, Springfield MO 65801

 

Heating Costs Too High?

LIHEAP can help! LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program accepts applications from November 1, 2003 through April 15, 2004. Those 60 and older and for the disabled, application started October 1, 2003. New this year is a telephone assistance program. Please also supply your phone bill.

 

Interested households can apply at:

-Marshall County MICA Office, 6 South 2nd St,

Marshalltown. Phone 641-753-5523 or at

-Hardin County MICA Office, 637 S. Oak Street

Iowa Falls. Phone: 641-648-5036.

           You will need to furnish the following:

Social Security numbers, a copy of your most recent heating and electric bills, proof of all household members’ gross income for the past three months or for the past calendar year, and your phone bill Adeline Clarke.

           Assistance is based on household income, household size, type of fuel, and other factors. This is a one-time only payment. Eligibility for participation is established according to federal income guidelines, which are posted at the church.

 

Thank You

Dear Friends,

           Thank you for all the prayers, cards, and notes during the last couple of months. Your acts of kindness showed what an outstanding group of people I am privileged to minister with.

           On January 5th I returned to work, so I am back in the office. Currently, I hope to be in the office from 8:30 to 3:00 until I regain full strength. I will be contacting churches about visits to promote Iowa Yearly Meeting Youth and Camping Ministries in the near future. Again, thank you for y our gracious generosity.

                                    Ric Garrison

 

Children’s Church

Children’s Church will be held for children, age 5 through grade 5, on January 11, 18, 25. Our lessons will be about Quaker Missions and the Ten Commandments. We will honor public school teachers as our service project.  Thanks to Fern, Diane, and James for helping with the cookie baking in December!

 

Liberty USFW

The next meeting of Liberty USFW will be the Sweetheart Potluck Supper on February 11th at the church.

 

Bangor USFW

On Tuesday, January 20, 9:30 a.m., Bangor USFW will meet at the church for a workday to prepare for the Spring Fling in April. Donations of colored buttons, ¼” to 1” in size are needed-please give to Betty or Peggy. Everyone is to bring her own sack lunch for the workday. Betty and Leondra will provide the dessert. Ann will give the devotional lesson.

 

Library Ledge

Humor Yourself!

          Doctors say laughter is good medicine. To incorporate more humor into your life, follow these doctors’ suggestions: *Read at least one joke a day. *Listen to humorous tapes while driving. *Wear a funny article of clothing. *Carry around a toy or small object to remind you of your childhood and fun times.

            Humor helps us relate to other people. It reduces stress. Humor replaces distressing emotions with positive ones.

God intends for us to laugh. It’s one of those human characteristics that sets us apart

from the animals. Humor is attractive. The Bible even says there is a time to laugh - Ecclesiastes 3:4.  So check out some laughs from our church library and remember “A merry heart is like good medicine.”

            “Quaker Lite,” “Holy Humor,” “Chicken Soup,” “Humor for the Heart,” Leaking Laffs between Pampers & Depends,” “Just Hand over the Chocolate and No One will Get Hurt,” and three Phil Gulley books and audios are all waiting for you this month on the library ledge.

 

In This New Year

It is so easy to get distracted and let the world lure and entice us. The enemy has many ways to get God’s people focused on other things and get off the main objective: To serve the Lord and be an example to others, just as Jesus set for us when He was on the Earth.

            You are encouraged to be strong and never let this world system get you worried or ashamed of whom you are. If Jesus is on your side then why would you let anyone make you feel unworthy or not well equipped to serve and be a witness unto the Lord.

 

House of Compassion

December Report

We served 48 guests generous helpings of sloppy Joes (with hamburger & venison); green beans & bacon; fried potatoes; peaches, strawberries, blueberries & bananas mixed; cookies & milk. All was enjoyed and many told us of their appreciation. 

Our great volunteers were: Darlene, Vi, Bess, Fern, Peggy & Royal who provided food; Bob, Diane, & Fern who prepared; Keith, Leondra, Mary S & Scott who served; Vi, Reg, Wayne & Scott who were on cleanup. We had an extra helper who was working off some community service hours. He pitched in doing what was asked and even more. It was obvious he had been helping there all week. He said he’d been living in Texas but moved to Marshalltown to be near his teenaged son.

From Peggy & Neil who stayed the night: "We had only three men. Two have jobs and are looking for an apartment, while the other is looking for work in construction. Uneventful evening and night. Two pitched in to clean the upstairs and fold laundry."  (The regular cleaning lady was sick with the flu, so Jean had suggested the people staying in the shelter help out last night.)

Thank you to Mary and Betty for helping serve and clean up after a meal at HOC on Saturday, January 3.

 

Helping Hands Furniture

What is it? It is a volunteer group that acts as the “middle man” between those that donate furniture and those that need it.

How does it work? We work with many of the community organizations within the city of Marshalltown to find the people with needs. It is all done on a referral basis, by appointment. All furniture is donated, and all furniture is given away at no cost.

What is available? We take donations of any furniture, (sofas, tables, lamps, dressers, beds, shelves, etc.) We do not take appliances, sofabeds, or outdated baby cribs.

How can you help? We are always in need of donated furniture and volunteers to help pick up donations. It you would like to be a part of helping those in our community, please call

Amy at 753-4879.

 

Kids on Church

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, “How many women can a man marry?” “Sixteen,” the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. “How do you know that?” “Easy,” the little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up, like the Bishop said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.”

 

-Jesus.

  Don’t leave earth without Him.

 

-Repeat Performance

  O God of Second Chances

    And new beginnings,

      Here I am again.

                             Nancy Spiegelberg