Construction Zone Summary

With hardhats on and determination to see the project to completion, 42 adult and teen volunteers welcomed 47 children on Sunday evening, June 5th to begin CONSTRUCTION ZONE Vacation Bible School. Following the kick off Family Picnic on Sunday evening, we were treated to a special puppet show with Darrel the Barrel and Friends, given by the Parable Puppet Team of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Marshalltown.

The children learned we are all a work in progress as we work to develop character qualities Jesus had. The children learned about being humble, faithful, obedient, caring, and forgiving.

            Displaying the quality of caring they brought numerous packages of paper plates, paper napkins, paper towels and plastic silverware which were presented to Victor and Brenda White at the Friday evening Closing Program for their first ever Mesquakie Summer Camp. The children were faithful to bring their offerings ($148.80) to go towards the purchase of a used tractor and new rotary cutter for the Belize Friends Boys School. With the offering given on Friday night, $137 was given to the White’s for their camp, and a total of $285.80 was sent to Belize.

            We would like to thank everyone who helped make CONSTRUCTION ZONE VBS a successful project.

            - Diane & Shelley, VBS Co-Directors

Lugulu Hospital Update

           Dr. David Lugaria, of the Friends Lugulu Hospital in Kenya, East Africa, will be speaking at BLFC during Sunday School on July 10.

           Dr. Lugaria will be in the U.S. for the FUM Triennial and requested to come speak at BLFC. Friends Lugulu Hospital is a 110-bed mission hospital in rural western Kenya, serving a community that consists primarily of subsistence farmers. The hospital has always emphasized basic medical care that is affordable to the community, however, due to inflation, it has become increasingly difficult for many of the patients to afford even the very basic medical care.

Come join us to hear of this mission work on Sunday, July 10, 9:30 a.m.

Welcome

           We are pleased to welcome our new pastor, Dean Lambdin and his wife, Amy, and daughters Emily, age 9, and Hannah, soon to be 2. The Lambdins come to us from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they were pastors of a Brethren Church.

           To contact Pastor Dean, you may call the church office Tuesday thru Friday mornings, 8:00-11:45 a.m. Afternoons on Tuesday thru Friday will be spent in the office or doing visitation. Days off--Monday and Saturday.

Approved Additions - Discipline

            Approved additions to the Iowa Yearly Meeting Discipline have been received at the church. If you would like copies of these additions for your Discipline, please contact the church secretary.

Today

Today is here. I will begin with a smile and resolve to be agreeable. I will not criticize. I refuse to waste the valuable time God has given me.

            Today has one thing in which I know I am equal with others--time. All of us draw the same salary in seconds, minutes, and hours.

            Today I will not waste time because the minutes I wasted yesterday are lost as a vanished thought.

            Today I refuse to spend time worrying about what might happen. I am going to spend my time making things happen.

            Today I am determined to study to improve myself, for tomorrow I may be needed, and I must not be found lacking.

                                                -contributed

Ministry Conference 2005

143 Annual Sessions - Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends

            This year’s Ministry Conference will be a unique experience. Iowa Yearly Meting of Friends will be gathering at Camp Quaker Heights August 12th and 13th for an abbreviated version of our annual sessions.

            You can either stay in one of the newly built cabins, park your RV overnight, bring your tent and sleep under the stars or stay at one of the local motels. Regardless, this being the first time for all of us to congregate at Camp will prove to be an exciting and uplifting time of fellowship. Conference highlights: Friday evening recording service followed by a bonfire in the great outdoors; Commemoration Service Saturday in recognition of Quaker Men’s founding and dedication of Camp Quaker Heights. We hope you will make plans to join us for the 143rd Annual Sessions at Camp Quaker Heights this summer!

            If you do not receive the Iowa Friend newsletter, there are registration forms available at the church for the Ministries Conference.

2005 Back to School Program

            The House of Compassion Supply Closet Team is beginning to plan for the 2005 Back to School Program. Last year we were able to assist 800 students through this program, and each year the numbers increase that need our help. Every church that participates is asked to furnish items from a compilation of the schools’ lists. This year BLFC has been asked to collect the following supplies:

            Large Boxes of Kleenex Tissue

            Pocket Folders

            Erasers (both pencil tip & regular)

            Pencils

            3 Ring Binders

            Blue & Black Erasable Pens

            Colored Pencils

            Wide Lined Loose Leaf Notebook Paper

            Scissors

            As you are out shopping begin to look for these items on sale. All donations need to be brought to the church before August 1.

New Books

            Check out the table in the entryway during July and you’ll find new materials donated or purchased for our church library.  (Thanks for those who donated books and/or cash!)  Enjoy the wide selection of fiction, devotional, and humorous books and books-on-tape available for your enrichment

Volunteers Needed!

            As we begin a new church year volunteers are needed to be greeters and nursery workers. Sign up sheets are located in the church entryway for your consideration. Thank you.

Library Ledge

Summertime Audios & Videos

            Books-on-tape are great for the busy month of July. Take them along while traveling in your car or enjoy them at home while doing projects. You’ll find them a handy source of encouragement and humor. The audios are located on one shelf with the videos. Some will be displayed on the window ledge during July.  Following are just a few samples: Making Life Work, Surprised by God, Introduction to Family Nights, Love Adds a Little Chocolate, Inspire Your Kids to Greatness, Leaking Laffs, Bad Girls of the Bible and many more. A complete listing of audiotapes and videos will be in the church bulletin. Check out the library this summer . . . you’ll find growth there!

Children’s Books & Videos

            Parents feel free to check out the children’s library in the fellowship hall for great reading materials for your kids. If you wish to take home a book or video, just sign the child’s name and put the date on the card. Leave the card in the box and when you return the book replace the card in the book. There are also several family videos and stories on audio for your family’s enjoyment.

Advice From Farm Folk

-Life ain’t about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

-A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor

-You cannot unsay a cruel word.

-Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

-Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Farewell

            After six years of faithful, loving service to BLFC, Pastor Keith and Leondra have moved back to Oregon to be near family and friends. An Appreciation meal was held in their honor on Sunday, June 12. Following this last Worship Service with us they were presented with a signature quilt made by teens and ladies of the church, with all families of the congregation signing a block for them. Joe Feltz handcrafted a beautiful quilt rack that was presented to them also.

            We are saddened at their leaving, but are glad that they have this opportunity to spend precious time with their family, and know that God will provide and watch over them. We are grateful for their leadership, friendship, spiritual guidance and example. Our thoughts and prayers go with them as they begin this new chapter in their lives. May God richly bless them.

Mesquakie Summer Camp Meal

            On June 24, seven from BLFC traveled to the Mesquakie Mission near Tama to provide a noon meal for 26 campers and several counselors. The meal served was pizza casserole, carrots, bananas, cookies and Koolaid. The two ladies who had been preparing food at the summer camp all week were very appreciative of our help and the kids seemed to enjoy the food and were having a good time with their activities. Thanks to all who provided food or helped serve the meal and clean up afterwards.

Missions

News from the Rehard-Nugent Family in Kaimosi, Kenya

            The Friends Theological College, where Mary Kay Rehard and Patrick Nugent

are principals, is located in the highland rainforest of Western Kenya. A great deal of the forest has been cleared for farming. In May, FTC students and staff planted nearly 100 indigenous seedlings on the campus and in areas adjacent to the mission road. The college hopes to raise ecological awareness among the students. The plantings will increase the habitat for birds and wildlife unique to the area.

Friends Theological College has admitted its largest incoming class ever, bringing the student body count to 70 in September 2005.

Emma and Eliza, daughters of Mary Kay and Patrick, are now on summer break from their school at Turi, a multi-cultural, Christian primary and secondary school. The girls have both received excellent performance in their schooling this past year.

Mary Kay and Patrick thank God for the generous response of so many Friends to their appeal in April about being taxed. Taxes are a new fundraising concern this year, and they have made the second large payment to the Kenyan government. There is hope the Finance Minister responded favorably to an appeal by a group of Christian workers to ease the burden on missionaries. Pray for funding sufficient to continue our ministry here.

New release from Kaimosi Friends Press.  Mary Kay's Africa Reflections pamphlet is featured in Quaker Life, (Simple Gifts: House-hold Ecology in Africa.) This along with other pamphlets will be available at Triennial, July 13-17th in Des Moines. If you are there, you might want to check this out.

-BL Missions Committee

The Trivial Christian

            Christian adventurer Tim Hansel, said, “The great tragedy of today’s convenient world is that you can live a trivial life and get away with it.” Let’s be honest: “Trivial Christian life” ought to be an oxymoron!

            There’s a Christian cliché that says, “Your life may be the only Bible your friend ever reads.” Like a lot of clichés, there’s truth at its core. What does your unchurched friend see when he looks at the way you live out your faith? Does he see someone who dutifully goes to church every Sunday, but who never extends the compassion of Christ into the lives of others? Or does he see someone whose faith is “a risky, surprise-filled venture, lived tiptoe at the edge of expectation?”

                 -Lee Strobel in Inside the Mind

                   of Unchurched Harry and Mary

Thank You

Dear BLFC,

             Thank you for sending me to camp. I had a very good time. I met some old friends and met some new ones. My favorite part of camp would have to be all the different songs we learn. Thank you again.          Sincerely, Andi Albright

Dear Bangor Liberty Friends,

            Thank you for the money for camp. I had a great time and made some new friends. Thanks again!         Love, Kelsey Feltz

Dear Bangor Liberty Friends Church,

            Thank you for paying for me to go to church camp. I liked all the fun activities. My favorite was carpet ball, f.o.b. and swimming.                                  -Clarke Macy

Dear Bangor Liberty Friends Church,

            Thank you for sending me to camp. I had a really good time. My favorite thing was canoeing down the river and making new friends. Todd and Brockie were awesome speakers and I really enjoyed listening to them. Thank you.                         -Emma Macy

June HOC Report

Thanks to all who were involved in serving 60 guests spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans w/bacon, tomatoes, lettuce salad, peanut butter and celery, garlic bread, applesauce, watermelon, cookies and brownies, Kool-Aid, milk and coffee. Volunteers were Tom and Pat, Royal and Paula, Darlene, Fern and Ann who provided food; Vi, Betty and Fern who prepared; Mary, Chuck and Ann who served; Wayne, Tom and John who were on clean up. Ask Vi about "Them Golden

Peaches" :-).

John & Margaret monitored at the shelter with 4 men ranging in age from 18-50. All were polite and no trouble. They enjoyed watching car races before bed and an old Dick Van Dyke show before leaving in the morning.

            Please note - We will be providing the meal on Wednesday, July 6th instead of the 16th. We will not need to monitor at the shelter this time. Please mark this change on your calendar.