The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

February 2008   Volume 29, No. 2

Dean Lambdin, Pastor

      

Love

            “Jesus, knowing that God had given all things into his hands…took a towel…” He washed the disciples’ feet.  He could have taken a throne, or a scepter, or a crown; but he took a towel.

            Love always does what it does not have to do.  People do not have to go to foreign fields and become missionaries.  Love sends them there.  Paul did not have to go to prison and spend nights in dark dungeons with a bleeding back and with his feet in stocks.  Love sent him there.  A mother does not have to watch her baby through long days and weary nights, but love makes her do it.  Yes, love always does what it does not have to do, yet love has to do what it does because it is love.                                    -Source unknown

 

 

Friends University Concert Choir

On April 10, 2008, Friends University Concert Choir from Wichita, Kansas will be sharing in a free concert at the Marshalltown First Friends Church. 

Marshalltown Friends have asked if members and families of BLFC would help out with overnight housing, feeding and transporting some of the 70-80 choir members and their chaperones.  If you would like to host one or more college age students or the chaperones in your home, please contact Pastor Dean or John Good.

 

 

Exciting Things Ahead for BLFC in 2008!

A new asphalt parking lot – Spring 2008

Concert Under the Stars – July 2008

50 Years in Ministry Celebration with Eugene & Fran Wolfley – September 2008

 

 

The Pastor’s Corner

 

Love and Separation

            We are all human, well at least I’m comfortable in that assumption, which means we all make mistakes.  As we all know, “To err is human; to forgive Divine.”  In this month that is accented with a holiday that epitomizes the essence of love, Valentine’s Day, I can’t help but be reminded of how incapable of truly loving we as humans are.  Sure we may think we know how to love, or may think we know what love is, or what love feels like, but true love – real love, the love that never fails and is unconditional?  No one but God holds the key to that kind of love.  If it were not for Jesus’ life example and His sacrifice on the cross, we would never have been able to truly love anyone, let alone God.

“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

That verse tells us that we are only capable of loving because of God’s love for us.  This was displayed so clearly in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection; in other words – the plan of salvation being fulfilled.  As I’m sure we all can quote:

   “For God so loved the world that he    

     gave his one and only Son, that 

     whoever believes in him shall not

perish but have eternal life.” –

John 3:16 (NIV)

It is as we embrace this love for ourselves and begin to allow it to transform us and flow through us to others that we become extensions of Jesus’ love to the world around us.  Now as we are all aware, everything isn’t always going to be smooth sailing just because we have embraced the love of Christ and are living it out, trials will come.  It is the hope that the love of Christ gives us that makes persevering easier and easier as the days go by.

    “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and   

     God our Father, who loved us and by his

     grace gave us eternal encouragement and

     good hope, encourage your hearts and

     strengthen you in every good deed and

     word.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:16 (NIV)

He loves us so much He doesn’t want any of us to fail, He wants all of us to see it all the way through to the end no matter how many times we may stumble or even fall, He will be there to pick us up and help us carry on if we reach out to Him.

We may get so frustrated even and think that we are not getting anywhere, that’s when He reminds us that He still loves us and works, good deeds, performance, etc. isn’t what it’s all about, it’s about our relationship with Him; it’s all about the love.  No matter how frustrated this life may get us, or how discouraged we may become, as long as we stay close to Him, He will continue to remind us:

“ . . neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38&39 (NIV)

Now that’s the best promise I’ve ever heard!

                                                -Dean

 
 
Just Give Me Jesus

A Life - Changing Revival for Women

April 18-19, 2008

Wells Fargo Arena

Led by Anne Graham Lotz

For more information on Just Give Me Jesus or the ministry of Anne Graham Lotz, visit http://www.annegrahamlotz.com

(Anne Graham Lotz is Billy Graham’s daughter.)

 

 

“Hope and a Future”

The next triennial sessions of Friends United Meeting will be July 9-13, 2008.  North Carolina Yearly Meeting will host the sessions at High Point Friends and the neighboring school facility.  Housing will be available in local motels.  The triennial theme will be “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11.

Featured speakers include John Punshon and Landrum Bolling.  Exciting workshops range from Quaker history to global warming, conflict resolution and Hispanic ministry.  Meet with FUM staff members, field staff and Friends from our member yearly meetings.

Registration forms will be available in the Jan/Feb issue of Quaker Life magazine or online at: http://www.fum.org

 

Dear Friends of House of Compassion,

Homelessness prevention continues to be the mission of the HOC.  The Keystone Endowment Fund provides needed financial support annually for the HOC.  This is the third year for the HOC Keystone Endowment Fund.  The first two years were good years with $177,602 pledged.  Of that amount, $167.262 had been received.  This is a significant step in achieving the goal of $1 million over the next ten years.

 Last year the fund generated $6,330 income, which was given to the HOC in Dec ’06.  In 2007 we expect the fund to generate around $8,000.  After it is fully funded, the Keystone Endowment Fund will provide an annual income of around $50,000 per year, which is half of the $100,00 budget.  We hope you will participate with a gift to the Keystone Endowment Fund by contacting one of the Keystone Endowment Fund Trustees:

 

Gail Boliver - 752-7757

Clyde Eisenbeis, 754-3297

Dale Ites, 753-5900

 

 

This and That

-Love’s first cousin is trust.

-God doesn’t love you because you are important; you are important because God loves you.

-The world has forgotten, in its concern with left and right, that there is an Above and Below.

-Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn’t zigzag?

-Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.

 

           

Monday Night Bible Study

As we continue to delve into the fruit of the Spirit, we’ll be looking at the fruit of kindness.  Join the discussion in the fellowship hall each Monday at 7:00.

 

 

Children’s Church

Children age 4 through 4th grade are welcome to participate in Children’s Church on February 3 and 17.  We’ll be preparing valentines and treats for people staying in the HOC shelter and care boxes for our college students.

            Your help will be needed to bring items for the college student boxes.  We’ll need pens, sticky notes, nuts, candy bars, mini boxes of cereal, hot cocoa mix, and microwave popcorn.  Sign up in the entryway at church or see Margaret.

 

 

Liberty USFW

            Liberty USFW ladies will meet at Audrey Norman’s home in Union on Wednesday evening, February 13 at 7 PM.  Ladies are reminded to bring the winter gloves, hat and mittens they have collected for the elementary schools and the items for Chris Lund serving in Iraq.

 

 

Bangor USFW

We will meet at Betty Arterburn’s home in Marshalltown on Tuesday, February 19th with Margaret providing refreshments and Peggy bringing the lesson.  All ladies are welcome.

 

 

“I Love CQH” Sunday

            BLFC will be hosting Linda Garrison, Director of CQH, and other staff members on Sunday, March 9, 2008 during the Sunday School and Morning Worship hours.  They will be presenting the ministry God has used for more than 60 years at Camp Quaker Heights.  They will share photos, specific details about groups and opportunities, music, special vocal music and a message for all ages.

            A special offering will be taken during the Worship hour for the Camp. Mark this date on your calendars and plan to attend this relaxed, informal morning of sharing.

 

 

“Missing In America”

Making an Eternal Difference

in the World Next Door

Conference for Ministers

and Christian Workers

At Vennard College

March 10-12, 2008

Guest Speaker, Dr. Tom Clegg

Check out the brochure on the bulletin board at the church for more information.

 

 

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

~Pray for Kenya - that a spirit of peace and calm would prevail, and that work of the recent Kenyan Quaker Peace Conference would nurture seeds of peace and reconciliation.

~Students and staff at Friends Theological College in Kenya

~ Other Friends mission work in Kenya

~Those with serious health issues:  Gary Arnold, Dustin Shaver, Matthew Mills, Mary Ann Coppinger, Eugene Wolfley.

~Morgan Martin in her campus ministry at Coe College.

~Linda Garrison and the FUM Work Team in Cuba, returning to the U.S.  Feb. 20th.

~Pastor Dean, Amy and girls

~Pastoral Search Committee

*Please contact the church office to have prayer concerns listed in the bulletin or newsletter.

 

 

Missions News

We are sharing a recent email from Ben and Jody Richmond who are working at the Friends Theological College in Kenya.

 

Many Friends are inquiring how we are doing at Friends Theological College in Kaimosi.  Well, today, even as the country reacted to the killing of the second opposition Member of Parliament, our area remained calm.  While some friends reported chaotic conditions in the nearest large shopping-towns of Kisumu and Kakamega, and on the road to Kapsabet, there was also good news.  Two more of our students arrived on campus today, so we are almost all here.  Two of our staff colleagues actually accomplished some college business in Kakamega, and arrived back on campus safe. 

            We start each day with worship at 7:40 a.m. prior to the first classes, and our prayers for peace in Kenya are fervent.  So are the joyful songs of praise that start each morning.  God has been faithful, and Jody notes that we feel God pushing back the darkness during these times of worship singing. 

            Wednesday we had a "convocation" for the college at which we reported on the recent conference of Friends church leaders about peace, and this opened a lively discussion.  Jody led a portion of the report on the theme of trauma healing and that led to a good time of praying for one another.  We have been giving opportunities for students to share their stories.  Today, one of the older students told of his return from Nairobi, where he had gone to take his grandson.  His story was too complicated to report all the details, but he was traveling by bus in a convoy.  They were stopped at many, many places along the road by youth blockades, with bows, arrows, and pangas.  At one, they evacuated everyone from the bus (helping people get all their luggage off) and then burned the bus.  They had police escorts part of the way, but the youth blockaders particularly threatened the police, and it was terrifying.  Somewhere along the way, the scenario at the roadblocks changed:  the youth went from checking for Luos to checking for Kikuyus.  In the cycle of violence, everyone is threatened, but as our student said, thanks to God, they made it through.  Even while giving testimony to God's saving protection along the way, he admitted that he is suffering from some of the symptoms of trauma after this journey.  Please pray with us for deep healing for all our students and staff who have had to face frightful experiences.

            Ben was able to meet Wednesday morning with the chair of the Board of Governors of the College and the chair of the Board's development committee, who agreed on final instructions for our architect to prepare detailed drawings for the proposed new administration block.  So, amazingly, "normal" life continues to be lived.  There was a very delightful, but too short, rain Wednesday evening, and then we had a lovely glowing orange sunset.  Following that, a red-tailed monkey ran across our yard...

            We are so grateful for the prayers and support of Friends everywhere.  Please keep praying that God will hold open the doorways to peace in the coming critical days.

 

 -Ben and Jody Richmond, Interim Principal at FTC

                                                               

 

 

Library Ledge: 

Marriage Builders

            Wondering what gift to get for your loved one for Valentine’s Day?  How about giving them the gift of time?  You could enjoy reading and discussing a book together!  A Very Good Marriage, by Tom Mullen would be a great choice.  Or pick up Dating Your Mate or 60 One-Minute Marriage Builders for other creative ideas.

            A good marriage doesn’t stand still.  Like our relationship with God, it needs to grow constantly or become stale.  If you’d like to take a growth spurt in your marriage, check out one of the books or books on tape on the library ledge this month.

 

 

Thank You!

            Thank you to Tomlinson Tree Service of Eldora for taking down the tree and donating the cost to the church.  Also we want to thank Royal Young for hauling the brush away and to Ray Willits for letting us pile the brush in his field.

-BLFC Trustees

 

Special Thanks to Greg Young for taking care of the snow removal from the church parking lot and driveways this winter!  We are grateful and appreciate his service and promptness in taking care of this need.

 

 

HOC January Report

            19 from Bangor Liberty were involved in purchasing, preparing, serving and clean up for 50 guests on January 31st.  Our menu was goulash, biscuits, buttered carrots, creamed asparagus, mixed fruit, blueberry and cherry dump cakes with whipped topping, cookie bars, milk, juice and coffee.

            Our great volunteers included: Royal and Paula, James and Sharon, Scott and Mary, Dean and Amy, Betty, Johnie and Gladys, Deb, Lora and Rachel, Wayne and Fern.  Ask Gladys or Betty about the extra “warm” reception we received during preparation.  Our next meal will be February 28th.  See Margaret if you would like to be a part of this ministry during February.