Bangor Liberty Friends Church

You’re Invited!

Concert Under the Stars

at Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Sunday, July 20th6:30 p.m.

Bring lawn chairs for seating

Refreshments afterwards

VBS Report

During Power Lab we saw 42 kids come through our doors for at least one night.  Average nightly attendance was 31.  Many canned and packaged items were collected for the Union Food Pantry and the children and staff gave $104.  The program offering of $206 was shared between the pantry and Outreach Africa where the kids sent 12 signed soccer balls.  One student was able to attend Jr. High Camp because of your generosity.  Thanks to all who made Power Lab a week to remember!

A Prayer for the Fourth

           May freedom be seen, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to please to do what is right.  May it ever be understood that our liberty is under God and can be found nowhere else.

           May our faith be something not merely stamped upon our coins, but expressed in our lives…To the extent that America honors Thee, wilt Thou bless America, and keep her true as Thou has kept her free, and make her good as Thou hast made her rich.  Amen.

                                    -Peter Marshall

Monday Night Bible Study

            Are you content with your life?  Is it all meaningless?  Where can we find fulfillment?  What is the value of work?  Who is really in control?  These questions will be asked and answered during our study of Ecclesiastes.  Come join us Mondays at 7:00.

Family Camp Meal

           Our next Family Camp Meal will be after Morning Worship on Sunday, July 6th.  Linda Garrison will be guest speaker during Worship.  A free will offering will be accepted that will go into the fund for our Fall Family Camp at Quaker Heights.

Iowa Yearly Meeting - 2008

            Yearly Meeting sessions will be held August 6-9 on the campus of William Penn University in Oskaloosa.  Registration forms are available at the church if you do not receive the Iowa Friend.  They were included in the June issue.  You can save a little $ if your registration fees are received in the Yearly Meeting Office by July 18, along with meal and lodging payments. 

            Due to students arriving back to campus, the university has asked for those seeking housing at Watson Hall to register by June 30.  Please register or email the Yearly Meeting office during June for registration.  Call 641-673-9717 or email http://www.iaym.org    

Some Highlights for Yearly Meeting are:

-A celebration of our Past, Present, and Future with each evening worship time celebrating these different facets

-A Recording Service on Thursday afternoon

-Friday workshop sessions and a tailgate dinner at the Yearly Meeting Park.

Please pray for this time together in August for Yearly Meeting.

Connection

            The Church is back on dial up internet/email service.  Please refrain from sending large files to the church unless they are important as it takes considerable time to download them.  Thank you!

June HOC Report

30 from BLFC provided a meal of sausage and rice casserole with vegetables, lettuce salad, fruit Jell-O, triscuits, mozzarella cheese, pumpkin bars, frosted graham crackers, milk and tea for 55 guests.

Thanks to: James & Sharon, Royal & Paula, Bill & Rosalee, Reg & Melidy, Bob & Veronica, Mike & Charlene, Kris, Ray & Robin, Kenny & Bess who provided food or funds; Diane, Johnie, Gladys, Wayne T, Bob & Jeanette, Chuck, Levi, Vi, Joe, Kay, & Daniel who worked in the kitchen.

Levi and Vi deserve extra credit for scrubbing the roasters caked with starchy rice - especially the one I forgot to put a liner in!  There were several ‘oops’ moments – a dropped cup and a broken coffee pot – but such is life. 

Thomas, in his 20’s, had decided to shave his head to be cooler this summer.  He was very enthused about the meal and expressed his thanks.  Vi visited and encouraged her friend Lisa who had found a new home.  Harvey, shared his usual flowery appreciation, but didn’t require any special utensils this time. Thanks to Chuck who drove him home after supper.  One man especially enjoyed Daniel and shared some jokes and impressions with him.  I’m sure Daniel brightened his day as he does for us all so often.

We have 2 meals in July - July 15 and July 31.  Let Margaret know how you’d like to serve.

Hearing the Voice of God

            How can we distinguish the voice of God from one’s own subconscious?  Perhaps the rough distinction is this:  The voice of the subconscious argues with you, tries to convince you; but the inner voice of God does not argue, does not try to convince you.  It just speaks, and it is self-authenticating.  It has the feel of the voice of God within it.  

                        -E Stanley Jones

Library Ledge:  Bible Time

            One of our Quaker Queries asks: “Do you endeavor to advance your spiritual growth by the prayerful study of the Bible and other devotional material?”  Our church library can help you with its many books and books-on-tape to encourage your Christian walk.

            Harry Ironside was one of the most loved and effective Bible teachers of the early 20th century.  Ironside devoted the first hour of every day to Bible study and prayer.  While speaking, one student came to him and said “Dr. Ironside, I understand that you get up early every day and read your Bible. How do you manage to do it?” Ironside replied, “I just get up.”

            He knew that his spiritual life depended on regular time in the Word of God.  He didn’t need to ask God if he should do it.  He regarded this discipline as absolutely necessary in the development of his spiritual life and his influence on others.  He couldn’t get along without it.

            Are you developing the habit of reading God’s Word daily?  Do you read the Bible with your family?  Are you growing in your Christian walk? 

~

-The sign of God is that we are led where we did not intend to go.  -Author Unknown

-God claims by grace those who have no claim to grace.  -Author Unknown

-A good rule for going through life is to keep the heart a little softer than the head.  -Changing Times

~

Missions News

            Joyce Aljouny, Ramallah Friends Schools Director writes that after participating in a class about soul and spirit in the workplace she deduced that the Ramallah Friends Schools continue to enjoy a rich culture of nourishing the souls and spirits of its community, even if it does so subconsciously at times. “No time is more relevant than the present to encourage the further spiritual grounding of our school community.  This is especially true for a school like ours, which insists on surviving in the midst of military occupation and consequent depression, loss of hope, economic recession, siege and violence.  We can agree that a good start would be to consciously recognize and celebrate the aspects of our school that give us pride.

-The teachers at our kindergarten have been working on environmental awareness issues as part of our curriculum for the past five years.  Along with many other activities, we stress the personal responsibility of the children and their parents toward being environmentally friendly individuals.  In addition to composting our leftover food, we stopped using bags and plastic bottles, which became a policy.  We received some assistance in funding our two new projects that aim to raise awareness about water consumption and assisted us in the production of a children’s song aimed at helping the children understand the dangers and causes of pollution.  I can say that in the last year we have prevented the use of over 75,000 plastic bags and 30,888 plastic bottles that would have been brought by students for breakfast.

-The school offered a series of workshops on parenting for Ramallah Friends School parents.

-Students and staff raised around $4,000 for the white gifts program, which aims to teach our students to help others who are less fortunate.

-Under the Community Service Program, our students have visited a number of social institutions in Ramallah and El-Bireh, such as the School for the Blind, homes for the elderly and the rehabilitation center.  In these visits, the students take flowers, food and gifts for the residents of these institutions.  This program aims to teach our children empathy.

-Unfortunately, the U.S. dollar exchange rate against the local currency has dropped to rates not seen during the past decade.  This drop of around 18 percent caused yet another sharp economic recession for the entire West Bank and Gaza.  The purchasing power of our teacher’s salaries, who are paid in U.S. dollars, dropped sharply and our Board of Trustees compensated staff for some of their loss.  We are not able to raise tuition fees too much as parents are also going through similar hard times due to the drop in the U.S. dollar.  We are therefore appealing to our friends and supporters everywhere to continue praying for us and for considering furthering their support to our school.  Thank you!”

Thanks to the 9 families who provided a nice variety of cookies and bars for the Mesquakie Friends Center Camp.  45 youth and over 20 adults were enjoying the week. Two vanloads came from Kickapoo Center with director Brad Wood from OK.  Brenda was giving God thanks for Victor's improved health so he could participate.  The day I delivered cookies, their schedule was Bible time, music, a mission lesson then lasagna for lunch.  That afternoon they were headed to town for bowling.

In the Mail

Dear Friends, I just received the May Donor Report from FUM.  I was honored that you have contributed to my mission account.  The work was hard this year due to the suffering from the post-election violence, but rest assured the Kenyan Friends are hard at work. 

Blessings,

Nurse Judy Davis

Summer Reading!

Donated or duplicate books and videos for all ages are available in the entryway.  Feel free to take what you can use in your home or give to a friend.  If you wish to share a donation it will go toward new books-on-tape.  Enjoy!