Abiding in Christ As winter fades into spring we begin to see beautiful new life filling God’s creation. From seeing the buds appear on the trees to hearing the birds sing their songs of spring, life is all around us. The spring rains fall cleansing the ground of its frost and preparing the soil to produce its crops once again and the sun replenishes the souls of those weary from another long hard winter. I love spring. I love the smell of the air on a beautiful spring morning, and hearing the songs of the birds welcoming back the long forgotten warmth of the sun. I love seeing what was a hard and barren ground just weeks before transform into soft and fertile soil that will soon be covered with new crops. The reason I love spring so much is that is reminds me of what it means to abide in Jesus Christ. In John 15: 4-7 Christ says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Before I asked Christ into my heart I was like the winter. Where my soul was as the frozen ground, helpless to produce any fruit or sustain any life. Jesus became my spring when I chose to abide in Him. He is the sun and the rain that transformed what was desolate before into a new creation. I hope that as the warm weather comes and life returns with the spring you too, will be reminded of what it means for us to abide in Jesus Christ.
Blessings, Pastor Nathan McCracken
Easter Week Services April 9, 10 & 12 -Maundy Thursday Service, 7 p.m. There will be a time of foot washing and communion during this service. -Good Friday Service, 7 p.m. This will be a reflective service, focusing on Christ -Easter Sunday Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. at Royal Ranch. In case of inclement weather the service will be held at the church. -Easter Breakfast, 8 a.m. at the church casserole, fruit, donuts, etc. -Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. -Morning Worship, 10:30
Every Day Is Easter “Easter comes but once a year,” so many people say. But to a person saved from sin, it’s Easter every day!
Crocodile Dock VBSWhere Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light
Imagine…a child hearing about God's love for the first time; worshipping with music; serving each other. All this (and more) will happen during Vacation Bible School this summer May 31-June 4 as we transform our church into a bayou! We’d love to help 50 kids grow in their relationship with God. In just a few months, our church will be busy with kids making crafts, playing games, and discovering Bible truths in fun and memorable ways. To have the best experience possible, we need lots of volunteers who can give time, energy, and love to the kids who will attend. Let me share a few ideas about ways you can make this program a success. Check out the following, then pray about where God might use you: crew leaders, staff devotions, Bible leaders, set designers, Chadder leader, transportation, registration, games, nursery, snacks, crafts, publicity and lots of floaters. Also be praying about the children you can invite! See Margaret to volunteer or to learn more about this opportunity. Join the fun and make a splash at Crocodile Dock!
Queries for Monthly Meeting continued….
Thank you! We appreciate so much the snow removal provided this past winter by Royal Young and Greg Young who kept the parking lot and the pastor’s driveway clear, and also Joe Feltz and John Good who made sure the church sidewalks and a path on the parking lot were sanded and safe for walking! Thanks, guys!
House of Compassion Report54 guests were given a meal of goulash, green beans and bacon, biscuits, mixed fruit cups, sugar cookies, pumpkin bars, milk and coffee on March 26th. Thanks to all who donated food or were kitchen helpers. Working together is always fun! Join us on April 30 for our next meal.
FUM NEWS: For updates on mission work you can go to the Friends United Meeting website. You'll also find a weekly devotional and prayer requests, articles from the Quaker Life magazine, and Friends literature available to purchase online at Friends United Press. http://www.fum.org/
Good Friday…and Easter…tells us…that the life awaiting us beyond the grave is as certain…as is the life we are now living! In three brief lines Charles Kingsley expressed the hope of the follower of Jesus Christ: It is not darkness you are going to…God is light. It is not unknown country…for Christ is there. These brief years of our lives can be made so much more meaningful…if your hope…and trust…is in Him…who is YOUR Redeemer.
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Mark Your Calendars! “The Living Stone and a Chosen People” 1 Peter 2:4-10
Iowa Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions Thursday, July 30th through Sunday, August 2nd To be held at William Penn University.
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Picture LanguageNoah had FLOOD LIGHTS on the ark. Did you know the man who invented the thermometer HAD MANY DEGREES? Did you know the first flea market STARTED WITH A SCRATCH?
Children’s ChurchChildren, age 4 through grade 4, are welcome to participate on April 5th and 26th. Our service projects will be to make Resurrection Rolls and give appreciation cards and treats to parents.
Minor Prophets Bible StudyJoin us in the fellowship hall on Monday nights at 7:00 as we look at the life of Amos during April. Amos strongly pointed out the sins of the people and told them that a righteous God must punish sin. The people of Bethel did not appreciate the ministry of Amos. But he was not just a prophet of doom. Amos also had a message of hope, which is especially seen in the last verses of the book. These wonderful promises will be fulfilled when Christ returns to this earth as King. We often seek the wrong things, forgetting the One who is the only source of true life. Amos challenges us to forsake anything and everything that hinders our relationship with God, proclaiming, "Seek the Lord and live!"
Liberty USFW Liberty USFW will meet at Diane Teske’s home on April 8th at 7 p.m. Special guest, Sharon Borgman will share about adoption.
Kids’ Easter Party Christian Ed. will sponsor an Easter Party for toddlers thru high school youth at the church on Saturday, April 11, 9:30- 11:30 a.m. There will be an Easter egg hunt, a craft, an Easter story and a light lunch served.
Bangor USFWLadies of Bangor USFW will gather at the home of Barbara Jo Morgan in the Embers on April 21 at 1:30. Vera Cutler will bring the program and Barbara Jo will provide refreshments. All ladies are welcome.
Garrison Memorial Scramble 4-Person Best Position Tournament 9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start Saturday, April 25, 2009 Westwood Municipal Golf Course, Newton, Iowa Questions? Anthony Nieuwsma 641-236-6412 or newsma213@hotmail.com
$200 per Team includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch & prizes. Mail registration & $50 to the IAYM Office by April 18, 2009 and receive 1 free mulligan per team member.
Bangor Cemetery Association Annual Meeting Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m. Bangor Liberty Friends Church
MissionsThanks to those who gave a total of $2,250.00 for Judy Davis and Kaimosi Hospital salaries. Our 3rd Sunday of the month mission offering will begin supporting Sam and Becky Barber in April and continue through next March. They will be going to Belize to be directors of the Friends Boys School in April. You can learn more about Sam and Becky and their four children on the mission bulletin board in the entry way or by going to their website. http://www.belizebarbers.org/ Please fill out the Mission Pledge cards, tear off the bottom and give to Scott Davis or put in his box by Easter so we can inform the Barber family of our monthly financial and prayer gifts. One-time gifts would be accepted also.
USFWI/QMI Triennial 2010The deadline for the $100 deposit to attend the USFWI/QMI Triennial in Mombasa, Kenya in 2010 (July1-5) has been extended to June 1, 2009. Checks can made out to USFWI and mailed to Adis Beeson, 4305 Beeson Farm Road, Sophia, NC 27350. More information will be in the May/June ADVOCATE.
Seeking a Volunteer! BLF Monthly Meeting approved participating in the annual Tar Heels Parade in Union in August. We are in need of a volunteer to coordinate the building of a float for the parade. See John Good to volunteer.
Library Ledge: Parenting Pointers Parents and grandparents can sharpen their skills with help from our church library. All who work with children will find encouragement, challenge and humor in the varied selections. Boundaries with Kids helps moms and dads learn how to bring control to family life, set limits and still be loving parents. The Power of a Praying Parent has 30 short, easy-to-read chapters showing how you can pray through every age and stage of your child’s life. The book-on-tape Inspire your Kids to Greatness shows how to make those parent-teen relationships remain healthy and helpful with simple steps to improve communication. Learn how to love and support your adult child in Just Because They’ve Left Doesn’t Mean They’re Gone. Find these and more displayed on the library ledge during April.
Croc Doc Set List Let Pastor Nathan know if you have any of the following items you can donate or loan for VBS! Thank you!
-Paint - greens, brown, black, yellow -Carpet tubes or other tubing, 4” diameter or larger -Plastic or drops cloths for painting -Paint rollers & brushes -Painter’s tape - duct tape, clear packing tape -Twine & ½” rope -Cheesecloth -Old things that go with a swamp or bog -Jon boat or old canoe -Fake green plants - ferns -Old lanterns & fishing equipment, bamboo poles -Things that go in a shack in a bog.
Living without trust in God is like driving in the fog.
Briefly: April Monthly Meeting Highlights -BL Monthly Meeting approved supporting the new half-time Youth Director for the Yearly Meeting by giving $100 per month from the general fund for the remainder of 2009. Chip Daleske will fill this position. -Recognition of new members will be held during Worship on Sunday, April 19. -The meeting approved the Trustees continuing to work on the roofing project, looking at all options, to get the work completed this summer. -Yearly Meeting Spring Body of Representatives approved going forward with developing a new Friends Church in West Des Moines! -Family Night for April will be held on Sunday evening the 26th.
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E - Emancipation from sin’s power. A - Affirmation that Jesus’ claims are true. S - Strength from Jesus, a conquering force. T - Trust. Because of Easter, we know Jesus is Lord and that we can trust Him. E - Energy. Easter energizes our mission. R - Resurrection hope for us too.
Put them all together and they spell Easter, the word that means eternity.
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