Every Day Open Worship
Every Sunday there comes the time in our service for Open Worship. Usually it is after the offertory/blessing and before the message. I always thank whoever is playing or singing and then we start preparing our hearts for silent communion with the Lord. As I sit, silently, inviting the Holy Spirit to teach within my heart there is always one particular passage from the Bible that enters my mind. That passage is in Matthew, chapter 27 verses 45-54. This is Matthew’s account of the death of Jesus on the cross. As I go over the passage in my mind I am reminded that this time of open worship, this privilege, did not come easy. There was a time when, because of the sin of man, we were separated from the presence of the Lord. As I sit I think about how we take for granted this precious relationship with our God and that it is because of Jesus’ death we can come before Him. Because of the sacrifice God made for us by offering His Son and because of the choice Jesus made to allow Himself to be crucified, we can be forgiven of our sins and live in the presence of the Almighty. And to think that while growing up I thought that open worship was just a time to be quiet for ten minutes on Sunday. I know now that open worship is the vital connection in my relationship with God, and I need it every day. Can you imagine not spending time with your spouse or your best friend? What would happen to that relationship if communication stopped? We all know that the relationship would continue to grow apart until it was nothing more than two strangers passing on the street who say hello. The same thing happens when we stop spending our quiet times with God, we drift away. The challenge for us this month is to take time every day, whether it’s five minutes or fifty, and spend that time with our Heavenly Father. He’s waiting for you!
-Pastor Nathan
Thank Offering Service
Our annual Thank Offering Service will be held Sunday, Nov. 22nd at 10:30 a.m. with a potluck meal afterwards. The Missions Committee has chosen the following projects and asks us to prayerfully consider how blessed we are and how we can share with these mission areas or with other work that we may choose to support.
1. Friends Theological College, Kenya, Africa – Their current needs include: a computer and books for the library; an overhead projector for classrooms; textbooks; a file cabinet and chair for the administrator and graduation robes for students to borrow.
2. Bugamangi Friends Women Group of Vihiga Yearly Meeting, Africa – This project is through Right Sharing of World Resources, a Friends organization that is involved in micro-lending in Africa and Asia. With loans given, women farmers will be raising goats, chickens, grain for cereal and firewood to sell within their church and community. Some of the profits will make it possible for their children to have an education.
3. Domestic Violence Center in Marshalltown – This agency works with victims of domestic abuse in Marshall, Jasper, Poweshiek and Tama counties. Their shelter has 15 beds. The average stay is 2 months. Most women come with their children and little else. The agency provides medical and legal advocacy along with counseling. A full-time Youth Coordinator is available for children. Needs include: personal care products for women & children and funds to update the 20-year-old shelter.
4. Shared between Quaker Heights Camp Projects & Scholarships for BLFC Kids to attend Quaker Heights Summer Camps – While insurance has been helpful with general repairs after the storm, Linda Garrison reports it will not cover the following needs: replacing partitions and countertops in the bath houses; carpeting the dining area of the lodge and adding 2 rooms to Tall Oaks Lodge. “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7) “You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” -- Amy Carmichael, missionary to India
In Our thoughts & Prayers~A dry and safe harvest for farmers ~Camp Quaker Heights ~Our Wednesday Night Program ~Safety for Sam & Becky Barber and family in Belize and for their students. ~Morgan Martin with her work with InterVarsity on the Coe College campus in Cedar Rapids.
November Monthly Meeting -Christmas Caroling is scheduled for Sunday, December 20th with a soup supper afterwards. -Social Committee #3 will host the Thank Offering Potluck on Nov. 22nd. -Christian Ed. is seeking a teacher for the Jr. High Sunday School class as well as a co-teacher for the Jr. High class for Wed. Night Program. See Shandra if you feel led to volunteer.
Donations for Supply Closet You were generous with your donations to the supply closet. You gave 34 dish soap, 8 adult and children medicines, 4 containers laundry detergent, 4 pkg. cough drops, 4 pkg. diapers, 3 cartons baby wipes, 2 bottles disinfecting wipes, 5 hair products. Thanks! Everything will be appreciated by the approximately 580 families who use the closet each month.
Asked to write a composition entitled “What I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving,” little Johnnie wrote, “I’m thankful that I am not a turkey.”
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
A Flock of Lessons FACT: As geese flap their wings, they create an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going quicker and easier when they lift each other up along the way.
FACT: If a goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. So it quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those headed to where we want to go.
FACT: When the head goose tires, it rotates back in the formation and another goose flies to the point position. LESSON: It pays to share leadership and take turns doing the hard work.
FACT: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up the pace. LESSON: It is important that our honking be encouraging. Otherwise it’s just -- well, honking.
FACT: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation to follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. LESSON: When one of us is down, it’s up to the others to stand by us in our time of trouble. -contributed
Children’s ChurchThe children will meet in the fellowship hall after the children’s message on November 8 and 29. Service projects will be to send Christmas cards to mission workers and Michael Daniel, and to make treat bags for children staying in the HOC shelter. Kids age 4 through grade 4 are welcome to participate.
Wednesday Night Program In October the Wed. Night Bible Study, “The Spiritual Life – Experiencing Jesus Christ as Lord” will be looking at Jesus as Lord of our prayers and the Lord of our relation-ships. You’d be welcome to join in their discussion or with either of the other two groups as they continue with their book studies.
Liberty USFWThe ladies of Liberty USFW will meet at Audrey Norman’s home on Wednesday, November 11th at 7 p.m. Christmas projects will be discussed.
Bangor USFWOn November 17th the ladies will gather at Peggy Martin’s home at 9:30 a.m. to complete the Christmas wall hangings. Bring scissors. A soup lunch will be provided.
Christmas Adopt a Family Many families will not have Christmas gifts this year without our help. If you would like to adopt an individual or family, just tell Betty or Margaret the number of people you wish to help by Nov. 20. $20 could buy a toy for a child or a small gift for a senior citizen; $30 could provide clothing for a child; $40 could provide a meal for a family of 3-4; $50 could buy a gift or 2 for a teen; $75 could provide gifts and a meal for a senior and $225 could provide Christmas for a family of 4-5. After you are given the name of your family, you call and let them know they have been adopted. Then you purchase gifts and a food basket for their holiday meal and deliver by Dec. 20. A family will be chosen for several in our church to share. You may choose to help by buying 1 or more gifts or buying food for their meal. A poster will be displayed in a few weeks. If you are unable, or prefer not to do the shopping, you may give funds to Margaret to adopt together with others in the church. Let us know how you wish to help by Nov. 20. Please note you do not have to be wealthy to assist a family in need. Together our $ add up and can make a real difference in the lives of others.
House of Compassion Report On a rainy October 29th, we prepared and served 47 guests. The menu was meatball goulash, leftover ham & turkey mini sandwiches, green beans & bacon, mixed fruit, Parmesan garlic biscuits, donated pies & bars, walnut cookies, milk and coffee. Thanks to all who donated or volunteered. Join the fun Tuesday, Nov. 24th.
Helping HandsOver the past few months, here at Bangor Liberty, there has been the excitement of a new opportunity being developed to be able to help and be helped. When the idea for this new ministry was brought to our monthly meeting it was met with much enthusiasm and anticipation. And now that I have baited the hook, let me explain this exciting new ministry! Our new ministry is called Helping Hands. What has been developed is a group of volunteers who are ready to help when anyone calls with a need. Whether your need is changing a flat tire, giving someone a ride, or baby sitting in the event of a family emergency there is someone waiting to help. To get help when needed you can call one of these five people and they will take care of all the rest.
Bob Roe: Ann Nichols: Charlene Martin: Paula Young: Shirley Davis:
If you wish to be added to our list of volunteers willing to help, please call Bob Roe. Below you will find a list of just some of the ways our volunteers are willing to help. Remember this ministry needs two sides to be able to work. The first side already has a great start which is people willing to help. The second side is people who want to use the program to be helped in some way. If you would like some help or know someone within the community who would like some help please pass this along and don’t be afraid to call! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *Be a driver for hospital or Dr. appointments/ grocery store *Sit with someone when a loved one is having surgery *Help with general nursing care during an emergency or sudden illness *Help on emergency home repair or upkeep *To take a casserole or food to one’s home if needed *To sit with a house bound person to give care taker time to run errands or just have a break *To baby sit if there should be an emergency in the family *To mow one’s yard or other grounds maintenance *To go and stay with someone if stranded with car trouble *Help to do one’s wash or tidy up the house if they are unable *To read books or scriptures to someone *To help sorting out finances, insurance, etc after illness or death *Help with correspondence to family or friends/assist with Christmas cards or letter sending - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you have other ideas on ways to help or ways that you would like to volunteer just contact Bob Roe.
Library Ledge Missions & Evangelism“Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 13:15 The books on the library ledge this month will challenge you to reach out to tell others the Good News about Jesus and His love through deeds and prayers. 101 Ways Your Church can Change the World gives simple, practical and effective ideas to help Christians reach out to a hurting world, the way Jesus did. Conspiracy of Kindness tells us that God is passionately in love with unbelievers and can win them most effectively through acts of kindness. Quaker Peacemakers, Bold as a Lamb and Out of the Jaws of the Lion will give you a taste of the real life heroes of faith who have gone out before us. Check out these and others on the library ledge during November.
Stewardship Thought: What has God given you?
Money...that you might provide for your house, but also for His house. Talent...that you might use your skill to promote His Kingdom. Time...that you might spend some of your time in service and worship of Him. |