The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

March 2010   Volume 31, No. 3

Nathan McCracken, Pastor

 

 

 Saying “I Love You

 

            Right now I am sitting in my basement on our old wrap-around couch, with the computer on my lap, and a heater at my feet to keep me warm.  My two boys, Tyler and Jaron are playing with their toy kitchen and bringing me all sorts of plastic play foods and invisible drinks, serving me “breakfast” as I have never had it before.  Tyler is bringing me little plastic cups that he says are filled with hot coffee and chocolate milk mixed together to create a super breakfast drink (because he knows I love coffee and chocolate milk) and Jaron keeps bringing me his little plastic ice cream cones and in his two year old vocabulary says, “Here go Dada.”  Every time I take a sip of Tyler's special drinks or pretend to lick Jaron's ice cream their eyes light up and they smile big and proud as they know they are showing me love by serving me. The act of playing pretend kitchen is nothing new to Tyler but he and I were taught a lesson this past week and because of that I am seeing a new heart behind his deeds this morning.

            After church on Sunday we piled into our old police cruiser and headed into town for some pizza.  In the back seat sat the boys and they were tired, cranky, thirsty, and hungry.  As always Shandra was prepared for the twenty-mile trip to town with a big bag of pretzel rods to hold the two over until we got there.  Tyler, being the oldest, always has the responsibility of holding the bag and handing Jaron pretzels to keep him happy.  It turns out that Jaron was very hungry and Tyler was getting a little frustrated with how often he was being asked to stop what he was doing to pull out another pretzel to satisfy his brother.  After about eight miles or so he all but stopped taking care of his brother which of course made Jaron cry, causing Shandra to get involved.  (I was doing my best to pretend to be concentrating on the road as to not have to deal with the situation.)  Every now and then my wife or kids will say something that hits me just right and I sit there dumbfounded at the simplicity of the situation or solution and this was one of those moments. 

As things continued to heat up in the back seat, I gripped the wheel and thought to myself, “Here it comes, you guys are going to get it.”  Instead Shandra's response was calm, clear, simple, and it diffused the situation fast and easily.  She turned to Tyler and said, “Tyler, every time you hand your brother a pretzel you are saying ‘I love you' to him, and he needs you to tell him you love him right now by handing him that pretzel.”  And that was all it took!  After those words Tyler smiled and just kept handing pretzels to Jaron without question or complaint because he now understood that he was showing his brother love through his actions and that his pretzel responsibility was more than just a job he had because Jaron was too young to do it himself. 

            Now, on the outside my response was to tell Shandra what a good job she did in teaching Tyler a lesson while settling the dispute, but on the inside I was thinking, “WOW, what a reminder!”  When Paul describes the qualities of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, all of the words are action words. Love is patient, kind, not jealous or easily angered, nor boastful or proud or rude.  It doesn't even keep a record of wrong and it rejoices in the truth.  It never gives up or loses faith and is always hopeful and enduring.  There is not a single word used to describe love that does not require some sort of action!

             This morning as my boys bring me invisible drinks and pretend ice cream cones my heart smiles because to Tyler I know that this is more than just playing kitchen, this is another way that he can say, “I love you, Daddy” through what he does.  Every day we tell people that we love them with our words, but how much do we show them by our actions?  When I understand that my actions say, “I love you” more than my words do I find myself serving people with a different heart, and I think you will too.

                                    -Pastor Nathan

 

 

Coming Soon!

 

The Heart Hospital Conference

Enter with your heart problems.

Exit with a happier, healthier heart full of Jesus’ love and light!

 

Special Spring Services

April 10th - 11th

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

(Saturday, April 10 - 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 11 - 9:30-11:30 a.m.)

 

Enjoy inspiring speaking, acting and singing.  A 700 Club columnist, singer for the president, and TV personality, Stacie Ruth and her sister, Carrie Beth, seek to give all credit to their Rescuer and Redeemer, Jesus Christ!

Their hearts, hurt by multiple tragedies, now beat with Jesus’ joy and love!

 

To read more, visit http://www.brightlightministry.com!

 

 

House of Compassion

On February 25, 17 from BLFC were involved in food purchasing, preparing, serving and clean up for 50 hungry guests.  The menu was vegetable or tomato basil soup, ham, turkey or bratwurst sandwiches, cheese, mixed fruit, carrots, celery with peanut butter, leftover potato and macaroni salad, left over hard boiled eggs, cake, brownies, walnut cookies, milk and coffee.  Join the fun next time…March 25!

 

Specials & Blessings

Please contact Shandra McCracken (March) or Peggy Martin (April) if you would like to volunteer a special/blessing for Morning Worship or if you would have a suggestion.

 

More Questions You Might Not Think to Ask J

•Why do dentists ask you questions when they have their fingers in your mouth?

•Why aren’t there any Army beans?

•Why are fruitcakes only served around Christmas?

•Why does seafood cost more the closer you get to the water?

•Why don’t people say, “We live in a cat-eat-cat-world”?

• Why is it called a fast when it goes by so slowly?

 

Bus Trip to Sturgeon Bay Friends

For the Winneshiek Quarterly Meeting, July 10-11th

 

Costs:  Bus Travel ($61 to $110 per person) from Marshalltown and picking up in two additional locations.  The more participants the lower the cost.  Bus provided by Hawkeye Stages from our friends in Decorah.

Depart: Friday, July 9   Return:  Sunday, July 11

Lodging: Motel is $104 per night and that price is the same whether there are 4 people or 1 person in a room.

Total Cost:  Approximately $318 per person plus our food stops and shopping.

 

This would also be a time of celebration as Sturgeon Bay is moving forward with a new lift in their church as well as some other improvements to their facilities.

Ron Bryan needs to know how many people would be willing to make this commitment by April 15 (contact the office either by email or phone - iaym@mahaska.org or 641-673-9717).

If there are not at least 27 people interested in the bus travel then carpooling arrangements will be arranged.  Please let the IAYM office know that you want to attend and the details will be worked out.

 

 

3rd Annual Ric Garrison

Memorial Golf Scramble

April 23, 2010

Westwood Municipal Golf Course, Newton IA

Forms for Sponsorship & Registrations

are available now at the IAYM website:

iaym.org to download your copy OR

email the office to request a copy:  iaym@mahaska.org

 

 

Children’s Church

We’ll meet in the fellowship hall after the children’s message on March 7 and 28.  Our lessons continue on the topic of joy.  Service projects will be to make Bingo treats for the Embers and to make Resurrection Rolls for church attendees.  Children age 4 through grade 4 are encouraged to participate.

 

Liberty USFW

            Sharon Borgman will be special guest for the March meeting of Liberty

USFW at the Union Supper Club on Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 p.m.  Sharon will share about adoption.

Ladies are reminded to bring their thank offering.                                    

                                               

Bangor USFW

            On March 16 ladies will gather at 9:30 at Peggy’s home in Marshalltown for a workday to make pillowcases for charity.  Neil and Peggy will provide lunch and Margaret dessert.  Betty will give our devotional lesson.

 

I Love Camp Quaker Heights

If you were unable to attend Quarterly Meeting at Bangor Liberty on February 28th and wish to send an “I Love CQH” contribution for the repairs to the bathhouse at Camp, you may send them to Camp Quaker Heights, 22605 V Ave, Eldora IA 50627.

 

Help Fill the Box

March is our month to provide items for the House of Compassion Supply Closet.  Paper bags will be available for you to take home as a reminder and to carry your items back to the church.  There will also be a container available for financial donations.

Most needed items are dish soap, toilet paper, size 3 & 4 diapers, laundry detergent and over the counter drugs such as children’s Tylenol and cough medicine.  

In January a record 527 individuals or families used the Supply Closet.  Several left without the items they needed.  Consider picking up an extra item to share with someone in need when you do your shopping in March.

 

Quaker Life

            Group subscriptions for the Quaker Life magazine are due in March, cost is $15 yearly.  To subscribe or renew your subscription please contact Diane T.  Checks should be made out to BLFC.  You may also pre-order a 50th anniversary edition of Quaker Life magazine by adding $25.00 to your bill.  The anniversary edition will be mailed in September 2010.

 

April Monthly Meeting

            With Easter falling on the first Sunday of April, Monthly Meeting for April will be moved to Sunday, March 28th at 11:30 a.m.

 

Spring Cleaning??  Do you have any extra beds you would be willing to share with HOC clients?  Many of the clients sleep on the floor or on unfit mattresses.  Contact Jean Bergen at the HOC if you could help with this need.  Phone:  641-752-5999.

 

Remember In Prayer

-Our missionaries, Sam & Becky Barber, Nathan & Brianna Martin, and also Victor & Brenda White

~Morgan Martin working with Inter-Varsity

~Camp Quaker Heights Camp staff

~Our Church:

   -Spirit-led volunteers to be worship leader assistants

   -Spirit-led people to be members of a prayer support team for Nathan & Shandra

   -All Church Fun Night, March 14

   -Easter Saturday event for kids and families

   -Our Easter Services

   -Leaders to rise up & lovingly minister to our youth.

   -Joyful volunteers for VBS.

   -Our Prayer Partners

 

Easter Services

-Maundy Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m.

-Good Friday, April 2, 7 p.m.

-Easter Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. at Royal Ranch, weather permitting

-Easter Breakfast at the church after the Sunrise Service.

-Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.

-Morning Worship, 10:25 a.m.

 

Financial Concern

    As chairman of the Stewardship Committee, Monthly Meeting has asked me to make sure the church body is aware of our current financial condition.  As you may have noticed in the Bulletin the past few months our General Fund has had a negative balance.  Normally this is the result of periodic large or unexpected expenses that are evened out over time, but not on this occasion.  With our ~$103,000 budget, that means we need ~$8600 per month or ~$2000 per week.  We've been fairly close to maintaining that level of giving, but heating bills from a record breaking winter, replacing failing appliances, maintaining a septic system and other unexpected costs have us stuck in a negative balance rut, like a muddy gravel road from the melting snow.  In this time of tight finances for the whole country I pray that you will continue to give God the first fruits he is worthy of and trust Him to provide the rest.  I believe He will reward your faithfulness to His Church and the ministries it supports. 

Isaac Good, Stewardship Chairman

 

Updated Summer Quaker Camps

Due to the large volumes of snow received this winter, and subsequent snow days, Fox Camp has been eliminated this camping season only.  Fifth graders are invited to attend Fry Camp and Sixth graders may attend Jr. High Camp.  As always, students between the two grades can choose to attend either camp.  The updated camp schedule is:

 

June 4-6 - College Weekender

June 11-13 - High School Weekender

June 13-18 - Junior High Camp

June 20-25 - High School Camp

June 25-27 - Little Fry Camp (K-2 Gr)

June 27-30 - Fry Camp (3rd -4th Grade)

 

Mission Update    

The Barbers in Belize ask that we pray for Sam’s mother who has blood clots in her leg. It is difficult to be so far away during times like these. They are busy organizing their summer, which will be spent in the US.  They sent a grant letter to a local Belizean Trust for new furniture and ask we pray that it is approved.  They gratefully report that Mike Cain is currently at the school doing handy man work.

Our one-year commitment to the support of Belize Friends Boys School ends on the 3rd Sunday of March.  The Monthly Meeting approved that the church continue the 3rd Sunday mission giving by supporting the Lindi Friends School, Nairobi, Kenya.  The school, which serves over 200 children, is set in the midst of Nairobi's sprawling Kibera slum.  The biggest needs at Lindi School right now are:

•The school feeding program— often the only meal children get that day

•Teachers’ salaries—they often go for long periods with little to no salary 

•Scholarships for Lindi graduates to go on to secondary school

Pledge cards will be prepared and placed in your message boxes in the coming weeks. 

 

Library Ledge

Have Fun with Fiction

            As you wait for spring, curl up with a novel from our church library.  You’ll find books set in the past and in the future, in America and in other countries.  You’ll find mystery, humor and romance.  Some are audios.  Allow yourself some ‘escape’ time during March.

 

New Books & DVD Movies

            Donations have been given to our church library to purchase several family DVD movies.  These will be on display in the entry during March.  You’ll find adventure, mystery, romance, time travel and comedy all waiting for your next family night. Be sure not to overlook the complete collection of the Kids Ten Commandments.  The 5 animated DVD’s teach what it means to keep these principles of the Bible in our everyday lives.  Check them out!  Also new books: Leah’s Choice – Amish romance; Unlikely Angel – The Atlanta Hostage Hero Story; Fields of Grace – Mennonite romance.

 

Stewardship Lessons from Passing Generations             by David S. Bell

Have you ever heard a person say one of these comments?  “I paid good money for that…”  “You never know how much you will need.”  “Save it for a rainy day.”  Statements like these often remind us of people from the Greatest Generation (people born between 1914–1924.)  Frugality was just one aspect of their lifestyle. Their practicality was mixed with generosity and created the code of living through the Great Depression. They lived frugally so they could care for one another and support the Church. They gave with respect for previous generations and with expectant vision toward future generations. Their generosity grew out of faithful duty and Christian responsibility. They internalized and lived the stewardship message of the Gospel.