The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

August 2010   Volume 31, No. 8

Nathan McCracken, Pastor

 

 

He Restores my Soul

 

          There is a very special time of the day that we parents look forward to.  It comes in the afternoon, usually not very long after lunch, when we put our children down for their naps.  We have two boys, Tyler is four and Jaron is two and they both take a nap at 1:00 each afternoon.  Tyler, who is very energetic, has always tried his best to reject the whole nap situation.  He has never liked naps, and almost always fights when the time comes to lie down and rest.  Sometimes he will sing to himself, sneak around in his room and play, or come up with excuse after excuse to get out of bed trying to keep himself awake (i.e., I have to go potty, I need a drink of water, my tummy hurts, and so on).  The boy just doesn't want to sleep!!  Our other child, Jaron, is just the opposite.  He has his special blanket that he calls his “nigh nigh” and when you ask him if he would like a nap he nods his head in approval and lays his head on your shoulder as you carry him to his crib. 

          My wife and I have always been a firm believer in the importance of naps for our boys.  We have always felt that naps are necessary for growing children to help them function and “recharge” for the rest of their day.  However, not every person shares our opinions on raising children.  We have had many people on different occasions ask us to let our kids go without their afternoon naps so that they could spend more time with them.  And there are times when we have let them stay up just so they could have more time with these people.  However, the problem with letting our kids skip their naps becomes very apparent in the late afternoon when their behavior gets very naughty.  Their attitudes get defiant, moods become sour, and listening skills go out the window.  At this point they begin to run on their adrenaline and sheer willpower to not become sleepy until they reach the point where they can't hold out on what their bodies need any longer and they crash.

          There is almost always a struggle between the parent and child in the area of rest.  The parent, seeing the effects of lack of rest, insist that their child take a nap or lay down for a period of the day to let their bodies rest.  The child, not seeing the need to the rest at the moment, fights the parent’s wisdom and begs not to have to rest. 

          Now, there is a very famous Psalm that, although is read often, can very easily be overlooked as it teaches in this area.  Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”  As David writes these opening words to one of his most well known Psalms he is describing who God is in their relationship.  He writes that the Lord makes him lie down in green pastures!  It sounds like the Lord had to teach David the importance of rest because he writes that God makes him lie down.  If David had been listening to the Lord’s leading he would have just laid down on his own!  What was the reason for God making David lie down?  David writes the answer at the end of the opening line, so that his soul would be restored!  We need to recognize that God is the parent and we are His child!  How often do we fight what He tells us to do because in the moment we don't see the reason behind the instruction?  How long has it been since you stopped, not just slowed down, but actually stopped to be restored?  How long has God been calling you to lie down and let Him work on you?  While I don't know how the Lord has been leading on your heart, what I do know is this, it is far better to lie down on your own when the Shepherd calls you than to have Him make you lie down.  Are you fighting your Father or do you understand that He holds your future and because of that He knows what you need in the present?

                                      Pastor Nathan

 

 

Remember In Prayer     

~Lucas Maselli, our summer Youth Intern

~Sam & Becky Barber & family in the U.S. for the summer - at Bangor Liberty August 8

~Nathan & Brianna Martin in Cambodia

~Victor & Brenda White, Mesquakie Friends Center

~Our Prayer Partners

~VBS - the kids & volunteers

 

 
A High Seas Expedition

August 8th - Free Family Picnic, 5:00 p.m.

Kids Activities - August 8-12

6:15-8:35 p.m.

Ages 3 through Grade 6

Plus the Uncharted Teens Group

Join us on this adventure through God’s Word!

 

 

Reminder - Sabbatical Leave

          Our general superintendent of Iowa Yearly Meeting, Ron Bryan, has been given approval for a sabbatical leave of approximately 10 weeks this fall.  It is his intention to make a four-week visit to Africa the main focus of his sabbatical.  Ron has written a letter, posted on the bulletin board in the foyer, which outlines his travel plans, with a request for our monthly meeting or individuals to consider praying and financially supporting this extended visit to Africa.

            Financial gifts for Ron’s travel and living accommodations in Africa may be sent to the Yearly Meeting office earmarked for the Ron Bryan Sabbatical Fund so they may be recorded for full accounting purposes.  Address: Iowa Yearly Meeting, PO Box 657, Oskaloosa, IA 52577.  

 

 

God’s kids say the funniest things

A Sunday school teacher said to a little boy in her class:  “So your mother says your prayers

for you every night at bedtime. That’s very nice. What does she say?”  “Thank God he’s in bed!” the little boy replied.

 

A grandfather was driving his young granddaughter to her softball game when she asked, “Grandpa, did God make you?”  “Yes, indeed, God made me,” her grandfather replied.  “Did God make me, too?” she asked.  “Yes, He did, and He did a good job,” the grandfather answered.  For a few minutes, the little girl seemed to be studying her grandfather, then looked at her reflection in the car mirror.  “You know, Grandpa,” she said, “God’s doing a lot better job lately.”    -Joyful Noiseletter

 

-Sign outside Struthers (OH) Presbyterian Church:  “Honk if you love Jesus – Text while driving if you’d like to meet Him!”

                                    -Joyful Noiseletter

 

Thank You!

Dear BLFC,

Thank you for the New Testament audio Bible you gave me for graduation!  Also thanks for all of the support and guidance that has been given to me over the past 18 years!  God bless!   Rachel Bachman

 

Special Thanks to everyone who so willingly participated in our Concert Under The Stars, furnished or served refreshments, or helped in any way.  It was a beautiful evening of wonderful music and fellowship!

 

Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for paying for camp.  I had so much fun.  We went on hikes, canoeing, went to the beach and swimming.  It was a blast.  We played games that I have never played before and it was great.  If your family wanted to, they could send a letter to you at camp.  So I want to give you a huge thanks and our bible verse was “rooted in Christ.”  I loved learning about God.  -Ashlen Young

 

 

Tar Heel Parade

          Come join us as we walk or ride the Tar Heel Parade route in Union on Saturday, August 7th.  We will have a decorated 5th wheel trailer to ride on or you may choose to walk the route and pass out pencils and VBS information packets. 

          It would be helpful to have some volunteers to decorate the trailer on Friday, August 6th, 6 p.m. at the church, or in case of rain, meet at 8 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning before the parade at 11:00.

 

 

Back to School Time!

         The House of Compassion is collecting school supplies to distribute to needy children. Last year they helped 930.  Items needed: wide line notebook paper, 3-ring notebooks, pocket folders, facial tissue, pointed scissors, erasable pens, spiral notebooks, erasers, wide line washable markers and colored pencils.  Bring items or funds by August 8th to “Stuff the Bus” in our entryway

 

 

Summer Youth Intern

          Our summer Youth Intern, Lucas Maselli, has been settling into his work with our youth this past month and would enjoy meeting the families of Bangor Liberty.  Feel free to call him at 925-457-0327 and invite him for a meal and get to know him!  His last day at Bangor Liberty will be August 22nd.

 

                             

The family of John and Gladys

Lane invite you to a celebration

of their 60 years of marriage.

  Please join them for a time

of fellowship, food and fun at

the place where it all began -

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

on Saturday, August 7th

from 2:00-5:00 p.m. 

A short program with a time of sharing will be held at 3:30 p.m.

No gifts, please. 

 

 

News from Belize Boys School         On Sunday, August 8th, Sam and Becky Barber, Directors of the Belize Boys School, will be at BLFC to share with the adults during Sunday School and during Morning Worship.  They and their four children moved from Iowa last year and began work as Directors of the Boys School.  They will bring us updates and needs at the school.  A special offering will be taken for their ministry.  All are welcome at the family camp meal after Worship.

 

 

Bangor USFW

          The Bangor USFW August meeting will be Tuesday, the 17th, 1:30 at the home of Ramona Willits.  Betty will provide the program and Margaret the refreshments.

 

 

Specials & Blessings

Contact Don Davis during August or Peggy Martin during September if you would like to volunteer a special/blessing for Morning Worship or if you would have a suggestion.

 

 

In Loving Memory

Our dear friend Naomi Holveck passed away at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on July 10, 2010 after a short illness.  Services were held at Bangor Liberty on July 14th with burial at the Bangor Friends Cemetery.  Although Naomi had not been able to worship with her BLF church family for a while, she was not far from our thoughts and prayers, and we know that we remained in her thoughts and prayers as well.  She was a dedicated member of our church and faithfully served on many committees throughout the years.

 

 

Meals from the Heartland

          Earlier this year, 3 million meals were packaged and shipped to Haiti. Your love and care for those living halfway around the world surrounded and inspired us as we held children who were sick from malnourishment and talked with distraught parents.

The September 2-5 event is only days away.  We are gearing up to package 4 million meals!  Starvation is real. People are suffering.  We can help.

If you are interested in packaging meals at Hy-Vee Hall contact Margaret so a date can be chosen.

 

 

Mission News   

          Lindi Friends School in Kenya grew out of Lindi Friends Meeting’s vision for educating and bringing hope to the poor within the slum.  Kibera is a neighborhood and division of Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest of Nairobi's slums with a population estimated between 600,000 and 1.2 million.  The lack of sanitation combined with poor nutrition among residents’ accounts for many illnesses and diseases. 

          Their aim is to provide effective and adequate primary education at acceptable standards and affordable costs. This would eventually cause the children to find identity and security within the school system and the Kenyan society as a whole. 

          Our 3rd Sunday mission offering supports the Lindi Friends School.  As you give remember to pray for the feeding program—often the only meal children get that day; teachers salaries—they go for long periods with little or no pay; and for scholarships for Lindi graduates to go on to secondary school and make their way out of the slums.

 

 

Library Ledge:  

Summertime Audios & Videos

While you’re on the road listen to a book-on-tape from our church library.  While taking a break from the heat, borrow a video or DVD for the children or a family night. 

“Ace of Hearts” DVD is a heartwarming animal story where you’ll see good win over evil.  It is appropriate for all ages.  “Spy Corps” is a thrilling movie with an uncompromising Christian message.

“Quiet Strength” by football coach Tony Dungy is read on CD; Chondra Pierce, humorous CD; Introduction to Family Nights, audio; Traveling Light by Max Lucado, audio.  From music to history to biographies, you’ll find fun & encouragement on the library shelf in August.

 

 

Mark your Calendars!

          Our annual Family Camp at Quaker Heights will be here before we know it.  Mark the dates of September 17-19 on your calendars, and set them aside to spend time with our church family.  We missed having our Family Camp at Quaker Heights last year so we can look forward to seeing and enjoying all the improvements made following the devastating hailstorm. 

 

 

What’s the Use?

If a man runs after money, he’s money-mad;

If he keeps it, he’s a capitalist;

If he spends it, he’s a playboy;

If he doesn’t get it, he’s a ne’er-do-well;

If he doesn’t try to get it, he lacks ambition;

If he gets it without working for it, he’s a parasite;

And if he accumulates it after a lifetime of hard work, people call him a fool who never got anything out of life.      –Submitted

 

 

Church Week at Theisen’s

          Between Monday, August 16 thru Sunday, August 22 for any member of the BLFC congregation who makes a purchase at any Theisen’s store, and submits the original receipt(s) to our church by September 5, 2010, Theisen’s will donate 5% of the net total of each receipt back to the church after sales tax is deducted.  Theisen’s hopes this program will help our church fund its necessary projects. 

          Only original receipts may be submitted.  You may request a duplicate receipt at Theisen’s at the time of your purchase if you might need a receipt for exchanges, etc.  All receipts are due to the church by Sunday, September 5th.  Gift card and Scrip purchases do not qualify.  Please give your receipts to Diane T.

 

 

Mesquakie Friends Center News

          From the Iowa Friend - It is time to work on raising funds to replace the playground equipment at Mesquakie Friends Center.  After many years of use by the children the equipment needs to be updated and replaced.  The oldest pieces of equipment came with the grounds when it was bought nearly 21 years ago.  The next pieces were added about ten years ago.  The new equipment will be designed for use by all ages.

Cost for equipment is as follows:

Prime Time $37,500, GT events $2,700, Mulch $1,650, Installation $11,150, total, $53,000.  A contractor will give a 50% matching gift to help with cost.  Therefore the cost is only $32,900.  About $7,300 has been raised as of the end of May.  To contribute to the new playground equipment, please send gifts to Victor White, Mesquakie Friends Center, PO Box 36, Toledo, IA 52342.