A Year of Blessings

By Pastor Manny

          Yesterday evening I read a blog post from a friend of mine that really made me consider just how much has happened in the span of a year.  She reminisced about learning to be a wife, learning to be a mom, and other life changes she experienced in 2011.  As I read it I began to think of my life in the past 365 days.  I haven’t gone through any major life changes like a new baby or getting married this year but I have had my own share of eventful happenings including moving to this new town, home, and church.  The truth is God is always offering blessings through the events of our lives, some of those blessings we consider right away and others we can’t see the results of immediately and may never see them in this earthly life.  Much like the song “Blessings” by Laura Story, we should be reminded that God’s blessings are in the good times as well as the challenging times.  My 2011 was full of wonderful things that I will hold onto as treasured memories and then there were those things that happened that I can’t forget fast enough, but in all of them I have learned something about myself, my faith, and my God.  I encourage you to take several minutes and ruminate about your life in 2011, think about the wonderful things God has done in your life and also reflect on the challenges and hardships you faced.  Pray for God to reveal the lesson and the blessing in each instance.  Below are some of the powerful words from Laura Story’s song, read them, pray them, and ask God to help you count your many blessings from 2011.

“Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?  What if your healing comes through tears?  What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you’re near?  And what if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?  When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win, we know that pain reminds this heart that this is not, this is not our home.  It's not our home” 

    (from “Blessings” by Laura Story)

Remember In Prayer   

~Those with ongoing health issues

~Our snowbirds in Texas & Arizona

~Our secret prayer partners

~Providential Homes

~Our nation as the presidential caucuses continue

~Sam & Becky Barber and family

   serving in Belize, several of their family

   members have been ill with a upper

   respiratory infection and bronchitis that

   have been difficult to shake.

~Morgan Martinez & her InterVarsity work

~Nathan, Brianna & Jacob Martin, Cambodia

~The Mesquakie Friends Center-The Whites

~The Kaimosi Hospital and staff in Kenya

~Mowa Choctaw Friends Center in Alabama

~House of Compassion, clients, staff

A New Year’s Benediction

 “Grant us, O Lord;

>The hope to envision new dreams;

>The strength to rise above our

    limitations, our fears and whatever

    holds us down;

>The courage to stand on our own,

    to stretch our imagination and to

    experience being fully human,

    fully alive;

>The faith to live our lives in your

    image and likeness.

    Guide us, O Lord, this New Year,

    every way, every day.  Amen”

Winter Weather Reminder

           We encourage people in our congregation to use their own judgment on whether or not to drive to church for Sunday Services or Wednesday evening studies.  Services will be held on Sunday morning for those who wish to or are able to come, unless there are extreme blizzard conditions or power outages.  Wednesday evening services, on the other hand, will more than likely be cancelled in case of bad weather.  Contact Veronica Daniel at 641-486-2508 about cancellation of Wednesday evening studies.

Children’s Church

          Children ages 4 through 5^th grade are encouraged to meet in the fellowship hall after the Children’s Message on January 15 and 22 for age appropriate Bible learning and service projects. 

Forward Movement

All youth, 7^th-12^th grade, are invited!

Forward Movement Youth Group,

Sunday, January 8^th & 22^nd

6:30-8:00 p.m.

Pastor Manny and Jenalee’s home,

Youth, invite your friends to join you for

fun & fellowship at the Garcia’s!

Bangor USFW

           Members will gather at Ann Nichols’ home on January 17 at 1:30.  All women are welcome to partake of the fellowship.

Iowa Friend Newsletter

New subscriptions & renewals

are due January 15, 2012

Yearly cost is $9.50

 Contact Diane T. to subscribe or renew-

Make checks out to Bangor Liberty

Friends Church

Christmas Adopt-a-Family

Sixteen families or individuals provided gifts, funds or food for our shared church family.  A dad, mom, and their three young children were given several gifts, homemade goodies and a nice food basket.  They were appreciative of our gifts and said it would have been a sad Christmas without our assistance.

          With the $500 from the Thank Offering, two seniors who share a home were adopted and a mom & dad with a 9-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son were also given gifts and food. The little girl helped carry in the presents and exclaimed, “You people are really nice!”  $50 was spent on a food basket for another family of four.  The Liberty USFW and 4 other BLFC families chose to adopt individuals or families to shop for directly.

          Thanks for making a happier Christmas for these people by sharing your resources and God’s love.  Some photos will be on the bulletin board soon.

White Gift Offering

Thanks to your generous giving, the White Gift offering totaled $1,111.00!  It was shared equally between Morgan Martinez of InterVarsity and Nathan and Brianna Martin in Cambodia.  If you were unable to give on Christmas Eve, donations will still be accepted and passed along.

HOC Meal Report

On December 29, 22 from BLFC provided a generous meal for 65 guests.  Our meal included ‘clean out the refrig.’ soup, rolls with jelly & butter, baby carrots, leftover turkey & noodles, mixed fruit cups, strawberry yogurt, frosted vanilla wafers & graham crackers, various donated desserts, milk, juice, tea and coffee. 

Volunteers were Bob & Veronica, Scott & Mary, Neil & Peg, Bill & Rosalee who provided food or funds; Johnie, Gladys and Neil who prepared, Scott, Mary, Katie, Jennifer, Rick, Lora, Breanne, Aden, Waylen and Vi who served, and Chuck, Ann, Vi and Manny who handled clean-up.  Ask Waylen about the yogurt!  Join the fun January 26... you’ll likely receive a blessing. 

Library Ledge:            

Dandy Devotionals

          Start the New Year right by reading a devotional book from our church library.  Having daily devotions is an essential part of every Christian’s life.  Is there a day when we do not feed our body?  Just the same we need time with God to feed our spiritual life.  The main reason for a devotional time is to grow closer to God.  The following are just a few of what is available to help you do just that.  Check out What is the Father Like? or God is UP to Something Great! or the audios In His Steps and Fire UP Your Life.  These and more are on the library ledge during January.

The Meaning of the Snowflake

by Holley Gerth

Every new snowflake comes to the earth as a picture of our Savior’s birth, because they are sent from up above and remind us of God’s care and love.  Each one is so detailed and small because Christ sees the details of us all, and just as two are never ever the same the Lord knows us and calls us each by name.  Snowflakes gently cover the world in white and hide what’s unlovely from our sight, showing us how He covers our sin and gives us His grace when we come to Him.  So may every snowflake bring Christ to mind and in every bit of white may you find a reason to celebrate anew and a reminder of His love        

Thank You

-Dear friends, this is to thank your congregation for the generous check.  We are very grateful and the people we help are very grateful.  It has been a difficult year for a lot of folks and we are glad we can help in a small way.  Sincerely, Anna Maria Hauser, Union Food Bank

-Dear Friends and Family,

On December 9th, 2011 I celebrated one year of being cancer free!!  I have been so blessed with your payers, love and support.  Your calls, visits, cards, and words of encouragement gave me the strength I needed each day to stay positive and win this battle.  Even though this has been a very difficult year for our family health wise with my Dad Don's heart surgery, my Brother Will's back issues, my Grandson's premature birth, and my cancer, we know more than ever how quickly our lives can change and how precious we are to each other.  I thank God for this every day.  In September I turned 50 and I have to say that I am "happy" to be 50 and healthy!!  Thank you to those of you in my Church Family that surprised me with birthday cards and phone calls. Some of whom I have not seen or spoken to in years, but think of often. You truly are a special Church Family!   Blessings to ALL....Robin Macy Wendt

-Dear Friends at Bangor Liberty,

          Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I want to take this opportunity to again than you for your kind gift to help our youth attend a week of camp at Quaker Heights.  Camp is always a blessing, and some leave with a changed life.  One teen was not allowed to return to camp after Monday evening, yet later in the week made a decision to receive Christ and His forgiveness.  The turning point was the short exposure at camp.  Continue to pray with us that many of the youth we serve will learn of Christ and choose to follow Him.  May God richly bless you.  In Christ, Dave Holm, Director of Spiritual Life, Quakerdale

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness in the past brings hope for the future.

 Christmas Blessings from

Friends Theological College Family

Pictured above is FTC staffer Philip Saina, wife Gentren, baby Alice, and Kids for Kids milk goats.  When Alice’s mother, Philip’s sister-in-law, died of AIDS soon after giving birth to Alice, the tiny infant needed the extraordinary parenting skills of Philip and Gentren and the goat’s milk your gifts and faithful encouragement provided.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, we at Friends Theological College give special thanks to God for you - our supporters and donors.  In 2011 your gifts and spiritual support have made it possible to enrich the strong academic base of FTC education with equally strong opportunities for building up practical ministry skills; to provide new work opportunities for students on campus and off, so that committed students can now work their way through FTC; to invest in African incomes streams for the college and so protect our accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa; and to provide life-giving goat’s milk for infant Alice.  Students, faculty, staff, all thank you and wish you a blessed  Christmas and 2012.    -Ann Riggs