The Bangor Liberty Bell
Sharing the News
and Views of
Bangor Liberty Friends Church
November
2012 Volume 33, No. 11
Manny Garcia,
Pastor
|
Be Transformed…
Stories and Principles that Change
Our Lives
Part 7
It’s that time of
the month (and year)! We are headlong into the holiday season and this seems
to be the time when we get “busy”, as if we weren’t already right? This
month’s devotional comes from my friend Jadon Ross, the associate pastor at
Meridian Friends Church in Idaho. This seems to be the perfect time of the
year to be reminded that community is important and while we like to “go it
alone” we can all benefit from slowing down and letting God interrupt our
plans. Enjoy!
God
bless,
Pastor
Manny
(All
back copies of the bell can be found on our website: go to www.blfchurch.org
and click on “newsletter”)
Countercultural
Transformation
By Jadon
Ross
"It
is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of
grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that
the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief
indeed." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Our culture tells us that we need
to be independent, only looking out for ourselves. We are supposed to be
strong enough not to need anyone else. Have you fallen into this trap? There
are even quite a number of Christians who think that their walk with Christ
is a solitary one. My friends, this is not the case.
I have had to
learn this lesson the hard way through my own peril. I tried to not rely on
anyone else, thinking that I might burden them. I tried to be the one who did
everything even though it was wearing me out completely. I tried to grow
deeper in my walk with Christ by myself.
Notice the beginning
of each of those sentences. They all start out with, "I tried." I
didn't succeed, and what my "independence" left me with was
confusion, loneliness, and a profound sense of needing community.
When we make that
life changing decision to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are
immediately inducted into the family of God. Who is in your fellowship of
Christian brethren? This community needs to be esteemed and treasured because
it can so easily be taken for granted and lost.
You see, God made
us to be together, not apart. He uses our brothers and sisters in Christ to
speak to us, to encourage us, to challenge us, to help us "work out our
salvation." Being in fellowship with other Christians is active.
Vigilance and a conscious effort to be vulnerable and open is extremely
important. Satan does not want Christians to join together and be open with
their struggles, their victories, and their lives.
If you think you
are in fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, but you are sitting
complacently on the sidelines, you are not in true fellowship at all. You are
missing out on the opportunity to be transformed by opening yourself up, and
you are missing out on the opportunity to transform someone else.
Entering into true
community is not cheap. We must be willing to go into the bad with people.
Don't condemn, walk along with them. You have a role to play in this
community. It's give and take. It's strong when others are weak. It's weak
when others are strong. God doesn't leave gaps in community. If something is
missing, someone is not doing what God has called them to do.
Transformation
will occur when we lower our masks, put down our shields, and come to the
realization that this way of life together is a gift from God. When we enter
into the Body of Christ, fulfill our role, and put down our defenses we
engage in countercultural transformation. Will you be the one to initiate
this way of living that Christ calls us to?
"Share
each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Pay careful
attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job
well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. Those who
live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death
from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest
everlasting life from the Spirit. Therefore, whenever we have the
opportunity, we should do good to everyone— especially to those in the family
of faith" - Galatians 6:2, 4, 8, 10 (NLT)
Suggested
soul-training exercise:
In his book Life
Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, "We must be ready to allow ourselves
to be interrupted by God." This is the basis for this soul training
exercise. When we enter into Christian community we are going to have things
arise that are not in our plans; someone will call with an emergency, another
person might stop by unannounced, or maybe we have something that we need
help with.
Congratulations!
Tyler
Patten and Trisha Scott were married on Saturday, September 22nd in Zearing.
They are making their home in Rhodes. Tyler works for R.S. Stover Company in
Marshalltown and Trisha is employed as a hospice nurse for Iowa Hospice.
Tyler is the son of Bill and Rosalee Patten of BLFC.
Join
us on Wednesdays for
our Weekly DEEPER Program!
Discovering God’s truth
Enduring with one another
Encouraging & lifting each other
up
Praying for one another
Exemplifying Christ to others
Recruiting other to Christ
Library Ledge: Biography
Buddies
Make
a new friend or learn more about an old one by checking out the library ledge
in November. When you read a biography you can learn about history,
experience adventures from the safety of your armchair, learn something about
life by one who has lived it, or be inspired to a closer walk with God.
Accept the challenge… read a biography this month.
Bethany
Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack, but never lost her faith. Soul
Surfer is a moving story of her triumphant return to competitive surfing
– a tale of personal empowerment that shows the body is no more essential to
surfing than the soul.
The
Game of My Life is a story about basketball and Jason McElwain. It tells
how he become nationally known, but also talks about autism, life and how
much can be accomplished by having a great attitude and staying focused.
October
HOC Report
On
October 25th, 21 from BLFC were involved in the meal served to 82 guests.
They were given generous helpings of sausage gravy on mashed potatoes and
biscuits, green beans and bacon, mixed fruit cup, cottage cheese, pumpkin
bars, frosted brownie cookies or Hy-Vee pies, milk, fruit juice and coffee.
A good ‘stick to your ribs’ type meal was appreciated on a cold, windy
night. Many shared their appreciation. Thanks to all who made the evening
possible. If you want to be involved next month, mark November 29th on your
calendar.
Also
thanks to all who brought items for the supply closet in October. The trunk
load of dish soap, over the counter meds, diapers, etc. will be used and
appreciated by those in need.
Dear
Friends,
We
want to know how very much we appreciate your recent gift of $250 to the Prep
Basketball Program at Quakerdale. Gifts like yours are a great source of
encouragement to our staff as they help youth take control of their lives,
make good decisions, develop positive relationships and become productive
citizens. Your gift means so much to our children and their families. Thank
you for caring and sharing in this way!
Gratefully
yours,
Robert
C. Talbot, Executive Director
Generally, these
might be seen as distractions, but God shows up in unexpected places. It is
in these times and places that transformation can take place because we can
be out of our comfort zone.
So, here is the
exercise: Be mindful of your surroundings; the people, places, ordinary
things, and the interruptions that make up your life. Ask God to show up in
each of these areas, to speak to you in them.
Keep a running log
throughout the exercise of "God Interruptions", and what happened
in each circumstance. Were you transformed? Did you help someone else? Did
you ignore the community encounter? Did you open yourself and be vulnerable
or did you retreat to independence? Was God's presence especially close? What
did God teach you through the encounter?
Share your log
with someone else after you have completed the exercise. Sharing opens the
door to vulnerability and true community that we discussed in the devotional
portion.
Remember In Prayer
~Our
college students
~Our Sr.
High youth program combined
with
HCNP Friends
~Those
who have lost loved ones and are
facing “different” holidays this year.
~Morgan
Martinez in her new position with
InterVarsity in Atlanta, and her funding
~Mesquakie
Friends Center seeking a new
director after the unexpected resignation
of
Mark Aviso.
~Sam
& Becky Barber at the Belize
Friends School with the many challenges
they
face with their students
~House
of Compassion, clients, staff
~Our Secret
Prayer Partners
Garrison
Memorial Scholarship
The
Garrison Memorial Scholarship is open to applicants around Iowa Yearly
Meeting this year. Its purpose is to encourage individuals from Iowa Yearly
Meeting of Friends to pursue a degree in Christian Ministries. If you or
someone you know would be interested in applying for a scholarship have them
contact the church office for an application, a list of eligibility
requirements and awards available.
Children’s
Church
Children,
age 4 through grade 5, are encouraged to participate on November 4th and
26th. The lessons will encourage students to be good stewards of our earth
and relationships. Projects include providing a snack for those who attend
Monthly Meeting for Business.
Bangor
USFW
Betty
Arterburn will host the Bangor USFW on November 13 at 1:30. Ann Nichols
will provide the lesson. Ladies are reminded to bring their Christmas
offering which will be shared between the Mesquakie Friends Center and the Providential
Homes Ministry of Arlen Daleske.
Liberty
USFW
Ladies
of Liberty USFW will meet on Thursday, November 15th at 7 p.m. at Diane
Teske’s home in Union.
All
the King’s Men
Men
are welcome to join this group which meets on Monday evenings twice a month
at Pastor Manny’s home from 8:00-9:00 p.m. In November the men will meet on
November 5th and 19th. They are studying Chasing God with 3 Flat Tires.
Celebrating
a 90th Birthday!
Al
Johnson, who formerly attended BLFC along with his family, will be
celebrating his 90th birthday on November 16th! His family asks friends to
shower him with cards for his special day! Al’s address is: 3020 Hillside
Ave, Durango CO 81301.
Helping Cuba Friends
Friends
are encouraged to bring donations of children’s vitamins, prenatal vitamins,
and “happy meal” type toys to the church as we collect them for Linda
Garrison to take with her when she leads a work team to Cuba in January.
Vitamins are most needed as we have received quite a number of small toys.
Donations are needed by Sunday, December 16th.
Helping
Hands
Two
years ago BLFC began a ministry of Helping Hands. This program has been used
successfully numerous times but could be used more. We have many able
volunteers who are ready to assist. Whether your need is changing a flat
tire, a ride to the doctor, emergency child care, help with financial issues
or correspondence after the death of a loved one; there is someone waiting to
help. Contact Shirley Davis, Ann Nichols or Manny for assistance or more
information.
-A
good listener is a silent flatterer.
-Proverb
(contributed)
Annual
Thank Offering Service
Bangor Liberty’s annual Thank Offering
Service will be held Sunday, November 18th at 10:30 a.m. with a potluck meal
afterwards. The Missions Committee welcomes all to participate in the service
by giving gratitude to God with their words and funds.
They have chosen the following projects
and ask us to prayerfully consider how blessed we are and how we can share
with these areas or with other work that we may feel called to support. All
undesignated offering collected will be divided equally between:
- Salary
for Joyce Ajlouny, Director of Friends Schools, Ramallah
- William
Penn Campus Ministry, Spencer Thury, Chaplain
- A
Future Bangor Liberty
Mission/Work Trip for Youth and Adults
- Bangor
Liberty Scholarships for Quaker Heights Camp, Eldora
More details about these projects will be
in upcoming bulletins. Social Committee #3 will be in charge of setup and
cleanup for the potluck meal.
“You can give
without loving. But you cannot love without giving.”
~ Amy Carmichael,
missionary to India
Christmas
Adopt-A-Family
Many in Marshall County will not have Christmas
gifts this year without our help. You do not have to be wealthy to assist a
family in need. Together our $ add up and make a big difference in the lives
of others.
The House of Compassion recommends 2-3
gifts be given to each person. $20 could buy toys for a child or a gift for a
senior citizen; $30 could provide clothing for a child; $40 could provide a
family meal; $50 could buy gifts for a teen; $75 could provide gifts and a meal
for a senior and $250 could provide Christmas for a family of 4-5.
If you would like to adopt an individual
or family, tell Margaret the number of people you wish to help by Nov. 18.
After you are given your family information, you call and let them know they
have been adopted. Then purchase their suggested gifts and food for their
holiday meal and deliver these by Dec. 21.
There will be a family chosen for our
church to share. Let us know if you would like to help by buying 1 or 2
gifts or providing food for that family. If you are unable, or prefer not to
do the shopping, you may give funds and others will shop for you. Thanks in
advance for bringing smiles to families in need.
White
Gift Offering
Our annual White Gift offering
collected at the Christmas Eve service will be shared between the Amari Play
Center in Ramallah and the Barclay College Renew Tour. Both ministries will
appreciate your prayerful and financial support. Look for more details in the
December Bell.
|