Bangor Liberty Friends
Church Invites Children to Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride Through God’s
Word! “This year our church will be a stampede of excitement as we visit Avalanche Ranch,” says Dean Lambdin, Pastor at Bangor Liberty Friends Church. “Our Avalanche Ranch program will provide fun, memorable Bible-learning activities for kids of all ages. Each day kids will sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, nibble Chuck Wagon Chow, take on a Daily Challenge to let God’s love grow in their homes, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God’s Word, and create Bible Point Crafts they’ll take home and play with all summer long. Avalanche Ranch is an exciting way for kids to learn more about God’s love. Each day concludes at Showtime Roundup--a celebration that gets all participants involved in living what they’ve learned. Family members and friends are encouraged to join us daily for this special time at Showtime Roundup. We hope Avalanche Ranch will get everyone wild about God in our community.” Avalanche Ranch
Kick Off Free Family
Picnic for all
children, staff & families Sunday evening,
June 3rd 5:00 pm Bangor
Liberty Friends Church. This evening picnic will be an opportunity for everyone to
get to know the staff, volunteers and children before VBS begins on Monday
evening, June 4th. Avalanche Ranch
will meet each night at Bangor Liberty, Monday through Friday, June 4th
through June 8th from 6:00-9:00 pm.
The closing program will be held during Morning Worship on Sunday,
June 10th at 10:30 am. For more information, call Pastor Dean Lambdin at 641-486-5434. The Most Important Words
This month’s article will be a little different; it will be a little shorter and will be a little more personal. This past couple months and weeks have been pretty busy and with the summer coming and all that it holds – High School Graduations, Summer Camp, Vacation Bible School, etc. – the pace doesn’t show any signs of letting off any time soon. It’s in these times that I’m grateful for two things: God’s help and strength, and the help and support of others. I realize more and more during times like these that I need to lean on God’s strength more and more and rely on myself less and less. As Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”; it’s the realization that we can’t do it that is important and we DO need help and that the best help we can get comes from Jesus. God never calls us to a task that He is not ready and willing to empower us to complete. Remember that the next time you have doubts about your ability to do what you feel God wants you to do; it’s not you but your willingness to allow Him to work through you. The second most important thing in times like these is never to forget to say “Thank You” to all of those who help and support you. I have a great support network from my family all the way through to the little kids at our church who in one way or another show me their support. I need to be sure to thank those who help and support me directly and indirectly. I have neglected to do this as often I as I could have and I don’t want anyone to get the impression that I don’t appreciate them and the role they play. So if I haven’t said it to you lately, let me take time to say it now – “Thank you!” Those are the two most important words you can ever say to someone and you can never say them enough. So as we approach the summer and it’s activities, please continue to support me in your prayers, and I won’t neglect to remember the important roles that you all play in helping make all those things this summer come together, nor will I forget to tell God and you “Thank You” for all your help! -Dean J Ponderisms -I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes. -Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant it to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. -Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle? *Memorial
Day will
be observed on May 28th this year.
Let’s remember all the veterans who fought for our freedom and keep
all who are serving in the armed forces now in our prayers. But most of all be
thankful for our eternal freedom through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us on
the cross. Library Ledge: Spotlight on Women During May our library will put the Spotlight on Women. Thanks to the USFW reading course and other donations, we have a large selection of books and audios for and about women. Here’s a sample below. Whether your ‘office’ is the executive suite, the nursery suite or somewhere in-between, Proverbs for Busy Women will fill you with confidence and hope even on the most hectic days. Save your sanity and refresh your spirit by reading Sometimes I feel Like Running Away from Home. The book I’m Trying to Sit at His Feet, but Who’s Going to Cook Dinner? will help you with the daily pressures of life that pull us away from God. Check out
these and more at the library ledge.
Congratulations! ~Recently
Wayne and Fern Tuttle gathered with their family to celebrate their 60th
wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Wayne and Fern, on this milestone in
your lives together! ~Betty
Arterburn’s family held a surprise birthday party
on April 21st at Bangor Liberty to honor her 80th birthday! Happy
80th Betty! Recently Betty received an
award for 3000 hours of volunteering at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in
Marshalltown! April HOC Reports
April 20, 8 were involved in preparing, serving and clean up for 33 guests. HOC provided the milk and food for this extra meal. Our menu was beef & potato hash, green beans, asparagus, applesauce, cornbread, Oreo cake, pumpkin bars, pie, milk and coffee. Our great volunteers included: Betty, Fern & Wayne, Vi, Joyce, Wayne M and Roger (a HOC supply closet worker). Ask them why the microwave was especially appreciated. April 26, 23 from BLFC served 58 guests on our regular night. The meal was goulash, green beans & bacon, mixed fruit, donated salads, garlic bread, dump cakes w/whipped topping, & drinks. Thanks to: Levi & Ramona, Betty, Vi, Ray & Robin, James & Sharon, Bill & Rosalee, Royal & Paula, Mark & Darlene, Neil & Peg who provided food or funds; Fern, John & Gladys who prepared; Wayne T, Deb, Ann & Chuck who served and stayed to help Neil with clean up. Extra thanks to Greg L for sweeping. We trust all who had a part in this service ‘unto the least of these’ felt blessed. Our next opportunity will be Thursday, May 31. Each
day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll,
The Strong Family Children’s Church
On May 6th we’ll continue our study of the 10 Commandments with a review of #9. Our service project will be to provide tray favors for a HOC meal. On May 20th we’ll talk about commandment #10 and make May baskets for BLFC grandparents. Children who are age 4 though 5th grade are welcome to participate. Liberty USFW Ladies of Liberty USFW will meet at Colleen Welch’s home on Wednesday evening, May 9th at 7 pm. Please bring all Campbell soup bar codes, box tops for education and used postage stamps so these can be sent in during May. “Twelve Ordinary Men”The Monday night Bible study continues this study on the 12 disciples. We are learning of their doubts and hopes and hearing of the power of Jesus’ words in a new way. If Christ can accomplish His purposes through the lives of men like these, imagine what He has in store for us! Join the study at the church each Monday @ 7:00 to learn and grow together. Summer Camp Registrations for summer camp at Quaker Heights are due May 21st at the Iowa Yearly Meeting Office, PO Box 657, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. Please let Scott Davis know by May 13th if you plan to attend camp, so camp scholarship funds can be allocated. Extra registration forms are at the church. Help Send Youth to Camp Bangor Liberty Monthly Meeting on May 2nd approved sending $500 to Quakerdale to help their youth attend camp at Quaker Heights this summer. The meeting also would like to encourage individual donations so that all of the youth at Quakerdale who wish to attend camp may do so. Quakerdale experiences extra costs for the camping program due to extra staffing that is required.
Missions This
month we are going to focus on the mission projects for Bangor Liberty’s
Vacation Bible School, June 4-8. We
will be participating in two projects this year. The first is Friends United Meeting’s 2007
VBS Mission Project of raising funds for school supplies, uniforms, books and
a computer for the children at Swift Purscell and Lyndale Homes in Jamaica.
Their goal is to raise $8,000. The
second project is Operation Kid to Kid, which will provide Prayer Bears and
copies of The Survivor’s Bible for orphans in Africa. The Bangor and Liberty USFWs
are providing the funds to purchase the prayer bear kits for the VBS children
this year. New Guidelines For Giving John
Good Over the last couple of months
we have talked in Monthly Meeting for Worship and Business about the new
regulations on the deductibility of contributions of cash and checks made to
the church. Since the first of the
year, the IRS requires that you obtain a receipt for any cash contribution if
you wish to use that contribution as an itemized deduction. In other words, they will not longer take
your word for it. Additionally, any check you write that you want to deduct must either be substantiated by a statement from the church, by a canceled check or image from the bank, or by your bank statement that identifies the date, the amount, and the recipient of the check; which most statements do not presently identify. Linking your check register to the bank statement by check number is no long acceptable proof. Any individual gift over $250.00
must still be acknowledged by the church either individually at the time of
the donation or at year-end with an itemized summary of all giving for the
year. Hospice
of North Iowa Volunteer Training Hospice
of North Iowa will hold volunteer training at Ellsworth Hospital in Iowa
Falls for 4 days: May 16, 17, 23 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The class is free and open to the
public. Those completing the class may
serve as volunteers, but are under
no obligation. Pre-register at
1-800-810-6225. |