Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Help for Haiti

            Have you seen the pictures on TV of the destruction to Haiti from the hurricanes and wondered how you could help?  The American Friends Service Committee has suggested we prepare hygiene kits and send them to High Point, NC.  Lloyd & Martha McDonald will travel to North Carolina in November so we can save postage by loading their vehicle! 

A kit should include 1 of each of the following: toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, antibacterial or Ivory bath soap, wide-toothed comb, washcloth, and hand towel.  You can purchase a complete kit, several of one item, or donate funds for others to purchase what is needed.  A box will be placed in the entryway.  Collection deadline is Sunday, Oct. 19.  Bangor USFW will compile the kits Oct. 21.

The congregation of BLFC and community members are invited to a

Fall Party

At Bangor Liberty Friends Church on

Sunday, October 19th

4:00-7:00 p.m.

Food and Fun for all ages - Pumpkin carving,

Hayrides, Games, Bonfire,

S’mores and more!

Meat, buns, and drink will be furnished.  Bring snack food to share! 

Invite a friend!

From Our Pastor

The Heart of Christ

            In John chapter 4 we read the familiar story of Jesus with the woman at the well.  When Jesus meets this woman he sees a heart that needs love and compassion.  He knows that this woman has a bad past and a reputation that has made her an outcast to society.  While others won’t talk to the woman because they care about their reputation getting tarnished Jesus treats her with dignity and respect because he cares about her soul.  Jesus knows that if he can tug at her heart strings enough she will let him into the place that has been locked tight for so long.  He doesn’t care about her past, only her future.  Her past has made her who she is but he can make her who she can be.  When she opens her heart to him he gently takes away her sin and shows her who she was made to be.  What Jesus wants from us is our heart of hearts.  He wants our sins laid down, not so he can show them to us, but so he can remove them from us.  He wants to take them from us so that we can experience the grace that gives us worth and makes us who we were made to be.  The heart of Christ is love, no hidden agendas or fees, he just wants you.  As he tugs at your heart will you let him in?

                                                -Nathan

(Nathan & Shandra will be attending Pastor’s Retreat at Camp Quaker Heights, Oct. 5-8.)

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

~National, state and local elections in November.

~President Bush & government leaders dealing with the financial crisis.

~Pastor Nathan & Shandra

~Mesquakie Friends Mission at Tama

~Our college students & families

~The need for expanded Nursery service during Sunday School and meetings

~Those serving in the Armed Forces.

~Those who suffered much loss during Hurricane Ike.

Thank You

Dear Friends, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share with your meeting at Family Camp.  We felt warmly welcomed and enjoyed the time of fellowship with all.  It is our joy to share the good news of the work of Friends United Meeting.  We are proud to share in your ministry and do the work God has called us to do.  Your prayers, enthusiasm and financial support make the work possible.  May God continue to surround you with His abiding love is my prayer.  In His Service, Kim Newlin, and Sylvia Graves

Special Thanks to all of our Family Camp Committee Members for all their work and efforts this past year to make our Fall Family Camp at Quaker Heights a special time for all who attended!  Your dedication is much appreciated!

Ten Commandments for Beating Busyness

Thou shalt…

1.      Connect heart-to-heart with your family each week.

2.      Let the Holy Spirit lead you.

3.      Be fruitful and productive, not busy.

4.      Take rest seriously.

5.      Use all your vacation time each year.

6.      Commit your time off solely to non-work activities.

7.      Have fun at least once a week.

8.      Eat regularly, preferably sitting down

9.      Exercise regularly.

10.  Use technology to gain time, not consume it.

-Written by Valorie Burton

(For more inspiration from Valorie Burton, subscribe to her free e-newsletter at www.valorieburton.com)

BL Youth Group

1st Meeting - Sunday, October 5th 4 p.m. at the church.

Hot dog roasting and S’mores

later at Scott and Mary Davis’.

Come with ideas for the year.

A great time of fun and games and getting to know one another and Pastor Nathan.  Feel free to invite a friend!

Monday Night Bible Study

           On October 20 we'll begin a study of the “Sermon on the Mount – Examining Your Life”.  Where can we go for real solutions to our doubts, fears and curiosities?  Many people claim to be experts who can solve our problems and answer our questions, but who can we trust?  In his “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus addresses the worries and concerns of his contemporaries, all of which we still grapple with today.  Join us in the fellowship hall each Monday at 7:00.

Children’s Church

        Children age 4 through 4th grade are welcome to participate in Children’s Church on October 12 and 26.  Our service projects will be to give encouragement to the widow ladies of our church and community with a noon meal on Oct. 12, and to give appreciation to Pastor Nathan.

Liberty USFW

            The ladies of Liberty USFW will meet at the church on Wednesday, October 8th at 6:30 p.m. for a salad potluck.  For the program Marie Fiscus will share pictures and interesting information from their family’s trip to Africa last winter.  Guests are welcome.

Bangor USFW

            On Tuesday, October 21st we’ll gather at the church at 1:30 to compile the kits for Haiti hurricane relief.  Bess will provide our lesson and Betty the refreshments.  All ladies are welcome.

All-Church Bowling Party

Sunday, October 26th, 5-7 pm

at the Totem Bowl in Marshalltown

All ages are invited to attend.

More details will be announced.

FILL THE HOC CLOSET – Easy as A, B, C

            Each month an average of 470 needy individuals or families can choose 3 items that cannot be purchased with food stamps.  October is our month to join other churches to fill the shelves. To help you remember some of the needed items just think of your ABC’s: A-aspirin; B-baby shampoo, oil, wipes; C-cold medicine for children & adults, cough drops; D-dish soap, detergent, dollars.  Take home a grocery bag from the entryway and bring it back with any of the above listed items by Sunday, November 2nd.  Thanks in advance for your generous giving.

Honey Creek Homecoming

            Honey Creek Church Preservation Group will be holding the annual Honey Creek Homecoming on Sunday, October 12.  Worship time will begin at 11 a.m. with an informal program directly following.  This allows for sharing of memories, events or of people, reading correspondence received and a report of the year’s activities.  The traditional potluck will follow immediately in the basement of the Meeting House. 

            Ardee Talbot will be guest speaker this year.  Ardee and her husband, Dick recently moved back to the area after living and working in Indiana for 20 years.  Ardee became a recorded pastor in 1993 and served at White River Friends Church in Winchester, Indiana for 15 years.  Their son, Rob is the Executive Director of Quakerdale. 

Missions News

While attending the FUM Triennial in High Point, North Carolina, Sam and Becky Barber were glad to hear the enthusiastic approval of Triennial attendees for the work in Belize to continue.  Sam and Becky both have education degrees and Bible college degrees and are currently located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where they are youth program coordinators at College Avenue Friends.  Sam and Becky took a discernment trip to Belize in June to see if their call matched the situation and felt pretty clear that it did.  So, now it is official.  FUM is announcing the appointment of the Barbers to be the directors for the Friends Boys School in Belize, starting in summer of 2009.  

During this year the Barbers will work to raise the funds necessary to support their family, which includes four children.  In the meantime, Mike and Kay Cain will continue in their roles through December of 2008 and Pat Shrock will service as interim director during the spring semester of 2009.

Library Ledge:     

Parenting Pointers

            It’s time to sharpen our parenting skills with help from our church library.  Parents, and all who work with children, will find encouragement, challenge and humor in the varied selections.

            Pray through your child’s life with The Power of a Praying Parent.

            Creative, Confident Children shares frank discussions regarding child discipline, character development and spiritual health.

            Inspire your Kids to Greatness shows how to help those parent-teen relationships remain healthy.

            Books on tape include: Family Nights, Living in a Step Family & Raising a Modern Day Knight.  Check out these and others displayed on the library ledge during October.

HOC Report

On September 25th, seven from BLFC made possible a meal of chicken nuggets, seasoned potatoes, home grown green beans, tomatoes, celery and peanut butter, rolls, mixed fruit, pumpkin bars, angel food cake with raspberries, and drinks for 11 shelter guests.  Kitchen remodeling is coming along slow but sure.

Thanks to our volunteers who provided funds or worked in the kitchen.  Genuine words of appreciation were voiced by several guests, including the young boys.  Our next meal responsibility is Oct. 30.  See Margaret Good to volunteer. 

Partnering in Response to Poverty

The House of Compassion and the Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance will be jointly sponsoring a soup lunch featuring ceramic soup bowls made by local residents.  Proceeds from the lunch will be split between the two groups to support the respective services they provide.

Art & Compassion Soup Lunch

Sunday, October 26, 2008

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Fisher Community Center Auditorium

Marshalltown, Iowa

Cost: $10 per person.

Please join us and invite a friend neighbor or co-worker.

All participants in the Soup Lunch will choose the ceramic bowl of their liking, have it filled with soup, and then take the bowl home when you leave as an expression of gratitude for your support for these two programs.

How is being a Christian like being a pumpkin?

            God sees us, picks us out of the dirt, cleans us off, takes the yucky material out of us by forgiving us, puts a smile on our faces and places a shining light with us for others to see.

            Jesus said:  “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16.