Are We Thankful?Do you sometimes find it hard to calm your mind down when you bow in prayer? When we pray can we shut out all of the things that lay heavy on our hearts and minds? I know how you feel if there are times when you just can’t shut off the world around you and the things in your life. When we pray to God He desires a clear connection with us where we are totally focused on Him. There are times for me when it is very hard to center down and prepare my heart. The things of life keep beating on the door making me aware that they are still there and even if I can focus they will be there when I am done. What I found during these times was that it wasn’t about whether or not I could focus my heart. My heart was focused it was just focused on the wrong things. Instead of trying to just shut those things off I started shifting my focus to God by thanking Him for specific things in my life. Thank you for my life, family, friends, a warm bed, a dry house, a nice day, the beauty of the seasons, even the trials I was going through. Once I started to think about these blessings it didn’t take long until my heart was focused on God. Psalm 46 talks about God being with us and taking care of us no matter how bad the world is around us. God says that no matter what is going on we are to be still and know that He is God. When the things of life beat on your heart and you can’t seem to get away from them start thanking God for this Psalm and the other things He has given you. I think you will find, just like I did, that the more thankful we are the easier it is to center down with God.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5, 16.
-Nathan
Thank Offering Service Our annual Thank Offering Service will be held Sunday, November 23rd at 10:40 AM with a potluck meal afterwards. The Missions Committee has chosen the following projects and asks us to prayerfully consider how blessed we are and how we can share with these mission areas or with others that we may choose to support.
1. Lending $ to Mukuyu Village Friends Widows. This project is through Right Sharing of World Resources, a Friends organization that is involved in micro lending in Africa and Asia. A small loan helps a poor widow start a small business. When the money is paid back it can then be loaned to another individual. Money from the business helps them meet their basic need for food, clothing, housing, and education. The business may be selling such items as maize, millet, beans, onions, milk or eggs. The secret behind their success is teamwork, accountability, commitment, determination and above all, prayer. 2. Turkana vehicle and pastor salary. The Turkana Mission needs $2000 a month for the staff of 10 and program activities. Funds for this mission have been very meager recently causing pastors to go without salary. Those in charge are very efficiently using what is given. The government has dumped people in Lodwar without giving any assistance. In addition, the mission has a desperate need for a new vehicle that will cost $35,000. 3. Work Team to Cuba for hurricane repair. A mission team of ordinary people of various ages, led by Linda Garrison, will be going to Cuba in January. It is their desire to help people and Quaker churches rebuild following the destruction caused by the hurricane. It is their desire to show God's love. The government requires that all churches pay for their building materials entirely in U.S. dollars. Most Cuban Quakers are paid in pesos and can give only pesos. Economic conditions in Cuba are dire, and the gift of pesos means sacrificial giving for Cuban Quakers. If a meetinghouse collapses the government will seize the property. 4. BLFC Kids Scholarships to Camp Quaker Heights. When Clarke Macy was asked ‘Why should we send kids to church camp?’ he replied: “To meet new people; to worship and have fun; to enjoy a life changing experience.” Camp allows children and youth a week of escape from the influences and distractions of technology. They leave behind friends who may not be the best role models. Escaping these distractions allows a child to relax. It also allows them to focus on God. They are surrounded by staff who are modeling the Christian life. They get to see people who think it’s “cool” to sing songs, read their Bible and follow Jesus.
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7) House of Compassion ReportOn October 30, 5 from BLFC made possible a meal of ham & potato soup, corn bread, mixed vegetables, mixed fruit, pumpkin bars, and drinks for 9 shelter guests. Thanks to: Rosella Lane who provided funds and Betty, Neil & Gladys who worked in the kitchen. All were appreciative of the meal. A 5 yr old boy especially enjoyed a banana. Rusty, from Tulsa, requested prayers for some family difficulties. Kitchen remodeling is coming along with the hopes of being completed by the end of November. New freezers were being installed that day. -Margaret Good
Partnering with Friends As Bangor Liberty Friends Church is part of Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (IAYM), we are then affiliated with Friends United Meeting (FUM), which has offices located in Richmond, Indiana and Kisumu, Kenya. The work of FUM can be seen all over the world. Many people have stepped forward to serve others as field staff, project partners, local staff, work team members, donors and prayer supporters. Because of this commitment, many people around the world are being encouraged, equipped and energized.
FUM Staff: >United States Richmond, Indiana, staff members - Sylvia Graves, Terri Johns, Frank Monroe, Kim Newlin, Kim Schull, Barbara Smith, Yvonne Snyder, Katie Terrell & Shari Veach >Africa Africa Ministries Office -Eden Grace, field staff and John Muhanji, FUM staff Africa Quaker Vision(AQUAVIS) -Lotan Migaliza, clerk Friends Theological College -Ben & Jody Richmond, field staff Samburu Friends Mission -Isaiah Bikokwa, head pastor Turkana Friends Mission -John Moru, head pastor Lugulu Hospital -Dr. Simon Kisaka (head doctor) Kaimosi Hospital -Judy Davis, volunteer field staff Lindi Friends School -AQUAVIS, Lotan Migaliza, clerk >Cuba Cuba Yearly Meeting -Ramon Gonzalez, clerk >Belize Friends Boys School Mike & Kay Cain, field staff, retiring ‘08 Sam & Becky Barber, field staff, 2009 Pat Shrock, volunteer field staff >Jamaica Swift Purscell Boys Home -Friends Education Council Lyndale Girls Home -Friends Education Council Happy Grove High School -Lauristan Lindsey, Principal >Ramallah/el Bireh Ramallah Friends Schools -Joyce Ajlouny, field staff Friends Play Centre at Amari Refugee Camp-Muna Khleifi, director
Monday Night Bible Study The “Sermon on the Mount – Examining Your Life” - How should a Christian respond to persecution? What does salt and light have to do with our Christian walk? Does Jesus really have anything to say to us today? Join the discussion in the fellowship hall each Monday @ 7:00.
Children’s ChurchChildren age 4 through 4th grade are welcome to participate in Children’s Church on Nov. 9 and Nov. 30. Our service project will be to make books, toys and snacks for the BLFC church nursery.
Join the Youth! The Youth Group will be holding a fundraising lunch, Sunday November 9th, after Worship where they will serve Spaghetti with Meat Sauce/Alfredo Sauce, Lettuce Salad and Garlic Bread. They will also hold a Silent Auction and Bake Sale. The youth are raising funds to purchase Christmas gifts for their adopted family/individuals, to continue to support their Christian Children Fund Child, Belay, and for the basketball hoops and rims that they purchased for the BLFC basketball court.
Liberty USFW Ladies of Liberty USFW will gather at 7 p.m. at Sharon Johnson’s home in Union on Wednesday, November 12 for a work night. Those attending are asked to bring scissors and Box Tops for Education, Campbell soup label bar codes and used postage stamps you’ve been saving. The group will have devotions and sort, cut, count and bag everything that has been collected.
Bangor USFWOn Tuesday, November 18th we'll travel to Gladbrook to have lunch at "The Gathering Place" and visit Naomi. (Time and carpooling information will be in the bulletin.) Shirley Landt will bring the lesson. We will collect our Christmas offering which will help support, Mike and Kay Cain, current mission workers in Belize and Sam and Becky Barber who will replace them in 2009. All BLFC ladies are welcome to join the fellowship.
New Church Directory! Do you ever see people in church and wonder what their names are? Have you every heard an announcement regarding a member and wished you could put a face with a name? Are you new to our church and wish you had something to help you put names with faces? Well, help is on the way! We are producing a pictorial directory for our church. There is no cost to you or to the church to have your photographs taken, and you will receive a complimentary 8 x 10 portrait and directory for participating. You will be able to view your images electronically immediately after you are photographed. At that time, you will have the opportunity to purchase additional portraits to share with family and friends. We look forward to “seeing you in the pictures!” Be sure to pick up portrait details in your communication box! Photographs are scheduled to be taken from 2:30-9:00 p.m. each day, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 2nd and 3rd. On Sunday, November 9th we will begin the sign-up process for photography and portrait viewing sessions. Bring your calendar and stop by the table in the entryway to sign up. Early sign-ups will get the first choice of times! You may also sign up on-line. Go to the church’s web site at www.blfchurch.org and click on the Portrait Sign-Up Box and follow the directions! If you have any questions, please call Shandra at 641-750-2419 or Diane at 641-486-5304.
Library Ledge: New & Newly Donated Library Items: “Your Money Map” by Howard Dayton – 3 Audio CDs “Home to Holly Springs” by Jan Karon – 10 Audio CDs “Share Jesus Without Fear” – 1 Audio CD “Whole Stole My Voice?” – Family DVD “Wild Grows the Heather in Devon” – fiction “A Time for Angels” – fiction “The Evangelist” – biography of Billy Graham Check out the above and find books about Evangelism and Missions displayed on the library ledge during October.
Missions News – Judy Davis UpdateJudy reports: “The things that helped me the most in Kenya was an open heart and a rebuilt Dell laptop computer. As soon as the people knew I could do Word and Excel spreadsheets I did many administrative tasks. All interesting, of course! I prepared lots of minutes from the Kaimosi hospital board, etc. I worked with a ward to help with any assignments that needed to be done. Never a dull moment! They had a ton of work to do and I was glad to help facilitate. You know you’re doing something good when you come back and find it’s still being done.” On the third Sunday of each month a mission offering is collected at BLFC that currently is helping Iowan Judy Tatum Davis to serve as a nurse administrator part of this year at the Kaimosi Hospital in Kenya. If you would like to support this project, please state this on your offering check.
Free MagazinesRemember to check out the magazine rack beside the entryway door. You’ll find copies of “Guide posts”, “Women’s Day”, “Taste of Home”, “Focus on the Family”, “Neurology Now”, “Quaker Life” and many other items of interest. Feel free to borrow a copy to take home to read and return. If you have magazines you’d be willing to share with others, simply put them in the rack. Enjoy and be informed for free!
Christmas Adopt a Family Many families will not have Christmas gifts without our help this year. If you would like to adopt an individual or family, just tell Betty or Margaret the number of people you wish to help by November 20. $20 could buy a toy for a child or a small gift for a senior citizen; $30 could provide clothing for a child; $40 could provide a meal for a family of 3-4; $50 could buy a gift for a teen; $75 could provide gifts and a meal for a senior and $225 could provide Christmas for a family of 4-5. After you are given the name of your family, you call and let them know they have been adopted. Then you purchase gifts and a food basket for their holiday meal and deliver by December 20. If you are unable, or prefer not to do the shopping, you may give funds to Margaret to adopt with others in the church. Let us know how you wish to help by November 20. Please note you do not have to be wealthy to assist a family in need. Together our $ add up and make a real difference in the lives of others.
Thanks to all who helped paint the parking lines on our new parking lot! They are helpful!
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