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The Bangor Liberty Bell
Sharing the News and Views of
Bangor Liberty Friends
Church
January 2009 Volume
30, No. 1
Nathan McCracken, Pastor
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From Our Pastor
As I think back over my 27 New Year celebrations there is only one thing that
really sticks out in my mind as a tradition. Well, okay there are two
if you include Grandma's cabbage rolls that we ate (whether we wanted to or
not!) January 1st of every year for prosperity. Just to clear things
up, my Grandmother makes wonderful cabbage rolls; they just weren't very
appealing to me as a little boy. The second tradition that we
hear about every year is the writing of the New Year's resolutions. We
hear about them on the TV, read about them in magazines and the news.
There is advice about how to make resolutions and how to keep them, what
makes a goal too big to accomplish and what makes them too small to care
about. I have to admit that I have never made a New Year's resolution
even with all the tips and advice on how and why one should do such a
thing.
I think that the biggest reason I have never ventured setting a yearly goal
is because I have never seen anyone make it past February before giving up
and giving in. That’s not to say that there aren't those that actually
achieve their resolutions, and congratulations to those who have. The
question to ask is what is the real reason behind the
resolution. Is it not to make us better somehow and therefore
making us more loveable and acceptable? That's the reason I make goals
for myself, so I can be better in areas of my life. What I
have come to understand is that no matter how much I change about myself and
no matter how many boxes are checked on my list of self-improvements I still
do not feel better. If I fix all of these things about myself why can't
I ever find a deep, lasting satisfaction in whom
I am with my newly improved self?
We can work on all angles of our lives but until we satisfy our deep
spiritual desires and find our acceptance in God's eyes we are searching
blindly in the dark for a way to love and accept ourselves. Matthew 6:
22-23 talks about our eyes being the defining perspective of ourselves.
If our eyes are focused on the good then we do well, but if the eye is
bad then the body is filled with darkness. What this is saying is that
when our eyes are focused on God's light we see ourselves as God does.
If we want to see ourselves this way then our resolution needs to
be to change our focus from what the world calls "light" to
the true light that only God offers. The need for love and acceptance
that we desire can never be fulfilled by our own efforts but is given freely
from our Heavenly Father.
-Nathan McCracken
In Our Thoughts & Prayers
~President-elect,
Barack Obama and his
family
~Our
nation as we will soon have a new
President, and as our nation/world
continues to deal with the economy,
financial difficulties and many job
losses.
~Our
nation’s spiritual health.
~Those in our meeting and community
who have been ill
with viruses/flu.
~The continuing conflict in the Mideast
involving Israelis
and Palestinians.
~Friends Hospital
in Kaimosi,
Kenya
~The Mesquakie Friends
Center, Victor
and Brenda White and the people they
serve on the Mesquakie
Settlement as
well as others who are ministering to
the Mesquakie people.
Mission Prayer Reminders
Our mission workers need our prayers as they share God’s love around our
country and the world. Prayer is the most important support we can
give. During January the bulletin board will display mittens with
prayer needs of specific workers. You may take one or more home and use
them as reminders to pray daily through the month of January. Some
prayer examples are below. Let’s join together in mission work by
lifting these needs to our Father.
- For
Judy Davis traveling to work at Kaimosi Hospital in January.
- For
Pat Shrock traveling to Belize in January to
serve as interim principal at Friends Boys School until the arrival of
the Barber family in April.
- For
Linda Garrison and the Cuba Work Team as they provide hurricane relief
from January 24 - February 11.
- For
Nathan & Brianna Martin as they raise funds for their work in Cambodia
Scholarship
Mission Board Scholarship
The Iowa Yearly Meeting Mission’s Board is offering a college scholarship of
up to $1000 for the 2009-2010 academic school year.
People within Iowa Yearly Meeting seeking intentional study in missions at a
Christian college or seminary and wanting to pursue education to prepare for
full time mission’s work with a Friend’s organization may contact the
Missions Board to receive an application. For the 2009-2010
scholarship, please contact Diane Martin, IAYM Missions Board, 3227 Pheasant Ave, Rockwell IA 50469 or call 641-822-3694.
Some Interesting Facts
-The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of
eleven: $6,400.
-Men can real smaller print than women can; women can hear
better.
-The State with the highest percentage of people who walk
to work: Alaska
-The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any
given hour: 61,000
Always Remember
You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old
because you stop laughing.
Q. What do Eskimos get from sitting on the ice too long:
- Polaroids.
Three Things in Life!
Three things in life that, once gone, never come back
are: Time, Words & Opportunity.
Three things in life that can destroy a person:
Anger, Pride & Unforgiveness.
Three things in life that you should never lose:
Hope, Peace & Honesty.
Three things in life that are most valuable: Love,
Family & Kindness
-Items above contributed by a Friend
Announcements
Friend’s Beliefs Class
It’s not too late to join the class on Friend’s Beliefs, which begins on
Sunday, January 11th at 9:30 a.m! Ann Nichols
will be teaching the class which can be used for membership or as a refresher
course. The class will last several weeks.
Children’s Church
Children, age 4 through Grade 4,
are welcome to participate January 11th and 18th. Our lessons will be about
serving God in our local church and community. We will be emphasizing
the Union Food Box.
Monday Night Bible Study
Matthew
7:1 says: “Do not judge.” Does this mean we should not evaluate
others and draw conclusions about them? Does it mean people can do
whatever they want to do because it is between them and the Lord? Join
the discussion from “The Sermon on the Mount – Examining Your Life” in the
fellowship hall each Monday @ 7:00.
Liberty USFW
Liberty USFW ladies will not meet during January but will be serving the
South Hardin Kiwanis Sweetheart Supper at BLFC on Thursday, February
12. A meeting will be held after the supper and the yearly Thank
Offering will be collected. Ladies are asked to arrive at the church at
6 p.m. for the 6:30 meal.
Bangor
USFW
A workday is being planned for January 20 to be
held at the church to give us room to make baby quilts. Charlene will
provide soup for lunch and Peggy will bring the lesson. All ladies are
welcome. Since our December meeting was cancelled, members are
encouraged to bring extra funds to support the mission projects.
Family Game Night
Plans are in the works for a Family Game Night to be held on Sunday evening,
January 25th for all the church family. Watch for details in the weekly
bulletin and plan to join us for a time of fun and fellowship.
House of Compassion Report
On December 23rd, 10 from BLFC provided a
generous meal of chopped ham gravy over biscuits with potatoes, green beans
and bacon, mixed fruit, and homemade desserts for 26 appreciative
guests. Thanks to: Johnie, Gladys,
Betty, Vi, Chris, Mike, Charlene, Dan, and Lydia. Join the fun at our
next meal January 30.
Adopt-a-Family Report
18 families and individuals from
BLFC provided gifts, funds or food for our shared families, a mother and
baby, a single working woman and a widow lady. They were given several gifts,
used baby clothes, homemade goodies, a used microwave, a used computer and
generous food baskets. Each was appreciative of our gifts and hugged
us. Thanks to everyone who helped to make it a happier Christmas for
them. One gave us a Christmas card with a picture of her daughter. See
it on the bulletin board.
The Youth Group and their
families adopted a single mom with three teens and another family in our
church adopted a single mom and child. 181 family units were adopted
through HOC this year. (168 last year) They represent 660
individuals. Unfortunately 88 families were not adopted.
Library Ledge: Fireside
Fiction
Curl up and stay warm with a novel from our church library. You’ll find
books set in the past and in the future, in America and in other countries.
You’ll find mystery, humor and romance. Following are just a few
examples:
All Rivers to the Sea (audio) is set in 1844. British invaders
threaten to undermine the movement for Irish independence, but it is the
impending potato blight that may end all dreams. As Kate waits for the
birth of their baby, Joseph is in hiding in London.
Levi Coffin and the Underground Railroad recreated the drama and
danger surrounding the attempts of American blacks in the 1800’s to find
release from oppression in the South. This would be a good book to read
out loud to the whole family.
Two new additions: Home to Holly
Spring is an
unabridged audio book from the author of The Mitford Series about Father
Tim. Wild Grows the Heather in Devon is historical about the
human struggles and spiritual life during late 1800-1900.
Energizing Friends to
Service
Friends
United Meeting offers work/study teams each year to various mission
sites around the globe. It is an exciting and enriching experience for
all who participate. We would love for you to join us on one of our
teams this year. You will be glad you did. Contact Terri Johns at
FUM for more information: terrij at fum.org
or (765) 962-7573.
FUM Work Team Objectives:
1. Raise awareness
2. Lend practical
assistance
3. Strengthen Christian
witness
4. Encourage youth and
adults in cross- cultural experiences
5. Help maintain FUM
facilities abroad
6. Build relationships
cross-culturally
Brillant
Lovely Facts…
about Pastor Nathan and Shandra!
Did you know that Nathan’s favorite subject in school was physics?…Favorite snacks are Snickers and pop?…A favorite Bible
verse is Jeremiah 29:11?
Did you know that Shandra’s favorite pet as a child was her dog, Frisky?…Favorite sports/games as a child were board
games?…Favorite book of the Bible is Psalm 139?
My Resolution
I won’t look back; God knows the fruitless efforts,
I’ll leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And mercifully forgives and then forgets.
I won’t look forward; God sees all the future,
The road, that short or long, will lead me home,
And He will face with me its every trial
And bear with me the burdens that may come.
But I’ll look up into the face of Jesus,
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
And there is joy and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every
hope fulfilled.
-Annie Johnson Flint
This Year
It is never too late to begin a new habit - or to
re-covenant our side of the promise with God - or to name anew the
responsibilities we have as faithful people. The following serves as a
model for living our faith in the New Year.
-Mend a quarrel
-See a forgotten friend
-Dismiss suspicion; replace it with trust
-Give a soft answer
-Encourage youth
-Keep a promise
-Find the time
-Forego a grudge
-Forgive an enemy
-Listen
-Apologize if you are wrong
-Try to understand
-Think first of someone else
-Appreciate
-Be kind; be gentle
-Laugh a little
-Laugh a little more
-Welcome a stranger
-Speak your love
-Speak it again
-Speak it still again
-Ruth A. Ritchie
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