The Harvest

            After this past month’s Yearly Meeting in Oskaloosa I slumped down in my old truck, relaxed by the comfort of the old bench seat I know all too well, and headed home.  I didn’t drive north back to our home in Bangor but rather southeast to the family farm just west of Pleasant Plain.  There is a part of my heart that will always call the McCracken farm my home and since I was driving my truck I decided it would be a good time to explore the buildings looking for my childhood treasures to take back with me.  As I walked around, in and out, dodging electric fence and cow pies, I noticed something almost all of these buildings had in common.  They were falling apart!  I walked past our old hip roof barn, a building that in my mind was the most majestic work of art on the farm.  The beautiful hip roof covered with the original wood shakes had now fallen in, the barn siding had been stripped by the wind and livestock, and all that remained looked like a heap of rotten wood waiting to be leveled and burned.  I walked through the old double corncrib and it was the same story.  The roof was collapsing, the building was leaning, and trees that should have been pulled long ago now surrounded it.  To the west of the corncrib about five feet were two old wood hog houses set end to end.  Years of weather had done its job on these buildings too. 

            As I surveyed the damage done by years of neglect, and natural wear and tear, I realized something.  In all of the past 27 years of my life I can barely remember any of these buildings being used for their original intended purposes.  When I was very young I can remember the barn and hog houses filled with pigs, but not in the past 25 years.  All of these buildings were outdated and had no practical use on the average American farm anymore.  These days most farmers bale hay in round bales or big square bales so that they don’t have to throw them in a haymow.  Hogs are now raised in huge state of the art confinements, not pastures and old wood buildings.  And corn cribs?  I won’t even go there.

            The point of this devotion is very simple, change happens.  If we overview the Bible we see that it is a story of God’s pursuit of His beloved and we see the way His plan to enable us to be with Him evolves from perfection in the Garden, to the Law, all the way to the grace of Jesus Christ.  And we as the church, although our heart does not change, will always (until Christ returns) be changing our methods of outreach and evangelism to reach an ever-changing world.  Christ said that the harvest is plenty but the workers are few.  My question for you is how are you harvesting?  

                                    Pastor Nathan

*Plans for Bangor Liberty’s Family Camp have been changed due to the devastating hailstorm that hit the Eldora area and Camp Quaker Heights on August 9th.  The camp has been officially closed for the next few months so repairs can be made, with a target date to reopen by Thanksgiving.

Workdays for Camp Quaker Heights will be announced after September 9th.

Family Camp 2009

“Camp Carnival”

September 19-20, 2009

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Come join us for an AMAZING weekend beginning at noon on Saturday the 19the at the church.  The Family Camp Committee will grill burgers for lunch and have an afternoon filled with games for all ages - a bounce house, water balloon wars, kickball, face painting, snow cones and lots of other fun games.  Pizza will be ordered in for supper and we’ll have a DRIVE IN MOVIE in the parking lot that evening, ending with a campfire, singing and s’mores!!

Sunday School and Morning Worship will be held as usual on Sunday morning the 20th followed by a catered meal by Janet Klein after Worship.

Families should bring lawn chairs, snacks to share and games for Saturday.  Tents and trees will provide shade!  This year’s “camp” will be free of charge to all families.  Registration forms have been placed in mailboxes at the church and need to be given to a family camp member by Sunday, September 13th. 

Are We Good Stewards?

            Paul wrote, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20.  Part of Christian living is the conscious and regular commitment to disciplines that help us become faithful disciples.  This includes managing one's self, one's inner life and mind, as well as personal habits and relationships.

            When we grow as stewards, we share the news of the Gospel in all the settings of work and leisure.  As stewards, we share our wealth and possessions with those persons and agencies in ministry to people in need.

            When we grow as stewards, we give willingly of our time and abilities in our private lives and in Christian service, using the gifts God has given us support His plan for creation.  Good stewards help preserve the world as a gift for future generations.  Stewardship is our joyful, grateful response to God who has given so much to us.

                                                -Submitted

House of Compassion Report

17 were involved in purchasing, preparing, serving and clean up for 71 guests for our August 27th meal.  The menu was maid rite sandwiches, seasoned potatoes, zucchini-tomato-onion salad, coleslaw, mixed fruit, pudding, cookies, milk, fruit juice & coffee.  Thanks to ALL of our great volunteers! 

NEW Wednesday Night Program at Bangor Liberty

for the whole family      

Fall Kick-Off Party

Wednesday, September 9

6:00-8:00 p.m.

Hayride at 7:00 p.m.

Everyone is Welcome!

Studies for adults and

children/youth will begin on

 Wednesday, September 16th 7:00 p.m.

There is still time to sign up for one of the adult studies:

Woman’s Book Study - What Happens When Women Say Yes to God - Author, Lysa Terkeurst shares inspiring stories from her own life along with compelling biblical insights as she describes what it means to partner with God in all decisions and actions.  Readers will learn to:  discern the voice of God and truly say “yes” to His call, see what wholehearted obedience looks like on a daily basis, and give themselves to God and let Him affect lives around them.  Shandra McCracken will be leader for this group

Mixed Gender Book Study using Abba’s Child: the Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning.  Have you bought into the life that you’re worthy of God’s love only when your life is going well?  God is calling you to take your mask off and come openly to Him.  God longs for you to know in the depths of your being that He loves you and accepts you as you are.  Pastor Nathan will lead this study.

 Who Is Our Lord and Savior?

Are you satisfied with your present knowledge of God or, are you willing to see new light, leave foolishness behind (mostly), and learn the ways of God?  If so, come on a great adventure to learn about making Jesus the Lord of every aspect of your life.  Join the Wednesday night Bible Study The Spiritual Life – Experiencing Jesus Christ as Lord by Bruce Cameron.  Learn more about our Lord in this mixed gender study with Margaret Good as discussion leader.

Just a reminder that the new Wednesday Night Program is for all ages and will include meals twice a month, studies and a local service project once a month.  A nursery will be provided each Wednesday evening. 

*Please be in prayer for this new program!

In Our thoughts & Prayers

~Those in the Eldora area who have suffered

    much property or crop loss from the recent

    hailstorm.  Pray for safety for homeowners

    and workers making repairs.

~Camp Quaker Heights and Iowa Friends

    Disaster Services as they plan & work to make

    repairs at the Camp and to Linda Garrison’s

    home.

~BLFC Wednesday Night Program

~New Youth Leadership at BLFC

~Our Sunday School program & teachers

~Sam & Becky Barber and Family in Belize

~Our prayer partners

~Several in our meeting who have health issues.

Liberty USFW

            Liberty USFW will meet at Sharon Johnson’s home on Wednesday, September 9th at 7 p.m.  Plans for the year will be discussed and a service project will be worked on. 

Attention Parents

Children’s Church will be held Sept. 13 & 27 and will continue to meet twice a month during the school year.  Kids age 4 through grade 4 are welcome to participate.  They will be dismissed to the fellowship hall following the children’s message. (Those under age 4 are welcome in the nursery.)

The program includes Bible lessons about joy, service projects to our church and community, and fun activities to encourage the children as they learn to live like Jesus through Bible teachings.

On the weeks when Children’s Church is not held, you will find activity sheets, coloring pages and reading books for various grade levels on the back table or under the back pew.

Bangor USFW

On September 15th the ladies of Bangor USFW meet at 9:30 a.m. at Peggy Martin’s home where they will work on a wall hanging for the church.  Lunch will be provided.  All ladies are welcome to come and enjoy the fellowship of working together.

Need a New Shirt?….That is a new shirt with the church’s logo on it?  Orders for T-shirts, sweatshirts or polo shirts with the church’s logo on them are now being taken.  The shirts are available in four different colors (Ash-light gray, light yellow, light pink or light blue) and in all sizes, youth thru adult.   The T-shirts and sweatshirts are 50/50 cotton/poly blend and the polo shirts are 100% cotton preshrunk.  Costs are approx. $11 to $18.40 per shirt depending on style.  Sign up sheets are available in the church entryway through September.

Sunday School Teacher Recognition

            Bangor Liberty’s Christian Education Committee invites all the Church Family to a special breakfast on Sunday, September 27th at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall.  This will be a time of fellowship and recognizing last year’s Sunday School teachers and those teaching this fall.  New classes will begin on Sunday, October 4th at 9:30 a.m. promptly.  There will be a new adult class this year for college age through 30-year-olds led by Pastor Nathan and Shandra. 

HOC School Give Away Review

On Saturday, August 15, 584 backpacks full of supplies (447 in first 2 hrs) were given out.  Monday, August 17, 257 backpacks of supplies were given out making a total of 841 students representing approx. 400 families.  Supplies continue to be given out at the HOC supply closet, without backpacks.  Likely our total will exceed 900. Thanks to all who helped make this program possible!

LADIES USFW FALL RETREAT

“Our Cup Runneth Over”. 

Saturday, October 10, 10:00 a.m.

            All ladies of the church and community are encouraged to attend Fall Retreat to be held at Bangor Liberty, since Camp Quaker Heights is recovering from the storm.  Kim Newlin will share updates of our Friends United Meeting mission workers.  We’ll have fun through music and get acquainted games.  Program cost (includes lunch) is just $10 and can be paid at the registration table Oct. 10.  Childcare will be available.  Reserve with Ann Nichols by Oct. 5.    Don’t miss this opportunity to join with Friends women throughout our state to worship and serve our Lord together.  You don’t need to be a USFW member to attend.  All women are welcome.

Missions - Barber Update

Sam and Becky Barber rejoice that the summer project of Bikes for Boys in Belize went so well.  Extra funds will be used for computers.  They praise God that their work permits are coming, but are still waiting the permit for their 17-year-old son.  Robert has been earning some money this summer by caring for dogs belonging to a family away on deputation. Some of the Barber’s are struggling with a cold virus.  It is yellow fever season so pray that the children do not become infected, as one must be 18 to get the shot. 

Sadly two teachers resigned unexpectedly.  Pray for the students and teachers as they begin school in September.  Their friends in Belize are teaching the Barbers generosity.  They willingly share even though they are poor themselves.  Sam sends his thanks to BLFC for our financial gifts to help their ministry continue.  Let’s remember to pray for the Barbers, that they may follow God’s leading; and financially support them on the 3rd Sunday on each month.

Intercessor’s Prayer

            A group of concerned people from our church has begun to meet in the sanctuary on Sunday evenings for a time of reflection and prayer for our church, our families, our community, and our country.  Anyone is welcome to join this time of intercessory prayer each Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m.

Library Ledge                      

A Life of Prayer

            What is prayer?  Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God!  He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call.  Many people feel prayer seems complicated, but it is simply talking to God and allowing Him to be a constant source of strength and love to help us during our busy lives. 

Learn more about prayer; read the prayers of others; learn how God answers prayers; and be reminded that ‘prayer changes everything’ as you use the materials on the library ledge this month.     -Margaret Good