The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

January 2010   Volume 31, No. 1

Nathan McCracken, Pastor

 

 

 

Whiter Than Snow

 

            Remember those days when you would go to bed hoping that when you awoke the next morning you would look out your window and see a beautiful white blanket of snow covering the barren ground?  I can remember those days very clearly in my mind, and I can remember going to bed hoping that in the morning everything would be white.  The reasons for wanting the snow were always different, sometimes I wanted it to snow so that there would be no school, other years I remember hoping for snow on Christmas, but mostly I wanted the snow because it looked so beautiful.  When you live in a rural setting the fields are very beautiful in the spring and summer with their green crops and the trees with their leaves, but after the fall they are left with broken cornstalks, bean stubble, and barren branches.  The landscape that was once very vibrant with life becomes very dead and dormant for the winter and that is where the snow comes in.  In these winter months I think that there are few things as beautiful as a fresh coat of snow turning all of those dead fields into a beautiful work of art.  It’s even more breath taking when the sun shines on the white powder making it sparkle and you can’t stare too long because it is just too bright for your eyes. 

Now, I’m not sure when I lost my fondness of the snow, it seemed that as I got older I became less impervious to the cold, less balanced on the ice, and too busy to stop and take in the beautiful scenery.  However, there is a hymn that often plays in my head when the snow does cover the ground.  It is a hymn that I have been singing since I was a boy at Pleasant Plain Friends and this morning as I was trekking across the icy, snowy, parking lot the words and music came to me once more.  “Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow; now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”

            As we enter each New Year we are often striving to change in some way.  We set goals and make new resolutions to be “better” and become different in some area of our lives.  Goals and resolutions are great, but they tend to revolve more around us and less around Christ.  When I think about change within myself I think about Psalm 51:7 that say’s “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”  It paints the picture in my mind of what I am without Christ present in my everyday life.  Without Him I am dead and desolate like the winter before the snow.  But with Him I am beautiful, washed clean, covered by grace, and reflective of His glory and my beauty is like that of the snow-covered landscape and so is yours!  This year instead of seeking a change within yourself seek Christ because it is only in Him that we are truly changed and made beautiful.

                                    -Pastor Nathan

 

 

January Monthly Meeting

-Dates will be determined for an "I Love Camp Quaker Heights” promotion Sunday and for our participation in the Friends United Meeting Chain of Prayer.

-The Trustees will be seeking bids for a new awning/overhang to be placed over the main entryway for safety issues.

 

 

Wednesday Night Program

Join Us for Fun, Fellowship,

Learning and Prayer!

For all ages!

 

New term starts January 13th!

 

Children

Preschool thru 1st Grade

Adventure Club, Grades 2-5

~

Youth

Beginning in Jesus

a study on the life of Christ

~

Mixed Gender Book Study

Dangerous Wonder

by Michael Yaconelli

~

Women's Book Study

Falling in Love with Jesus

by Dee Brestin & Kathy Troccoli

~

Mixed Gender Spiritual Life Study

with upcoming discussions on Lord

of our Body Temples, Lord of our Labor, Lord or our Worship,

Lord of our Service, King of Kings

and Lord of Lords.

 

Meals are held twice a month at 6 p.m.

Nursery for children under age 3.  Contact Pastor Nathan or a member of Christian Ed. for more information.

 

 

10 Questions for the New Year

 

1.  What’s one thing you could do this

     year to increase your enjoyment of  

     God?

2.  What’s the most humanly impossible

     thing you will ask God to do this year?

3.  What’s the single most important  

     thing you could do to improve the  

     quality of your family life this year?

4.  In which spiritual discipline do you

     most want to make progress this year,   

     and what will you do about it?

5.  What is the single biggest time-waster

     in your life, and what will you do  

     about it this year?

6.  What is the most helpful new way you

     could strengthen your church?

7.  For whose salvation will you pray

     most fervently this year?

8.  What’s the most important way you

     will, by God’s grace, try to make this  

     year different from last year?

9.  What one thing could you do to 

     improve your prayer life this year?

10.  What single thing that you plan to do

     this year will matter most in ten years?   

     In eternity?

                                                -Copied

 

 

-A “religious awakening” is what takes

place after the preacher ends the sermon.

 

-Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off.

 

-The New Year lies before you like a spotless track of snow; be careful how you tread on it, for every mark will show.

 

 

Thank You!

-Christian Ed. & Ministry & Counsel

   for planning the Christmas Eve

   Program & Candle Lighting Service

   which ended up being held on

   Sunday, December 27th.

-To the children & youth for their participation

   in the Christmas Program.

-To Children’s Church kids & Margaret

   for providing cookie plates for the

   carolers to deliver on Dec. 20th.

-To all of our carolers who brought

   Christmas joy to friends & neighbors

-To the adult Sunday School classes

   for decorating the church for

   Christmas and for providing and

   packing the Christmas treat bags.

-To Royal Young for clearing the

   parking lot and drives of snow and

  to Joe Feltz and John Good who

   kept the sidewalks clear of snow and

   put down the salt and sand for safe

   navigating!

-To those who lead our Wednesday night

   study groups for the children, youth

   and adults.  And to those who have

   prepared meals for Wednesday nights.

-To all who have shared wonderful specials and

   special music during December!!

-To all who shared poinsettias during the

   Christmas season.

-For your monthly gifts for the Barber Family in

   Belize.

-To all who contributed to the White Gift

   offering for Mesquakie Friends Center

   and for Morgan Martin's support.

-To all who have been generous to give financial

   gifts to BLFC during the Christmas season.

 

 

 

Children’s Church

We’ll meet in the fellowship hall after the children’s message on January 3rd and 17th.  Our lessons continue on the topic of joy.  Service projects will be to make tray favors for children in Marshalltown Hospital and to emphasize giving to our local Food Box.      

                                             

 

Bangor USFW

            On January 19 the ladies will gather with Barbara Jo Morgan at the Embers for lunch at 12:00.  Fern will bring the lesson following our meal together.  Let Barbara Jo know by the 12th if you are able to attend. 

 

 

Iowa Friend Subscriptions

            A good way to keep up with what's going on in Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends - churches, youth events, USFW, and others is by subscribing to the monthly newsletter Iowa Friend.  It only costs $9.50 for a year through group subscriptions.  Contact Diane T. to renew or subscribe before the end of January 2010.

 

 

HOC Adopt-A-Family

Ten families and individuals provided gifts, funds or food for our shared church family.  A dad, mom, 10-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy were given several gifts, homemade goodies and a generous food basket.  They were very appreciative of our gifts and hugged us while expressing their thanks. 

The mother of a single mom with 2 children we helped 3 years ago contacted us recently, sharing that the daughter finished her education and is now a RN working in home health care.  Seeing how our gifts blessed her daughter that Christmas, she now adopts families with her co-workers.

The members of Liberty USFW adopted a single mom with a 2-year-old daughter.  One other family in our church adopted an adult and young child.  Thanks to each of you who helped to make it a happier Christmas for these people in need.

 

 

New Missionaries’ Addresses

If you would like to send a note of encouragement to our “local” missionaries for the New Year their addresses are:

 

Morgan Martin, 3201 H Ave NW, Apt 4,

                        Cedar Rapids IA 52405

 

Nathan & Brianna Martin, PO Box 570

                        Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

 

The Barber Family, PO Box 454

            #4 Allenby St.

            Belize City, Belize

            CENTRAL AMERICA  00106

 

 

In Our thoughts & Prayers

~The need of additional youth leaders for

    our youth for the Wed. Night Program

~Tim & Kristy Albright and others

    who are dealing with serious

    illnesses.

~Those who have lost loved ones

~Our Wednesday Night Program

~Our need for additional youth

   leaders

~Sam & Becky Barber and family in   

    Belize.

~Morgan Martin working with

    InterVarsity at Coe College

~Victor & Brenda White at Mesqukie

    Friends Center

~Nathan & Brianna Martin, new

    missionaries in Cambodia

~Friends Church West - IAYM’s new

    church venture in West Des Moines. 

    Rich and Patty Kopp, new pastoral

    Couple, were to arrive from Colorado

    by January 1st

~Camp Quaker Heights & staff with

    project to complete

 

 

Missions

            Christians engaged in missions are working in the front line. Whether they are in the western world, or with communities, which are largely unreached by the Christian gospel, there are many demands. Please pray for ....

·         Their walk of faith to be effective, and that they are growing as a Christian themselves.

·         Both financial and personal support to keep going.

·         Their family life.  Pray for God's protection on the family, and for His wisdom in decisions.

·         That the missionaries will "fit in".

·         Protection from Satan's attacks.

·         Thank God for their faith and commitment, and praise Him for their work bearing fruit.

 

Thanks to your generous giving to the White Gift offering $440.00 was shared between the Mesquakie Friends Center for a new playground, and for Morgan Martin's InterVarsity salary.  If you were unable to give, donations will still be accepted and passed along.

 

 

Library Ledge:  Dandy Devotionals

What exactly is a devotional book?  The very word "devote" means, to set apart, consecrate, so a devotional book is any book which assists us in the moments we take for quiet, personal time with God.  A book that helps us start or finish the day with some reflections on God's Word, with practical applications to consider and examine ourselves with, is a devotional book.  The books on the library shelf during January are suited for anyone desiring to grow in their godly Christian character.

            One example: God’s Pace-Stress and Psalm 23.  According to specialists, some of the most stressed-out people are religious leaders. God’s Pace explores the reality of God and his purposes in a pressures-packed world, in which we can enjoy the profound peace of a life of faith, a peace to sustain us as we discover who we are and why.

 

 

2010 Stewardship Resolutions

Resolve to:

·         daily prayer and Bible study.  Review the Church’s social teachings.

·         set aside time to stay connected with family.  Eat dinner together, schedule dates with your spouse, plan family outings.

·         adopt healthier eating habits.  Add exercise to your daily routine.

·         possess more “lightly” this year.  Distinguish between the necessary & the unnecessary.

·         serve your church and encourage outreach efforts.

·         reprioritize financial goals so that the Lord comes first in all your spending.

·         be faithful to your daily work- related tasks and offer them up to the Lord. 

·         keep your mind active.  Commit to being informed on the issues of the day.

·         be a person of hospitality. 

·         live with more compassion with those less fortunate.

 

The above was taken from the website of the International Catholic Stewardship Council

                                    -Contributed

 

 

God always give His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

 

 

New Year's Eve Meal

On New Year's Eve 12 from Bangor Liberty prepared, served and cleaned up following a meal for 30 guests at the House of Compassion.  Creamed turkey on biscuits, peas, mixed fruit, cranberry sauce, cheese, brownies or dump cakes, milk and coffee was served.  Most of the crew sat and ate a meal and visited with the guests.  Many people stayed around and visited longer than usual, most likely due to the cold weather, or wanting to catch a glimpse of the Iowa State football game on TV.  Despite the small crowd there weren't many leftovers.  Come join us next time...Thursday, January 28th!