Thank You

          If you were to ask anyone who knows me if I am a morning person they would most definitely say, “No.”  On any given day I would always rather sleep in than get up.  It doesn't seem to matter how early I go to bed or how many hours I have slept, when the alarm clock starts playing I'm not ready to wake up!  Alarm clocks and I don't get along very well, they have been smashed, thrown across the room, and to be honest I tend to wear out the snooze button faster than all the others.  Even though I despise those little ticking time bombs sitting in the dark on the nightstand I still can't get away from them.  So, until the day comes when I no longer need one to wake me up I will continue to set the alarm, adjust the radio station, and hope that the song that wakes me up gets my day off to a good start. 

          Every once in a while the alarm will go off at just the right moment, at the very beginning of one of my favorite songs, and I will lay there listening to the music and lyrics as my mind becomes alert to my surroundings.  Just a few days ago the alarm did just that, and woke me up right at the beginning of a song that I think we all should listen to each morning.  It was the song from the group 33 Miles called “Thank You.”  It starts off with the questions, “What if in the morning when I wake up, even before I fill my coffee cup, I said thank you, thank you?  What if I looked at the day and the hours ahead and before I moved forward I bowed my head and said, thank you, thank you?”

          I laid there in bed and just listened to those two questions and thought about all those mornings that my alarm has gone off and I would just get up and start my day not even thinking to thank God for giving me another day to start!  So what if I did remember to thank him every morning?  I think that my day might have a different attitude if it were to start with a heart of thanksgiving instead of one that is living for itself.  I was reading in 1st Chronicles 23 about the duties of the Levites who served in the temple.  They were in charge of the building, sacred things, making offerings, and baking.  Then in verse 30 I learned that they were also to stand each morning and thank and praise the Lord as well as in the evening!  I think about what they had to thank the Lord for and I think about what an even greater reason we have to thank our Lord each day because we have new life in Jesus Christ and they didn't!  How easy it is for us to get bogged down by our days and forget about the freedom and life we have been given in Christ.  As we start each day let us remember to thank and praise God for his promises and to rejoice in the day He has made.

Pastor Nathan McCracken

Remember In Prayer     

~Area high school graduates & parents

    for graduation time & as decisions are

    made for continuing their education.

~Sam & Becky Barber in Belize, Nathan

    & Brianna Martin in Cambodia, Victor &

    Brenda White at Tama, & Morgan Martin

    with InterVarsity

~Quaker Heights Camp staff preparing

    for the summer camping season.

~Spirit-led volunteers to be worship

    leader assistants at BLFC

~Spirit-led people to be members of a

    prayer support team for Nathan &

    Shandra

~Youth leaders to minister to our youth

~Joyful volunteers for VBS.

~Our Prayer Partners

Set Sail for VBS Fun!

            Imagine…a child hearing about God's love for the first time; worshipping with music; serving each other.  All this (and more) will happen during High Seas Expedition Vacation Bible School this summer the evenings of August 8-12!  We’d love to help dozens of kids grow in their relationship with God.

Soon our church will be busy with kids making crafts, playing games, and discovering Bible truths in fun and memorable ways.  To have the best experience possible, we need lots of volunteers who can give time, energy, and love to the kids who will attend.

Check out the following, and then pray about where God might use you: crew leaders, staff devotions, Bible leaders, set designers, Chadder movie leader, transportation, registration, games, nursery, snacks, crafts, publicity and lots of floaters.  Also be praying about the children you can invite!  See Margaret or Kris to volunteer or to learn more about this opportunity.  Join the fun and set sail for a vast voyage through God’s Word this summer! 

House of Compassion

On April 29, 19 prepared and served 52 guests generous helpings of meatball rigatoni casserole, green beans and bacon, garlic bread, salads (from the Methodist luncheon), blueberry dump cake, frosted cake, and drinks.  Our volunteers were Mark & Darlene, Chris, Bill & Rosalee, Bob & Jeanette, John & Margaret and other anonymous people who provided food or funds; Betty, Fern, Johnie & Gladys who prepared; Ann R., Bob & Jeanette & Vi who served; and Ann R, Vi, and Joe, Kay, Kelsey and Daniel who were on clean up.

Before 5:00 a man in a wheelchair came to the window and said he wanted to say grace.  When the time came, he got up with a cane and walked out to the group and shared a sincere and humble prayer. 

Daniel helped our attitudes by telling his jokes.  Bob kept spirits high by flashing us his cell phone…you had to be there to understand!  Ann shared some interesting information about her and Brent's wedding day.  Amongst all the fun, work was accomplished and we were going out the door by 6:45.  Join the fun next month, May 27th.  You’ll laugh and be blessed!

Ladies, Mark Your Calendars!

Anne Graham Lotz to Bring

Pursuing More of Jesus

to Des Moines

Anne Graham Lotz, internationally-known Bible teacher and daughter of Billy Graham, will call women from across the city and state to a deeper relationship with Jesus at

Pursuing MORE of Jesus to be held at First Federated Church in Des Moines,

Saturday, October 2, 2010.

Lotz and her AnGel Ministries launched Pursuing MORE of Jesus, a unique time for women of all denominations, in 2002.

The all-day Saturday women’s BreakAway has a clear purpose according to Lotz.  “The focus of the BreakAway is to lead women deeper into God’s Word and, thereby, closer to Him,” says Lotz. 

The all-day BreakAway planned for Des Moines will focus on the person of Jesus and include worship, prayer, proclamation of God’s Word and Bible study.  “We look forward to filling First Federated Church with women for retreat and refreshment, for instruction and inspiration, for encouragement and exhortation of God’s Word,” says Lotz.

Also appearing with Lotz is Fernando Ortega who will lead worship throughout the BreakAway.

Information on how to register for the event, to volunteer and other local information can be obtained by emailing PMOJesus@gmail.com

The Life of Jacob

Jacob is a troubling character in the Old Testament.  He is conniving and he is spiritual too. He has moments of strong faith as well as of fear. His family is sometimes in disarray, and yet at the end he is the one who sets it straight.  Jacob, whose very name suggests "deceiver," is renamed by God as "Israel" -- "one who has struggled with God."

Jacob is a bit too much like us -- with very human strengths and weaknesses, but a man who is striving for spiritual things. From this imperfect man we learn important lessons of faith. Especially, we learn about God's grace. Join us as we study The Life of Jacob at 7:00 pm each Wednesday.

Liberty USFW

             Liberty USFW will meet at Colleen Welch’s home on Wednesday, May 12th, 7 p.m.  Cathie Zeliadt, Iowa USFW Reading Course Chairman, will share the new reading course books.  Bring any Labels for Education bar codes, Box Tops for Education and Milk Moola labels.

Children’s Church

We’ll meet in the fellowship hall after the children’s message on May 2nd and 23rd.  Our service projects will be to give encouragement to Quaker Heights Staff and make treats for our HOC meal.  Children age 4 through grade 4 are encouraged to participate.

Bangor USFW

          The “Book Lady” is coming!  On May 18th we’ll gather in the Embers Community room at 7:00 to hear Cathie Zeliadt share the new Reading Course books and purchase those we wish to enjoy in the coming year.  Plans are being made to visit the Iowa Arboretum in June.

BL Youth Invitation

          Our Bangor Liberty Youth Group is putting on a Night of Dinner and Entertainment Wednesday, May 19th at 6 p.m. to raise funds for their summer mission trip to Washington DC.  You may purchase tickets May 2-May 16 from the youth in the foyer after church each Sunday.  Adults are $8.00, children are $4.00 and childcare is provided.  Bring your family out for an Italian meal and dessert while you are entertained by our rendition of The Newlywed Game.

Specials & Blessings

Please contact John Good (May) or Lucas or Kari McCracken (June) if you would like to volunteer a special/blessing for Morning Worship or if you would have a suggestion.

Summer Wed. Evening Program

          After receiving positive feedback about the Wednesday Evening Program, Christian Ed. has decided to continue the program throughout the summer.  New classes will begin on Wed, June 2nd and continue through August 18th.

          The Bible Study and Youth Group will meet every Wednesday evening at 7:00 while the Children’s class and Book Study will meet every other Wednesday evening.

          On the evenings when we all meet, we will have a meal at 6:30 p.m. and begin classes at 7:00 p.m.  This is a great opportunity for those who have not been able to participate so far to jump in and join a class.  There’s always room for more. 

Schedules for the summer program are available at the church.

Mission Update   

Beginning in April our monthly 3rd Sunday giving is now helping to support the Lindi Friends School, Nairobi, Kenya.  The school is set in the midst of Nairobi's Kibera slum.  Kibera is heavily polluted by human refuse, garbage, soot, dust, and other wastes. The lack of sanitation combined with poor nutrition among residents’ accounts for many illnesses and diseases.

Our monthly financial support helps provide effective and adequate primary education at affordable costs.  Through the school, Friends show the children and their families that there is another way to live and give them tools and hope for a better life outside the slum.

Library Ledge:             

Spotlight on Women

          During May our library will shine the spotlight on books for, by and about women.  Being a woman can be a roller-coaster ride of exhilarating joys and pull-out-your hair frustrations.  Sometimes humor is just what you need to lift your heart to new heights, to heal the hurts, or to instill your soul with inspiration.  Check out Humor for a Mom’s Heart or Amusing Grace or She Who Laughs, Lasts! 

          If anyone knows now to celebrate being a woman, it’s Patsy Clairmont!  In I Love Being a Woman, she takes us on a whirlwind tour of women in the Bible who rose above their circumstances by listening to the voice of God.

          Gloria Gather, Sue Buchanan, and Joy MacKenzie celebrate the ups, downs and all-arounds of friendships using the metaphor of a garden in Friends Through Thick & Thin.  Look for these and many other books to inspire and give you laughs on the library ledge this month.

“The place to be happy is here. The

time to be happy is now. The way to

be happy is to make others so.”

—Author unknown

A Mother’s Dictionary

Amnesia: A condition that enables a woman who has gone through labor to consider a second child.

Feedback: The inevitable result when your baby doesn’t appreciate the strained carrots.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they’re sure you’re not raising them properly.

Show-off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Whodunit: None of the kids who live in your house.

—Author unknown

Funnies

James was listening to a Bible story.  His dad read:  “The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.”  Concerned, James asked: “What happened to the flea?”

A little boy, age 3, was learning his ABCs.  His mother asked, “What does apple start with?”  He answers correctly, “A.”  His mother asked the boy, “What does ball start with?”  He answered correctly, “B.”  His mother asked, “What does car start with?”  His reply was, “Duh, Mommy, a key.”

Out of the Mouths of God’s Kids

Some answers given by Sunday School children to the following questions:

Q. “Why did God make mothers?”

A. “To help us out when we were getting born.”

Q. “How did God make mothers?”

A. “He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.”

Q. “What did mom need to know about dad before

      she married him?”

A. “She had to know his background. Like is he a

       crook?  Does he get drunk on beer?”

Q. “Why did your mom marry your dad?”

A. “My grandma says that mom didn’t have her

       thinking cap on.