Some Thoughts
As Breanne shared with us during open worship on the 29th, I could not keep my thoughts from recent Sunday School lessons, sermons and life experiences. Some of those thoughts have centered on whether a pastoral candidate might be ‘too evangelical’ and then whether there is such a thing as anyone being too evangelical.
Breanne mentioned being afraid to talk to an acquaintance about the woman’s drinking problem and how Jesus could help her through the problem. Breanne said she didn’t know why she was hesitant to talk with her but was glad she finally did. In general, I believe the answer to her question is not that we don’t know or haven’t experienced God’s help and power in our lives, but that we don’t know how that person will respond to what we share. Will they laugh at us? Will they ridicule us for our beliefs? Will they be interested and ask us questions we don’t know how to answer?
Each of these responses can be a little scary in their own way, so we tend to avoid that unknown response by taking the easy way out and not saying anything. We also avoid being the salt and light that Jesus calls us to be and we might be put in that class of people who deny Christ by our inaction.
Matthew 11:26 & 31 talk about not fearing what man might do to us. And goes on to say in verses 32-33 “Everyone therefore who shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.”
May we not be one who denies Christ before men by keeping silent when He prompts us to speak. John Good M & C Presiding Clerk
Remember In Prayer~Our Pastoral Search Committee ~BLFC Nominating Committee ~ Camp Quaker Heights staff, counselors & campers ~ Kaimosi Hospital and staff ~Those living in areas of the U.S. devastated by tornadoes and flooding, and the nation of Japan. ~Foreign affairs and relationships
From the House of Compassion: ~There are many families staying in the shelter. Pray for their stability & well being of their children. ~Pray for the mentally ill that their pleas will be heard and that we as a society will respond. ~We thank God for the many people that volunteer at HOC, and pray that He is always watching over HOC and all that come through its doors.
Concert Under the Stars - July 17Bangor Liberty Friends ChurchIf anyone would like to share one or two vocal or instrumental specials at our Concert Under the Stars on July 17th, or if you know of someone else who might, please contact Peggy Martin at 641-752-8305. Peggy is coordinating the music for the concert.
Mission SpeakerSince 2007, Judy Davis has used her nursing and administrative abilities at the Kaimosi Friends Hospital in Kenya for two or three months a year in voluntary service. Although her nursing license qualifies Judy primarily for psychiatric nursing, she gets involved in administrative duties, goes on hospital rounds, and treats patients as requested by the staff. An "Adopt-a- Nurse" program was developed to raise funds for more adequate staff at the Kaimosi Hospital. Churches and mission groups raise money to allow nurses to have salaries competitive with the government hospital. Our 3rd month mission offering is helping to support the nurses at Kaimosi Friends Hospital. Judy will be at BLFC on Sunday, June 12 to share photos and fresh information from her recent visit to Kenya. She will speak during the Sunday School hour and provide the message during our worship service. Please plan on attending June 12 to hear Judy’s passion for the work at Kaimosi. Prayerfully consider your financial gift toward the adopt-a-nurse program.
Only is EnoughGod is not looking for the best qualifications, best ability, best charisma, best prospects type of people -- not that He would turn down these sorts automatically, because its also true that some of the most gifted people in our society have also been some of God’s best servants. But that is a coincidence and not a requirement. I think that is because God knows that the vast majority of men and women fall into the ‘I am only’ category. But only is enough with God’s help, and it would amaze you what God can make of them. -copied
On Love An elderly man, on his way to fish in a lake, heard a voice coming from the grass. It was a frog. “Hey, you,” the frog entreated. “Please pick me up and kiss me. If you do, I will become your beautiful bride.” The man reached down, took the frog in his hands, and placed him in his large coat pocket. The frog cried out in disbelief from the pocket: “Hey, didn’t you hear me? I told you if you kissed me, I’d turn into a beautiful bride!” “Thanks for the offer,” the fisherman replied, “but at my age I’d just as soon have a talking frog.” -copied
2011 Yearly Meeting SessionsAugust 4-7 Hosted at Camp Quaker Heights
“Forward by Faith” based on the book “Missions by the Spirit” Keynote Speaker - Ron Stansell
ThursdayAfternoon business sessions Evening @ Quakerdale Meal & Worship FridayMorning memorial service & business sessions Afternoon Workshops Evening Recording Service @CQH SaturdayMissions Banquet at noon Afternoon - free time Evening Worship at CQH Sunday Morning Worship Service at the South Hardin Comm. School Auditorium
Special Guests: Miss Candi of Belize John Moru of African Ministries Ron Stansell of EFM Ministries The Martins of Cambodia
*More information on Yearly Meeting is in the June Iowa Friend. Copies of the registration form are available at the church or http://www.iaym.org. Registrations received at the IAYM office with a postmarked date of July 19 or before can take a 5% discount.
Attention Parents Children’s Church will not meet during the summer months. You are encouraged to find the boxes with activity sheets under the back pews or check out books from the children’s library for your kids to read during worship service. Also look for the children & family audiocassettes, videos and DVD’s to use during your family time at home or as you travel this summer.
Refiner’s Fire Bible Study God's refining fires were well understood by all the Biblical writers. The psalmist said, "You refined us like silver." Ps. 66:10. Isaiah wrote, "I have refined you in the furnace of suffering." Is. 48:10. Malachi said, "He will be like a refiner's fire." Mal. 3:2. Jesus said, "Everyone will be salted with fire." Mark 9:49. John said, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." Revelation 3:19. The apostle Peter explained the reason why we need them: "Trials…have come so that your faith...may be proved genuine." 1 Pet. 1:7. All adults are welcome to participate in this study at 7:00 each Wednesday evening in the church fellowship hall.
Liberty USFW Ladies of Liberty USFW are invited to meet at Helen Settle’s home in Marshalltown at noon on Thursday, June 16th for their meeting.
Help for Mesquakie Friends CenterDirectors, Victor & Brenda White have asked BLFC to help provide some items for their Friends Camp June 20-24. They need cookies, bars and paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissue). A sign up sheet is in the entryway. Leave items in the church kitchen by Sunday, June 19. (Food in non-returnable containers.) Thanks!
Bangor USFWWe will meet June 21, 1:30 at the home of Jeanette Roe. Peggy Martin will provide our program. As usual, all women are welcome.
Please Note Changes in Dates! -July Monthly Meeting will be held Sunday, June 26th after Worship. -August Monthly Meeting will be held Sunday, July 31st. -September Monthly Meeting will be held Sunday, August 28th.
Family Camp - Sept. 9-10-11, 2011The Family Camp Committee is asking the church family for any pictures of family members who might have attended Bangor or Liberty churches many years ago. They plan to make copies of the pictures for a display for our Pioneer themed family camp, September 9-10-11. Contact Janet Klein, Beth Moore or Jolene Nolta for more details.
PandaMania VBS! What happens when a pack of fun-loving panda bears invades our church? We will find out this summer during PandaMania VBS, a wild celebration of God's unconditional love! Kids will discover that God has a plan for everyone and that he crafted each of us with his own loving hands. The lessons are designed to connect kids to God, create change in their hearts, and give them opportunities to share God's love with others. You don’t want to miss the fun the evenings of August 8-12! Kids age 3-grade 6 get ready to explore a bamboo forest. Adults and teens, pray as to how you can share your gifts with this vital ministry to children and families.
Friends Disaster Service NewsOur next project will be roofing the Yearly Meeting Office in Oskaloosa. On June 24-25 we will be partnering with the Yearly Meeting Trustees to replace the shingles on the Yearly Meeting office in Oskaloosa. It must be stressed that this is a yearly meeting project, not just FDS’. For anyone who can come, there will be a job. Plans are to start in the late afternoon Friday the 24th and work until dark. If anyone wants to arrive earlier Friday we can start then and finish sooner on Saturday. With the help of everyone, it can be done! Please send individual or church contributions to: Friends Disaster Service, c/o Chuck Nichols, Treasurer, 2015 Wardview Rd, Marshalltown IA 50158. For more information about volunteering for FDS projects, contact co-coordinators: Tim Parsons @ 641-919-3696 or Dennis White @ 563-379-2744.
Library Ledge Encouragement for Men of God During June the library ledge will display books of special interest to men. Here are a few samples. Victory, the life story of A.C. Green, includes 52 principles for living like a champion. Tony Dungy’s Quiet Strength (4 CD’s) shares how it is possible to achieve success without compromising faith and family. The DVD Hometown Legend is an inspirational stand-up-on-the-bleachers-and-cheer story of a losing high-school football team that gives a town that had lost faith something to believe in. Guys, be sure to check out the library ledge this month!
Happy Father’s Day!
HOC Meal ReportOn May 15th, 22 provided an extra meal for 45 guests. Our menu was sloppy Joes, cheese slices, seasoned potatoes, green bean casserole, mixed fruit, bananas, chocolate pudding, cookies, tea, milk and coffee. Thanks to donated leftovers we also served baked beans, oriental salad, macaroni salad, BBQ pork sandwiches, Muenster cheese and carrot cake. On May 26th, 14 provided a meal for 64 guests. The menu was tuna salad or grilled cheese sandwiches, green beans and bacon, seasoned potatoes, mixed fruit, bananas, blueberry dump cakes, peanut butter cookies and drinks. We also served leftovers - tomato soup, cottage cheese and peaches, grapes, pasta salad, lettuce salad and hard-boiled eggs. Quite the potluck! Thanks to our great volunteers for making these meals possible! Come join the fun next month on June 30. You’re sure to receive a blessing.
To Ponder………..wwwblfc When weren’t we beacon lights for Christ? Where weren’t we beacon lights for Christ? Why weren’t we beacon lights for Christ?
When were we beacon lights for Christ? Where were we beacon lights for Christ? Why were we beacon lights for Christ?
When will we be beacon lights for Christ? Where will we be beacon lights for Christ? Why will we be beacon lights for Christ?
Change is good! We can remember, learn and change, always honoring the Father! -from Pastor Arlen’s sermon on May 29th.
When earth erupts or floods arise, with lives and cities drowned, despite the common risks we share, courageous love is found.
Through mercy for humanity, with life and death at stake, we gain resource beyond our own for friends’ and strangers’ sake.
We thank you, Lord, for strength we draw in peril, loss, or strife, by knowing you are there with us in crisis times of life.
For you are in the whirlwind, too, mid shifting ground and tides, not as a God aloft, aloof, but coming to our sides.
Your presence helps us all take heart! Though storms may swirl above; the deepest waters we pass through will never quench your love. -David A. Robb
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