Tis’ the SeasonBy Pastor Manny
Wow! I can hardly believe that it’s December. We’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving and had a wonderful Thank Offering Service. Our time with family and friends was a blessed time to relax and spend time with those that matter most to us. Now it seems as though the hustle and bustle is officially here. I thought for a few days on exactly what to write about for this edition of the Bangor Liberty Bell and felt like it was a great time to talk about creating margin in our busy holiday agendas. Margin is not something we tend to do well as Americans and unfortunately as Christians we tend to be worse at this than most. The holiday season can be a busy time of decorating, baking, entertaining, cleaning, shopping, and a hundred other things that I’m sure are going through your mind right now. A common phrase at this time of year is a reminder to “remember the reason for the season” but I’m afraid that simply remembering is doing a great injustice to our God and the relationship He desperately wants with us. Creating margin in our daily activity to “be still and know” is vital at any point of the year but it becomes essential during this time when our thoughts and hearts should be focused on the coming Christ. If there is ever a question as to whether our use of time is important to Jesus just turn to the Gospels. In this case He exhorts the disciples to take a minute and just be with Him during all of the commotion that followed the feeding of the five thousand, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” (Mark 6:31). Jesus is always in waiting for us to stop and rest in Him. We don’t need an appointment, there are no lines, and it costs us nothing but a moment of time. What a funny thing. This object that is free to us tends to be what we hold on to the most. Many will pour out money hand over fist to get that perfect gift for someone in the weeks to come but when we are presented with a moment to give God some attention we are hard pressed to release even a precious minute. As it is with everything, without a God who loves us, we wouldn’t have the time to work, shop, sleep, watch that TV show, read this article, or do much of anything else. Advent means “coming” or “arrival” and signifies a time for us to prepare for the coming Christ. I encourage you to take a moment whenever one presents itself to simply say “Come, Lord Jesus, Come”. This simple prayer can alter your day and, more importantly, allows you to know Jesus in a deeper way because when you ask Him to come to you, guess what? He does! If Jesus did choose to come today would we be ready? Would He recognize us or would He say, “I never knew you.” My deepest prayer for this season is that we all take the time to not simply remember Jesus but to know Him more deeply. Tis’ the season to create margin in your day for the coming King. Merry Christmas! ~Our college students with December finals ~Those traveling over the upcoming holidays ~Morgan Martinez & her InterVarsity work ~Nathan, Brianna & Jacob Martin, Cambodia ~The Mesquakie Friends Center-The Whites ~The Kaimosi Hospital and staff in Kenya ~Sam & Becky Barber & Family in Belize ~Mowa Choctaw Friends Center in Alabama ~House of Compassion, clients, staff, & volunteers
Go “DEEPER” with us on Wednesday evenings!
Discovering God’s Truth Enduring with one another Encouraging & lifting each other up Praying for one another Exemplifying Christ to others Recruiting others to Christ
*Our DEEPER program will take a short recess after the Dec. 14th meeting - We will resume Jan. 4th with new studies. Watch your weekly bulletin for the new topics.
Christmas Gifts for IAYM Friends may send gifts of joy and appreciation for our IAYM staff, Mary, Victor, Brenda, Linda, Ron, Spencer and Chip, to Wes Blanchard, Iowa Pastor’s Association Treasurer, 12172 150th Ave, Indianola, IA 50125.
Winter Weather Reminder Because we do not wish to have anyone involved in any kind of accident during inclement weather, we would encourage people in our congregation to use their own judgment on whether or not to drive to church for Sunday Services or Wednesday evening studies. Services will be held on Sunday morning for those who wish to or are able to come, unless there are extreme blizzard conditions or power outages. Wednesday evening services, on the other hand, will more than likely be cancelled in case of bad weather.
Merry Christmas! It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco.
The pastor of the church was looking over the crèche when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures.
He hurried outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant Jesus.
So he walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get your passenger, my fine little friend?”
The little boy replied, “I got Him at church.”
“And why did you take Him?”
The boy explained, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus and I told Him if He would bring me a red wagon for Christmas I would give Him a ride around the block in it.” -Contributed
Forward Movement All youth, 7th-12th grade, are invited! Forward Movement Youth Group, Sunday, December 4th & 18th 6:30-8:00 p.m. Pastor Manny and Jenalee’s home,
Youth, invite your friends to join you for fun & fellowship at the Garcia’s!
Bangor USFWLadies will gather at Peggy’s on December 13 at 9:30 a.m. for an inspirational lesson and fellowship time. Our Christmas offering will be shared between salary aid for Joyce Ajlouny and FUM staff vehicle replacement. All women are welcome.
Liberty USFW Ladies of Liberty USFW will meet Thursday evening, December 15th at the Bank in Union at 7:00 p.m. Members are reminded to bring 2 dozen cookies and gifts for the two adopted families.
Christmas at the Stable Quakerdale’s Wolfe Ranch LifeEnrichment CenterFriday, December 9 6 pm - 9 pm Bring your family and friends and enjoy:
-A live nativity -Children’s activities -A chili supper -Live music -Christmas goodies - Silent auction
*No admission* *Free - will donations welcomed* 2932 240th Street - Marshalltown, Iowa
at BLFC, 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening, December 24 The youth and children of the church will be presenting their program and there will be a time of candle lighting. You are invited to join us!
Our Worship will continue on Christmas Morning, December 25th with our Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. No Sunday School.
Mid-Winter For High School & College Age Young Adults December 30-January 1 Camp Quaker Heights Arlen Daleske & Jason Morad & Co. will be leading worship Plan on lots of crazy ways to have fun in the snow and ice, plus a New Year’s Eve Party! Cost is $120. Download registrations at www.iaym.org/youthministries Registration begins at 6 pm on Dec 30. Final session ends at 11 am on Jan 1.
Christmas Adopt-a-FamilyA dad and mom with daughters, 4½ and 3, and a 1-year-old son have been chosen for our church to adopt. Mom works at Subway, while Dad is unemployed and home with the kids. Check out the poster in the church entryway for their needs, take a sticky note with a gift suggestion and write your name on the line so we know that gift is covered. Bring the wrapped gift back by Dec. 18. You may give financially to purchase food for their holiday meal or give gently used items: pots & pans, blankets, girls’ clothes size 6 and 4T, boys’ size 2T. Thanks for helping to spread the love of Christ this Christmas.
White Gift OfferingOur annual White Gift offering (collected at the Christmas Eve service) will be shared between Morgan Martinez’s ministry with InterVarsity and Nathan and Brianna Martin’s ministry in Cambodia. If you are unable to attend, feel free to designate your offering and drop it in the plate any Sunday to give to Scott Davis. Both ministries will appreciate your prayerful and financial support.
From Morgan: “InterVarsity on campus seems to be wrapping up the year well and I am excited to report a new group of students being reached on campus: art students! We have two art students involved who have decided to reach out to their peers in their art classes. Very exciting! Continue to pray for partners and the 15+1+2 campaign. Slowly but surely God is providing new partners and my funding has increased to 43%. Please continue to pray for both Mario and I as we adjust to married life.”
From Nathan and Brianna: Prayer requests - Good health and safety; packing and moving later this month to Snoul-a district of 70,000 people; new friends and a language teacher in Snoul; reliable transportation; for school libraries to open their doors to Christian literature and sharing about God’s love for us in Christ.
Iowa Friend Newsletter New subscriptions & renewals are due January 15, 2012 Yearly cost is $9.50 See Diane to subscribe or renew Make checks out to Bangor Liberty Friends Church
HOC Meal Report On November 30, 18 from BLFC provided a generous meal for 61 guests. Our menu was liver and onions or vegetable beef soup, crackers, corn, biscuits and butter, leftover turkey sandwiches, fruit cups, shredded cheese, celery w/peanut butter, baby carrots, chocolate chunk cookies, milk and coffee. The liver was gone in 20 minutes! Volunteers were Diane R, Bob and Veronica, Randy and Jodi, Neil and Peg, James and Sharon who provided food or funds; Johnie, Gladys and Betty who helped prepare, Chuck and Isaac who served, and Neil, Peg, Dan, Mike and Charlene who came for clean-up. Thanks!! Come join the fun on December 29. You’re sure to receive a blessing.
Library Ledge: Christmas Inspiration The library can help you focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Curl up under an afghan and warm your heart and soul with stories found in our library. Fiction books “Christmas Duty” and “A Time for Angels” are available along with “Christmas Stories for the Heart” by Max Lucado, Joni Tada, etc. “I’m Dreaming of Some White Chocolate” will give you a bit of humor. Be reminded of Christ’s beginnings by reading “The Birthplace of the King” and enjoy family time by checking out “Let’s Make a Memory”. The devotional “Sharing Christmas Every Day” features poetry by Helen Steiner Rice. And don’t forget we have children’s Christmas books & movies available in the fellowship hall.
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