The Bangor Liberty Bell

Sharing the News and Views of

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

 

February 2013   Volume 34, No. 2

 Manny Garcia, Pastor

 

 

Be Transformed…

Stories and Principles that Change Our Lives

Part 10

 

The next devotional in this series comes from my friend Herschel Smuck.  This week in our service Rick Bachman and Jo Macy both reminded us all that a child-like faith can do wonders for our spiritual lives, Herschel’s thoughts go right along with this encouragement.

 

Enjoy!

Pastor Manny

 

(To catch up on this series download back copies of the Bell at www.blfchurch.org

and click on “newsletter”)

 

The Faith of a Child

By Herschel W. Smuck

“If we are faithful to God in little things, we shall gain experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more serious trials of life” - J. Hudson Taylor, The Autobiography of Hudson Taylor

I have never been a very avid fisherman but when my daughters were young, my wife and I enjoyed taking them to a farm pond for an afternoon of fishing. We usually went to a friend’s pond that was overstocked with Blue Gill and it was a real confidence builder for them. The downside was I spent all my time baiting hooks and taking fish off the lines along with filleting 20 small fish when we got home just to have enough for one small plate for a meal. It made the girls happy and we enjoyed the time together. I was excited to find a friend’s pond that was full of nice bass, and since it was hard to get to it had not been fished very much.

One afternoon we took the girls out to this pond and sure enough they caught some real fish. Even my wife caught her first bass. All had a good and successful time until it was time to go home. While we were fishing a drizzle of rain fell, not enough to make us quit but enough to get the grass wet. When we all piled into my old two-wheel drive pickup truck to leave we found we had a problem. The truck just could not make it up the hill on the wet grass to the only gate there was out of the pasture. I tried every tactic I could think of after the straight up to the gate didn’t work. The weaving back and forth, going around the side of the hill and backing up all failed to get us out.

As we sat back at the bottom looking up at the unreachable gate I was having thoughts about how far I was going to have to walk and which direction to go. My youngest daughter was sitting in the front seat between my wife and I. She suddenly said, “Dear God, get us out of here.” I gave it one more attempt to get my pickup as close to the gate as possible before I set off on foot for help. The pickup never slipped a tire as we drove right out as if on dry grass. It truly was a miracle of answered prayer from the faith of a child.

I like to think of this incident whenever I need a boost to my faith. I had never even thought about praying for God’s help before I set out to fix the problem in my own way. My daughter was doing what Hudson Taylor had learned in the quote above, that we need to exercise our faith in little ways before we can be trusted with matters that require more faith. This is what Gideon needed to know before he led Israel into battle.

“Then Gideon said to God, ‘If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.’ And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water.” - Judges 6:36-38

Suggested soul-training exercise:

I challenge you to pray that God will open your eyes to a small problem that He wants you to trust Him to take care of. Pray He will deliver you in this situation and use your childlike faith to believe Him for a solution.

 

 

Remember In Prayer

~Our church family as we seek God’s

   vision for ourselves, our families and

   our church while we work through 42

   Days of Prayer - and from day 43 on--

~Our Secret Prayer Partners

~Irma Roe’s Family

~Lugulu Friends Hospital in Kenya.

~Morgan Martinez and her work with

   InterVarsity in Atlanta, Georgia.

~Friends serving around the world,

   especially those in areas who deal with

   the affects of violence-Ramallah Friends

   School & Belize Friends School, students,   

   teachers, & administrators.

~House of Compassion, clients, staff & the

   new director, Karen Frohwein.

 

 

 

Winter Suggestions to

“Live Love” in February

·         Write a note to management

sharing about someone who treated

you nicely while doing their job.

·         Send cards to friends who are snow

birds to let them know you miss them.

·         Make Valentines for residents of an elder care facility.

·         Drop off a new or lightly used toy or

game at a hospital or shelter for the abused.

·         Send your spouse a text or email just to say you appreciate them.

·         Hide chocolate hugs & kisses around

the house or office to remind your

family members and co-workers that they are loved.

 

“Live Love” Ideas Especially for Kids

*Pick up someone’s jacket or bag that has

   fallen on the floor.

*Call your grandparents and tell them why

   they are special to you.

*Pick up trash around your neighborhood.

   Recycle whatever possible.

*Volunteer to help babysit for younger

   siblings or in your church nursery.

*Bake cookies or cupcakes and deliver them

   to your fire or police station or local

   library

*Share a healthy snack with a friend - fruit,

   carrots, granola, cheese sticks, or yogurt.

 

 

 

In Sunday School little Johnny learned about Creation and how Eve was created out of Adam’s one rib. That afternoon, he told his mother he had a pain in his side and added, “I think I’m going to have a wife.”    -copied

 

 

House of Compassion

 2012 STATISTICAL REPORT

Soup Kitchen: 19,908 meals served with an average of 55 meals per night.

Shelter: 396 people were provided shelter with each staying an average of 9 nights.

Supply Closet: An average of 531 households were served each month.

Back to School: 909 students were assisted to begin school with the needed supplies.

Christmas: 1090 people were adopted representing 267 families.

It is important that each one of these statistics represents a person created and loved by God. Every time you volunteer your time and make a financial contribution you make it possible for House of Compassion to share our faith in Christ with practical gifts of love.

 

 

 

BLFC 2013 Mission Trip

Jr. High Youth

Dates:  July 21-29, 2013

Where:  Kenosha, Wisconsin

Week of Hope

through Group Ministries

Theme:  What do you stand for?

(Please keep this trip in your prayers!)

 

 

 

Children’s Church

Children age 4 through grade 5 are encouraged to participate on February 3 and 17.  Projects will include making snacks for those who attend Monthly Meeting and Care Packages for HOC shelter guests.

 

 

Jr High Youth LOCK IN

          All Jr High Youth, grades 5-8, are invited to a LOCK IN at the church on Saturday, February 16th beginning at 5:00 p.m. until Sunday morning the 17th.  Breakfast will be served at the church and then all youth are welcome to stay for Sunday School and Morning Worship.

 

 

Bangor USFW    

Ladies will gather at Ann Nichols’ home in Marshalltown, 1:30 p.m. on February 19.  Margaret will provide the devotional lesson.

 

 

Liberty USFW

          The ladies of Liberty USFW will serve the Union Kiwanis Sweetheart Supper on February 21st at BLFC fellowship hall, 6:00 p.m.

 

 

All the King’s Men

          Men are welcome to join this group which meets on Monday evenings twice a month at Pastor Manny’s home from 8:00-9:00 p.m.  In February the men will meet on the 4th and 18th. 

 

 

IAYM Winter Family Banquet

          The annual Quaker Men sponsored Family Banquet will be held Saturday, February 23rd at the William Penn University Musco Technology Center atrium, Oskaloosa, at noon.  Make your reservations by Feb. 16 with Chuck Nichols at 641-752-1931 or by emailing alnichols@q.com  Tickets are $12 in advance or $13 at the door.  Lowell Vanderploeg and the Grinnell Friends Praise Band will start the event with music.

          Guest speakers, Mac McDonald and Stan Rouche will share about “ministry in the fast-lane.”  Stan is the regional director of Racers for Christ, which is the chaplaincy program for motor sports in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.  Mac will start the program with some remarks about his work as chaplain at the Eddyville Raceway Park and Stan will take us thru RFC ministry from his experience.  It promises to be an interesting program, and the pie auction is back by popular acclaim!  So, come share in a day of fun, fellowship and good food.

 

 

Potluck & Pinewood Derby

          BLFC Christian Ed will be sponsoring a “Derby Day” on February 24th after Worship for our 2nd Pinewood Derby.  We will share a potluck meal hosted by Social Committee #2 before the races begin.  Make plans to join us for a fun afternoon even if you don’t wish to enter a derby car!  Participants will be able to test their cars on Saturday, February 23rd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall.  Derby car kits are now available from Veronica Daniel for $2.00 each. 

 

 

Missions Emphasis: Friends Lugulu Hospital, Kenya, Africa

          Lugulu Hospital was established in 1912 as a first aid station and became a licensed hospital in 1977.  It currently has a capacity of 110, offering quality accessible health care.  It provides inpatient and outpatient services, specialist clinics, a range of diagnostic services, 24-hour emergency services and a strong outreach program.

The hospital is serving a community that consists primarily of subsistence farmers. They have always emphasized basic medical care that is affordable to the community, however, due to inflation it has become increasingly difficult for many of the patients to afford even the very basic medical care. That’s where we can help out.

At Lugulu Friends Hospital, the naked are clothed and sick visited. Bed linens are washed by hand and stretched out on the grass or bushes to dry. All who keep the hospital alive and all who do their work at the patient’s bedside visit the sick. It is not just the medicines administered or the treatments provided, but that human compassion that is of God and flows through us like a mighty river. This not only helps the body, but the mind and spirit. 

Please give generously on February 17 and keep the hospital staff and patients in your prayers.

 

 

Save the Dates!

        March 8-10, 2013

                Middle River Friends

          A Friends World Committee Program will be held with Karen Patricia and Jose Luis Calderon from Guatemala Holiness Friends YM.  Each one of us has been sent by God to fulfill His purposes for us on this earth.  We also have a mission through our Lord Jesus Christ to allow the Living Water to flow!  Come hear Guatemalan lifelong friends Karen and Jose Luis challenge us to find the Living Water in our lives.  Biblical reflections, small group discussion, video testimony of Friends in Guatemala will be shared. 

          For information contact, Randall Nichols, Pastor at 515-939-3319 or by email rcnichols4210@gmail.com

          Or just let them know you are coming by contacting Randall Nichols or sign up at www.fwccamericas.org/LivingWater

 

 

Blizzard Blast 2013

          All middle school students,

grades 5-8 are invited to join other friends for an overnighter at the Marshalltown Community Y and First Friends Church for music, games, worship and swimming.  This event starts at First Friends on Friday, March 15 at 6:00 p.m. and ends at First Friends at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16th.  Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.  The cost is $25.  For more information contact Jay Wyatt at 641-691-7417.

 

 

Library Ledge - Marriage Builders       

Did you know a visit to your church library could improve your marriage?  It’s true!  During February the window ledge will display books to help you better understand your mate, spark romance, and develop deeper communication.

A Very Good Marriage by Tom Mullen would be a good place to start. Stories, conversations and personal notes reflect the faith, gratitude, family, friendships, commitment and (most certainly) the humor that filled Tom and Nancy's days together.  One-Minute Marriage Builders and Building a Home in a Pull-Apart World are other choices. 

A good marriage doesn’t stand still. Like our relationship with God, it needs to grow or it will become stale. Take a growth spurt in your marriage! Check out the library ledge this month.

 

 

HOC Meal Report   

On January 24th, 20 from BLFC were involved in a meal for 60 guests. The menu was vegetable beef soup, crackers, cornbread with honey, Colby Jack and Mozzarella cheese slices, baby carrots, fruit cups, apple and cherry dump cake, Hy-Vee pumpkin or cherry pie and cake, milk and coffee.

Our volunteers were James & Sharon, Ann & Brent, Diane R, Betty, Mark & Darlene, Bob & Veronica who provided food or funds; Diane, Vi & Betty who prepared; Chuck, Ann, Peg & Neil who served and Alicia M, Joe, Kay & Daniel who were on clean up. Thanks to all. 

Our next meal will be Thursday, February 28.  Come join the fellowship and fun we have serving together.  Even the frustrating things that happen aren’t as difficult when we’re working with friends. :-)

 

 

New Loan Program at HOC

$75 was given to a woman to start a food business.  If you like Mexican food and want to help someone to earn their own living; call or stop by the House of Compassion in Marshalltown before noon any Monday.  Each week she will have several dozen of a specific homemade food item available to sell to the public through HOC.

 

 

Extending Our Sympathy

          We extend our sympathy to all of Irma Roe’s Family following her death on January 17th.  Irma, 94, loved to visit with anyone at any time, and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.  She enjoyed attending church but was unable to attend often after moving to the State Center Nursing and Rehab Center a few years ago.  Her funeral service was held at BLFC on January 21st with burial at the Clemons Cemetery.  Pastor Manny Garcia officiated.

 

 

-The rules of love are odd ones:  Either there

  two winners or no winners.

-Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a

  permanent attitude.

-Prayer is the tiny nerve that moves God’s

  mighty hand.

-We stumble over pebbles, not mountains.