Pilgrims Progress Newsletter September 2011

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS                               Voice of the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church                  Vinita, Oklahoma                                                                September, 2011 A Pastoral Letter Dear friends, There are thousands of retirees from North America living in the Guadalajara-Lake Chapala area of Mexico.  Helen and I felt perfectly safe driving there when I served, in the 1990's, as a "Volunteer in Mission" at the Little Chapel on Lake Chapala, an English speaking congregation.  (I wouldn't drive there today for all the tea in China.) One of my choice memories is a visit to an open-air market in Tonala, outside Guadalajara. Vendors set up booths that stretched for several miles.  You can buy almost anything your heart desires or your wallet permits. The day Helen, my wife, and I visited, a vendor was selling crockery, glassware, flower pots, ceramic tiles.  His sign read: "For Sale As Is." This vendor, smiling from ear to ear, came to me with a delicate colorful glass flower vase and said, "This is only slightly as is."  I smiled and bought it.  Helen loved it "slightly as is." Don't we all think of ourselves as "only slightly as is"?  We all have our cracks and chips – no one is without flaws.  The Bible tells us to admit our flaws, our mistakes, our sins, and God will forgive us.  And then the Bible says,  feed your mind with good thoughts!                         "As a person thinks, so that person is"   (Proverbs 23:7) "Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, think about these things and the        God of peace will be with you" With affectionate regards and all good wishes, Richard A PEARL OF VALUE "The greatest of all human needs is the need to be needed,  the need to feel that one matters to someone." www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com/               Church email: pilgrimpresby@sbcglobal.net THE PRAYER LIST             Please remember the following individuals in your daily prayers: Richard Evans, John Burckhalter, Mary Draper,  Vera Tresler,  Louise Gullett, John Gullett,  AnnaBelle Mitchell, Emily Ciccone, Patricia Hemphill. Pat Robinson, Joan Dirmyer, Brett Forbes family. The Jim Goodpaster family. Families of recent tornado tragedies.  Please also remember our service men and women. We light the Peace Candle each Sunday and pray for all men and women currently serving in the military and their families, as well as for all who are suffering from war, persecution and terrorism.             ********************* Judge James Goodpaster passed away August 20, 2011  Jim left a legacy of giving and serving others. He was the uncle of Sarah Shelton and first cousin to Toni Moore.  You can view the obituary on line at: burckhalterfuneralhomevinita.com               Church birthdays are celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of the Month – September 11th – Sue Ratcliff will supply the birthday cake.   3  Gary Boatright 22  Sarah Bruce          ********************** We have partnered with St. John's Episcopal  to help prepare lunches for the "Bridges Out of Poverty" program which began in August.  If you are willing to help assembly sack lunches for about 15 people,  once a week for 5-7 weeks, please contact Jewell at the Church Office.  918-256-2258. You may pick up your copy of  "These Days" in the Narthex. Dwight Mission's "The Gathering" will be held November 11-12, 2011.  A time of renewal and retreat for all young adults interested in youth ministry. Renew your mind, body and soul, and be re-energized.  The cost is $65.  Register online by going to www.dwightmission.org. Clippings from Actual Church Bulletins (not ours) ·        Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.  Please use the large double doors at the side entrance. ·        Don't let worry kill you.  Let the church help. ·        This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the church.  Bring a blanket and be prepared to sin. ·        For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. Joyce Dishman  gave a "Minute for Mission on Sunday, August 28.  She extended a thank you for the many contributions and support the congregation has given to our community's needy in recent months.  We continue to partnership with St. John's Episcopal Church in supporting the Backpack Program and Bundles for Babies.  At present time there is a need for newborn diapers. Session recently approved participation with St. John's in the "Blue Star Mothers" who assemble and mail boxes of needed items to the service men and women from Rogers and Craig counties each month. A list of needed items is listed on a separate sheet in the newsletter.  You may bring donations to a designated box available in the Narthex.  The items will be delivered to St. John's. Newborn diapers for "Bundles for Babies" will also be collected and delivered to St. John's. ******************************** ~~Notes from Session~~ The session met Sunday, August 21 with Elders Sarah Burce, Irene Conine, Kitty Brown, Joyce Dishman, Fred York, Keith Cresap and Jim Shelton in attendance.  Moderator Denise Odom conducted the meeting. Treasurer Terry Brown gave the report for the month of July 2011. Beginning balance general fund:        $3583.51 Receipts:                               6953.51 Expenditures:                          3227.07 Closing Balance general fund 7-31-11:      $7309.95 A request for transfer of membership from Robert Sullivan Jr to Cleora United Methodist Church was granted. A request from Paige Sutton to have her wedding in our church in January of 2012 was granted.  Paige's parents and grandparents were married here. Session reviewed and accepted the "Wedding Guidelines" that were previously presented by Richard and Terry Brown. The Trustees reported that several people have shown interest in the manse that is for sale. Joyce Dishman reported on Missions.  We have received a request to join "Blue Star Mothers". Session approved participation with St. John's  in the Blue Star project. This group primarily mails goods to our servicemen.  We continue to support Bundles for Babies, the Backpack Program and the Salvation Army. Session will be placing locks on two of the storage rooms in the basement as a safety precaution. Worship Assistant for September is Wally Olson and Communion will be prepared by Shirley Spaulding on Sunday, September 4th.    Co.-Clerk of Session – Kitty Brown      ~~Notes from Deacons~~ We need a volunteer to bring cookies for fellowship following morning worship  for September  4, 18 and 25.  Please call the church office. The church has had a request from OSU and Northeastern State, Tahlequah for help in extending an invitation to anyone in the congregation who will be attending either school this year.  They want to minister to students coming from the congregation and to offer them a church home away from home. The VHS classes of 56, 57 and 58 wish to thank the church for the use of the new fellowship kitchen for a reunion luncheon during Rodeo week.  Thank you Sarah Bruce's uncle  James Kennedy Kerr for his donation to create our "lovely kitchen area" *************************************    V CHURCH OFFICERS Session Members                     Deacons (Class of ’11)                               (Class of ’11) Sarah Bruce                               Jewell Morgan Irene Conine                               Shirley Spaulding Kitty Brown (Class of ’12)                              (Class of ’12) Joyce Dishman                            Jim Dishman Wally Olson                               Dianne Rapp Jim Shelton (Class of '13)                              (Class of '13) Keith Cresap                               Jeanne Cowley Sue Ratcliff                               Jan Haney Fred York                                  Toni Moore                     2011                                                 2011 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS         COMM.  PREPARERS          September – Wally Olson     Sept – Shirley Spaulding   October – Sue Racliff             Oct – Sue Ratcliff November- Jim Shelton         Nov – Wally Olson December – Elders Share       Dec – Keith Cresap