2012.03.26 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and best wishes from the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.  


We want to KEEP IN TOUCH with our members and friends with our Monday Morning Messages.  We have asked them to send it to their friends, if they find the message worth sharing...that may be the reason you are reading this.

If you write me, with a prayer request, please be assured that I'll personally respond.

With blessings and all good wishes,

Richard

"For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.

For the want of a shoe, the horse was lost..."

and so on.  The loss of the horse led to the 

loss of the rider, the battle, and finally

the kingdom itself.  All for want of a nail.

And, the meaning of this simple poem is

PAY ATTENTION TO LITTLE THINGS!

Little things have triggered great discoveries!

a spider's web and a suspension bridge

a singing tea kettle and a steam engine

a falling apple and the law of gravity.

Little things may have great consequences!

PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS!

EASTER BRUNCH

FOLLOWING MORNING WORSHIP PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 1

COME AND ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP

ALL FOOD IS PROVIDED

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be taken

2012.03.19 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

Today, I want to share with you an old Chinese story about a woman whose only son died.  In her grief, she went to a holy man and said:

"What prayers do you have for me?  I am filled with resentment.  I cannot accept this bereavement."

Instead of sending her away with pious words, or trying to reason with her, he gave her something to do.  He said:

"Fetch me a mustard seed from a house that has never known sorrow.  We will use it to drive the sorrow out of your life."

The woman set off at once in search of that magical mustard seed. She came first to a mansion, knocked at the door and said:

"I am looking for a home that has never known sorrow.  Is this such a place?  It is very important to me."

They told her, 

"You've certainly come to the wrong place..."

and they began to describe all the tragic things that had befallen them.

The woman said to herself, 

"Who is better to help these unfortunate people than I?"

She stayed to comfort them, then she went on her search for a home that had never known sorrow.  But wherever she turned, she found one tale after another of sadness and misfortune.

Ultimately, she became so involved in ministering to other people's grief that she forgot about the quest for the magical mustard seed, never realizing that it had in fact eased the sorrow of her life.

What do you make of this ancient story?

For me, Rabbi Marc Gafni in his book Soul Prints (which I highly recommend) is on target when he wrote:

"When we pursue happiness, it always runs away from us.  Instead, we must pursue goals other than happiness, and as a natural by product of that pursuit we will be happy."

Joy, Serenity are available when we actively seek something else - they are not the primary goals.

With blessings and in friendship.
Richard  

Jeff Francis will be in the pulpit on Sunday March 25.

2012.03.12 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and all good wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma.

Christianity is profoundly inward, but at the same time outreaching and social.  It brings enlarged vision and it stirs deepest emotions, but it also moves the will to action.  It calls all aspects of a person into full function.

Jesus put a strong emphasis upon "wholeness of life".  "Do you desire to be made whole?"  is a basic question addressed not to one solitary person, but to everybody.  His gospel aims at nothing less than an integral wholeness of life, a harmony of the outer and inner self.

The kingdom of God, of which he persistently  speaks, begins as an attitude of the soul, as an inner experience of God.  "The kingdom of God" is within you.

We do not discover the full richness of the inner life until we take in terms of the love which he expects of us.  "You are to love", Jesus said, "even as I have loved you."  These words are demanding and at the same time they are words which reveal an immense faith in the inner possibilities of everybody.

Never neglect your fellowship with the unseen Lord of your life.  Always nurture and appreciate the richness and abundance of your inner life.

Hear the words of the prayer of St. Patrick, and make it your own prayer:

Christ within me, Christ beside me,

Christ before me, Christ to guide me,

Christ in my rising, Christ in my sleeping,

Christ in working, Christ in speaking.

Christ in the heart of all who love me,

Christ in the mouth of neighbors near me,

Christ in the eye of all who see me,

Christ in the ear of all who hear me.

With blessings that Christ bring to an expansion of joy!

Richard

Bingo at Burroughs Manor, Saturday, March 17 - 2:00 - 3:00

There will be a free screening of the Tar Creek documentary created and directed by Vinita native Matt Myers,

Monday, March 12 at Vinita High School cafeteria  sponsored by Vinnie Ream Cultural Center.

If you have not seen this movie, or would like to see it again this film shows what happened

in the Tar Creek area over the last century.

Tar Creek is located near Picher, Oklahoma.

2012.03.05 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and all good wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma.

We have had a mild winter in Oklahoma, with only one day of snow so far, and that covered the ground like powdered sugar for less than a day.

I was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan, where we saw lots of snow and plenty of sub-zero temperatures.   At the first signs of snow, I remember seeing signs in front of gas stations which read "Check Your Chains!"  I am a loyal "Badger/Cheesehead", but I don't think I could survive another winter in my hometown.

There are other 'Chains' than those I once put over my tires to get through snow.  People in the mid-east and north Africa,  living under dictators and totalitarian governments have been fighting and dying to be free of despots.

And there are 'Chains' that prevent us, living in freedom, from living a whole, balanced, harmonious life, to which Jesus summons us.  Some are 'Chains' of blind prejudice and "Chains" of tyrannical habits.  Still others are bound by 'Chains' of fear and anxiety, by 'Chains' of greed and a distressing disregard for the well being of others.

What are you doing to dethrone any inner despots which may be holding you in 'Chains'?

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

 

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The funeral of long time member Anna Belle Mitchell was held in the church Monday at 2 p.m.  Please keep the family in your prayers.

Dr. Don Roulet from Broken Arrow will preach Sunday.  We will have Communion on this Third Sunday in Lent.

Jim Ratcliff continues to do well after his recent fall.  

Sunday is Birthday Sunday - we celebrate:  Irene Conine, Suzie Cresap, Gage Kroll, Bob Hartley, Bobby Hartley, Janie York and Pat Sowers.

 

Daylight Savings Time Saturday night -  Spring Forward

Pilgrim's Progress March 2012

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

Voice of the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church

Vinita, Oklahoma             March, 2012

A Pastoral Letter from the Sidelines

Dear friends,

Lent is a season on the Christian calendar which reminds us that Christianity is not something that thrives on a “50-50” basis.  Christianity calls us to give our all for the All.

There have been times when my life has been in the pitsand I’ve wonered about all religions.  Is being a Christian worth giving my all for Christ?

2011 was a particularly bad year for me.  First, Helen died in April, and in June my health went ‘south’.  Surprisingly, one passage from the Old Testament jumped into my mind over and over again.  I had never memorized that passage, nor did I think a great deal about it, but I had a vague notion of its meaning, its intent.

I found it in the Old Testament book bearing the strange name of Habakkuk.  I still don’t know the verses by heart, but there they are:

“Though a fig tree did not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,

  the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food,

  and the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in

  the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the

  God of my salvation.  God the Lord is my strength...”

                      Habakkuk 3:17-19

Yes, my friends, when God is loved, and I do love God who revealed in Jesus Christ, my soul triumphs even in grim situations.

I hope you’ll always fine the same assuring peace in your dark passages.

With blessings and love and in friendship,

Richard

Richard is gaining some strength and has been going on short walks.  He sends his love and prayers. He has written the above pastoral letter and has sent Monday Morning Messages.  

His address is Dr. Richard Evans,

5123 S. Hudson Place, Tulsa 74135.

ON THE PRAYER LIST

Please remember the following individuals in your daily prayers: 

Richard Evans – Our minister

Dilys Evans – Richard's daughter

Vera Tresler – Church member

Mary Draper – Church member

Family of AnnaBelle Mitchell 

John and Louise Gullett – Janie's parents

Patricia Hemphill – Friend of the Church

Joan Dirmyer – Relative of the Noggles

Dee Ann George – friend of the Rapps

Larry Skaggs – Friend of Todd Mariner

Carolyn Ratcliff Cook – Jim Ratcliff's sister

Bill Montgomery - Friend of Toni’s 

Men and women serving in the military forces, and their families

  *********************************

 Pilgrim Management Board

Jim Shelton 2012

Sue Ratcliff 2013

Irene Conine 2014

Burroughs Manor Board

Joyce Dishman 2012

Fred York 2013

Sarah Bruce 2014

CHURCH OFFICERS 

Session Members Deacons

  (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 Clark-Haney

Fred York              Toni Moore

(Class of ’14) (Class of ’14)

Sarah Bruce              Liz  Logan

    Kitty Brown Shirley Spaulding

Irene Conine

Church Trustees

Wally Olson 2012

Keith Cresap 2013

Kitty Brown 2014

Church email:

pilgrimpresby@sbcglobal.net

Church blog:

www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com/

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11 Irene Conine

   Suzie Cresap

15 Gage Kroll

17 Bob Hartley

26 Bobby Hartley

Janie York

28 Pat Sowers

 Birthday Sunday is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

Birthday Sunday Assignments:

March - Pam Noggle

April - Kitty Brown

May - Sarah Bruce

June - Shirley Rapp

July - Sue Ratcliff

August - Jan Clark

September - Janie York

October - Linda Burger

November - Toni Moore

December - Jeanne Cowley

(Bring cake & check on juice for children)

****************************************

Mary Draper’s address is:

St. Simeon’s, 3701 N. Cincinnati, Tulsa, 74106.

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Anna Belle Mitchell

Long time member Anna Belle Mitchell passed away March 3, 2012 following an extended illness.  Her service was held at the church on March 5 with Dr. Helen Hutchison, First Presbyterian Church, Miami and Dr. David Wilson officiating.  Anna Belle has been a member of this church for over 65 years.  She is survived by 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, 4 sisters and 4 brothers.  Her parents and siblings were fullblood Cherokees and that language was spoken in her home when she was a child.

AnnaBelle has been designated Cherokee National Treasure since 1982 and is credited with single-handedly reviving the art of traditional, hand-built, southeastern/woodlands style pottery.  Some of her pottery pieces are in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D. C.

The family welcomes donations to the Cherokee Nation Foundation c/o Anna Belle Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Fund, 115 E. Delaware, Tahlequah, OK 74464.

Session Notes

The stated Session meeting opened at 11:15 a.m. with prayer by Moderator Ray Hickman.  There was a quorum present including the following elders:  Kitty Brown, Sarah Bruce, Irene Conine, Keith Cresap, Joyce Dishman, Sue Ratcliff, and Jim Shelton.  Also present Treasurer Terry Brown.  Wally Olson and Fred York were excused.

Treasurer Terry Brown gave the January Treasurer’s Report as follows:  Beginning Balance was $56,097.53, Receipts were $26,179.26, Expenditures were $4.292.24, and the Closing Balance was $77,984.55.  Keith Cresap moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, there was a 2^nd, and the motion carried. 

There was no Pastor’s Report.  Under the Clerk’s Report the Clerk presented the 2011 Annual Statistical Report and the Clerk’s Annual Questionnaire for 2011.  The Clerk also distributed a mailing from Presbytery - Decisions Sessions Need to Make.  Jim Shelton and Terry Brown will review the list and develop a manual of operations.

Under the Trustees’ Report Keith Cresap discussed the sale of the Allensworth property on North Thompson to Jack Lee for $5,000.00.  After some discussion Session decided to get an appraisal of the property.  Session approved the move by common consent.  Several church abstracts including the Allensworth abstract are being kept in a Safe Deposit Box at the First National Bank.  Session decided to have the current Trustees Kitty Brown, Keith Cresap, and Wally Olson act as signers for the Safe Deposit Box.  Session approved the action by common consent.  

Under Committee Reports Irene reported that she had arranged for Pastors to come through March.  Session discussed the rotation of 4 or 5 Pastors monthly and decided to meet on March 11^th  after services to discuss the upcoming decision before the next Session meeting.  

Sarah reported for the Sanctuary Guild Committee that Spring decorations will be going up soon. 

Under Old Business the Clerk reported that Jewell is preparing a new Directory after Session spent some time working on the Active and Inactive Rolls.  The Directory should be available in March.

Under Other Business the Worship Assistant for March will be Irene Conine, and Communion will be prepared on Sunday, March 4^th, by Kitty Brown.

The next Session meeting will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2012.  With no further business to come before the meeting, Session was closed with prayer by Sarah Bruce at 12:20 p.m.

Ray Hickman, Moderator

Sue Ratcliff, Clerk of Session 

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Excerpts from Letter from Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery dated January 28, 2012.

Dear Clerk of Session:

On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Committee on Ministry appointed the Reverend Fran Callaway to be the Moderator of your Session.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Murray, COM Moderator

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Thank you note from Victoria Vazquez and family:

Dear friends at Pilgrim Presbyterian Church,

Thank you all for the outstanding meal you served the Mitchell family.  Many have told me how good the food and hospitality was.  What a blessing to us you were as we began Mom’s life celebration.

Love and God’s Peace,

Victoria Vazquez and Family

Guest Ministers this month are:

March 4 - Ken Bailey

March 11 - Don Roulet

March 18 - Fran Callaway

March 25 - Jeff Francis

Attendance was down a little Sunday, March 11, apparently due to Daylight Savings Time.  Let’s keep up the attendance.

From the Deacons --

“Bring Your Favorite  Side Dish Dinner”

was a huge success.We keep proving what good cooks we are,  the Feb.  meal was a success with about 40 people enjoying good food and even better company.  The Rev. Jeff Francis and his wife Martha shared the meal with us.  It was good to see and  welcome Don and Stephanie Cook and four little ones.  The chicken strips are so popular and so very tasty.  The decorations were lovely, thanks to Shirley,  Diane and Sheila Clark ( filling in for Jan who was under the weather)  for fixing the table settings and decorations.

During clean-up Mark Spaulding gave lessons on how to put the chairs on the rack, thanks Mark.  And Kitty Brown got dishpan hands,  many thanks to all who helped.

A short Deacons meeting was held on Sun. the 19th with Toni,  Diane,  Jeanne and Liz in attendance.   We also talked about getting some more helpers for Bingo at Burroughs and we do need a few "manly" items,  some small after shave or a small kit with comb,  toothpaste and toothbrush in a zip lock, those go over well.  Also puzzle books move right along.  We have March after church treats taken care of and need volunteers for April and May.  Get a friend and share the month.  We talked about the Palm Sunday brunch and will firm up plans at our March 18th meeting.  

      

Several of us then attended the wonderful salad lunch at the Episcopal church.

Toni Moore, reporting

 2012 Communion Preparation

Elders & Deacons

March - Kitty Brown

April - Fred York

May - Jim Dishman

June - Dianne Rapp

July - Liz Logan

August - Jim Shelton

September - Irene Conine

October - Jeanne Cowley

November - Sarah Bruce

December - Shirley Spaulding

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“The Greatest of all human needs is the need to be needed, the need to feel that one matters to someone.”

2012 Worship Assistants

March - Irene Conine

April - Keith Cresap

May - Joyce Dishman

June - Wally Olson

July - Sue Ratcliff

August - Jim Shelton

September - Kitty Brown

October - Sarah Bruce

November - Irene Conine

December - Elders Share

Taken from the “Temple Bells” newsletter.

Written by Pastor Rebecca

What if, for Lent, you gave up soda and used the money saved to buy someone a new pair of shoes?  What if - instead of just fasting lunch, you buy lunch for someone who is hungry?  What if - instead of giving up chocolate, you offer to share it with someone that looks up to you?

Lent isn’t just about giving up bad habits - its about establishing a more God-pleasing life.

*MISSION STATEMENT*

To glorify God through worship, service, and prayer.

To know God's redeeming love and forgiveness

To nurture each other through fellowship and education

Pearl of Value

“You are to love even as I have loved you.”

                                   (Jesus)

First Presbyterian Church, Vinita, OK   Circa 1912

This Congregational Church was located on the 100 block S. Smith,Vinita. The First Presbyterian Church and Congregational Church merged in 1947 and services were held here until the new Pilgrim Presbyterian Church was finished in 1952.  Toni and Jewell remember having a Catechism class in this church. (but it wasn’t in 1912)  ;-)

“GIRL SCOUTS" REACH THE CENTURY MARK

Also in 1912, Geogia resident Juliette Gordon Low contacted a cousin and said “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we”re going to start it tonight!”  Today the Girl Scouts of the USA continue to empower girls through community service, camping experiences and the teaching of other practical skills.  It strives to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.  Local Girl Scouts are selling cookies this month.