2011.10.31 Monday Morning

 

Special warm greetings to all of you from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, in Vinita, Oklahoma, where we celebrate the 129th anniversary of Pilgrim Church.  

For six years at Pilgrim Church, I always sensed a feeling of thrill and humility to preach, and to serve Communion, as the congregation celebrated its birth on the Sunday nearest All Saints Day (Nov. 1, 2011).

 

To be in the company of an unseen cloud of Christians (Hebrews 12:1) who risked everything by leaving the comforts of their homes in the east to cross a hostile terrain to Oklahoma, with the good news of Jesus Christ, makes me feel very humble.

 

Humbling, yes, but it is also challenging to have entered into their labors.  Each generation is a link in a chain of Christian discipleship.  We must see to it that ours is not a weak link!

 

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.  In that way we will be true to them, and to our Lord, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8)

 

God is with you!

 

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

 

2011.5.23 Monday Morning!

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

Today I have a request! Will you read the 15th Chapter of Luke? In this chapter there is a trinity of incomparable parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son.

In each case "lostness" means inability to function as intended. The lost sheep wasn't a bad sheep, it simply had strayed from the flock. The lost coin was niether counterfeit nor defaced, it was unable to fulfill its intended function . The son was lost because bad choices separated him from family.

In each case the tragedy is the same! WASTE!

When a person does not live according to God's intended purpose - and the purpose is to live for the well being of all creation - that person wastes life.

To be saved from "lostness", from a wasted life, be consistent in a daily practice of prayer and devotion. 

My practice of prayer begins with a short prayer upon awakening in the morning and longer "Quiet Time" before going to bed a night. Set a schedule that best suits you, but be consistent. You will find your communion with God will improve your attitudes, and will help you to live a useful, caring life.

Don't waste your life, at best it is brief.

Fond regards,

Richard

2010.11.15 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. A week ago, on a beautiful Sunday morning (Nov.7), our congregation met for devotions in the Sanctuary and then "car-pooled" to Pheasant Hill Cemetery, about 7 miles out of town.  It was our annual pilgrimage to the area where Presbyterian missionaries founded Pilgrim Church 128 years ago. There, under a bright sky, and framed by a brilliant splash of colorful autumn leaves, we celebrated Holy Communion.,  We gave thanks for a goodly heritage, while acknowledging that life is a journey of limited time for each of us. A genuine faith in God expresses appreciation for the past, and then offers a sensible declaration and demonstration of the story of Jesus today.  Don't let the precious, irretrievable moments of today slip by you.  "This is the day the Lord has made, be glad and rejoice in it." Cheers, Richard A PEARL OF VALUE: "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."                                 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy 128th Birthday to Pilgrim Presbyterian Church! (Pictures!!!)

We traveled to Pheasant Hill Cemetery North-West of Vinita

 to have communion at the site where our founders, the Chamberlains are buried.

It is the 128th birthday of our church.

Madison Kroll, Janie York, Fred York, Julie York Osborn

Jeanne Cowley, Sarah Bruce, Joyce Dishman

Richard Evans preparing communion, Shelby Brown, Kitty Brown

Richard blessing Communion, Doris Olson looking on


I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jewel Morgan
 for sending the pictures used above!

A note to all who read this blog, if you have pictures of our Church or of events in conjuction with Church activities or of Richard (to which he would not object) please send them to me or to Jewel Morgan and I will see that they are made available here!

 Thanks Again to Jewel Morgan for sharing!!

- BD