2012.05.28 Monday Morning Message

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

Last Monday I wrote about loneliness in our American society.  Sixty million Americans are unhappy with their lives because of l.

Being alone is not necessarily being lonely.  We all need time to be alone.  Jesus often took time to be alone to refresh his spirit, to relax his body, before returning to engagement with people.

It is when we sever connections with others that loneliness grips us.  To move from being alone to connection with God and people is to overcome loneliness.

It is interesting that in the Genesis account of creation God said "It is good" after each act. (Read Genesis chapter 1)  It is after God created a man (Adam) that God for the time time said "it is not good"...it is not good that a person live without connection.

How can we overcome loneliness?  By being connected with people and causes that are important.  The by-product of connections is happiness and loneliness runs away.

Rabbi Gafni, in his book Soul Prints, reminds us that happiness cannot be pursued for its own sake.  We must pursue goals other than happiness and as a by-product of our pursuit, we will be happy and loneliness will dissolve.

How much time do you spend exchanging your deepest thoughts and aspirations with another person?  How much time do you give in sharing your talents with others?  

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

Church email: pilgrimpresby@sbcglobal.net

On Sunday, June 3 join us for a family meal following morning worship.    Ken Bailey will be our guest minister.  Ken is the brother of Bow Bailey.  He and his wife Jeannie will be here to share our meal. 

Red Morris is barbecuing pulled pork and the congregation is asked to bring salads and desserts.

2012.05.21 Monday Morning Message

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

Founded in 1871, Vinita is the intersection of several railways. It is the second oldest town in Oklahoma, and is the oldest incorporated town along historic Route 66. If you are visiting on a Sunday morning, please worship with us at 10:00 a.m. If you can't be with us in person, say a little prayer for our worshipping congregation.

Do you ever feel lonely? I was stunned to read a report of an AARP survey which states that 35% of adults over the age of 45 are chronically lonely, up from 20% a decade earlier.

Sixty million Americans are unhappy with their lives because of loneliness!

I am sure that there are many reasons for people feeling lonely. Could the modern social media be one? Facebook and Twitter, exchanging 'clicks', avoids human face to face conversation. Some studies report that one in four Americans have 'zero close friends'.

Why do you think there is so much loneliness in our society? Let me know.

Are you conscious of the presence of God in your daily life?

With all good wishes,
Richard

Announcements:

• Our minister for Pentecost Sunday, May 27 will be Craig Kilgour. He is the minister from New Zealand.
• The next Sunday, June 3 we will have a family meal and welcome Ken Bailey and his wife Jeannie. Ken is the brother of Bow Bailey and they live in Kentucky.
• Red Morris will be barbecuing pulled pork and the congregation is asked to bring salads and desserts. The rest of the meal is provided.

2012.05.7 Monday Morning Message

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

Last week I recommended a book, Soul Prints*(See note Below), by Rabbi Marc Gafni and quoted his word about happiness. Today, I share a story from Soul Prints*. I hope you'll feel "the tug" of its meaning for your life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

"It was Timothy's twelfth birthday. He had saved up enough money to buy himself a present...a big red kite. The happiest kid in the world, he went out and began to fly his new kite.

"There were great winds that day, and he let out some string, and a little more string, and a little more, until the kite was so high and far away you couldn't even see it anymore. When you looked at the boy, all you could see was a happy kid running with a string in his hand.

"A very respectable and rational looking man in a business suit came upon the boy and stopped him. 'Son, what are you doing?' he asked.

"What do you mean, sir?" Timothy asked. "I'm flying a kite!"

"Flying a kite? What do you mean? I don't see a kite. You don't see a kite. How do you know there's a kite?"

Timothy looked at the man very gravely. "I know there's a kite, sir - because I can feel the tug."

Do you feel the tug of Christ?

With blessings and in friendship.

Richard

Next Sunday, May 13 is Mother's Day. We will celebrate all Mothers and the graduation of Madison Kroll and Caitlyn Spurgeon with cake and punch in the church kitchen. Craig Kilgour will be here to conduct the morning worship service. He is the pastor from New Zealand. Please plan to attend and help us celebrate.

-------------------

Notes:

* If you are interested in more information on this book, please follow the link below. It is the personal web site of Rabbi Marc Gafni. It has a lot of information on Self Development!

Also as an avid fan of audio books, I have included a link to the Audio Book of Soul Prints below as well. It is read by the author and includes some of the songs he sings. This is something you can't get from the print edition! Enjoy both!


-Brian

Link To Soul Prints Web Site of Marc Gafni

Soul Prints available at Audible

2012.04.30 Monday Morning Message

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

In the 1990's, my wife, Helen and I lived in the Lake Chapala area of Mexico, where I served as a "volunteer in mission" at an English speaking congregation, "The Little Chapel".

One Sunday morning I met a couple from North Carolina, snowbirds" as winter visitors were called.  Two weeks later I received a book from the couple, Soul Prints, by Rabbi Marc Gafney, an American living in Jerusalem.

I don't expect that I'll ever see this couple, but I'll be thankful as long as I live for their gracious gift.  

Soul Prints is a book which I highly recommend.

If, as I believe, most people do what they do in hope of finding happiness, in finding some sense of well being described by the word happiness.

Rabbi Gafney struck a deep chord in me when he wrote "happiness cannot be pursued...happiness is only achievable as a by-product of the pursuit of important goals - goals other than happiness itself."

Reading this, I remembered a line from Robert Burns that goes something like this:

"Believe me, happiness is shy,  And comes not aye when sought, man."

There are two pearls of wisdom for you to think about today.

If all we do is done for ourselves and our own, life becomes increasingly empty.

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

The Reverend Nancy Covington will be in the pulpit this Sunday, May 6.  Communion will be served.

Keith Cresap is Worship Assistant.    The following Sunday, May 13 we celebrate the high school graduations of Madison Kroll land Caitlyn Spurgeon.  Also, we celebrate Mother's Day.

2012.04.16 Monday Morning Message

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

Holy Week, the most significant week of the Christian calendar, is a drama that portrays life in three acts.

Jesus endured the stress of his arrest and trial, and then was hoisted to a cross to hang in excruciating  pain.  To be sure he was dead, soldiers, with a spear, pierced his side.  Then he was laid in a borrowed tomb, sealed by a large boulder.

The world of his disciples, and those earliest followers of Jesus, collapsed.  When the women went to the tomb on Easter morning to annoint his dead body they found the tomb was empty.  They discovered that Jesus was alive, their Lord and Master was free.

When the disciples got this report, they dismissed it as an idle tale.  But after the report of the women was confirmed, they came alive again!  Jesus was risen from the dead.  Jesus was free!  With that good news, the spirit of the disciples was restored.

How often are you really down?  When everything seems to go wrong, when you are disappointed, when you are in the pits,  Jesus comes with a helpful word or a kind act and you are inspired again.

Let Easter be your year round experience.  Through us, Jesus wants to work to help people, to free people, to cheer the lonely and to heal the afflicted, and to guide the lost.

God needs each of us and we can be joined in a partnership with God, through the living Christ.  Let's not run away from the important part we have in God's plan.

With blessings and fond regards,

Richard

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

Bingo at Burroughs Manor Sat. April 21 - 2:00 - 3:00

Helpers are needed

The Reverend Craig Gibson will be in the pulpit this Sunday April 22

(we refer to him as the one who brings his kids)

Please plan to attend.

Attendance April 1 -- 31

April 8 (Easter) -- 79

April 15 -- 32

　

2012.04.09 Monday Morning Message

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

One note is sounded repeatedly by early Christians in the post-Easter period, and that note is 'LIGHT!" Christians are called out of darkness into God's marvelous light.

There is an old story, which I like, which is a simple, direct explanation of why discipleship is effective.

A little girl was in the 'big church' for the first time. She had been attending Sunday School, but this morning she sat with her parents in the large, beautiful sanctuary.  She was fascinated by the stained glass windows and asked her mother "Who are those people in the windows?"  "They are saints" the mother whispered.

Some time later the mother went to call on Mrs. Brown, an old family friend, and the little girl went with her.  As the story goes, Mrs. Brown didn't have much money.  She lived alone, and though poor, she was about the happiest person anyone knew.

As the mother and daughter returned home, the mother said "Mrs. Brown is a saint if ever there was one."  The little girl was perplexed.  The people in the stained glass windows were saints and Mrs. Brown was a saint.  What possible connection was there between Mrs. Brown and the people in the stained glass windows?

Finally, the little girl said to her mother, "I know what a saint is! A saint is a person who lets the light shine through"

Christians are people who let the spirit of Jesus shine through their lives.

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

We had 79 in attendance yesterday, Easter Sunday. It was a lovely service with the Rev. Ray Hickman, children's bell choir, Suzy sang and the children had an Easter egg hunt.

　

 

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.

2011.5.16 Monday Morning!

SMILE!  It's my MONDAY MORNING message reaching out to you from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, in Vinita, Oklahoma.   Smile because smiling and laughter are good medicine.   A few years ago I attended a meeting of ministers and elders where one person soon had everyone relaxed and laughing, except one glum person who sat like a sphink.  One gave us all a sense of joy, the other chilled us, never cracking a smile.  One was able to laugh at himself, the other almost lost his temper.   There is, of course, the wrong kind of laughter which is prompted smutty jokes or cruel  jibes at someone else.  However, the right kind of laughter brings fun and happiness into our lives, and that is important.   Hearty laughter for the right reason is good medicine.  And, preventive medicine is cheaper in every way than curative medicine.   Love, laugh and live.   Richard

2011.1.31 Monday Morning!

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

How are you doing with your New Year resolutions? You do remember them, don't you? I'm working on one that requires cleaning out my bulging files. I was surprised to find that my first MONDAY MORNING message was sent 9/10/07. In it I assured anyone with a prayer request, or with sugestions relating to these weekly messages, a personal reply. The offer still holds. Let me hear from you.

With the help of Brian Dishman, a son of Pilgrim Church now living in Japan with his wife and daughter, our sharing the good news of Christ is going world wide. Thanks - many thanks - Brian.

One of my early messages, dated 10/29/07, quoted the late William Barclay, one time professor of New Testament at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Writing about happiness, he said three things are needed:

Something to hope for ...

Something to do ...

Someone to love ...

How great the blessing these three things are. They can be yours.


Richard 

2010.10.18 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma. 

After 128 years of mission and outreach, "Pilgrims from Vinita" continue to share Christ's good news with people 'round the corner and 'round the world.

Do you read your Bible every day? If you do, and I hope you do, you'll know that it is not always a peaceful book filled with serenity, green pastures and love. It also reflects human pain, injustice, conflict and disappointment.

One reason for such human misery is envy. No one is completely free from envy. A good antidote to envy is to ask how happy is the person who possesses the object of your envy.

Draw up a list of your blessings, blessings which you often overlook, and then imagine one of them being threatened. I suspect you'll then realize how rich you truly are!

Focus on what is yours, and then live...live to the hilt.


With blessings and all good wishes,
Richard

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, A Pastoral Letter

The following, while not a Monday Morning Message, was so good, I felt it had to be shared.  I hope that this does not cause you a problem, Richard, but your message here is a wonderful one, and one that should be shared with all our readers ...

Love and Peace,

Brian

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

Voice of the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church

Vinita, Oklahoma

October, 2010

A Pastoral Letter

Dear friends,

There are times when we get so consumed by work – yes, even church work – that we become obsessed by it.  When that happens we are apt to get overly tired and cranky.

There is a legend about John the Apostle that one day someone found him playing with a tame partridge and criticized him for not doing his work.  His answer was,

“The bow that is always at full stretch will soon cease to shoot straight.”

All of us need some form of relaxation, and the more our work demands of us the more relaxation is needed.  This is as true for a Mother raising small children as it is for a surgeon, a lawyer, a teacher, a street sweeper or a trash collector.  Everyone does a better job when leisure time and recreation become integral parts of daily living.

It’s only once ‘round this track, ENJOY!

With best wishes and in friendship,

Richard

2010.09.13 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma. It will be a good day if you put a smile on your face. Smiles rejuvenate tired spirits and lost happiness.

A happy life is God's will for you! William Barclay, a beloved New Testament professor at Trinity College, Glasgow, Scotland, wrote "For a happy life three things are necessary: Something to hope for. Something to do. Someone to love."

He then went on to write a timely message for today:

"Something to hope for: The beginning of the end of life is when we live in memory rather than in hope; when our memories are an escape from prison rather than a stimulus for further living.

"Something to do: Anyone who can look to days of unemployment or a time of enforced inactivity, when the hours seem slow and empty, knows that work is not a curse but a blessing.

"Someone to love: When love enters life there comes a new thrill, a new awareness of possibilities undreamed of. When love is born, life and the world are renewed."

Give thanks for the influence of those who have blessed your life, and then live usefully, with hope and love.


Richard

2010.04.26 Monday Morning!

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

With six to eight members of Pilgrim Church, I spend an hour Monday morning with residents at Burroughs Manor, a retirement home next door to the Church. We call our gathering Monday at Ten. It is a wonderful hour - a "happy hour" - spent in good conversation, singing, a brief message and a closing prayer.

My present intent is to encourage those attending to write their life story. We have unique fingerprints and DNA, but they don't identify us completely. We also have our own soul print. By writing "my story" one shapes ones soul print with loved ones, and it will be cherished for years to come.

Have you written your own story? If you have not, try doing it. Ask yourself "where the meaning of your life lies"? By answering that question I believe you'll remember small things as well as big events.

Here are some tips to get you started: Who were your early childhood friends? What games did you play? Did you take music lessons? What books did you enjoy reading? What school did you attend - rural, town or city?

Did your family have a car? What make? What year? Do you have an idea of the cost of the car? Comparing costs in the past with costs today will be interesting. What did an ice cream cone cost? How much did it take to get into a double feature movie?

What were your favorite radio programs before TV? What's new in the world since your youth? Computers? Cell phones? What else?

Your story will be interesting because it is unique. What a treasure it will be to your descendants. It will be well worth your efforts. Try it!

Richard

2009.12.21 Monday Morning!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

It is a good thing at Christmas to listen again to the message that heralded the birth of Jesus: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!"

Please don't identify your Christian faith with gloom and doom! Don't be fooled by hyper religious (fanatics?) who are negative and critical of all who disagree with them.

The birth of Jesus sounded an anthem not a dirge. Christianity is not a long list of negatives. Keep your sense of humor and do what is right. I know a few agnostics who live closer to the spirit of Christ than some of the ultra pious folk in churches who believe the proof of their goodness is in direct proportion to the number of their inhibitions.

The Christian gospel is not negative. Even in these difficult days of war and economic woes, bring your radiant faith out of the shadows. God will give you the thrill of Christmas: God still is with you; rejoice, the Son of God has come to us.

Enjoy!

Richard

2009.08.10 Monday Morning - Recycled!

Good Morning!

Following is Dr. Evans first Monday Morning message. Enjoy!

Grace and peace,

Donna J


--- On Mon, 9/24/07, Pilgrim Prsbytrn Church wrote:

Greetings from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. If you feel today's message is worth sharing, please send it to those in your email address book. If you send me an email, if you have a prayer request, be certain that I will answer. Richard


We always talk about dependence on God, forgetting that God also depends on us for so many things.

God cannot make a peaceful world unless we help him root out hatred, prejudice and injustice.

God cannot build a happy home unless husband and wife have a sharing spirit and mutual respect.

God heals the sick but not without doctors, nurses, hospitals and their staff, research, prayers and encouragement of family and friends.

God needs us. We certainly need God. We are joined in a great partnership.


With blessings and in friendship; KEEP IN TOUCH!!

Richard Evans

2009.04.13 Monday Morning!

Easter Monday greetings from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.

I hope you had an enjoyable Easter! I underline that word "enjoyable" because God intends us to enjoy this life and live it to the hilt.

Much is being written about life after death, and I do believe that life does not end at the grave. But survival is an empty victory unless it is based on what is enjoyable, virtuous and responsible here and now.

Get your priorities in order. Your life is of inestimable value. Rage against anything that shrivels your soul or withers your spirit.

How's this for a Pearl of Value from Ruther Rendell, a mystery writer: 

"Happiness makes so much difference to people. It doesn't just make them happy, it makes them more intelligent, more aware, more alert, while unhappiness deadens, dulls and stupefies."

Read Matthew 5:3-11 again, and substitute "happy" for the world "blessed".  Does that little change make more sense to you?


Cheers,
Richard

2009.03.30 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning and all good wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church - still located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma! For more than 126 years this congregation has served Christ throughout this area with an "Easter faith" - an all year 'round faith.

Behind this service and good effort lies the power of prayer!

Many people stop praying because they don't have time in their busy lives. Others give up on prayer convinced it does not work. Like anyting else of value, prayer requires intentional practice.

As you practice prayer daily, remember that God will never do anything you can do for yourself. Prayer is not simply unloading our tasks on God. Prayer is the means by which God enables us to do them for ourselves.

Prayer may not change circumstances, but it does change us so we may confront circumstances with new strength and a new ability to cope with them.

Prayer is a powerful means to change our lives. Set aside a time each day to practice it!

Go for it!


Richard

2009.02.09 Monday Morning!

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

It may be a sign of old age, but I know that life's arithmetic means that for every new year we celebrate, we can subtract a year from our life.

That sounds pessimistic, but what I mean to say is don't wait too long to do what you want to do.

In too many simple things we wait too long to do them.

Don't wait too long to show kindness.

Don't wait too long to speak or write a word of encouragement.

Don't wait too long to express your love and thanks to elderly relatives.

Don't wait too long to love and enjoy your children and grandchildren.

Don't wait too long to read the books and listen to the music that enlarges your mind.

And, of course, don't wait too long to practice a daily quiet time when you strengthen your inner spirit.

Life goes by quickly.  Don't wait too long to do the things you want to do!

With blessings and in friendship,
Richard

2009.02.02 Monday Morning!

Smile! It's Monday Morning reaching out to you from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.

Laughter is good medicine! Last year I attended a meeting of ministers and elders in Tulsa where one person soon had everyone relaxed and laughing, except one glum person who sat like a sphinx. One gave us all a sense of joy, the other chilled us, never cracking a smile. One was able to laugh at himself, the other almost lost his temper.

There is, of course, the wrong kind of laughter which is prompted by smutty jokes or cruel jibes at someone else. However, great laughter-makers bring a lot of fun and happiness into our lives - and that is an important ministry today.

Hearty laughter for the right reasons is good medicine! And preventative medicine is cheaper in every way than curative medicine.


Cheers...ho, ho, ho
Richard