2012.01.30 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and best wishes from all of us at Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma.  


We are a congregation with a big heart overflowing with loving care and concern. I know this to be true from personal experience. Because of poor health, I have had to resign as part-time pastor. Friends in the congregation have overwhelmed me with their kindness.

So...this is "Thanksgiving time for me"...KUDOS to Jewell Morgan, church secretary at Pilgrim Church, and Brian Dishman, editor of the Pilgrim Church Blog. They have kept our "on site, on line" ministry on track.

     ...Thanks to each of you who have sent cards and notes.  Each one has buoyed my spirit.

     ...Thanks for the food, for the thoughts and prayers, which have helped me regain strength.

     ...The attractive, unique album you have given me is filled with beautiful words from cover to cover. Sentiments in the album are humbling, especially those I know to be a little exaggeration.

And, I am thankful to friends in Grace Presbyterian Church, Grove, where I served for six years as a part-time minister, and to members of John Knox Church, Tulsa, where I was pastor for more than ten years, for comfort and concern.

I shall always cherish the friendship of each of you.

With blessings and affectionate regard,

Richard

2011.6.20 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma.

 

In ancient times, when God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses, every person in a family or tribal unit was needed to work so all might survive.

 

When a person was unable to work, there was a threat to the survival of the family or tribe.  The old, the weak and frail were frequently abused and discarded.

 

In this setting God spoke with a new commandment to Israel, saying:  "You are not to treat the elderly, the weak, in in the same manner other tribes do.  You are not to discard them.  By keeping in connection with them you honor your father and mother.

 

Today, most people welcome Father's Day with unreserved feelings of gratitude and affection.  Yet, we know there are others who dread Father's Day as a harsh reminder of abuse and unhappiness.

 

So do your best to keep in contact with your parents.  If that is not possible, don't feel guilty; you've done what you could.

 

For those of us whose parents are no longer living, this is a time to remember pleasant times shared.  That's a good way to honor parents.

 

With all good wishes,

Richard

2010.10.25 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. Dare I get personal with you today?  Ordinarily I have an abundance of pep, lately I've been feeling very tired (lazy?).  A week ago I opened William Barclay's book of devotions and on the page that stared at me were these words:  "tiredness is often as much staleness as anything else."  Barclay went on to write that tiredness comes when ones personal resources have been over strained.  He illustrated his point with this example: "When a car battery is exhausted...it must be brought into contact with a new source of electrical power from which it may be recharged." Repeatedly, Jesus had to go into a lonely place to pray - to listen to God - so that his strength might be renewed.  What was necessary for Jesus is far more necessary for me.  How about you?  O Lord, keep me from going stale! With Blessings and Cheers, 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

2010.01.18 Monday Morning!

Monday Morning greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

We are so wrapped by a desire to get ahead in the world that I wonder how many of us have forgotten the underpinning of true success, which is GOOD CHARACTER! Genuine sincerity and integrity equals goodness.

Goodness may well be an adequate description of an old fashioned word, "holiness". It is well to remember that holiness and health derive from the same Latin word..

Physical health comes when we observe good, common sense laws: getting good food, exercise, recreation, washing our hands frequently. Spiritual health comes from its laws: practicing quiet time daily, service to God and others, worship within the family of faith.

Keep well in body, mind and spirit!

Richard