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

 

2010.05.10 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church.

Sometimes our Christian life calls us to tasks which involve effort and energy. Often it is easier and more comfortable to stay where we are, so we resist the call. Happily that is not true in our small congregation of 50 members. Spurred on by Joyce Dishman, chairperson of our Mission and Outreach Committee, I want to share with you a Minute for Mission which Joyce presented to the congregation, accompanied by graphs, on the last Sunday in April. Thank you Joyce!

There are many ways we as a congregation contribute to various mission projects. Each month we send $150.00 to Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery for general missions making a yearly total of $1,800.00 The yearly budgeted local missions include the following: Malawi Partnership: $300; Dwight Mission: $1,000; Ministerial Alliance: $300; Salvation Army Backpack Program: $200. Also we budget $180 per year for the Theological Education Fund which aids in developing mission-minded leaders for the Church. This year we gave $475.00 to the One Great Hour of Sharing which is an increase over last year’s offering.

In non-budgeted missions it is very important to say thank you for the generosity in donations of time and resources to our church and our community. It is impressive considering all that we do to enrich and empower, and assist others. Your generous support is very much appreciated, and in a few weeks we will extend an opportunity for continued support to some projects that will be set up in the Narthex. This church really can make a difference!

2008.06.16 Monday Morning!

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

126 years ago the Board of National Missions of our Presbyterian Church sent missionaries to this part of Indian Territory. Their commitment to Christ, their love of the people, and the land, prompted them to begin the first Presbyterian Church in the Vinita area, which is now called Pilgrim Presbyterian Church.

We are thankful for the vision, faith and courage of those pioneer "pilgrims" more than a century ago.

Now, we have an opportunity to send "missionaries", who with vision, faith and courage carry the good news of Christ to strengthen the work of our brothers and sisters in Malawi, Africa.

In July, our good friend, the Rev. Judith Henderson, will leave for one term, when she will be engaged in a teaching ministry. In October a delegation from our Presbytery will respond to a call from the Livingstone Synod, in Malawi, to visit and help families facing pressing issues which impact their lives.

Will you support this partnership with your prayers and gifts of money? Checks, payable to Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, and designated "Malawi" will be sent as a part of our congregation's benevolence giving.

Many thanks for your support on behalf of the Presbytery-Malawi Partnership Committee.


Richard