2008.12.15 Monday Morning!

Christmas is almost here! Pilgrim Presbyterians, who worship inside the walls of a beautiful sanctuary, in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma, have a passion for those outside those walls.

In a truly ecumenical spirit, "Pilgrims" are working in a community mission/outreach with friends at St. John's Episcopal Church and Salvation Army.

Cash gifts and food items are being collected for Attucks Alternative Academy, for Salvation Army's Backpack Program for school children, and the Army's food pantry.

In addition, gifts of toys and books for prison inmates to give to their children, and bingo prizes, hats and gloves for the Vinita Day Care Center, and Bundles for Babies will brighten the lives of scores of families.

That is not the end of the ecumenical spirit alive and well at Pilgrim Church. At worship, on the second Sunday of Advent the choir from St. John's, joined by Joyce Dishman and Suzie Cresap, sang an anthem, accompanied by the organist from St. John's. Yesterday, the third Sunday of Advent the Silvertones from the First Baptist Church provided special music.

Though Romans chapter 12 may not be what you expect to read before Christmas, I suggest it does reflect a wonderful description of the way "Pilgrims" understand their discipleship. I am grateful for this community of faith, scattered far and near, and its big, big heart!


Peace, may authentic peace be yours,

Richard

2008.12.08 Monday Morning!

Advent greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. The hope of Monday Morning, these weekly messages, is to keep in touch, and responses received indicate that is being achieved.

Do you ever read the comic strips? I've been an avid fan of "Pogo" no longer with us, and "Peanuts", still appearing though its creator, Charles Schultz, is dead. There is a lot of sound theology in the comics!

I remember when Charlie Brown and Lucy were leaning against a tree and Lucy asks, "What do you think security is?"

Charlie, or "Chuck" as Lucy calls him, replies: "Security? Security is sleeping in the back seat of the car when you're a little kid and it's night. Your parents are in the front seats and they've done all the worrying. They take care of everything."

Lucy smiles and says: "That's real neat."

"But," Charlie Brown says, "it doesn't always last. Suddenly you're grown up. And it can never be that way again. Suddenly it's over and you'll never go to sleep in the back seat again. Never!"

Lucy gets a sad and scared look on her face and says: "Never?" Then Charlie, who has scared himself with this terrible truth, says, "Never."

In the last picture Lucy, aware of the real world, reaches over to Charlie and says: "Hold my hand, hold my hand!"

We can't hold one another's hand over the miles, but we can "keep in touch." Isn't that what the gospel teaches?

"Keep in touch", my friends...keep in touch with loved ones, with friends, and with the God whom we know in the face of the Babe of Bethlehem.

Peace,
Richard

2008.12.01 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. Like Christians all over the world, we at Pilgrim Church have entered the season of Advent, waiting for Christmas and the birth celebration of Jesus, whom we call Christ.

There are times when waiting is a pain. I could give you examples, but you have your own frustrating experiences of waiting.

At other times, waiting can be exciting. Waiting for our children or grandchildren to come home for the holidays is pleasant anticipation.

What are you waiting for? The kids to grow up? Your next vacation? An exciting date? Retirement? Or, are you simply enduring the present while you wait for a better tomorrow?

Waiting can be frustrating, diminishing us, or it can be creative and challenging. It depends on the reason for our wait and how we might draw possibilities of waiting.

"Don't let any waiting draw from you the juice of life."

Try reading Matthew 25:1-13.


Cheers,
Richard

2008.11.24 Monday Morning!

Thanksgiving greetings from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. We worship as a family each Sunday morning at ten o'clock. Whenever possible, come and share in our service. If you can't be with us, say a little prayer for us in the "friendly Church of the faith."

At times, all of us have specific reasons to be thankful. At other times, lacking specific reasons, we may become cynical and say "I've got nothing to be thankful for."

A worthwhile Thanksgiving Day exercise might consist of sitting down with two sheets of paper. On one we might list all the things we crave and are yearning to acquire. On the other sheet we would enumerate all those things we have and could lose. I rather think that we would find the first list quickly exhausted, while the second would appear endless. We might then understand better the meaning of the prayer:

"You have given so much to me, O God.

Give me one thing more - a grateful heart."

Happy Thanksgiving,
Richard

2008.11.17 Monday Morning!

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

I know that a large number reading Monday Morning have no connection with Pilgrim Church or Vinita. However, in the afterglow of the Church's 125th anniversary celebration, I report, with thanks, this event and offer my hope that it will become an annual happening.

It was a joy to read letters from Mrs. Margaret Kennedy, wife of a former pastor, Mitch Kennedy; from Brian Dishman, who grew up in Pilgrim Church, and now living with his family in Japan; from the Rev. Neal Dancer, often a guest minister in the congregation; and from our own Elder and Church Treasurer Terry Brown, who had to be out of town. Thanks for writing, your correspondence is appreciated.

Our thanks: to the large Children's Bell Choir (and there must have been 10 youngsters happily ringing their bells); and to Suzie Cresap, for directing the choir and singing a solo "Good Morning"; to Pam Benne for the easily understood Children's Sermon - and the cupcakes; to Lorrie and Bill Stull, who set up a mammoth inflated playground for children; to Toni Moore, who arranged displays of great interest; to Dave Haney, for his consistent work behind the scenes; to the crew who spruced up the basement; to Doris Olson, chairperson of the Celebration; to the Board of Deacons; and to all who provided an abundance of delicious food.

About 100 worshipers raised their prayers and songs of praise with thanks to God for a goodly heritage.

It was a splendid day in every way.


Cheers,
Richard

2008.11.10 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. If you have relatives or friends who may like to get our Monday Morning email, please send addresses to Donna in the Church Office.

Moving from one residence to another is a test of patience, strength and endurance. Last week my wife and I moved from an apartment to a house. Humdrum as moving may appear, I assure you it is a test. But isn't all life a series of tests? I found a scribbled note among papers I've been sorting, and it's worth sharing with you today.

"When a neighbor has been bruised, our kindness is tested. When he or she has been blessed, our generosity is tested. When we have been hurt, our forgiveness is tested. Trouble tests our courage. Temptation tests our strength. Friendship tests our loyalty. Failure tests our perseverance."

We are all tested. How do you fare in life's constant quizzes?

Cheers,
Richard

2008.11.03 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, 125 years young, and still sending Christ's message to a post-Christian world! We'll be celebrating our past with an eye to serving our Lord and Master Sunday next - November 9 - beginning with worship at 10:00 a.m. If you can't attend, please send an email greeting. The congregation will be delighted to hear from you!

Everyone has a story to tell, but it was Jesus who was the Master storyteller. His teaching arose out of real life situations, and were used to evoke a response. Perhaps his story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) is his most popular and best known of the 50-60 stories recorded in the New Testament.

The Good Samaritan had this view of Life: "What is mine, is mine, I'll share it." That is amazing, considering the bad blood that existed between ancient Jews and Samaritans.

When a traveler was robbed and left half dead on the roadside, a passing Priest ignored the victim. However, the despised Samaritan stopped to help. The message is clear - while we may not like people of different nations, cultures and languages, or people in our own country who are different in color, speech and beliefs from us - we are all God's children.

Jesus calls his followers to unite and assume renewed responsibility for the peace and well-being of all.

We can't change the world, but with civility and decency we can respect those who are different from us, and we can show acts of kindness and infectious cheer. It's surprising how gifts of small acts, of mercy, "are twice blessed". And often the giver is helped more than the receiver. Giving gives meaning to existence!

What's mine is mine, and I'll share it. It's no wonder we call that Samaritan "Good".


Cheers,
Richard