From the Desk of the Community Lay Director:
The Golden Isles Walk to Emmaus walks #37 and #38 are over, but the Walks do not end there; the pilgrims are now into their 4th day.
The following is from the Florida Aldersgate Emmaus Community:
In living their Fourth Days, participants are encouraged to continue to grow in relationship with Christ and live as faithful disciples in all of life. An important and necessary foundation for faithful Christian living is a vital connection to the Christian community for support, guidance, and challenge. This is most available through local church communities, reunion groups, and the Emmaus/Chrysalis Celebrations. Another way to be connected to the support of the Christian community is through studying the writings of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
I want to encourage new pilgrims to attend the Pio party and enjoy the celebration of a new life with Christ. Also, as members of the community, we need to welcome them with Agape love, so please make it a point to attend the gathering. We can also take this opportunity to invite a potential pilgrim to show them what our Emmaus community is all about. We might even invite a community member we have not seen in a while to get them active in the community.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
DeColores,
Dave DuBois
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW
GOLDEN ISLES WALK TO EMMAUS MEMBERS!!!!!
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The Reunion Group
As you consider the monthly Gathering a gathering of the larger Emmaus Community, you can consider the reunion group as your own personal, smaller Emmaus Community. The same caution should be given to you about the reunion group that was offered about the Gathering. Reunion Groups need perseverance, patience, work and time. Reunion Groups do not guarantee instant success. Your first attempts at the reunion may result in frustration and confusion. You may feel self-conscious that you are not achieving the goals that you set for yourself and are overwhelmed by the sharing of others who have been making reunion groups for a longer time. Keep in mind that this is quite natural.
Reunion Groups are really the heart of the Emmaus method. One of the most striking statements about the Walk to Emmaus movement is that the three day experience is held to put people into reunion groups in order that Christ's work may be done. If you want one simple answer as to what is the most important thing that you can get out of your Emmaus week-end in term of the method, it is that you are blessed with a weekly meeting of friends with whom you can share your life in piety, study and action. This, essentially, is what the reunion group is..... To insure success in the reunion group, there are at least three important factors involved:
- Make it, when possible, with people whom you have a natural and easy friendship.
- Give it plenty of time to nuture and grow.
- Be open, honest and generous about your life in Christ.
It is necessary to re-emphasize the fact that, “It is in giving that you receive.” Reunion groups will give you much, but a Christian is also very much concerned with how he or she can help others. There may be times when you feel that there are other things that you need to do rather than go to a reunion group. Excuses are easy to find --- the job, the children, something to do around the house. But that meeting that you might miss might be the one in which a friend may have needed you the most. What you can give to others in the way of sharing, support and example must be uppermost in your mind.
(retyped from Emmaus material)
DeColores,
Cindy Jones
Sponsorship Training
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ATTENTION: AREA HEADS for Walks #37 and #38
Please submit your receipts to
Ralph Nantze
at 912-258-0672
as soon as possible. He needs to process expenses for the weekends. Thanks.
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ATTENTION MUSICIANS:
If you are interested in sharing your musical gifts at Community Gatherings or Walks, please contact
Jim Hitt,
the Music Board Rep, at:
(912) 614-4701.
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Community Gatherings:
Friday, October 5th--7pm Pio Party Brunswick FUMC
Sponsorship Training Begins At 6pm
First United Methodist Church
1400 Norwich Street
Brunswick, GA 31520
Friday, November 1st--7pm
TBA
Friday, December 6th--7pm
Wesley United Methodist Church
6520 Frederica Road
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
If you would like to offer your church to host a Gathering in the future, or would be interested in sharing a Fourth Day testimony, please contact
Matt Beckham
at 912-275-3898 for more information regarding what is required of a host church.
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Reflections from the Heart
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I
have been on three Walks to Emmaus, each with its own treasured memories. My first Walk was Golden Isles Walk to Emmaus #2, Table of Mary. I was nervous as I got on the bus leaving Sendoff. I have struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life, and being away from my familiar routine was enormously frightening. But my husband Keith had been on Golden Isles Walk to Emmaus #1 the week before, and he assured me I would be all right. I have a vivid memory of Lucy Hunter singing and waving with gusto as we pios loaded up and pulled away. I smiled and waved at her. I didn’t know her then, but am delighted to say we attend church together now!
My first night at Emmaus I woke up feeling like I had slept well and long. Of course part of being on the Walk to Emmaus is being without a way to keep track of the time. I looked at my wrist where my watch usually sat and remembered it wasn’t there. I couldn’t figure out why everyone else was still asleep. I quietly got dressed and went outside for a walk. Whenever I think about that walk I am filled with awe and wonder at the beauty of the sky, the crispness of the air, and the God who loves me so well and so much that I could feel His presence to the very core of my being. I grew tired, so went back to my room and crawled back into bed. I didn’t awake again until I heard the voices of the other ladies in the room. That sense of peace stayed with me, and I was able to enjoy and learn from my Walk.
When we got to the Candlelight service, I saw my husband singing and walking toward me. I burst through the line of people in front of me, held Keith’s face in my hands, and planted a kiss firmly on his lips! Then got myself back to where I was supposed to be.
For my second Walk to Emmaus, I was an Angel working behind the scenes. I loved the experience of arranging pleasant surprises for people and staying out of sight. I even learned to fix a toilet with a hatchet! (It was an old toilet and needed to be tapped now and then to keep it running properly. The blunt end of the hatchet was the only thing I could find to tap it with. But, hey, it worked.)
My third Walk to Emmaus I was a table leader. One of those people who come in as part of the group, and you don’t realize they are a leader until you miss them at the table and they come in dressed better than you’ve seen them all weekend and give their talk. Again a chance to be sneaky, but this time knowing I would be caught! When I got up to give my talk, anxiety began to overwhelm me again. But one of the other table leaders saw my distress and began praying for me. My voice returned to normal, and I was able to finish my talk. I knew it was the hand of God allowing me to speak clearly, and she was able to share with me afterward that she had prayed for me at my moment of greatest need.
So here you are, Precious Pios. Your Fourth Day. You have had three days of God drawing you to Himself through people He prepared ahead of time. The spiritual high is amazing, but it can’t last. The Fourth Day comes when you must return to your household. Your routine. Your life. You have changed, but your surroundings have not. Now it’s up to you to take the lessons learned on your Walk to Emmaus and put them into practice. Let the people most familiar with you see the difference God is making in your life!
I strongly encourage you to get involved in a Reunion Group. You experienced your three-day Walk to Emmaus walking in unity with other Christians. The strength you will share through prayer and the accountability you will experience through your Reunion Group are necessary to keep your heart attuned to God.
Our theme for this year is that we are to
‘Do all the good we can,
By all the means we can,
In all the ways we can,
In all the places we can,
At all the times we can,
To all the people we can,
As long as ever we can.’
– Author Unknown
Many people answered that call to minister to you during your Walk to Emmaus. Now it’s your turn!
De Colores!
Trisa Chancey
GIWTE #2
Table of Mary
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SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CHURCH
790 May Creek Drive
P.O.Box 867
Kingsland, GA 31548
912-729-8480
www.mysecc.org
As I sit here on this Wednesday, after Golden Isles Walk to Emmaus numbers #37 and #38, I am reminiscing about my own walk to Emmaus. I
still remember
the awesome presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I
still remember
the way the Holy Spirit dealt with me on my three-day journey. God has been so good to me and I will
never forget
those three days or the impact those three days had on my fourth day.
NEVER
!!!!!!!!!
Never did I dream, at that time, that He would allow me to serve as the Community Spiritual Director; however, He did. He chose this broken minister to serve in this community of believers and I have been blessed beyond measure because of it. It is a privilege to serve with all of you and my prayer is that we will continue to do so until Christ comes back for us all.
I do have one request for all ordained and licensed Spiritual Leaders in our community.: I am putting together an electronic semi-data base to keep up with credentials and applications for The Walks Spiritual and Assistant Spiritual Directors. If you can, please send me via email
(martin@secchurch.com)
your application to serve in this capacity, as well as a copy of License or Ordination Certificates. This can be scanned, or you can take a picture with your phone and send them to me at
912-552-4291
.
I would like to go ahead and begin to pray about our next Spiritual Directors for Walks numbers #39 and #40. Please join with me in prayer.
Thank you and God Bless,
Martin Turner
Golden Isles Walk to Emmaus #1
Table of Peter
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Golden Isles Walk to Emmaus Board Meeting
The next GIWTE Board Meeting will be held on October 19th at 9am
Emmaus community members are always welcome at Golden Isles Emmaus Board Meetings, which are normally held the third Saturday of each month in the
Open Door Classroom at
First United Methodist Church
1400 Norwich Street
Brunswick, GA 31520
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