A Journey with Christ
The Gospel of St. Luke relates the story of the risen Christ
appearing to two who were going along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
Two friends were walking together, sharing their hearts' deepest concerns. The
risen Christ joined them and explained the scriptures as they walked, how it was
ordained that Christ should suffer and so enter his glory. This experience on the
road was a heart-warming experience as the risen Christ walked and talked to them.
The illuminating climax of the experience was when Christ took bread and said the
blessing, then broke it and gave it to them. The two had their eyes opened and they
recognized him as the risen Christ and they rushed back to
Jersalem to tell the others. (Luke 24:13-35)
What is the Walk to Emmaus?
The above story provides the image for Emmaus, an Upper Room program
that calls forth and renews Christian discipleship. Like its predecessor,
Cursillo de Christiandad (Spanish for "short course in Christianity"), the Walk
to Emmaus is a three-day experience which takes a New Testament look at
Christianity as a lifestyle. It is a highly structured weekend designed to strengthen
and renew the faith of Christian People, and through them their families, congregations
and the world in which they live. Emmaus is a combined effort of laity and clergy toward
the renewal of the church.
What Happens at Emmaus?
The "Walk to Emmaus" is a 72-hour experience. The weekend begins on
Thursday evening and ends Sunday evening. At Emmaus you will spend three busy but
very enjoyable days, usually at a retreat center. You will live and study together in
singing, prayer, worship, and discussion. Discussions center around fifteen talks given
by laity and clergy. These talks present the theme of God's grace, and how that grace
comes alive in the Christian community and expresses itself in the world. You'll also
discover how grace is real in your life, and how you can live in the life of grace, bringing
grace to others. You will have the opportunity to participate in the daily celebration of Holy
Communion, and to begin to understand more fully the presence of Christ in his body of
believers. You will experience God's grace personally through the prayers and acts
of service of a living support community.
What Happens After Emmaus?
One of the primary strengths of Emmaus is the follow-up. Your weekend lasts only
three days, but you are invited to build on it for the rest of your life. Those who attend a
"Walk to Emmaus" are encouraged to do two things following their weekend:
Expand their own spiritual lives through study and congregational participation
Become more active disciples of Christ in the world through their churches.
To nurture this process of discipleship, the Emmaus movement offers specific
opportunities.
First, reunion groups of four to six people meet weekly to reflect on their
quest for spiritual growth and encourage one another in their discipleshiop.
Second, there will be monthly meetings called "Community Gatherings." All
people in a particular Emmaus community or area are invited for fellowship, worship,
and informal instruction.
Third, through a newsletter, members become aware of support needs for upcoming
Walks to Emmaus and there are opportunities to work during future weekends in a variety
of ways.
History of Emmaus
Originating in Spain in the late 1940s, Cursillo moved to America in the late 1950s.
It was primarily a Roman Catholic movement until the 1970s. As Catholic centers
started accepting applications from Protestants, efforts began among some groups
to make the Cursillo experience available to all Protestants. In the late 1970s, the Upper Room
(a unit of the Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church) formed The Upper
Room Cursillo Community in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1981, by mutual agreement between
the national Secretariat of the Roman Catholic Cusillo movement and The Upper Room,
the name of the Nashville Protestant community was changed to Emmaus. The Emmaus
movement is ecumenical.
Purpose of Emmaus
The focus of Emmaus is: God as known in Jesus Christ and how that finds expression
in the local church. The objective of Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and equip local
church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of work.
Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled life to be lived and shared with others.
For more information
Please call 313-563-5200 or email:
redcard0063@sbcglobal.net
lmurdoch@wowway.com
Emmaus Reservation Form
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