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Emmaus Information |
GENERAL INFO - The Koinonia Emmaus Community meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month.
JANUARY GATHERING - was at New Fountain UMC on 11 January 2008. Approximately 80 walkers were in attendance.
 Joyful Noise Performs |
 Gathering Attendees |
NEWS - Congratulations to all the new pilgrims of 2007 Emmaus Walks! Are you ready to sponsor pilgrims on the womem's walk #1450 and men's walk #1454 in 2008? If you would like to be on one of the teams, fill out an application and give it to the office or anyone on the Emmaus Board. The Board will be picking the teams soon. The December Gathering will be at Chapel Hill UMC in San Antonio. (See previous paragraph for directions.) We want to welcome Chapel Hill to our Koinonia 4th Day Group. New Fountain will be the host for the January gathering on January 11, 2008.
- The SWTC Emmaus site, see the "Local" link below, has new changes as the 2007 and 2008 weekend schedules now show how many pilgrims are registered for each walk.
- Church Reps - please get an updated list of names, addresses, phone numbers, and emal addresses of your church Emmaus members so we can update our roster and newsletter database. Please bring these to the next meeting.
- We are in need of a newsletter editor.
- Scrubbs Love is now our Kairos representative.
- Marsha Fitzsimmons presented information on Epiphany, a weekend for youth offenders in San Antonio. This activity is only two years old and needs money, prayers and resources. Please call Marsha if you need more information.
LINKS - To view the local Koinonia Emmaus' web site, click Local and to view the National Emmaus web site, click National.
The Emmaus and Chrysalis Celebration hosted by SWTC will be held at Mt. Wesley on 4, 5 and 6 April, 2008. Check-in will be at 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by dinner then worship. On Saturday, there will be three meals, two sessions and two worship services - the largest in the evening when ACTS, Cursillo and other weekend people will be invited. This worship will be open to all. On Sunday, there will be breakfast and worship. Venders are invited to bring their items for a small fee (TBA). The three day fee is $100 per person. The SWTC will cover $75 of the fee for the first five people the Fourth Day group designates.
The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The program's approach seriously considers the model of Christ's servanthood and encourages Christ's disciples to act in ways appropriate to being "a servant of all."
The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion. The "Emmaus Community," made up of those who have attended an Emmaus weekend, support the 72-hour experience with a prayer vigil, by preparing and serving meals, and other acts of love and self-giving. The Emmaus Walk typically begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening. Men and women attend separate weekends.
The Walk to Emmaus gets its name from the story in Luke 24:13-35, which provides the central image for the three-day experience and follow-up. Luke tells the story of that first Easter afternoon when the risen Christ appeared to the two disciples who were walking together along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
To attend, each person must have a sponsor who has already attended a Walk to Emmaus. If you have a friend who has been on a Walk, ask him or her to tell you about their experience with the program.
The Holy Spirit has blessed New Fountain with tremendous spiritual growth for many individuals and as a congregation throuth the Emmaus program. We strongly urge you to pray for guidance as to whether and when you should consider attending a Walk to Emmaus, which will surely result in your own spiritual growth.
This walk is scheduled for September 27-30 at Mt. Wesley in Kerrville, TX and is now full as 36 women have signed up to walk. Way to go ladies! The prayers of all previous walkers will be with you so relax and enjoy the experience. Remember, "Participate, don't anticipate."