Sings the Rooster!

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIVING YOUR FOURTH DAY 

The Emmaus weekend did not begin your Christian pilgrimage, and it is certainly not intended to be the end.  Those seventy-two hours of Emmaus do not provide nearly enough time for God to share all that He desires for you to know and experience.

Keep the fire alive by committing to a Group Reunion.  Group reunion is an intentional act that provides fellowship among those who share a common vision of a life, directed wholly to God through Christ, and who want to grow in that vision and knowledge by sharing with others a life in grace.  If you have not already done so, join or start a group reunion.  The blessings from your walk will be refreshed every time you meet. 

Grow in grace through service.  The primary purpose of Emmaus is to strengthen disciples within the ministry of individual congregations.  The opportunities to serve your home church are endless.  There is no better way to show God’s love than through service to your church.  In addition to your church, deepen your commitment to discipleship in all areas of your life: home, work, and community.          

Help strengthen the community of faith through good sponsorship. The Walk to Emmaus is designed to spiritually renew church members. If strong church members are encouraged to attend Emmaus Walks, authentic spiritual renewal will result.  As these individuals experience the grace of God in a loving community, they    will want to transform the significant areas of their lives as a result of this new experience of love.  Discernment of whom and

when to sponsor is accomplished only through serious time spent in prayer.   

As the ladies from Valley Walk #15 begin their Fourth Day and as you continue your life within the Emmaus community, immerse yourself in prayer and see what God has in store for you.  Your Walk to Emmaus lasted three days.  The rest of your life will be a succession of Fourth Days.  Emmaus challenges you to live Day Four as intentionally as the three days of your Walk, with a growing desire to become a willing and joyful servant of God.

                                                                                                                        DeColores,

 

                                    Nancy Schroeder

                                    Valley Walk to Emmaus

                                    Board of Directors

 

 Valley Walk to Emmaus 2008 Calendar

Phenix City & Columbus Clusters 

July 2008

7/17-20                    Note 2                     Women’s Walk 15 – Pine Eden

7/21         Mon.       Note 1                    Board Meeting – KPDK

7/22         Tues.       7:00 PM                 Follow-up Meeting – St. Mark UMC

7/25         Fri.          6:30 PM                  Columbus Gathering – Wynnton UMC 

August 2008 – Applications due for Valley Walk 16

8/12         Tues.       6:30 PM                 PC Gathering – Epworth UMC PC

8/18         Mon.       Note 1                    Board Meeting – KPDK

8/22         Fri.          6:30 PM                 Columbus Gathering – Wynnbrook  

September 2008

8/30-9/1   Sat. – Mon.                            Emmaus by the Sea - Epworth

9/9           Tues.       6:30 PM                  PC Gathering – Auburn Heights

9/15         Mon.       Note 1                     Board Meeting – KPDK

9/26         Fri.          6:30 PM                  Columbus Gathering – Auburn Heights  

October 2008

10/9-12                    Note 2                     Men’s Walk 16 – Pine Eden

10/14       Tues.       6:30 PM                  PC Gathering – Auburn Heights

10/16-19 Note 2                                     Women’s Walk 16 - Pine Eden

10/20       Mon.       Note 1                     Board Meeting – KPDK

10/21       Tues.       7:00 PM                  Follow-up Meeting – St. Mark UMC

10/24       Fri.          6:30 PM                  Columbus Gathering – Pierce Chapel  

November 2008

11/11       Tues.       6:30 PM                  PC Gathering – First UMC, PC

11/17       Mon.       Note 1                     Board Meeting  – KPDK 

December 2008

12/5         Fri.          6:30 PM                  Columbus Gathering – Location TBA

12/9         Tues.       6:30 PM                  PC Gathering - First UMC PC 

NOTES

1.  Board Meetings – 6:30 for prayer time; 7:00 for meeting

2.  Walk Times:      Thursday:  Send off -- Arrive at 6:30; Send-off at 7:00

Saturday:  Candlelight at 8:00 PM; 9:00 PM for July Walks

                                Sunday:     Closing at 4:00 PM
 

The Gift of Sponsorship 

The strength of any Emmaus community is a direct result of the community’s recruiting practices.  If the community makes a commitment to recruit strong church leaders for the purpose of strengthening the local church, then the community will be a vital force in the renewal movement. 

The October walks are only three months away.  Applications need to be submitted by August 1 so that we can prepare properly for the work God has called us to do.  If you are thinking of sponsoring someone, here are a few reminders of what you need to be doing before, during, and after the Walk. 

Before, During, and After:  Pray for Guidance.  God needs to be involved from the beginning in the selection of whom you will sponsor.  His choice and timing should prevail.  Go to Him in prayer and seek His guidance. Be still and listen.  Prospective pilgrims should already be on a journey in their faith, willing to grow and wanting to move forward in their relationship with God. 

Before:  Check the Dates.  Sponsoring a pilgrim will require you to make a time commitment so it’s important to double-check the dates for yourself and your pilgrim.  It is OK to sponsor someone on a Walk when you are part of the team or behind the scenes, but you may need assistance in fulfilling your responsibilities during the weekend. 

Before:  Present the Opportunity.  Make an appointment to discuss Emmaus with your prospective pilgrim.  This conversation deserves more than a few quick comments after church or before choir practice.  Be sure that both members of a couple are present and stress the importance of their both attending.  Share how the Walk impacted your life.  Answer any questions, but don’t give away the special surprises.  Give your prospective pilgrim an application and check back in a week or so.  A refusal may simply mean that the timing is not God’s.  Continue praying and try again later. 

Before:  Application and Fee.  Help your prospective pilgrim fill out the form.  Be sure it is complete and has all the signatures.  The fee for a Valley Walk is $100.00.  A check for $25.00 must accompany each application.  The balance of $75.00 is due at Send-Off.  Sponsors are not required to pay the fee although some are able and may offer to pay all or part of the cost.  Scholarships are available for those needing assistance and requests are confidential.  Let the Registrar know of this need. 

Before:  Collection of Agape Letters.  As a sponsor, it is your responsibility to collect these letters without your pilgrim’s being aware of it.  When your pilgrim has been accepted for a Walk, you will be sent a form letter to use in requesting agape letters.  (You will probably have to play detective to get addresses for your applicant’s family and friends.)  Notate in the upper left corner of the envelope if the writer is a spouse, friend, pastor, co-worker, parent, child, etc.  Start early and remember that follow-up is necessary!  Eight to twelve letters are needed. 

Before and After:  Provide Encouragement.  During the weeks leading up to the walk, be sure to provide positive reassurance to your pilgrim as he or she prepares for the 72 hour Walk to Emmaus.  Continue that encouragement as he returns to his home church with a positive, supportive attitude.

During:  Attend Walk Weekend Events.  Attend Send-Off, Sponsors’ Hour, Candlelight and Closing, and encourage other Emmaus people known to the pilgrim to attend also. 

During:  Cover the Pilgrim’s Responsibilities.  Check on the pilgrim’s family while he is away.  Assist with childcare, transportation, meals, etc.

After:  Remember Day Four.  Bring the pilgrim to the Follow-up meeting after the walk so that he can learn more about how to continue his journey.  Accompany him to the first few monthly gatherings after his walk so he can experience the joy of continued fellowship with his new community of faith.  Help him connect to a reunion group. If you’re not in one, start one together.  Encourage him to serve behind the scenes on an upcoming Emmaus walk.

After:  Help your pilgrim sponsor someone else.  When your pilgrim is ready to consider sponsoring someone, help him discern who might respond to a weekend of love and who might become more vitally alive disciples in their homes, communities, vocations and churches. Share with your pilgrim all of the responsibilities of sponsorship so that he understands the role he must assume.  Assist him through the process so that his pilgrim has the best experience possible. 

The primary purpose for recruiting someone to attend a Walk to Emmaus is to deepen that person’s relationship with Christ and to create an enthusiastic disciple to work in God’s kingdom.  Your primary motivation for recruiting a person ought to be Christ’s love in you, wanting that same love for the prospective pilgrim.  Building the kingdom of God is serious work, and building a strong Emmaus community is part of that task.

Greetings to the Valley Emmaus Community from Bob and Lynn!! 

The gatherings in both clusters have been wonderful this year.  Our food, fun, fellowship, music, prayers, 4th day speakers and Holy Communion are very heartwarming.  We have had a variety of events besides regular gatherings, including fund raisers to offset costs of the walks and our celebration at Pine Eden.  We are honored to serve you in this area.  Fourth Day Speakers are being presented by God as we have prayed.  We thank those of you who have responded to His call to share your 4th day with us.  We are all invited to attend both cluster gatherings as our time permits.  The Phenix City Cluster meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, and the Columbus Cluster meets the 4th Friday.  Those who regularly attend one or the other gathering are encouraged to branch out and visit the other ... and invite someone to go with you.  Let's keep encouraging each other in our 4th day activities of group reunion and gatherings, attending Send-Off/Sponsors’ Hour, Candlelight, and Closing, as well as Sponsorship and Servanthood.... and let's not forget the priority of our families and home churches.   

 Phenix City - Tuesday - July 8 - Epworth UMC - Hwy 280

Columbus - Friday - July 25 - Wynnton UMC

Phenix City - Tuesday - August 12 - Epworth UMC - Hwy 280

Columbus - Friday - August 22 - Wynnbrook Baptist

Phenix City - Tuesday - September 9 – Auburn Heights Baptist

Columbus - Friday - September 26 - Auburn Heights Baptist 

(We will join both clusters on Friday 9/26 for a donation dinner to help raise funds to offset the fall walks - details to come.) The Walk to Emmaus is a very special treasure we all share through our Lord and Savior Jesus!!  We look forward to seeing you at Pine Eden as we support the precious pilgrims God has provided. 

DeColores, 

Lynn Hodges and Bob Rives