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Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Newsletter April 2003

Sharings from Sharon......

The year is passing quickly and spring is coming! I know! I've seen it and heard it and felt it! You can believe me!. It's true! I recently returned from a few days with my family in Tennessee. While I drove down through the mountains of northern Tennessee, the trees still resembled those of the cold north. Leafless, colorless, seemingly lifeless. But then it happened. When I arrived at my parents' home and got out of the car, there it was! The sights, the smells, the sounds of spring. My spirit lifted and I found myself searching for even more signs of life. And they were there. It was good to see the rebirth and hope of future days of sun and warmth.
Time in a lawn chair gave me opportunity to reflect. Just as I had been rejuvenated with the signs of life in nature, so much my walk with Christ be for a witness and encouragement to others. Others who for a time may be passing through cold, dark winters of family or economic struggle. Others who are burdened with concern for our nation and the troops abroad. Others who cannot find hope in tomorrow. Some days, the "others" will turn around and minister to me.
What signs of life in Christ are we sharing regularly with those who cross our path? It may be as simple as a smile or "thank you"or just in the way we handle foiled plans. Perhaps it even calls for extravagant or courageous steps to proclaim what God has done for us. It did for Paul and Silas in jail. (Check out Acts 16) No matter the extent, we must share the Christ within us to those around us. Do not be afraid of sharing the good news for it is news with a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

De Colores,
Sharon Halter
Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Chairman
 

Candlelight Impressions
I saw your face tonight
In the glow of candlelight
In stained glass colors
Gleaming bright:

I saw your smile on every face,
Your touch in each embrace.

I heard your voice as each hymn
And melody was raised.
Your Spirit soared above us,
As our voices rang in praise.

And when your words were spoken
And the bread was dipped in *wine*
*Our hearts burned within us*
like those of Jesus* time.

A tribute to Emmaus by Barbara Whitney, July 13, 2002

Greetings to the community!

Hey, I haven't seen you at a gathering so far this year!?
Yes, you!
I personally would like to see a packed house every 2nd Tuesday of the month.
 Come and see what God is doing in your Emmaus community.
Jerry Noble
Vice-chair

From Your Agape Chairperson.............

 Now is the time to start thinking about agape for the June and July Walks.  We're not shoveling snow, and we're not mowing grass yet, so there is time to put some agape together.  Following is a list of the number of pieces we need for Men's/Women's Walks for Bedtime/Mealtime.
***Men's**Women's
Mealtime***66 Pieces*72 Pieces
Bedtime (Pilgrims)**36 Pieces*42 Pieces
Bedtime (Pilgrims/Team)  *66 Pieces*72 Pieces
Super Agape for Pilgrims*None**None
     Please do not bring "Super" agape for the pilgrims.  By "Super" we mean books or other gifts that do not fit in the Sunday Agape packet.  These can be given to the Pilgrims after the Walk.  If these types of agape are brought in, it creates extra work for the ALD's on Sunday to try to find the sponsors of these pilgrims and ask them to pick up these items.  It would be nice to keep the Sunday Agape packets for letters/cards/notes only.  That way Pilgrims will feel that they are loved equally by us, as well as God.
     Also, if you have brought in mealtime/bedtime agape in the past and would like any of the extra pieces, please stop in the Agape Room on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night during any Walk Weekend between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to see me.  Thanks for being disciples of Christ and sharing His love through your agape.

Pat Gregg
Agape Chairperson

2003 Gathering Fourth Day Speakers

May 13     **Neal Piper
June 10    **Glenn Gault
July 8       **Linda Dulin
August 12 **Sherry Soliday
September 9 *Mike Bunker
October 14**Music Gathering
November 11**Tim Martin
December 9**Diane Gault

If you are interested in being a 4th Day Speaker, please see Vera Piper,
Worship Chairperson, and express your interest.

 

Dear Fellow Members,
     I would like to take this time to thank all the individuals who have helped me during the past year.  I thought when I started, that my position as Logistics Director would not become as time consuming as it has been.  I am not complaining or regretting taking this position at all.  Recently though there have been more blessings bestowed on me.  As most of you know, the biggest obstacle to the Logistics position is finding volunteers to help on set up and tear down.  Imagine the joy I felt when I received a phone call one evening telling me a share group had decided to step up and help with tear down on Sunday night.  I even received the honor of having the night off.  After the Men*s Walk on the 23rd of February, a second group stepped up and helped with tear down.  That is why I decided to come to the people of the Sidney Emmaus group with this plea.  If we can continue to supply this type of help, the Gatherings and Walks will be more enjoyable for  everyone.  There are enough people that have a willing servant*s heart, that you would only be asked once a year to help.  Please take this matter to your Share Groups for consideration.  If any group would consider this act of Agape, call me at (937) 498-1109 and I will schedule you. 

God Bless you all!
Steve Beers

Upcoming events

April 24-GSAE Board Meeting
May 13-Gathering
May 22-GSAE Board Meeting
June 10-Gathering
June 19-22  Women's Walk #30
*Betty Alder-Lay Director
June 26-GSAE Board Meeting
July 8-Gathering(Reunion WW#30)
July 17-20 Men's Walk #26
*Dod Noffsinger-Lay Director
July 24-GSAE Board Meeting
July 24-27 Emmaus 25th Anniversary
*Nashville, Tennessee
August 12-Gathering(Reunion MW #26)
August 28-GSAE Board Meeting
September 9-Gathering
September 25-GSAE Board Meeting

THE ROSE WITHIN

     A man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud would soon blossom-out but also the thorns. And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?"
     Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died. So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential. Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others. This is the characteristic of love: to look at a person and, knowing his faults, recognize the nobility in his soul and help him realize that he can overcome his faults. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns. Then will he blossom, blooming forth thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold as it is given to him.
     Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them their roses and not their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love we should feel for each other; only then can we bloom in our own garden.

 -Author Unknown

The next Men's  walk is coming up on July 17-20.
Send applications for Men's #26 to:

Curt Hostetler
Emmaus Men's Registrar
5776 Hickory Drive
West Liberty, OH 43357-9791
937.465.4326

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
-- Irish Blessing

 Many thanks........
The Sidney Community greatly appreciates Kent Money and the Marion Kairos Community's team members, whose presentation at a recent Gathering was such a wonderful blessing!  The mission of Kairos is to help grow and nurture strong Christian communities within correctional institutions.    As this mission is accomplished, there is a positive impact on the total environment of the institution.  This is truly the Body of Christ at work!    If you would like more information on this program, please go to the website www.kairosohio.org.

Reminders............

    Sendoff on Thursday evening of Walk Weekends is located in the New Fellowship Hall, and then all Sponsors will go immediately to the Chapel for Sponsor's Hour, as the weekend begins for the Pilgrims.

    Special services on the Walk weekends include Candlelight at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night.  Enter the Sanctuary doors on Poplar Street (the back of the Sanctuary). Handicapped entrance is through the parking lot, up the elevator, and in the northeast door of the Sanctuary (the front). 

    The Closing for the pilgrims will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.  Please come after 4:00 p.m. and meet in the Old Fellowship Hall ("Tabernacle").  We will go to the Sanctuary as a Community!  Please remember to wear your name tag to all events!  Also, wear your Emmaus Cross to Closing! 

    Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Gatherings are on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. for worship in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church located at 230 East Poplar Street in Sidney. Food and fellowship will follow in the New Fellowship Hall.  Remember to wear your cross and nametag to Gatherings.  See you there!!!

Social Concerns.......

Diane Gault, Social Chair, would like to request that the Community be aware of the need for more food at Closings(especially Women's Walks) and at some Gatherings.  Let's put our best food forward to show our newest members why we say "When Emmaus meets, Emmaus Eats!!!!"  (and eats well!!!!!!)

 F.Y.I.
In case an emergency arises during an Emmaus Walk weekend and you need to contact a pilgrim, the following phone numbers are being made known to the Community. The order is based on the location of the home of the Executive Board Members in relation to the church, to assist in getting  information to the team and pilgrims promptly.

#1  Sidney First Un. Meth. Church     (937) 492-9136
#2  Treasurer Patty Yinger                  (937) 498-2599
#3  Leadership Randy Locker            (937) 394-2930
#4  Chairman Sharon Halter               (937) 585-4869
#5  Vice-Chair Jerry Noble                  (937) 465-7696
#6  Secretary Cindy Stienecker          (937) 335-0568

 From your Music Chair..............

If you are blessed with the gift of musical talent, there are opportunities for you to present those talents at Gatherings.  Remember that there are special needs for the October Gathering, where the Community is blessed to see many acts of agape love through music that evening.  If interested in any of these activities,
please see Eric Truxal or call him at (419) 999-1830

 Kitchen News...........

While cooking and serving meals in the Kitchen on Walk weekends, you are the Body of Christ in action to the pilgrims and team you are serving.  This is one of the greatest opportunities that you could have to serve Christ.  Just some reminders.....if you are serving on Saturday night, you will need to remember to wear a white shirt/blouse and black slacks/skirt.  You will be serving food and drinks, helping clear the tables, and doing dishes.    When serving meals on other days, no specific clothing is required, but the duties are the same.  When cooking or serving meals, please arrive promptly at the appropriate time, and stay until you are excused to go.  If you have any questions about the kitchen, please see Iva Lenhart or call her at (937) 497-8852.

10 WAYS TO PRAY IN TIMES LIKE THESE

Ron Hutchcraft

1. "Lord, do something that will show people Your glory over all the earth."
   •"O God ... let Your glory be over all the earth." (Psalm 108:5)  "Be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:5)
   ~~~~This is a moment for God to do something that no diplomat, no world leader, no army could possibly do - so all will know that "the Lord He is God."
2. "Lord, use these anxious and uncertain times to bring many to Christ."
   • "Pray ... that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be
   honored." (II Thessalonians 3:1) • "May God be gracious to us and bless us... that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations." (Psalm 67:1, 2)
   ~~~~God can use this fearful time to reach the hearts of many - in Iraq, in America, across the Middle East, among the young men and women of the military.
3. "Lord, guide our leaders to be instruments of Your will on earth."
   • "I urge ... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority." (I Timothy 2:1, 2)
   ~~~~A believer's responsibility to "honor the king" (I Peter 2:17) and to pray for those in authority transcends political labels and issues - it is a spiritual responsibility!
4. "Lord, protect the innocent."
   • "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in time of trouble..." (Psalm 40:1) • "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." (Psalm 68:5)
   ~~~~In the violence of war, of oppression, of terrorism, only God can protect the innocent - innocent citizens, innocent victims, innocent combatants.
5. "Lord, use human authorities to "bring punishment on evildoers."
   • "The governing authorities ... are God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the evildoer." (Romans 13:1, 4) • "It is God who judges; He brings down one, He exalts another." (Psalm 5:7)
   ~~~~Ultimately it is God Himself, sometimes using human instruments, who removes those He does not want in authority any longer. "He brings princes to naught" (Isaiah 40:23).
6. "Lord, have Your way and Your will in the lives of our enemies."
   • "Pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27)
   ~~~~Jesus has charged us to represent even our enemies before His Throne of Grace.
7. "Lord, make a way for people to live in the dignity and freedom that goes with being made in Your image."
   • "Live as free men..." (I Peter 2:16) • "Weep and wail, because of the misery that is coming upon you ... you who have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men..." (James 5:1, 5-6) • "Act justly ... love mercy ... walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
   ~~~~Every person on this planet is "God's workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10), worthy of the dignity and respect a "God's image" person should have.
8. "Lord, help Your people model peace in these troubled times, pointing the people around them to Jesus - at a time when hearts are soft."
   • "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:19) • "Open your eyes and look at fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)
   ~~~~This uncertain time is a life-saving moment - when those who belong to Jesus have an unusual window to introduce Him to those who don't. But the window may not be open for long.
9. "Lord, use world events to open many doors that have been closed to Your Gospel."
   • "The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm." (Nahum 1:3) •
   "Pray that God may open a door for our message..." (Colossians 4:3)
   ~~~~God's plan is much larger than disarmament, political change, or military victory - He's about getting the Good News of His Son to hearts and places it has never gone!
10. "Lord, bring peace out of all that's happening."
    • "That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (I Timothy 2:2)
    ~~~~God has told us that the result He desires in answer to our prayers for our leaders is a climate where peace and righteousness can flourish. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)
     

We encourage you to submit information and articles for this newsletter. Deadline for the June newsletter is May 23. If you have any additions or corrections to the mailing list or any other suggestions for this newsletter or our Emmaus community, please let us know.
Address correspondence to:
Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Community
230 E. Poplar Street
Sidney, Ohio 45365
or email melinda@bright.net