el Quiri
Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Newsletter
Feb 1999DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!
A story is told about a man who was trying to read a serious book, but his little boy kept interrupting him. The boy would lean against his father’s knees and say, "Daddy, I love you." The father would give him a pat and say rather absently, "Yes, son, I love you too," and he would kind of give him a little push away so he could keep on reading. But this didn’t satisfy the boy, and finally he ran to his father and said, "I love you, Daddy," and he jumped up on his father’s lap and threw his arms around him and gave him a big squeeze, explaining, "And I’ve just got to DO something about it!"
Many times we have witnessed Emmaus closings where several of the Pilgrims have felt this same way. They have felt the love of Christ embrace them so powerfully that they’ve "just got to DO something about it!" I bet you’ve been there and felt that too, haven’t you?
The object of Emmaus is to "inspire, challenge, and equip local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of work." This certainly gives us a wide area to "DO something about it!" and that should be our first priorities for serving.
Another area for serving or "Doing something about it!" is within Emmaus. Over 200 persons are needed to help ‘behind’ the scenes during an Emmaus weekend; sign up for the prayer vigil, work in the kitchen, help with set-up on Wednesday evening before the walk and with tear-down on Sunday evening after the walk, help with agape, and there is also help needed to set-up and clean-up at monthly gatherings. Another way of serving is to invite family, friends, CO-workers, people at your church, and others, Christ places in your path to experience the Walk to Emmaus. Don’t let that exuberant feeling of "I’ve just got to DO something" fizzle! Keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning within you and keep on serving and "DO something"!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Kathy Reiff
...God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit...
Romans 5:5
Greetings in the name of Jesus
I recently received a copy of the Heart of Florida Walk to
Emmaus newsletter from my Dad and Mom who "tough out"
the winter months in Frostproof! (I really am glad they can go
and enjoy the warmth!) This is a new community looking forward to
their first walks!!!
As I was reading the outside of the newsletter, I noticed
something that caught my eye! It said this; "Praise the
Lord! We now have 15 pilgrims for our first set of walks! 4 men
and 11 women." This made me stop and take a look at our
community.
We have been greatly blessed in Sidney, Ohio. We have an active
community, a caring community and a community that shares
God’s love abundantly. But then I really have to stop and
ask myself a few questions.
1. Why did we have only one outside team member show up at 6:30am. Sunday morning on the last walk to put away mattresses? (I wasn’t there either!)
2. Why are we struggling to fill men’s walks with pilgrims?
3. Why are there so many distractions going on at candlelight services?
4. Are we really excited about what God is going to do for others, or are we only excited about what God is going to do for us?
I don’t mean to come across as being judgmental. What I would really want is to challenge all of us to do, is to search our motives and truly strive to have the servant’s hearts that God calls us to have. This is a daily struggle for me as "I" try to put "me" aside and just try to be Jesus to those pilgrims who see my life everyday.
Let’s have the excitement of a "new" community as we share the love and grace we all have all experienced on our Walk to Emmaus.
DeColores,
Bill
Praise Him with the
sounding of the trumpet...
...Let everything that has
breath praise the Lord."
Psalm 150: 3,6
You may want to check out the Emmaus web site www.oneinspirit.com/emmaus to see who else God is calling for the Men’s Walk #13.
Men’s Walk #13 (Feb. 25-28) still has openings for Pilgrims. If you know of anyone, please contact Dod Noffsinger, Men’s Registrar. Phone: (937) 492-7263
Candlelight at 8:00pm Feb. 27, Saturday night at the First United Methodist Church.
The Closing for the pilgrims will be at 4:30pm Sunday afternoon. Please come after 4:00pm same location and meet in the Old Fellowship Hall.
Saturday Night Servers
Saturday night servers will be limited to 12 people. Arrive at 5:00pm. Wear white shirt/blouse, and black slacks/skirt. You will be serving food and drinks, helping clear the tables, and doing dishes.
Please Contact Nancy Smith (937) 492-0388 if there is any changes in your schedule.
Are you looking for a way to serve your Emmaus Community??
Parents who utilize the baby sitting services provided at monthly Gatherings are encouraged to sign-up for (1) Gathering during the year.
A sign up sheet was sent around during the last Gathering, but there are still some empty spots. Please contact Kim Bunker at (937) 492-9231 if you feel that you can be one of God’s servants in this area.
You may direct any questions, comments/suggestions, or concerns about baby-sitting to her.
The Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Info
The Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Community’s Gatherings are on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm. We meet at the First United Methodist Church located at 230 E. Poplar St., Sidney Ohio. Please come and celebrate Christ's love with us.
Board Meeting's are held at First United Methodist Church in Sidney in the Chapel at 6:45 PM on the fourth Thursday of each mont
h.