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Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Newsletter Jan/Feb 2005

The Body of Christ....in Action in the World

The Christmas season is past and for many, we tend to put much of the good will we felt, away with the Christmas decorations. That's certainly not the way it is supposed to happen, but many of us get caught up in daily living activities and put Jesus in a lower priority.
The events of the last few weeks have been difficult for some and tragic for others. As bad as they were, they were opportunities for Christians to become the hands and feet of Jesus, the body of Christ in action changing our world, It is important that the non believing world see that our faith is the source of our strength and good works as we aid our neighbors when the weather assails us. It is important that the world see Christ in us as we come to the aid of those who survived the tsunami or other events that wreck havoc with our lives.
As a community, we were able to aid a nursing home during the ice storm when they lost power and heat. They needed to move the residents into a central location and needed to borrow our mattresses for the residents. As individuals, we had the opportunity to come to the aid of our neighbors without power, food, water or a warm place to stay. I want to thank all of you who stepped up and let Christ*s love shine through them. Remember, Christ has called us, not to sit on the sidelines, but to get in the game!
DeColores,
John Lockwood

Come and welcome our newest Emmaus members!
Let's show them some true agape LOVE....
Candlelight is at 8:00 p.m., Saturday night, January 22, at the Sidney First United Methodist Church in the Sanctuary.
The Closing for the pilgrims will be at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Please come after 4:00 p.m. and meet in the Old Fellowship Hall(Tabernacle). You can be the hands and feet of Jesus by being present at these events.

Greetings and Blessings to you for the New Year from the Agape Room

You will see a couple of new faces in the Agape room this year as Doug and I have answered the call to be Agape Chairpersons. It will be a team effort as we sort your gifts of love for the pilgrims and team.

Since it is a new year and we all tend to make a few New Year's resolutions, please consider providing agape for a walk this year as one of your resolutions. Remember how excited you were (or at least I was) when you found an agape treasure on your bed or placemat at mealtime. If you would like to include a name on your agape, please list the name of your share group only and not individual names.

Please mark the number of pieces of agape on your box/bag and whether it is for mealtime or bedtime. A women's walk consists of 35 pilgrims for bedtime agape and 65 total pieces for mealtime agape. A men's walk has 36 pilgrims for bedtime agape and 66 total pieces for mealtime agape. Prayerfully consider sharing the love of Jesus by providing agape for a walk this year.

It has been a blessing serving the Emmaus Community as Men's Good Shepherd over the past two years. Thank you for your support and encouragement. May God bless all of you.
Thank You,
Harry Congdon
2003-2004 Men's Good Shepherd

From the Women's Registrar:

Happy New Year! This note is for all the sponsors who may have sent in an application for a Pilgrim in the last 10 years', yes, I said 10 years. Perhaps the woman you were sponsoring had a conflict or decided it just wasn't the right time for her to go on a Walk. In that case, the application would have been put in our "Hold" file until further notice. This is your notice that "further" has arrived.

After the January Women's Walk, I will be purging our file of all applications received by the registrar prior to January 2000. The Pilgrims in this group are welcome to attend a weekend at any time, but a new application will be required. Sponsors are welcome to call or email me with any questions if you're not sure that your Pilgrim is or is not in this group.

Also, if you have a Pilgrim in the "Hold" file from 2000 to 2004, and have learned that they want to be "Active" again please let me know that as well. They would then have priority for the upcoming walks.

Thanks for your assistance and understanding as I pare down our file system for the coming year. Please also be watching for further details on Sponsor Training in 05!

DeColores,
Carol Overholt, Women's Registrar
937-498-1977; overholt77@hotmail.com

2005 Fourth Day Speakers

February 8th - Louann Pellman
March 8th - Doug Ware
April 4th - Darrell Miller
If you are interested in being a Fourth Day Speaker at a Gathering, please contact Deb Serr, Worship Chairman at (937) 693-3597 or express your interest to her when you see her at a Gathering.

Note of Thanks
     I want to thank everyone who made my 2 years in office so pleasurable.
     I enjoyed fixing communion and also getting 4th Day speakers.
     Everyone I asked to do a Fourth Day talk, except one graciously accepted and did a   wonderful job.
     I wish my successor in this job much success and hope they can get speakers as easily as I did.
     My 2 years in office has been great and I will miss being on the Board.
     Thanks to everyone.
Vera Piper, 2003-2004 Worship Chairman*

Logistics News

After nearly a year as Logistics Director for the Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Community, I feel it is past time for an article to introduce myself and describe what the position entails. My name is Denny Brown and I attended the GSAE Men's Walk #20.

On a walk weekend, the Log. Director's fun begins on Wednesday evening before the walk when we pull the correct number of mattresses and cots needed for the sleeping quarters of both the team and pilgrims, from the Emmaus room. The WE I am referring to are the volunteers that come to help. We rearrange rooms and put a prescribed number of mattresses in each. Also set up on Wednesday night is the conference room. Tables and chairs are arranged for Sendoff on Thursday night. After names are called for the walk Thursday night and the dividing walls are pulled out, myself and any volunteers that are available rearrange tables and chairs as they will be for the dining area during the walk.

Tear down and putting the rooms back together begins around 6:00 on Sunday morning to enable First Church to conduct their normal Sunday Service routine. A share group consisting of Randy Locker, Tom Monfort, and Scott Schwartz started helping on Sunday mornings before I assumed this position and have continued to help me. Many thanks, guys!!

Come Sunday evening after Closing, the conference room must be set up according to the Church's needs on Monday. One change we have made this year is the elimination of the Closing meal on a trial basis and it seems to be favorably accepted by the majority of the Community. The Board has voted to make this change permanent. I might add that I was in favor of this change, not to shirk any work or responsibility, but because I thought it was best for the Community. Walk weekends are busy, but it is a pleasure to serve the Lord and the Community.

The Logistics Director works hand in hand with the Social Directors and I am blessed to get to work with Scott and Suzy Schulze. We have worked together on past projects and it is a good fit for all of us.

Many thanks to all those who have helped set up on Wednesday night; before a Gathering; after a Gathering, or Sunday evening after Closing. Ernie Heintz and Steve Beers both served in this position in the past and have been very helpful. Thanks to both of you!! Anyone interested in helping on any of the walks or gatherings feel free to call me at (937) 585-9038.
May God richly bless each and every one of you.

Denny Brown, Logistics Chairman

Calendar of Events---Sidney Emmaus Community

Jan. 11 Gathering
Jan. 20-23 WW#35, Heth Corl, Spiritual Director
Mindy Settlage, Lay Director
Jan. 27 GSAE Board Meeting
Feb. 8 Gathering-Reunion WW#35
Feb. 17-20 MW#31, Bill Rickey, Lay Director
Feb. 24 GSAE Board Meeting
March 8 Gathering-Reunion MW #31
March 24 GSAE Board Meeting

New GSAE Board Members(2005-2006)

John Lockwood-Chairman
Bill Rickey-Vice Chair
Jerry Noble-Leadership
Burns Wren-Treasurer
Doug and Peggy Ware-Agape
Diane Snider-Supplies
Ken Sims-Literature
Deb Serr-Worship
Rick Poppe-Men's Good Shepherd
Larry Reed-Men's Registrar
Mark Burd-Music
Sandy Lockwood-Outreach/Database
Jody Prater-Newsletter

Past GSAE Board Members(2003-2004)

Sharon Halter-Leadership
Treasurer-Patty Yinger
Pat Gregg-Agape
Amy Zorn-Supplies
Candy Sharp-Literature
Vera Piper-Worship
Harry Congdon-Men's Good Shepherd
Curt Hostetler-Men's Registrar
Eric Truxal-Music
Teresa Truxal-Outreach
Mindy Settlage-Newsletter

I would like to say thank you to all of you for your support of my endeavors as I served this Community as the Newsletter Chairperson over the last 2 years. At times it was a difficult task to complete, with many stumbling blocks along my path, but I pray that I turned them into stepping stones as I tried to do what God called me to do, and serve on this Board. I have been richly blessed by these experiences, and I have learned to appreciate the wonderful members of this Emmaus Community. I would also like to say thank you to my fellow members of the Board of Directors over the last 2 years, as you have made my life richer with all of your love and support. Special thanks goes to the Office staff at Sidney First-Patty and Melissa; Teresa Truxal; Terry Sharp; and Sharon Halter.

May God richly bless each of you as you serve Him wherever He leads you!
DeColores,
Mindy Settlage

It's all in your perspective, isn't it?

The university professor challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?" A student bravely replied, "Yes, he did!" "God created everything?" The professor asked. "Yes sir", the student replied. The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then God is evil". The student became quiet before such an answer. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?" "Of course", replied the professor. The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?" "What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The students snickered at the young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (- 460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?" The professor responded, "Of course it does." The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have already said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil." To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love that exist just as does light and heat. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light." The professor sat down. The young man's name --- Albert Einstein.

Kitchen News

For each meal 4 cooks are needed, and 6 Servers; except on the Saturday night Candlelight meal, where 12 servers are needed.

Kitchen Crew for Men's Walk #31
Friday, February 18

Breakfast-served @ 8:00 a.m
Cooks arrive @ 6:00 am

1. Jim Alder***3. Ray Prater
2. Betty Alder***4.
Servers - arrive @ 7:30 am
1. Mike Madden**4.
2. Burns Wren**5.
3. Jim Maxwell**6.

Lunch-served @ 12:30 p.m.
Cooks arrive @ 10:00 am

1. Ray Prater**3. Janis Blake
2. Peg Fogt**4. Lisa Newcomer
Servers: arrive @ 12:00 pm
1. Sue Simmon**4.
2. Sylvia York***5.
3. Cheryl Micheal**6.

Dinner-served @ 5:30 p.m.
Cooks arrive @ 3:00 p.m.

1. Janis Blake**3.
2. ***4. *
Servers - arrive @5:00 pm
1. Lisa Shivery*4. Larry Hughes
2. Diane Snider*5. Sherry Hughes
3. Mike Snider*6.

Saturday -February 19
Breakfast served @ 8:00 a.m.
Cooks arrive @ 6:00 am

1. Bob Francis**3. Daryl Miller
2. Kerry Gleich **4.
Servers - arrive @ 7:30 am
1. Vera Piper**4. Ginny Klopfenstain
2. Neal Piper**5.
3. Marianne Shepard*6.

Lunch-served @ 12:30 p.m.
Cooks arrive @ 10:00 am

1. Bob Francis**4. Daryl Miller
2. Karen Mauch**5. Mark Kaufman
3. Deb Williams
Servers arrive @ 12:00 p.m
1. Kim Kirkendall**4. Jeffrey Mauch
2. Harry Congdon**5. Jimmy Heiser
3. Nancy Congdon**6. Lisa Pollard

Supper-served @ 5:40 p.m.
Cooks arrive @ 3:00 pm

1. Bob Francis*4. John Shultz
2. Daryl Miller**5. Tera Shultz
3. Janis Blake
Servers -arrive @ 5:00 pm
1. Barb Locker*7. Amita Plantz
2. Larry Grieshop*8. Carol Overholt
3. Ellen Grieshop*9. Doug Strohl
4. Carol Foster*10. Viki Inman
5. Tonya Temple*11. Cheryl Dickensheets
6. Kerry Gleich*12. Tracy Vondenhuevel

Sunday, February 20

Breakfast-served @7:30 a.m.
Cooks arrive @ 6;00 am

1. Barb locker* *4. Fritz Serr
2. Deb Serr**5. Kay Rickey
3. Jeremy Sharp *
Servers - arrive @ 7:00 am
1. Candy Sharp *4. Tammie Welsh*
2. Shirley DeWeese*5. Joe McMillen
3. Don DeWeese*6.

Lunch-served @ 11:30 a.m.
Cooks arrive @ 10:00 am
1. Janis Blake**3.
2. ****4. *
Servers - arrive @ 11:00 am
1. Sherry Hughes*4.
2. Larry Hughes*5.
3. ***6.

If you can help out please call Iva Lenhart at (937) 497-8852. Also, if you are unable to work please try to find someone to replace you - every worker is very important! Thank you for being the feet and hands of Christ!!

2005 Walk Dates

Women's Men's

January 20-23, 2005 February 17-20, 2005

June 23-26, 2005 July 14-17, 2005

October 13-16, 2005 November 3-6, 2005

24 Things to Always Remember. . .

and One Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.
Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people . . . together.
|Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.
And don't ever forget . . .
For even a day . . .
How very special you are.

We encourage you to submit information and articles for this newsletter. Deadline for the April newsletter is March 15. 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:
Gr. Sidney Area Emmaus Comm.
230 E. Poplar Street
Sidney, Ohio 45365
or email Jody Prater at rej@bright.net