el Quiri

Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Newsletter July 2004

A Cry For Help!

 We asked and we received. I knew when the cry for help went across the community; I had confidence that the need would be met. We needed to step to the plate, so to speak, and fill the kitchen position and it was. We needed to fill up the cook/server work chart, and you did. That tells me we have a community full of caring and loving individuals, but individuals that can work together to further the cause of Christ. In addition, over the past couple months we have seen many new things and some changes to the Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Community. At first, we had some growing pains, but now, we are still a thriving, God Centered, Body of Christ. I personally want to commend each and every one of you for your patience and cooperation with the Board of Directors.
Over the past two walks we have implemented a few new and/or different things. Send-off wall construction, which I think has been successful, Closing Communion with the tables, and no closing meal. These were to be tried for two walks and then discussed for any adjustments. We, the Board, would welcome your comments on how you think the changes went. If you have any comments or questions, please see any Board member. If they can*t answer your question, they have been instructed to send you on to John Lockwood, Sharon Halter, or me.
Here at GSAE, we have seen God continue to bless our efforts in being His hands and feet. As we move forward in His service, I would have to say on behalf of the Board, keep up the good work! It*s always rewarding to know that when I get home from a walk weekend, when I have a good feeling that God was there. He has definitely been in our midst lately. God is Good!
******In His Service,
*******Jerry Noble
*******Chairman
 

Please help if you are able............
The Body of Christ coming together in Christ's name is something that we speak about every Walk Weekend, and is really what Emmaus is all about. On a recent weekend, there was a need for a Hearing Impaired Interpreter, and we, the Board of Directors, were not able to provide that for a pilgrim in need. We are asking that if you have this special gift of interpreting for the deaf, with the use of sign language, and would be willing to use that gift on Walk weekends, to please contact one of the GSAE Executive Board Members and express your interest. Their phone numbers are listed in this newsletter. Thank you for being a wonderful part of the Body of Christ.

It*s in the valleys I grow
Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It*s then I have to remember
That it*s in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God*s love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it*s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing,
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death:
His victory was Satan*s loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I*m feeling very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it*s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it*s in the valleys I grow!

By Jane Eggleston

This poem was read by Marna Carey during her Fourth Day talk at the Gathering in June. Thank you Marna, for sharing this with the rest of the Community! We can all learn a valuable lesson from this poem.

This poem was written by Mattie Stepanek, a 13 year old child poet whose inspirational verse made him a best-selling writer and a prominent voice for muscular dystrophy sufferers. He recently passed away from complications from the disease. His Heartsongs and his hopes and dreams are an inspiration to us all. May he find peace and hope in his new heavenly home in His Father's arms.

FOR OUR WORLD
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment*
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.

Silent for a moment*
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment*
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice*
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment*
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 12, 2001
* Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

Kitchen News

The list of kitchen servers and cooks was not available at press time, as the list has been misplaced. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of the list, please contact Iva Lenhart.
If you are interested in serving in the kitchen on the July Men's Walk, please contact the Kitchen Coordinator, Iva Lenhart. You can reach her at (937) 497-8852 or e-mail her at ivalen@bright.net.

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 #29

Friday, July 16

Breakfast-served @ 8:00 a.m.
* 4 Cooks arrive @ 6:00 am
**6 Servers - arrive @ 7:30 am
Lunch-served @ 12:30 p.m.
* 4 Cooks arrive @ 10:00 am
**6 Servers: arrive @ 12:00 pm
Dinner-served @ 5:30 p.m.
*4 Cooks arrive @ 3:00 p.m.*
**6 Servers - arrive @5:00 pm

Saturday - July 17

Breakfast served @ 8:00 a.m.
*4 Cooks arrive @ 6:00 am
**6 Servers - arrive @ 7:30 am
Lunch-served @ 12:30 p.m.
*4 Cooks arrive @ 10:00 am
**6 Servers arrive @ 12:00 p.m
Supper-served @ 5:40 p.m.
*4 Cooks arrive @ 3:00 pm
**12 Servers -arrive @ 5:00 pm

Sunday, July 18

Breakfast-served @7:30 a.m.
*4 Cooks arrive @ 6;00 am
**6 Servers - arrive @ 7:00 am
Lunch-served @ 11:30 a.m.
*4 Cooks arrive @ 10:00 am
**6 Servers - arrive @ 11:00 am

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!!

 The Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Board regretfully accepted the resignation of Susie Baker, Kitchen Coordinator, as of early June. She is unable to continue working on the Board because of personal concerns. We would like to thank Susie for her efforts on behalf of the Sidney Emmaus Community. Iva Lenhart, past kitchen coordinator, has stepped forward and has expressed her willingness to serve as the coordinator till the end of 2004. Also, Curt and Tracey Hostetler have graciously served as Day Coordinators on recent Walks, and will continue to do so.
This is one of many important positions in the Community. We would ask that Community members prayerfully consider taking on the responsibilities of this position for 2005. If you are interested in fulfilling this role on the GSAE Board of Directors, please contact Chairman Jerry Noble, Vice Chairman John Lockwood, or Leadership Chair Sharon Halter to express your interest.

Kitchen Reminders........

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 by the person in charge of the kitchen. If you have any questions regarding the kitchen, please speak to Iva Lenhart, or the coordinator in charge of the day you are serving. God thanks you and we thank you for serving!

2004 Calendar of Events---Sidney Emmaus Community
July 13**Gathering-Reunion WW#33
July 15-18**Men*s Walk #29, Burns Wren, Lay Director
*** Don Ramsey, Spiritual Director
July 22**GSAE Board Meeting
Aug. 10**Gathering-Reunion Men's Walk #29
*****Announce Board of Director's Openings
Aug. 26**GSAE Board Meeting
Sept. 14**Gathering
Sept. 23**GSAE Board Meeting
Sept. 24-25*National Celebration, Albuqurque, NM
Oct. 7-10**WW #34, Marianne Shepard, Lay Director
Oct. 12**Music Gathering
*****Vote on Board Nominations
Oct. 28**GSAE Board Meeting
Nov. 4-7 **MW #30, Harry Congdon, Lay Director
Nov. 9**Gathering-Reunion
Dec. 14**Gathering
***Nov/Dec. Board Meeting Date/Time To Be Announced
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

For Your Information.........
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) 498-1599
#3 Leadership Sharon Halter** (937) 585-4869
#4 Chairman Jerry Noble** (937) 465-7696
#5 Vice Chair John Lockwood** (419) 991-8532
#6 Secretary Lisa Newcomer** (419) 753-2121

Agape
A reminder that we will need agape for Men*s Walk #29 which begins on July 15. We need 66 pieces for mealtime. For bedtime agape we need 36 pieces. Please mark on your bag/box how many pieces there are so we don*t have to count everything to figure out where it goes. This is a great help to us.
Also, no SUPER agape for pilgrims. If it won*t fit in the Sunday packet, save it until after the Walk.
We have also been getting letters for pilgrims for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. Pilgrims only receive agape letters on Sunday afternoon so please do not send any letters except for Sunday. Any letters received during the weekend will go in their Sunday packet regardless of what day is written on them.
Please make sure all letters have a first and last name on them (and no nicknames) so we know who they go to.
Giving agape is one way we can all show the pilgrims how much they are loved.
In the April newsletter there was a list of people who I have agape letters for. If you know any of those on the list and would be willing to hold their letters until they go on a Walk, please let me know. If they have already been on a Walk, if you can give me their address, I will mail them. I will have the letters with me on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of the Men's Walk or you can call me at 937-394-7396.

Thanks for being disciples of Christ.
**Pat Gregg
**Agape Chairperson
 

2004 Gathering 4th Day Speakers
July 13***Mindy Settlage
August 10***Jody Prater
September 14***Dave Bemus
October 12***All Music Gathering
November 9***John Lockwood
December 14***Curt Hostetler
O1-13-05***Tim Martin
If you are interested in being a Gathering 4th Day Speaker, please contact Vera Piper, Worship Chair.