el Quiri

Greater Sidney Area Emmaus newsletter July, 1998

From Your Spiritual Director

A man hiking out of the Chugach mountains of Alaska hoped to make it to camp before a deadly blizzard hit. He was too late. The blizzard struck with such a fury that he was unable to see even two feet in front of his face. The windblown snow and ice knocked him off his feet as he struggled to find his way. Although he knew that he was only a short distance from camp, he had lost his sense of direction and couldn't determine which way to go. Finally, in the dark of night, he slumped down into a snow bank - cold, wet, and totally exhausted. He could go on no further. He resigned himself to die.

As he lay there in the snow, he thought he heard something - a faint cry, like the whimpering of a puppy. He called out to it and tried to crawl toward the sound. Sure enough, it was a dog that was also lost in the storm. The puppy had somehow been separated from its mother and was freezing to death. The man quickly began rubbing the dog's fur, trying to keep the dog's blood circulating so that the dog would survive. He warmed the dog with his breath, continuing through the night to try to keep the little puppy alive.

The next day scouts from the village found both the man and the dog alive. They discovered that the man, by working to keep the little dog alive during the night, had kept himself alive as well.

When we serve others, we do a lot of good for them. However, and more importantly, we ourselves are changed. We not only benefit from our serving others, we become more like Christ. If you have ever sponsored a person on an Emmaus walk, you know the joy of listening to them share on Sunday evening what the weekend has meant to them. It means as much to us to have them experience Christ in their lives. We are blessed. It is in reaching out to others, serving others, introducing others to Christ that we are re-filled with God's joy.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people . . ." Galatians 6:9-10

Kathy

Message from Your Chairman...

Greetings in the name of Jesus!

John 11:25 says; "Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" In this text, Jesus is talking to Martha just before raising Lazarus from the dead. This question became reality to me recently as my wife and I went to visit a friend who was dying from cancer. As we talked to him and told him that we love him, he responded by saying that he loves us, but most importantly, he loves Jesus. He knew that when he took his last breath here on earth, he would be standing before the God who created him and loves

him. He believed that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Don went to be with Jesus the very next morning.

I have a peace, and am rejoicing that Don is pain free and is with Jesus getting the most awesome hugs that he ever could have imagined. But, his death has made me stop and think about my witness for Christ. Am I showing "Christian Action", or am I being a "Priest?" Do my "Priorities" allow me to be Christ to others? Am I "Persevering" in my faith or am I just "Talking the Talk and not Walking the Walk?"

At the end of verse 25 there are four important words,"Do you believe this?" If we truly believe, we need to be reaching out to all who don't and share the love that Jesus has given us. Don has taught me an important lesson. I need to share Jesus in all I say and all I do until I breathe my last breath.

"DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?"

In His Many Colors,

Bill

DARKE COUNTY EMMAUS

Men’s Walk #3 - October 8-11, 1998

Women’s Walk #5 - November 12-15, 1998

Send Agape and Request for Agape to:

Nan Gregor - 1651 Greenville-Nashville Road

Greenville, OH 45331

or e-mail: magregor@bright.net

Ladies ... Ladies ... Ladies

We are still trying to organize our choir. Please, if you are at all interested in sharing your gift of song with others, consider joining our choir. We will meet at 6:15 on the second Tuesday of the month in the area near the chapel. This is just before the Gathering begins and it will be an organizational meeting. This may or may not be our rehearsal time and place. We will make that decision in the best interest of all. If you like to sing, please join us. You do not have to read music. We will give you learning tapes. The initial response was very good. I know everyone is really busy, but this is a very good way to praise our Lord. It brings such joy to all. Come help us make a JOYFUL NOISE. Call me or drop me a line: Judy Cartwright, 492-4966, GLY-ILY-JKC@wesnet.com; 617 Fulton Street, Sidney, Ohio, 45365.

Aids Quilt on Display

Eighteen individual panels of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt are coming to Sidney, Aug. 4 through Aug. 16. They will be displayed in conjunction with the Gateway Arts Council’s festival exhibition at Canal Place (121 W. Poplar Street) and the building which formerly housed Goffena Furniture (110 W. Poplar Street).

The Quilt’s local appearance is being organized by the Shelby County Family & Children First Council’s LINCS AmeriCorps program with several other community organizations also playing a vital role in bringing the quilt to the area.

Coordinator Jenni Miller stated, "As a program, we felt it was very important to do what we could to help make our community aware of the impact this disease has had."

The fabric panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt have been shown across the United States and around the world for eleven years. The purpose of the quilt is to ensure that those who have died from AIDS are never forgotten, and to help bring an end to AIDS. The eighteen individual panels coming to Sidney are part of the 50,000 which comprise the entire Quilt. The Quilt represents 12% of all U.S. AIDS deaths.

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Women’s Walk #13 - October 15-18, 1998

Men’s Walk #12 - November 19-22, 1998

Women’s Walk #14 - January 28-31, 1999

Men’s Walk #13 - February 25-28, 1999

Women’s Walk #15 - April 29 - May 2, 1999

Women’s Walk #16 - July 8 -11, 1999

Men’s Walk #14 - July 29 - August 1, 1999

Women’s Walk #17 - October 14-17, 1999

Men’s Walk #15 - November 18 - 21, 1999

AUGUST BOARD MEETING

First United Methodist Church

Thursday, August 27, 1998

6:45 p.m. - Chapel

Lima Emmaus Community

Shawnee Methodist Church has started monthly Emmaus Gatherings:

Where: Shawnee Methodist Church

2600 Shawnee Road , Lima, OH 45806

(northwest corner Shawnee & Zurmehly Roads)

Contact: Helen Price or Diane Hile at the church

(419) 991-4806

When: 4^th Monday of each month

Time: 6:00 p.m. Potluck Supper

(bring covered dish, drink & table service)

7:00 p.m. Worship with Fourth Day Speakers

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