el Quiri
Greater Sidney Area Emmaus newsletter May, 1998
From your Spiritual Director ...
A Walk Down Memory Lane
This past February I and several others had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the Holy Land and actually walk in the country Jesus walked. What an emotional and heart-warming experience!! Many times I have been asked, "What was the highlight of the trip?" As I thought about my response many visions clicked through my mind: the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee; standing in the synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus taught; praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and remembering the anguish of Jesus' prayers on that last night; listening to the cries of the Jewish women as they prayed at the Western Wall - the Wailing Wall; standing inside the empty tomb and reading the words on the door, "He Is NOT Here - He Has Risen!" I relive the experience over and over again! It is impossible to select just one event or one site, so I just respond, "The WHOLE trip! Just being able to walk where Jesus walked was the high point!"
When you are asked, "What was the highlight of your Emmaus Walk?" What images click through your minds? As we think back over the weekend and our experience, those same feelings we felt at the time flood our souls and bring a tear and a smile. We want to relive the experience over and over again, don't we?
We can relive our Emmaus experience every day in many other ways. We must share that AGAPE love we received with a world which is starved for love. We need to become active in our churches and reach out to those who hunger for God's word. We are called to be as Christ in our homes, our communities, and our world. Then, when we go to bed and ask ourselves, "What have I done today so Christ may be better known?" we will have pleasant images click through our minds of the people we have touched through Jesus Christ. What wonderful memories!!
Kathy
Message from Chris
Lisa and I want to express our deepest thanks for the privilege to be a part of the marvelous work God has done in and through the ministry of the Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Community. When we first took our walks some three years ago to the variety of ways you have allowed us to serve Him since, we have been blessed beyond measure. This summer, however, we will begin a new venture...going back to school at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky as part of the Beeson Doctoral Program. You will all be very close to our hearts and thought of often in our prayers. God be with us all until we meet again.
In Christ alone,
Chris & Lisa Heckaman
Special Thanks ....
Special thanks to Ervin Gleghorn and Lester Settlage for construction of the new podium. For those who have not seen it, words cannot express its beauty.
Also a special thanks to Julie Lee who has been doing the Emmaus name tags. Candee Esser has now taken over that responsibility.
Special Offering at May Gathering
We have received word of the tragic disappearance of Donna Farr, The Upper Room's Director of Chrysalis. Donna was last seen on March 28th. Her car has been located and blood was found on the seat and in the trunk. Unfortunately, there have been no significant developments in the case. The police presume Donna to be dead, based on evidence of foul play. The police
are aggressively pursuing the case and they and family and friends continue to search for Donna.
Donna lived her commitment to young people and gave herself with loving, energetic abandon to helping our sons and daughters realize God's love and
promise for their lives. Many people have asked what they can do to help Donna's sons, Andrew who is 14 and Adam who is 12. Donna was the sole support for her sons. The Upper Room has created a fund, "Donna Farr Memorial Fund," which is dedicated to the educational needs and support of the boys. If anyone would like to make a contribution to this fund, please make checks payable and mail to: "Donna Farr Memorial Fund," The Upper Room, PO Box 189, Nashville, TN 37202-0189.
Please continue to pray for Donna, her family and her friends. NOTE: The offering taken at our May Emmaus Gathering will go to the fund!
Darke County Area Emmaus Community
Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace and Greetings from the Darke County Area Emmaus Community in Darke County, Ohio. As you receive this request for Agape, our Community is aflame with anticipation for our upcoming walks. Much prayer and preparation has gone into lighting up Darke County with an even deeper love for Christ. God has sparked a fire within our Community. The prayers and letters of Agape we receive from you are the fuel for that fire.
We are looking forward to a Spirit-filled year in Darke County:
Women’s Walk #4 - July 23-26, 1998
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
Humor Break....
Dear Lord,
So far today, God, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But, in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed. And, from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot more help! AMEN
From Your Chairman
Greetings in the name of Jesus!
It's hard to believe that another month has gone by and it is time to write another article for the newsletter! As I sat thinking about what to write, I thought about what I have been learning in my walk
with The Lord and this is what he has given me to share with you. Often time in my life I get caught up with the every day activities of life, going to work, spending time with my wife, mowing the lawn, what to make for dinner, (yes I cook and do dishes too!!!), preparing the track team I coach to be the best they can be, looking forward to my leisure time and deciding if I can beat Steve and Dennis on the golf course. But as I was reading in Tony Evans book entitled "Our God Is Awesome", in the chapter "The Passion For God", it talks about glorifying God. It says: "To glorify God means to make him look good, to place him on display so that when others see your life, they stand in awe of your God" All of the things
mentioned earlier in this letter are important, but when others see me and when they see you in those activities are they saying "WOW, I want the God they have in their life. He is real! He is part of everything that person does." Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31:
"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I need to step back and look at my life and see if I really am making our God look good, or am I just another Christian by words, not by actions?
Do the people around you see God glorified in all you do? Let's make it our goal to continue to let our lights shine and make God "look good" in all things we do!
Let Your Light Shine !
Bill
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Women’s Walk #12 - July 9-12, 1998
Men’s Walk #11 - July 30 - Aug 2, 1998
Women’s Walk #13 - October 15-18, 1998
Men’s Walk #12 - November 19-22, 1998
MAY BOARD MEETING
First United Methodist Church
Thursday, May 28, 1998
6:45 p.m. - Chapel
From the Kitchen .... Nancy Smith
I am in need of cookie bakers for the summer walks. Please send a note to the Sidney Emmaus Community, First United Methodist Church, Attn: Nancy Smith or give me a call at 937/492-0388.
As a matter of clarification, responsibilities of "kitchen help" and "servers" is as follows:
Kitchen help is responsible for all food preparation. If time permits, the tables are set. Kitchen crew remains through clean-up.
Servers set tables (if not already done), put out agape, serve team and pilgrims, clear the tables, and do dishes.
Everyone is responsible for leaving the kitchen in apple-pie order.
First United Methodist Church
The Greater Sidney Area Emmaus Community
230 E. Poplar Street
Sidney, OH 45365
Recipe Corner ...Nancy Smith
CORN PUDDING
2 eggs, well beaten
½ cup margarine, melt & cool
1 can cream style corn
1 can whole kernel corn (w/liquid)
8 oz. sour cream
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
Mix first 5 ingredients together. Add Jiffy mix, stir well. Bake in 9x9 pan, 350 oven, 40-50 minutes.