I find that in coming "back" from an Emmaus Walk, not as a Pilgrim but as a team member, I still experience that unexpected jolt of reality as I step back into the "now" world. As Pilgrims, we are taught that the world we left behind for 72 hours will not have changed, but that we have; that we can’t change the world, but we can strive to change our own smaller world. No matter how many walks you take that truth still remains. For each time you walk the walk, the reality of God’s love becomes ever more intense. Real. Strengthening. Uplifting. That the God we serve is a loving and awesome God and, oh, how I pray the whole world would realize that! Patience is not one of my better, mature virtues, but I am working on it.

In reading my Women’s Devotional Bible, a devotional by Ann Weems, entitled "Realize," said so well what I felt toward each of the pilgrims, and I would like to share it with all of you.

REALIZE

If I could, I’d write for you a rainbow
And splash it with all the colors of God
And hang it in the window of your being
So that each new God’s morning
Your eyes would open first to Hope and Promise.
If I could, I’d wipe away your tears
And hold you close forever in shalom.
But God never promised
I could write a rainbow,
Never promised I could suffer for you,
Only promised I could love you.

That I do.

If you change all the "I’s" to "We" you have the Emmaus Community well defined. And even if I or we can’t "write rainbows" or can’t "suffer for others," our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, can and has! And that is our message to all the Pilgrims on an Emmaus Walk and should be our message to the entire world in our daily walk with the Lord.

Pat Hedleston

1. Expand their own spiritual lives through study and congregational participation;

2. Become more active disciples of Christ in the world through their churches.

The purpose of Emmaus is God as known in Jesus Christ and how that finds expression in the local church. The objective of Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and equip local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of work. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled life to be lived and shared with others.

Fourth Day Talk Special Music for the Gatherings

Deb Herald                      Jerry Noble

Agape                          Kitchen Help

Mike & Cheri Clayton   Nancy Smith

937-492-7440                 937-492-0388

Men’s Share Group Women’s Share Group

Dale Noffsinger        Judy Cartwright

937-394-4924           937-492-4966

Men’s Registrar       Women’s Registrar

Dod Noffsinger        Jan Fenner

937-492-7263             937-492-9749

Baby-sitting     Newsletter Articles or Mailing List

Kim Bunker        Ruth Harris

937-362-3612

willing to help you in any way. Their names

are always listed on the front

of each newsletter. You may make contact

with them by writing to the

First United Methodist Church.

I would like to give a great big thank you for all your efforts in making "cookies" for Men’s Kairos #5 at Marion Correctional Institute (MCI). Those who did not make cookies, I thank you for your prayers.

What an experience! Everyone in MCI knew something was going on and every prisoner got cookies. There was a list of 200 men wanting to be a part of Kairos #5 but we could only take 42 - then the Warden added two more for her own reasons - yes, you have read correctly - the warden is a "her", and what a wonderful lady! She has gone through Emmaus and wants to Christianize the prison - and I believe that will happen.

When the warden first came to the prison the prisoners gave her whistles and catcalls and she immediately put those cellblocks in "lock down". She started off on the right foot and has gained the respect of the prisoners. She is very well liked and well thought of.

Most of the prisoners who were able to get on the Kairos weekend were doing "hard time"; that is they were in prison for a long term. However, most of them wanted to be on the weekend because they had seen such major changes in other men who had gone through a Kairos weekend. They were also very interested in finding out about all those cookies.

I was given the privilege from the Lord to lead four of the six men from our table to Him; one of the other men is still having trouble with the concept of "ALL OR NOTHING" with Christ.

It was a very interesting table and the reconciliation was powerful. When one of the men stood up and apologized to all those he had hurt and asked their forgiveness, he received a standing ovation. The warden not only has the respect of the men at the prison, she is a very smart lady who is dedicated to the Lord in changing the lives of these men.

Kairos is a powerful ministry and I would encourage you to look into it. Thank you again for the cookies. Time and space does not permit all the testimonies as a result of the prayers over those cookies.

In His Service,

NEXT MONTH’S GATHERING CHANGE

Please note that we are changing the order of Our Community Gathering. We will begin at 6:30 with fellowship and a pot luck dinner. Please bring your own table service and food to share.

Then at 7:30 we will meet in the Sanctuary to enjoy a time with our fellow Christians for singing, praise, prayer, along with our special music and, of course, our Fourth Day speaker. We will close with Communion.

June will be Michaele "Mike" Howe.

Did you notice a change in last weeks speaker? Instead of Stacy we were blessed with Diana Reese. However we are happy to say that Stacy Pettit will be our July speaker.

We want to thank all of you who have signed up to help with baby-sitting duties. As a reminder we will publish thie names in the newsletter in hopes that you won’t forget this very important job that you have agreed to do.

JUNE: Kim Lambert, Eric Truxall, Betty Alder, and Regina Hunsucker.

JULY: Kim Lambert, Kathy Roetter, and Leah Bradley.

AUG: Kim Lambert, Mary Toal, and Jim Painter.

We need a 4th person for July and August. Also, we don’t have anyone for December.