News and Upcoming Events

Come join us Saturday, February 18, 2012, starting with a 5:00 pm Potluck dinner, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Service. All are welcome! Bring your family, friends and neighbors! Bring a side dish to share or just your appetite! Childcare is available, call Janet Goodwin at 301-737-4070. For questions on the gathering, contact Ken Cain at 571-436-5376. Hope to see you there!

Clarification on next Men's and Women's Walks

There has been some questions as to when the next Men's and Women's Walks will occur. Our latest newsletter had the dates listed incorrectly. The next walks will be in the fall of 2012. The specific dates are:

Men - November 1 - 4, 2012
Women - November 8 - 11, 2012

Pilgrim Application
Team Application

These walks will occur at the West River Retreat Center near Deale, MD.

There will be a Fourth Day Seminar following the women’s walk on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Good Shepherd UMC in Waldorf.

This may seem like a long time away. The Board has decided to schedule these walks so that there may be a high level of support for each. We will be working in various ways in the months to come to encourage pilgrim applications and that the very best teams come together for these two walks.

Now is the time to be praying about who you would like to sponsor for the next walks and to start talking to your prospective pilgrims. And if you are interested in teaming for the fall 2012 Walks, please submit your applications as soon as possible. Planning and team selection will begin January 2012. You know the dates well in advance and therefore can start to plan accordingly.

Those of you that have sponsored in the past, how are your pilgrim(s) doing? When was the last time you talked to your pilgrim? How about making a promise to yourself that you will contact your pilgrim, wish them a Happy Thanksgiving, invite them to the November gathering, and talk to them about teaming or sponsoring.

At the next Gathering in November we will be having a short training session about being a sponsor and answer any questions you might have.

I would love to see something that I have not seen in a long time; so many pilgrim applications by the end of March 2012 that we will need to start planning Spring 2013 Walks as soon as possible.

Take care and God Bless,

Rick Pitonyak
Community Lay Director
Southern Maryland Emmaus

FALL 2012 WALK INFO

We are very excited to announce the Fall 2012 walks! We have certainly been blessed to have such a wonderful and caring community here in southern Maryland! Just think about how great it is to have so many people involved in the Emmaus movement! We have been truly blessed!

In order to make sure we have time to adequately plan for the walk in 2012, we are announcing the Men's Fall 2012 Walk #41 which will be held on November 1st through November 4, 2012. The Women's Walk #42 will be held on November 8th through November 11th, 2012. Please consider your nominees now to ensure they have a slot reserved for them in 2012!

We are extremely proud of all the hard work everyone is doing to spread the word of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the southern Maryland region.

De Colores!

June M. Fauber
Southern Maryland Emmaus Past Lay Director

NORTHEAST EMMAUS AND CHRYSALIS ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK!

SPREAD THE WORD! Please join us on the Northeast Emmaus & Chrysalis page on Facebook, and connect with brothers and sisters in Christ at https://www.facebook.com/groups/NECommunities.

Love in Christ,

Your Northeast Leadership Team
Ruth Ann, Faith, Kate, Joe, Tony, Terri, Emily, Mike, Ilyse

"ON THE PATH" NEWSLETTER IS HERE!

A special "Get Out the Vote" edition of "On the Path" is now available. Deadline for next issue is July 10, 2011. The preferred method of submission is as an MSWord document file or a WordPerfect file sent via-e-mail to the following address: dbrennan6@verizon.net.

Very short articles or notes may be sent in the body of the e-mail message. Please send your comments and recommendations as well to the editor, Dan Brennan, at the e-mail address above. (05/15)

CHANGES TO "PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT"

With the issuance of new Reunion Group cards by the Upper Room -- in which the Prayer to the Holy Spirit has two word changes, we thought it a good time to share some background with regard to the Prayer to the Holy Spirit. The words that have been changed are in parenthesis, and is immediately followed by the new word IN BOLD. The revised prayer is, therefore, much more personal.

"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in (them) US the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and (they) WE shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy your consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

In explaining the format of the weekly group reunion, it is written, "The group begins the meeting by reciting the prayer on the card. The 'Prayer to the Holy Spirit' is a centuries-old prayer paraphrase of Psalm 104:30, which celebrates God's sovereignty over humanity and the Spirit's recreative work in this world.

The opening prayer is a reminder that the reason for meeting is not only to be with one another; it is to gather with openness to the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit. The prayer signifies the group members' recognition that the Spirit accompanies them in their daily walk and in their weekly gathering, just as the spirit of Jesus accompanied the two disciples on the walk to Emmaus that first Easter afternoon."

Ref: Emmaus Library Series booklet, The Group Reunion, page 17.

De Colores! (05/29)

ONLINE EMMAUS INFORMATION

Can't get enough of Emmaus? There is a wonderful online Emmaus website that may be just for you! This Emmaus Online Website is available through the Upper Room. It contains a treasure of information, including stories, newsletters, and other links that may be of interest to you!

I've taken liberty to download the newsletters available at this site:

Summer 2010

Summer 2009

Winter 2009

Fall 2008

Spring 2008

Winter 2007
Summer 2007
Spring 2007
Fall 2006
Summer 2006

If you know of any other interesting internet sites, please let me know and I will be happy to get these onto the website!

Pat Knowland (08/29)

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WALK!

Sure we get to hear a little about some one’s walk experience during the gatherings as part of a 4th Day Talk, but wouldn’t it be interesting to hear about some of the often over looked moments that made your weekend special?

Maybe you have some thing to share in the following catagories:

The funniest thing that happened to me on my weekend.

The strangest food experience of my weekend (you know we’ve all had them)

Snoring 101 (how you survived that noisy night - tricks for the novice sleeper) <;I> My favorite piece of agape (the one you’re still wearing)

Our weekends are powerful experiences of connecting with the Lord, but there are also those lighter moments that we rarely talk about. How about sharing a story or two with your brothers and sisters. Send your thoughts to Dan Brennan. (10/31)

CHRYSALIS TEAM AND CATERPILLAR APPLICATIONS

For all of those interested in the Chrysalis Program, we have added links to the Team and Caterpillar Application Forms.

Chrysalis Team Application

Caterpillar Application

NEW REVISED "PURPLE WORSHIP BOOKS" NOW AVAILABLE

Got Your “Barney” Book? The Upper Room Walk to Emmaus Purple Worship booklet has been updated. John Carns has bought a supply, and we plan to start using them on the next set of Walks. If you would like to buy one, they are available at community events for $1.00.

Also, as you know the meal songs have changed as well. If you haven’t learned them yet, visit the Upper Room website, www.upperroom.org and click on Emmaus Walks then scroll down until you see the “meal bless ings.” (9/04)

NEW CROSSES FOR EMMAUS

The International Emmaus and Chrysalis Office is pleased to announce the introduction of a new Walk to Emmaus neck cross and a new Chrysalis neck cross. Both crosses are made of Alder wood, a hardwood which grows in the Northern Hemisphere. Alter wood is straight-grained, shock and decay resistant and stains well. It is used in making guitars, artificial limbs and cabinets. There is a ring at the top of the cross so a wide or thin lanyard can be added to complete the neck cross.

The current pewter neck cross was introduced in 1988, ten years after the start of the Emmaus movement. The Chrysalis cross was added when that movement started in 1985. The pewter neck crosses require molds, thirteen of them for all the languages, and those molds wear out and need to be replaced from time to time. In addition to the molds, The Upper Room does not own the rights to the design or the rights to the molds. Our current manufacturer is the only company that will or can produce these crosses and we do not have the rights for the sale of these items. They are under no obligation to sell these neck crosses exclusively to us.

The new wooden crosses are our own design and can be laser-cut, leaving no reason to have and replace molds. We originally looked at many designs, sizes and materials. We eliminated some styles and once down to a “Final Four” for design and type of font, the Chrysalis, Emmaus and Clergy Regional Leaders chose the final design for our communities to use.

Emmaus crosses have been sold out, however, Chrysalis crosses are still available by using item number C210. Chrysalis crosses should be available until the end of 2009, or until our supply has been sold out. While over 90% of all Emmaus and Chrysalis communities use the neck cross that we provide, it is not a requirement.

The Southern Maryland Emmaus community leadership is aware of this change and are making efforts to obtain a supply of these new crosses. (11/01)

SEEDS OF KINDNESS
by Pat Duval

Kindness is a fruit of the spirit. Seeds are planted but it is God who makes the plant grow. Listen carefully to the seeds you plant. Jesus spoke about harvesting a seed. A farmer planted a seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and the birds ate it. Some fell on the gravel, it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down root, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth; and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. Are you listening?

You were created to become like Christ. God doesn’t want you to become a God, he wants you to become godly. One of God’s goals for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed. Seeds must be planted and cultivated in us to become like Christ. God is far more interested in what you are than what you do. Kindness is caring. You are blessed when you care. Open up to others with kindness and you will teach them to open up to God also. Do you care for other people?

Seeds of kindness may chase somebody’s woes away. A smile, a look, a fond “Hello” is a gift that you can bestow. When a soul is in distress and they send an SOS, a smile can go a long way. Don’t be afraid to say, “Hello” or help somebody who’s feeling low. For smiles will lift one’s spirit, and happiness will fill his cup. Seeds of kindness bring happiness, so with a smile and a friendly nod, give the gift that comes from God. Give one more smile for Jesus, nothing will make a greater difference for eternity.

Webmaster Note: For more inspirational stories on Faith, visit Divine Caroline. (03/01)

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

De Colores! Have you ever thought about sponsoring someone to a Walk? Sponsoring a pilgrim can be a wonderful experience for both of you, and it is something everyone should consider! The following information is provided on sponsorship.

Each person who attends The Walk to Emmaus has a sponsor. A sponsor is a person who has been through an Emmaus experience and is willing to share that experience with another new Emmaus participant. The sponsorship of a previous participant free's the current participant from any personal responsibilities that might distract him or her while on the experience. Sponsorship also undergirds each participant's 72-hour experience with prayer and other expressions of God's love.

According to the dictionary, a sponsor is one who takes responsibility for another. The suffix "-ship" refers to the skill involved in the activity. So sponsorship is the skill of taking responsibility for another.

The aim of a sponsor should not be "to get all my friends to go," to fill up the weekend, to fix people's problems, or to reproduce one's own religious experience in others. Rather, the aim of the sponsor is to bring spiritual revitalization to Christians who will, in turn, bring new life and vision to the work of the church in the congregation, home, workplace, and community. The aim of sponsorship is to build up the body of Christ.

Sponsorship is an act of love for God, for the participants in the Walk to Emmaus, for the Emmaus Community, and for the church. It is a demonstration of agape love. A sponsor will:

Pray for the participant's openness to God's call to discipleship. Make an appointment with the participant (or participating couple) to discuss his or her participation in Emmaus.

Invite the participant to take part in Emmaus for the sake of a more vital relationship with Jesus Christ. The sponsor shares his or her faith, explains the basic purpose, elements, and follow-up dimensions of the Walk.

Ask the participant to make a commitment by filling out a registration form. If the participant is married, the sponsor will speak with both partners and encourage an equal commitment by both spouses. Support the participant's Walk through prayers and otherwise.

The sponsor will also support the participant's family by house-sitting, baby-sitting, watering plants, picking up mail, feeding pets, or just checking in with a spouse to see if any help or support is needed.

Encourage the participant in his/her continued journey and take the participant to Emmaus "gatherings" after the Walk weekend is over.

Help the participant re-enter his or her church and consider ways to act out new commitment and enthusiasm.

Help the participant sponsor others.

Please take some time to think about sharing this life-changing event with others in your life! For more information on sponsoring a Pilgrim, please contact Mary Ulrey, Sponsorship Coordinator. (7/26)

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Southern Maryland Emmaus Community

Reunion & Accountability Groups

The Reunion Group Coordinator. Mary Ulrey, would like to hear about any active Groups in Southern Maryland, if you are having difficulty finding a Reunion Group, contact Mary. Experience the 4th Day feeling with your fellow Emmaus travelers. (1/9)

Bethel UMC Upper Marlboro Co-Ed: Monthly, First Wednesday, 6 p.m.	Living Springs Christian Fellowship, Bowie Co-Ed: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Calvary UMC, Waldorf Men: Tuesday, 7:15 p.m. Women: Saturday, 5 p.m. at Panera's	Naval Air Station, Patuxent River Men: Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.
First UMC, Laurel Men: Saturday, 7 a.m. Women: Saturday, 8:30 a.m.	Olivet UMC, Lusby Meets at Toni DeMay's house (Olivet Rd) in Lusby on the first Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Good Shepherd UMC, Waldorf Women: Tuesday, 8:45 a.m. Call 301-645-6414 for directions (Judy Lindley's Home) Women: Monday, 7:30 p.m. Women: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Call 301-645-5370 for directions (not at church) Men: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.	Shiloh UMC, Bryans Road Co-Ed: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m
La Plata UMC, La Plata Women: Tuesday, 1 p.m.	Waters Memorial UMC, St. Leonard Pastors House, Tuesday, 1 p.m. .
Lexington Park UMC, Lexington Park Co-Ed: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (Bob Evans) Co-Ed: Thursday, 11:30 a.m. (home setting TBD)	Bowie UMC, Bowie Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. .

EMMAUS PROGRAM LOCATOR

Are you going to be doing some traveling and want to know if there is an Emmaus Program in that area? Here is a link to a website that provides this information.

Just click here to see what's going on in the U.S.! (9/04)

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
Cathy Lavoie

James 5: 13 – 16 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Do you know we have a Community prayer chain? We do and it’s not being taken advantage of!!! Every aspect of Emmaus is and always has been covered in prayer. We hear this and are shown this constantly on our Walk. It begins with our sponsor as they pray for God’s guidance on approaching you. If that time is right and you fill out your application, the Community begins praying for your soon to be journey. This happens months before you join the other pilgrims for the weekend. You then visualize the prayer vigil and see how many people are praying for you the entire weekend when brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world prayed for us morning, noon and night for three days.

How powerful was that!! Every single area of the camp is anointed and prayed over before you arrive. Do you stop praying when you go home? Of course not!!! The need for prayer never stops and the power is still there but we aren’t utilizing it.

God calls on us to take care of each other in time of need and this is an avenue available to us to lift that someone up to the Lord and the community.

Let’s get this wonderful group of prayer warriors to work. The Christian’s most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. The results are often far greater than we thought were ever possible.

Send your prayer requests to Cathy Lavoie or call her at 301.645.2717 and continue to PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! (4/3)

"Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
Luke 24:32

Let Me Tell You About My Walk to Emmaus

My walk was on Southern Md. #15. My weekend started with nervousness in not knowing what to expect. I went with the gentle nudge of the Lord, my wife and friends who assured me not to be afraid. They reminded me that it wasn't a weekend of secrets but a weekend of surprises, and that it was.

The time I spent with my brothers in Christ was time that I will never forget. What a fun, spirit-filled weekend! Other than the birth of my three sons, It was the most powerful time of my life. It so reminded mehow Christ loves us no matter how far away we've strayed or what we have done in our past. None of this mattered at all. He loves us unconditionally like a parent loves their child. "Unconditionally".

The day I woke up to return home, I didn't want to leave. It felt like heaven on earth. Such a safe place. "The Forth Day". When I came back to the world everything seemed a little different. For me I saw Christ in the love of people around me. Christ really reveals himself thru people. Look for that smile, that act of kindness. I'm telling you He's all around. Look for him, you'll find him. You haven't seen nothing yet!

Peace and love.
Jeff Nalls (3/01)

How’s Your Emmaus?
Dan Brennan

I know it’s sort of a strange way to put it, but the question that occurred to me was, how is Emmaus working in your church? It seems a natural question to ask considering that one of the main purposes of the walk is to develop, nurture, and send back leaders for the local church. So, are we being successful?

I suppose one way to gage success would be to look at the number of leaders within your church who are members of the Emmaus community. As I was looking through the Lay Leadership Roster at Calvary, I was struck by the fact that many of the key leaders and committee chairs were, indeed, Emmaus alumni.

I do not mean to suggest that only those who have walked can be effective leaders, far from it. But it is gratifying to see that so many of those who walked have taken to heart the idea of servanthood to God and to the local church.

In some churches Emmaus is still looked upon with a certain degree of mistrust. In part that may be due to our sometimes over zealous desire to keep the “surprises” of the weekend a secret.

It may also be due to the fact that in some churches, there is little discussion about Emmaus except within the community of alumni. The perception then develops that we are a clique, and the whole “secret handshake” myth is carried forward. Perhaps it is time to step out of the shadows a little, and allow our Emmaus experiences to be shared more openly. Information sessions, brochures, testimony from those who have walked are all ways that we can open up to the church. The key is to help the local church understand the value of the Emmaus experience in supplying leaders and workers.

Is Emmaus working in your church? If you and those you know who have walked are active in the life and ministry of your church, then the answer is “yes.”

De Colores,
Dan Brennan (3/01)