The newsletter of the National Capital Area (NCA) Emmaus ...emmausnca.org/Journal/4Day1502.pdf ·...
Transcript of The newsletter of the National Capital Area (NCA) Emmaus ...emmausnca.org/Journal/4Day1502.pdf ·...
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From the Emmaus Community Lay Director
Matthew 17:20 – 21 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” When I read this particular scripture, my first reaction is “Yeah, sure!” Not that I don’t have faith, but it feels like the days of moving mountains with our faith are long gone. Sure miracles took place the Old Testament, or back in Jesus’ day, but not now. But then I read an entry in the Upper Room. The author, Tracey Maxey Cox, wrote this: “Reading this scripture, many people envision a majestic mountain picking up her skirts of rock and trees and stepping left or right – mak-ing a path for their purpose. But in my vision, I am push-ing a wheelbarrow and carrying a shovel. I’m moving my mountain one rock at a time.” This brought a new perspective to the way that I look at this scripture. Sure we all have troubles and challenges and we sometimes wish we could “move the mountain” in one fell swoop, but usually, we need to move it one rock at time. It has been an eye opening experience to step into the role of the Community Lay Director. I am amazed by the many tasks that need to be accomplished for our com-munity to function. The rocks that need to be moved! I am blessed that so many people DO step up to take on these tasks. But as in any community, the same people can’t continue to do these jobs alone.
Our Emmaus Community is strong and vital, but we have challenges as well. We could always use more pilgrim applications or team applications. We could always use more involvement at Ultreyas, Mananitas or closings. We could always use more people to step into communi-ty leadership positions. We could always use more churches to step up to host Ultreyas (No really, we need a church for June and December!!!). So here is what I ask of you. If you have not taken a leadership role yet, think about it. If you haven’t been to an Ultreya or Mananita in the past several months, come back and join us. If you haven’t sponsored someone recently, ask yourself why not. The point is that this community needs each one of us to do our part, each one of us to move one rock so that we can continue to move mountains! DeColores,
Nancy Geeting, CLD Did you know:
The Team of E-172 and the Caterpillars of C-88
will be introduced at the February Ultreya
We still need a host for the June Ultreya
The Team of E-172 is making plans for our first
weekend at Meadowkirk Retreat at Delta Farm,
check it out at www.meadowkirk.org
The newsletter of the National Capital Area (NCA) Emmaus for
the glory of God
Fourth Day Journal Vol. XXXIII No.2 February, 2015
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FROM THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
When I returned from my Emmaus weekend, E-77, a
group of us followed the guidance we received on the
weekend and assembled a Reunion Group. My home
had a large common room on the second floor, which
was a good space for us to gather. We quickly dubbed it
The Upper Room. We met once a week in the morning
before each of us headed to work. Even though she had
not walked, my wife helped make sure that we always
had juice, coffee and a little Danish as we started our
day.
Our reunion group meetings were exactly what we need-
ed to keep the fire burning. Two men in our group had
walked in another community, but we all hit it off well as
we were united as brothers in Christ. We followed the
basic guidelines for a reunion group meeting, starting
with prayer, then sharing when during the past week we
had felt closest to God and most distant from God. We
might share any known challenges we expected in the
coming week. We reviewed our prayer concerns and we
closed with prayer. It took about an hour. We would
have enjoyed staying to share and talk longer, but the
tasks of our days called, and into the world we went.
I know our reunion group meetings were important to
sustaining the fire of our Christian walk. But it’s hard to
describe just how beneficial our time together was for our
spiritual lives. There are times when we appreciate the
blessings we have, but there also are times when we fail
to recognize the blessings God brings to our lives. You
might understand how some of the things we do regularly
begin to feel routine. And maybe on a weekday morning
we are inclined to allow the coming tasks of the day to
compete for priority with a time set aside to feed our
souls. With the demands on our lives, it is way too easy
to not make the effort to regularly feed your soul. But in
the same way that we really cannot sustain our Christian
walk outside being part of a local community of faith, the
encouragement and accountability that is so much need-
ed on our daily faith walk is hard to find without a reunion
group or another regular small group meeting. I can tell
you that when a group dissolves and you no longer have
a regular time for encouragement and accountability, you
will greatly miss it. I have found reunion groups with dif-
ferent people at different times since my walk. I have
been in my most recent small group, a group of pastors,
for about eighteen months. It is a most important time in
my week, and a time that I treasure.
Our community leadership is renewing our effort to en-
courage and facilitate individual participation in reunion
groups. This is a worthy effort and one which I commend
to all. The Emmaus weekend is without question power-
ful, strong and potentially life changing. But our Christian
walk is always in need of reinforcement and reaffirma-
tion. There is a reason why advertisements are broad-
cast over and over and over again. Some experts sug-
gest that we need to hear something at least nine times
before we remember it. “1-877-kars for kids, K-A-R-S,
kars for kids.” That’s my current favorite jingle that I wish
I would never have to hear again. But I know every word.
It’s funny, in a way, that there are so many things Jesus
says to us that we have heard far more than ten times,
but we can’t seem to remember enough to follow. Jesus
was so far ahead of fundamental marketing theory that
you have to get your message out and repeated over
and over again for people to remember and be influ-
enced by it. I believe that’s why Jesus tells us to fre-
quently celebrate our Lord’s Supper always observing
the bread and the cup in remembrance of him.
Reunion groups of encouragement and accountability
offer us a means of grace. They are meaningful gather-
ings to share the strengths and weaknesses of the week
in our walk. While I have great admiration for those re-
union groups that have endured across decades, I have
no fear of trying and trying again if a grouping just
doesn’t work out for some reason. The strength is in our
openness to the gathering and the hearts and spirits of
those with whom we gather.
If you are not in a reunion group or similar small group
gathering I urge you to seek one out, whether you gather
some people within your local church or from your walk
or contact Liana Cuffman, our Reunion Group Coordina-
tor. My prayer wishes to you the strength of encourage-
ment and the special fellowship of a small group gath-
ered to walk alongside each other on our walks of faith.
Wishing you many blessings!
Rev. Garey Eakes , SD
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From the Emmaus Music Directors, MD’s
Praises - what sweet worship!! Thank you, Lord, for a glorious time at January Ultreya and outreach opportunities at Cameron UMC and else-where. Bless February as Chrysalis leads and glorifies you with their precious service and spirit. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of Praise- the fruit of lips that confess his name." Hebrews 13:15. Community, you are doing His will. May He richly bless it all. We love you. Musicians - bring your instrument and join in anytime!! Mae and Jim and Jerry and Milt
Mary Ann and Jim and Jerry and Milt! [email protected] or [email protected]
National Capital Area Chrysalis
From Our Chrysalis, CLD “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.” ~ Proverbs 20:29 (NIV) Proverbs 20 gives us some great ‘life skills’ advice – but verse 29 really hit me recently. I like the translation in The Message – which says “Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age.” You see, it’s hard to not notice the vigor of our youth – some are loud, boisterous, independent, energetic, keen to learn…….. need I continue? As more mature Chris-tians our goal should be to harness that vigor and use our ‘prestige’ to guide them in the way of our Lord. Our youth have an amazing ability to learn – it’s what they do for most of their waking week (at least, it’s what they should be doing). But, despite many school slogans, knowledge is not power. Wisdom is power. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit – wisdom is knowing that you shouldn’t put it in a fruit salad!! So, I am calling on the proverbial ‘gray hairs’ to make time to pass on some of their Godly wisdom to the youth of our community. Find somebody who has walked or teamed on Chrysalis recently and ask them about their experience. This is a great door opener for you to share your wisdom with them. Fly with Christ
Jerry Wills Chrysalis Community Lay Director
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
In case of inclement weather on the night of an
Ultreya, please listen to the local television or radio.
If schools are closed, and after school activities are
canceled in the county in which the Ultreya is held,
the Ultreya will also be canceled.
E-172 PRAYER WHEEL REMINDER: Weekend Prayer Wheels need you! Sign up at emmausnca.org; click on weekend #E172 on the left; then click Prayer Wheel heading. Be a Blessing as the Body of Christ covers these weekends in prayer.
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COMMUNITY PALANCA
I am the Community Palanca Cha. I need volunteers to make placemats for me. We need 270 decorated place-mats for each team that goes to the Mountain.
I will have blank placemats at the Ultreyas each month. You can create your own design, either free hand, trace from a coloring book, use markers, glitter and glue to create your designs. You can either do them yourselves or get your Sunday School classes to do them. The pil-grims really like them when they come from the children. There are two kinds needed: the ones that are decorated with cute pictures and words, and ones that specifically say “DeColores”. It does not matter what the picture is, it only needs to say “DeColores” somewhere on the placemat. If you wish to make a set for a specific week-end that is great but you need to mark the envelope this is for E-# and I will make sure it goes on that weekend.
You can do placemats for Chrysalis they need the same decorated and instead of saying DeColores they say FLY WITH CHRIST. If you want to do them for Chrysalis you can get them from me also, and return them to me.
Or what about your cloth Palanca bags that you received on Friday. How many of you sew? You can go to your fabric store and pick up some material. Rainbow material works well, I guess because most people don’t want to use it as a dress. I will have the dimensions available for you if you’re interested at the Ultreya.
Do you remember your Joy Flag Parade? Joy flags are always needed. These can be made from paper or fabric, and can be as simple or intricate as you desire, as long as they say “Joy” somewhere on the flag. These should always be the pennant shape, too. You may also specify the joy flags for specific weekend also.
First stones are simple. Go outside, pick up a rock, and write “First” on it. Please write “F-I-R-S-T” and not “1-S-T on it. We have felt for the “I’m Lovable” flower pin that you received on Friday. Men get a pennant-shaped rib-bon, and felt is available for both. Do you remember be-ing showered with Warm Fuzzies on Sunday? If you love
yarn, then this is the project for you. At the Ultreyas there will be the prayer wheel for you to sign up to pray and also, there will be a sheet passed that will have snacks for the weekend. You can sign at the Ultreyas. Food for the weekends needs to get to the Head Cha before Tuesday of the week that the team is going unless you are sponsoring someone and will be going to the moun-tain on Thursday.
Where do I get all of the material or instructions, you may ask. Well, you can pick up placemats, felt for flowers and banners, and yarn for warm fuzzes at the Ultreya each month. You can also pick up or return items at the Ultreya. There is usually a table near the church’s en-trance where items are placed. Or you can find me and hand items to me.
If you’re not available to attend the Ultreya, you can con-tact me. My email address is [email protected] and phone number is 703- 216-2469. And if you’re concerned about getting an item to me quickly, we can always keep in touch by phone and work out something. If you are willing to serve as Palanca Chairman for your church please fill out the in-formation on the clipboard that I will have at each Ultreya in the front. Please list which items your group is inter-ested in doing, so when I am running low on items I can contact the chairman.
If you are in a reunion group this is a good project that you could do. So, check with your group and see what items you all would love to do. If someone from your church has already signed up then you don’t need to. I am looking forward to working with you!
If you would like to get placemats please call Linda Smith
703-216-2469 and she will meet you to get them to you.
Thank you De Colores! And Fly with Christ
Linda L. Smith
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Emmaus CLD Message……………………….1 Emmaus SD Message…………………………2 E-172 Prayer Wheel…………………………….3 Emmaus Music Directors, “Sing Praise”….3 Chrysalis CLD Message………………………3 Inclement Weather Policy…………………....3 Community Palanca…………………………...4 E-172, Message from the “R”………………..5 February 20 Old Bridge, UMC,lake Ridge…5 Prayers of Concern……..………………….....5 Emmaus NCA car magnets/Decals…………5 2015 Weekend Fees……………………….…..6 2015 Emmaus Walks……………..……..…....6 Ultreya Gatherings……………..………….….6 Emmaus/Chrysalis Boards…………….….…7 2015 Board Committee positions………..…8 Business Sponsors……………………………7 NCAE Decals and Stickers, $5.00 each……7
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Message from the “R” E-172- “God’s Gifts”, March 12 – 15, 2015 “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) The theme of E-172 is “God’s Gift’s” and it celebrates the many gifts our Lord provides for us each and every day as we seek to follow His will for our lives. To me, the most important gift He has given to me is the gift of His Grace. God is giving us gifts of grace as he constantly unfolds His plans for our lives. In August, as I read several of my devotionals and wrote in my journal, God shared a common theme, “God’s Gifts” with me. One book said, “A gift is already being given you – God’s own Spirit.” God believes in you and says, “When you are ready to come forth, I have special work for you, special places for you to go. And I will be with you at every step.” Our theme song is, The Glorious Unfolding, by Steven Curtis Chapman. As I listened to the words of this beau-tiful song, I was reminded that God does have a plan for my life, even though the majority of my years here on earth are behind me. The words, “It’s just the beginning of the beginning” remind me that God will still use me, and all of us, as a part of His master plan. The team of E-172 is amazing! Their commitment, love, faith and perseverance are evident in everything they say and do. We all believe that this is “God’s Weekend” and we are enjoying the journey together. We appreciate the prayers of the community as we look forward to March 12-15, 2015 at Meadowkirk.
DeColores!
Kathy Woodley
E- 172 God’s Gifts Bev Barthmaier – Dining Room Cha Cindy Bireley – Head Cha Carroll Cobb – Palanca Cha Richard Cobb – Spiritual Director Tammy Crouch – Assistant Chapel Cha, Assistant Mananita Cha Devin Duren – Table Leader Gloria Esterline – Music Director Keri Finegan – Chapel Cha, Assistant Agape Cha Margaret Fuson – Table Leader Doug Geeting – Spiritual Director Nancy Geeting – Assistant Rectora Sam Gero – Agape Cha, Assistant Palanca Cha Jen Girten – Talk Room Cha Faith Gorham – Table Leader Lindsey Kirkwood – Assistant Music Director
Karen Lanman – Closing Cha, Assistant Dining Room Cha Syn-D Lazo – Table Leader Jan Niehoff – Old Buffalo, Floater Cha, AV Cha Marty Petrizza – Mananita Cha, Assistant Closing Cha Chennon Radford – Assistant Talk Room Cha Stephanie Scholz – Assistant Head Cha Ashleigh Stacy-Reese – Table Leader Yasmin Williams – Table Leader Kathy Woodley – Rectora, Fourth Day Talk
PRAYERS OF CONCERN Pray for all Spiritual Directors, Lay Leaders, Community Boards and Fourth Day Brothers and Sisters worldwide. Be blessed,
Gary & Debbie McCluskey
NEW – NCA Emmaus Car Magnets and Decals
The NCAE, 4”x6” car MAGNETS and REMOV-ABLE DECALS are available for $5.00 donation or more for each decal. All proceeds go to Scholarship Fund. For more information, please contact: Raúl Castillo at 703-307-8070 or email: [email protected]
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2015 ULTREYA GATHERINGS
Feb. 20 Old Bridge UMC, Lake Ridge, VA
March 20 Dumfries UMC, Dumfries, VA
April 17 Christ UMC, Fairfax Station, VA
May 15 Springfield UMC, Springfield, VA
June 19
July 17 Annandale UMC (not confirmed)
Aug. 21 Clarendon UMC, Arlington, VA
Sept. 18 First United Presbyterian, Dale City, VA
Oct. 16 St Paul UMC, Woodbridge, VA
Nov. 20 St. John’s UMC, Springfield, VA
Dec.18 TBD
If you are interested in hosting an Ultreya gathering, please contact the Emmaus Board.
Join us at our next Ultreya Gathering 7:30 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2015 Old Bridge UMC, Lake Ridge, VA.
2015 WEEKEND EMMAUS FEES Application Fee $35.00 Pilgrim Fee $200.00
Team Fee $250.00
2015 Emmaus Walks Meadowkirk, VA E-172~March 12-15, 2015……..Kathy Woodley E-173~April 30 –May 3, 2015……Mike McLean E-174~Oct. 8-11, 2015………..Susan Verghese E-175~Nov. 5-8, 2015………………..Tony Papp
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EMMAUS BOARD Term Expiring January 2017
Richard Cobb, ASD [email protected] Mary Ann Krauss, ACLD
703-850-8226 [email protected]
Lindsey Kirkwood 571-236-4563 [email protected] Scott Marth 703-987-6216 [email protected] JR Williams 330-340-4761 [email protected] Rich Wunderlin 703-627-9811 [email protected]
Term Expiring January 2016 Michael Gentile 703-638-2545 [email protected]
Garey Eakes, SD 703-892-8634 [email protected]
Chris Scholz, 703-929-7931 [email protected]
Nancy Geeting, CLD 540-841-3343 [email protected]
Debbie McCluskey 703-698-0511 [email protected]
Keri Finegan 571-393-5363 [email protected]
EMMAUS SUPPORT STAFF Applications ~ Pilgrims (& drops)
Charlie & Vickie Carroll 703-887-7590 [email protected]
Applications ~ Team
Charlie & Vickie Carroll 703-887-7590 [email protected]
Board Secretary
Doug Geeting 540-841-2900 [email protected]
Community Agape
Linda Smith 703-216-2469 [email protected]
Community Support (Storage Shed)
Annette Barbier 703-491-2104 [email protected]
Data Base Manager
Charlie & Vickie Carroll 703-887-7590 [email protected]
Facility Liaison
Nancy Geeting 540-841-3343 [email protected]
Fourth Day Packets
Mark Segnari 703-670-3145 [email protected]
Fourth Day Journal Editor
Raúl Castillo 703-307-8070 [email protected]
Fourth Day Journal Mailing
Maria Hooper 703-878-3227 [email protected]
Historian
Neal Ailstock 703-931-4800 [email protected]
HolyNet Coordinator
Dave Moore 703-680-4002 [email protected]
Kairos Information (Weekend, Cookies, Etc.)
Dick Tobey [email protected]
Kairos Outside Information
Barbara Teats 703-354-9043 [email protected]
Manuals
Linda Girten 703-491-3801 [email protected]
Music Directors
Jim Krauss 703-850-8226 [email protected]
Mary Ann Kraus 703-850-8226 [email protected]
Outreach Agape
Gary & Debbie McCluskey 703-698-0511 [email protected]
Prayer Wheel Coordinator
Mary Ann Krauss 703-850-8226 [email protected]
Rector(a) Selection Committee
Annette Barbier 703-491-2104 [email protected]
Reunion Group Coordinator
Liana Cuffman 703-920-6219 [email protected]
Scholarship Coordinator
Glenda Lambert 703-992-6913 [email protected]
Treasurer
Jim McCray 703-491-8863 [email protected]
Website Manager
Rob Cannon 703-965-8045 [email protected]
Wooden Crosses & Ropes
Jim & Jan Womer 703-670-5236 [email protected]
CHRYSALIS BOARD
Community Lay Director (CLD) Assistant Lay Director (ALD)
Spiritual Director (SD)
CLD Jerry Wills [email protected]
YOUTH CLD
Holly Smith- Youth
SD Gary McCluskey [email protected]
SD Jose Saldana [email protected]
Other Board Members
Amy Miller Charlie Duren
Elizabeth Wells Jacob Mosser
Laura Newberry John Rowe
Lindell Tinsley Marcus House
Whitney LeMay Devin Duren
Stephanie Williams
Chrysalis Support Personnel
Supply Coordinators Linda Russ/ Melissa Detwiler
Prayer Wheel Coordinator Volunteer Needed
Manuals and Talk Folders Coordinator
Kurt Bubenhofer
Community Music Director Dave Moore
Registrar Scott Niehoff
Secretary Stephanie Williams
Treasurer Bob LeMay
Clothe Agape Bags Coordinator Beth Ann Eadie
Dining Room Coordinator Linda Smith
Worldwide Agape Coord. Volunteer Needed
Facilities Coordinator Volunteer Needed
Fourth Day Packet Coord. Bob LeMay
Historian Volunteer Needed
Outreach Coordinator Mark and Pat Fahner
Clown Communion Coord. Jan Niehoff
Chrysalis Crosse Coord. Janet & Lindsey Matthews
Hoot Coordinators Donna VanWert/Bob LeMay Karen Kimberlin
I am Lovable Pin Coordinator Linda Smith
Website Coordinator Clayton Newberry
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2014 Board Committee Positions Ultreya Coordinators Glenda Lambert, Bev Barthmaier,
Charlie Carroll, (Dawn Mosteller)
Lay Assistant To Board SD’s Charlie Carroll, Dawn Mosteller
Ultreya Offering Counters Glenda Lambert, Bob Jones, (Debbie McCluskey)
Nomination Committee Bob Jones, Bev Barthmaier, (Nancy Geeting)
Finance/Budget Committee Tony Papp, Glenda Lambert, (Michael Gentile), Jim McCray [Treasurer]
Website/HolyNet Committee Michael Gentile, Chris Scholz
Scholarship Coordinators Tony Papp, Glenda Lambert, (Chris Scholz)
Facilities Liaison Nancy Geeting, Mike Gentile, Chris Scholz
Outreach Committee All Board Members {assigned by ideas or events}
Chrysalis Rep Debbie McCluskey, Tony Papp
CLD / ACLD Tony Papp / Chris Scholz
Senior SD / SD Doug Geeting / Garey Eakes
NOTE: Positions within Parentheses are for 2015 Members to be familiar with for Continuity.
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Fourth-Day-Journal Emmaus of the National Capital Area P.O. Box 2243 Merrifield, VA 22116