Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Nashville Emmaus Community April 2016

A lot can happen in 3 days. I loved the visual in the photoabove. Jesus changed our relationship and access to God whenHe willingly went to the cross to die for all our sins. As I ponderedthis, I could not help but recall my 3 day Emmaus walk in 2004.It changed my life and gave me a deeper understanding of God’sgrace and a closer walk with Christ that I had not had previously.I entered the weekend full of thorns and left the weekend knowingI had experienced “The King”. I saw hearts healed, burdens leftbehind, and relationships with other Christians formed. Onlysomeone who has been through the Walk can fully understandthe miracles that happen in that 3 days. In the 12+ years that havefollowed, I have served on numerous teams where I witnessedmarriages saved, hearts healed and disciples energized to returnback to their churches. I have worked in numerous kitchens in thepast years. more than I can count, where I have laughed andshared God’s love with other community members I would havenever met had I not served in some capacity. The friendships Godhas created in my life through being a part of this community ispriceless. I have had the privilege to serve on the Nashville Emmaus Board the past 2 years. I can say as a person behind the scenes that I have asked myself, just as I am sure you have,what’s changed in the community that has caused us to have tocancel walks.

My pastor said something from the pulpit on Easter Sunday that caused me to reflect upon what’s happening in ourEmmaus community as well. He said that Christians and churches

have turned many people off to religion or Christianity. In our attempt to serve God or “do the right thing” we have angered oralienated the people God has called us to save and serve. Wehave been bad examples to the unsaved. He said that he wantedto “personally apologize” on behalf of “The entire Church” tothose in the audience who have had a bad experience at thehands of a well-meaning Christian.

It was a powerful moment that I hope will heal the heartsof those there who do not trust Christians, the Church or our faith. There is no one reason why our community is struggling, and onlyGod knows all of them. One thing I can say without reservation isthat the members of the board deeply care. We have prayed, cried,apologized, and made changes that we hoped would allow thecommunity to again attend gatherings and sponsor pilgrims.

I am asking that over the next few weeks you survey yourheart for Emmaus and share your Emmaus experience with someone else or consider sharing it with the rest of the communityhere in a future newsletter. We are going to be publishing Emmaustestimonials here monthly.

Let’s rekindle the fire of His love that once burned brightlyin the Nashville community.

DeColores,

Carla Hunt

I still remember that Sunday afternoon when I was attending my Walk to Emmaus weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico, almost twenty years ago. Our 72 hours’ experience was about to be over. Before going home, we were taken to the chapel for the last time. We sang, we prayed, we looked at the cross in front of us and then our Spiritual Director told us “Emmaus has a tradition of giving each pilgrim a cross” …remember? It was like graduation day, in accepting the cross we were acknowledging our responsibility as disciples of Jesus Christ. As our Lay Director placed the cross around my neck he told me, “Victor, Christ is counting on you” and then, moved by this special moment I responded “and I am counting on Christ”. Chills ran over my body; myeyes were teary. I would never forget the joy of hearing the cheers of my table friends, receiving thehugs from everyone as I went around the circle. What a great weekend it was!!!

The learning’s from that weekend, the friendships made, the love received from my Emmauscommunity has lasted through the years. Several years later, I went back to Puerto Rico and was ableto serve as the Spiritual Director for another men’s walk. The Weekend Lay Director who served bymy side had been a pilgrim on my walk (#17). Another clergy colleague serving with me was alsoon my walk. What a blessing it was to guide this new group of pilgrims through an experiencesimilar to ours. Serving as leaders on that team we were giving back what we have received, we became the hands and feet of Christ for those men.

Yes, Christ is counting on us to share the message of God’s unconditional love for all. Jesus iscounting on us to serve as sponsors of other men and women who are in need of having an experience suchas ours. We can offer them that gift! Pray for God to lead you in identifying a man or a woman that is in needof a deeper relationship with Christ. Listen attentively to the Holy Spirit and act accordingly.You can be the channel of a long awaited blessing! Remember, Christ is counting on you!

Rev. Victor Pérez,

Community Spiritual Director

Fourth Day leaders embodying Christ…

Emmaus GatheringHere’s an opportunity to renew Emmaus friendships,make new friends and catch up on Emmaus news!Our next gathering is scheduled for May 14th at

6:00 p.m. at Fellowship United Methodist Church. Theaddress is: 2201 Preachers Mill Road, Clarksville. Themeal will be potluck. Drinks, plates, napkins, and utensils will be provided. So bring your favorite dish

and join us for an Emmaus fun-filled night of fellowship.

WHAT’S THE SCOOP?When you begin to talk to future pilgrims about attending

the Walk to Emmaus, have you wondered how much of the experience you should share? I know I have! When I was gettingready to take my walk, I knew my sponsor wouldn’t send me tosomething I wouldn’t be uncomfortable with – but I think we wouldall admit to wondering what was going to happen. Some folks aremore nervous than others – and I think we can help take care ofsome of those nerves by sharing a few things that go on. Now whileI know there are some events that need to come as a total surprise,there are a few things I share that will give them some idea of whatthey will be doing while still making sure that that it will be a specialtime for them and allowing it to be “their walk”. Here are somethings I tell pilgrims that, I hope will make them more comfortableas they get ready for send-off.

1. Any need they have – whether it is taking their medication(s), special diet requirements, etc. – will be met at the time it needs to be.

2. I explain that they will hear a series of talks on the Christian faith given by both clergy and laity and they will have the opportunity to respond to what they hear.

3. I explain that communion will be served each full day.

4. There will be a time for both personal and corporate prayer and reflection.

5. There will be free time for them to walk, read, socialize, nap, etc.

6. There will be plenty to eat – they do not need to bring snacks.

7. There will be worship and music each day.

8. I let them know that when send-off “officially” starts, to go ahead and say goodbye to their friends and family. I once worked a walk when a pilgrim told me that she was not told this and didn’t realize that she would not be able to speak with them again until Sunday evening once her name was called. Sometimes it is the little things….

9. Be sure to get an early shower! ☺

10. And finally – I tell them that they will need to trust that they do not need to anticipate what is coming. The Holy Spirit will take care of it all.

I do think doing this helps to make my pilgrims more comfortable about going on the Walk and having a sense of excitement about what they will experience. I hope it will help yourpilgrims as well. I am hoping that you will be sponsoring pilgrimson the fall walks and that I will be receiving applications from manyfolks excited to attend!

De Colores!

Nita Wright, Registrar

Apr 20-21, 27-28 Face to Face Donelson Heights UMC

May 14 Emmaus Gathering Fellowship UMC, Clarksville, TN

October 20-23 Men's Walk #193 Hermitage UMC

November 3-6 Women's Walk #194 Hermitage UMC

Is it true…

Spouses must attend walks at the same time.

Once fact, no longer true! Spouses do not have to attend at the same time, nor do both spouses have to attend in order for either to attend. There is a place on the application asking if the spouse is attending and why if not. This is to ensure the sponsor has communicated to the spouse what they can expect during the weekend, i.e. no contact and has the opportunity to ask questions. Spouses being able to attend at the same time made for good walks for the couples. It is recommended for the sponsor to see if it is the date that is a problem and if the next set of dates would work for both; however, it is not a requirement. One spouse may just not be ready yet and the other is.

You cannot tell anyone outside of Emmauswhat happens on the weekend.

Rumor! You can talk about weekend. Tell people about the talks, the group discussions, that there will be worship, singing and communion. You can even tell them about candlelight or you can keep that a surprise. Knowing some of what to expect may make your Pilgrim or potential Pilgrim feel more comfortable.

Sponsorship training must be attended to sponsor a Pilgrim.

Once fact, but no longer true. All new Pilgrims receive training during the 4th Day Meeting. Mandatory training for the rest of us was in response to multiple occasions when Sponsors did not fulfill their responsibilities to their Pilgrim. About two years ago it became non-mandatory; however, the presentation is on the website if you feel you would like a refresher or you can attend a Walk’s 4th Day. You are not required to go through the training to sponsor. It is the Board’s responsibility to provide once a year training and refresher opportunities for the community to attend.

You must have a sponsor to attend Face to Face.

Rumor! Probably more of an assumption since you need a sponsor to attend the Walks. Anyone over 60 who wishes to attend Face to Face can complete the application and send in their fee, no sponsorship required.

I’ve discovered while serving on the Board that there is a good bit of confusion and rumors taken for fact in our community and I’m sure most other communities. This column is to dispel or verify the item, sort of a Snopes.com for

Nashville Emmaus. I invite you to email info@nashvilleemmaus.org items you would like verified or dispelled.

Enough for now, what have you heard? If there is something keeping you from sponsoring or if you are unsure ofsomething you’ve heard, email Info@nashvilleemmaus.org. We’ll chase it down and share our findings in the next Candlelight (no names will be shared). If you have a question or uncertainty chances are someone else does to.

Sandie Glover, CDL

Is It True? Emmaus Rumor or Fact

For those whom I haven’t had the chance to meet yet,my name is “Doc” Hall. I attended North Georgia Men’s Walkto Emmaus #42 where I sat at the table of Mark. I am thechairperson of the Face to Face Committee to the NashvilleEmmaus Board. I am also the Program Manager for Face toFace internationally at the Upper Room.

First, let me thank this community for helping theUpper Room pilot this program over the last six years. As weprepare for Encounter #6 we are, as always, excited to be witnesses to God’s grace at work in our world! To be presentto see Older Adults begin to, many for the first time, honestlylook at end-of-life issues; to deal with the grief in their soulsthey may have been carrying for decades; to see them realizethey STILL have a place in ministry and they are needed voicesand servants in God’s ministry to the world and in their localchurches and ministries, is truly an awe inspiring experience.We are now transitioning from a Steering Committee that hasdepended on the sacrificial service of a select few, to a Standing Committee on the Board, which relies heavily on theBoard and Community to continue to serve and witness tothese pilgrims. We have several members on the committeenow but are looking for a few more who can guide and helpin this important ministry.

How can you help? I’m soooo glad you asked!

1) Pray! As always we rely on prayer to strengthen us andcarry us on this journey.

2) We have an Encounter April 20th, 21st, 27th, & 28th atDonelson Heights UMC in Donelson. We do still have roomfor a few more pilgrims if you know someone who might beinterested in attending. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE SPONSORED! But, if you wish to sponsor them, by all meansdo so! Candlelight will be on April 27th at 2:00 in the afternoon. If you can possibly make time in your busy schedules, it would be greatly appreciated. Agape, whetherfood or other is always appreciated. Contact Sandie Glover onthat - sandie.glover@comcast.net

3) Contact me about scouting future locations for Face toFace. Beginning in 2017 we hope to host two of these a year – one in Metro Nashville and another in one of the outlying areas of the community. If you know of churches thatwould be good locations contact me at dhall@upperroom.org.

4) Would you like to guide this ministry into the future? As I mentioned before we are looking for others, both laityand clergy, to serve on the Face to Face Committee. This willrequire several meetings a year and then your continued support for the Encounters.

Thank you again for your support in the past. And especially we thank you for your continued and fervent support in the future.

Peace!

Doc Hall

Meet “Doc” Hall

DeColores! What a wonderfulseason this is, a time of reflection and renewal in our lives and the visible renewal of the world with Spring arriving. Many of us take pause at thistime in the Christian calendar to examinewhere we are spiritually and our "rightness" with God. We are all asked, orquestion others, "how's your 4th Day?"when we meet and greet. On the surfaceit is equal to a greeting, but the real question is whether or not we are seeking,learning and growing. In simplest termsthe question is, are we living the life of Grace.

Your answers will vary of coursesince our God made us all unique individuals. For some it is an emphatic yes,but for the rest of the crowd it will rangesomewhere between pretty good to blah.Why is that? What are we doing or failing to do? It has beenmy experience that my 4th day, my perseverance, is dependent upon two things, me maintaining contact withChrist and being in fellowship with other Christians. You'veheard that before.

In the Perseverance talk on Sunday, the lay leaderspoke to you about the importance of maintaining yourdisciplines of prayer, study and action to keep in contactwith Christ and gain real security for today and tomorrow.We all know that simply being "in touch" with Christ doesn't quite cut the mustard, we have to surrender ourselves to the will of God and surrender to the calling ofthe Holy Spirit on our lives. We know from our individualpaths that this is a process, not an event, so daily acts ofpiety and study are necessary to achieve real contact andan intimate relationship with Christ.

Contact with other Christians is really the easiestthing that could asked of us, right? We make contact withother Christians at worship, church events, on the street, atwork, everywhere. But that's not the kind of contact the lay

leader was talking about and this is wheremany of us fall short. The kind of contactwe need is through Christ-centered sharing that provides support for our dailydisciplines, encouragement to keep going on that lifelong process, and accountability for what we committed toand the plan to continue. The reuniongroup is the proper method of Christianfellowship, or "koinonia", and is criticalfor us to maintain a life in Grace.

If you are in a reunion group I encourage you to continue, welcomeothers to join, and continue to persevere in your 4th day. If you are notcurrently in a group, ask a couple of yourChristian friends to join into one withyou. That is the quickest way to have agroup, make your own! As you begin,use the reunion card to direct your

discussions and sharing. If you need help or want to joinan existing group, fill out the reunion group survey form atwww.nashvilleemmaus.org, contact me directly, or contactany of the other board members.

For those of you that are currently in a reuniongroup, we would like to know about your group so we canshare with the community. Please fill out the reunion groupsurvey at www.nashvilleemmaus.org so we can build our database of reunion groups and better serve our community. Our perseverance depends on maintainingcontact with other Christians to continue our life in Graceand keep the flame burning for Christ in our 4th days. Let'sdo this together in Christian community.

DeColores.

Steve Zuecher

How’s your 4th Day?