April 5 - 8, 2018
April 12 - 15, 2018
April 18 - 22, 2013.
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Gatherings are normally held on the third Saturday of each month.
The 4th Day Seminar will begin at 4:00 PM and will be followed by a pot luck dinnere at 5:00 pm and a mini-gathering. The Community and guests are invited to both events.
Help us welcome our new brothers and Sisters into the community. Attendance at a 4th Day Seminar is required for those who wish to sponsor pilgrims on future walks.
Support the Men's Walk by coming to the following events:
Thursday, April 5- 7:00 PM Sendoff and Sponsor's Hour
Saturday, April 7, Candlelight at 8:00 PM
Sunday, April 8 - Closing at 4:00 PM
Support the Women's Walk by coming to the following events:
Thursday, April 12 - 7:00 PM Sendoff and Sponsor's Hour
Saturday April 14 - Candlelight at 8:00 PM
Sunday, April 15 - Closing at 4:00 PM
A Chrysalis weekend is an experience of Christian spiritual
renewal and formation that begins with a three-day short course in
Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way
as God’s grace and love is revealed to you through other believers.
Chrysalis "Flights" (for 10th through 12th graders) and "Journeys"
(for young adults, ages 19-24) are three-day events. This three-day
spiritual renewal time provides an opportunity for you to learn more
about faith, to experience Christian love and support, and to make
new faith commitments. The point is to inspire, challenge and equip
you for a closer friendship with Christ and for Christian action at
home, church, school, and community.
The Chrysalis experience begins with the prayerful discernment
and invitation from a sponsor. After one accepts this
invitation they complete an application. The Chrysalis leaders
prayerfully consider each applicant and in God’s time, the person is
invited to attend a three-day experience of New Testament
Christianity as a lifestyle.
Following the three-day experience, participants are joined in small groups to support each other in their ongoing walk with Christ. Through the formational process of accountable discipleship in small groups and participation in the Chrysalis community, each participant’s individual gifts and servant-leadership skills are developed for use in the local church and its mission. Participants are encouraged to find ways to live out their individual call to discipleship in their home, church, and community.
The objecteive of Chrysalis is to inspire, challenge, and equip the local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, communities and places of work. Chrysalis lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others.
Spread the word!
To find a Chrysalis Weekend in your area CLICK ON THIS LINK
The preferred method of submission is a Microsoft Word document or a WordPerfect file sent via-e-mail to: webmaster@southernmarylandemmaus.com. Please do not use extensive special formatting. If you require something unique, please indicate that in your submission e-mail.
Very short articles or notes may be sent in the body of the e-mail message. Please send your comments and recommendations to the editor, Dan Brennan, at the e-mail address above.
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)
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 a few past newsletters available at this site.
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!mailto:webmaster@southernmarylandemmaus.com
Pat Knowland (08/29)
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 categories:
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.
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 blessings.” (9/04)
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)
by Pat Duvall
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. (03/01)
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 frees 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:
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 Bob Eavns, Sponsorship Coordinator. (7/26)
The Reunion Group Coordinator, Bob Evans, would like to hear about any active groups in Southern Maryland. If you are having difficulty finding a Reunion Group, please contact Bob. Experience the 4th Day feeling with your fellow Emmaus travelers. (7/13)
Bethel UMC Upper Marlboro
Bowie UMC Old Town Bowie
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Calvary UMC, Waldorf
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First UMC, Laurel
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First Saints UMC
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Good Shepherd UMC, Waldorf
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La Plata UMC, La Plata
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Lexington Park UMC, Lexington Park
Linthicum Heights UMC, Linthicum Heights
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Living Springs Christian Fellowship, Bowie
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Naval Air Station, Patuxent River
Nichols-Bethel UMC, Odenton
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Olivet UMC, Lusby
Pisgah UMC, La Plata
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Shiloh UMC, Bryans Road
St. Paul UMC, Lusby
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Waters Memorial UMC, St. Leonard
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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
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 Jan Drass and continue to Pray! Pray! Pray! (7/13)
"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
Jeff Nalls
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 me how 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 through 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)
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 gauge 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)