Newsletter Contents

Dear Golden Spread Emmaus Community:

As we approach the final month of the official summer vacation, I hope that each of you has taken time to relax and enjoy this time.

A wonderful time was had for those able to attend the last Community Gathering at First United Methodist Church in Canyon. It was great returning to Canyon and I want to thank the church for hosting this community and look forward to returning again at another time.

We’re getting closer to our next Walk and our first as we return to Bishop De Falco. Our schedule of Walks over the next few months is as follows:

Bishop De Falco:
September 25-28 Men’s Walk #204 with Doug Rice as Lay Director
October 16-19 Women’s Walk #205 with Joni Rikel as Lay Director
November 20-23 Men’s Walk #206 with Mike Richardson as Lay Director

Future Communities:
August 21 – River Road Fellowship
October 2nd – First Christian Church
October 23rd – Hillside December 4th – Southwest Baptist

These dates are revised due to our new Walk schedule for this fall, so make sure to note these on your calendars.

A few volunteer openings we are still searching for are also as follows:

• Sandy Rayburn has been handling the duties of our newsletter for a number of years and she has decided its time to step down and hand this off. We are looking for someone with these skills that would like to serve in this role. Sandy is willing to train during the transition and will be available to answer any questions. You can email Sandy at sandy.rayburn@gmail.com or contact me at the address below.

• One other position that’s needs filling is the registrar for Men’s Walks. Jeff Beasley has accepted a Lay Director position in 2009 and has also asked our help in seeking a replacement. If you would like to serve in this role, please contact me at the address below. As before, Jeff will be willing to train for this position during the transition.

Blessings over each of you and we’ll look forward seeing you at River Road Fellowship at our next Community meeting.

Blessings over each of you and your families.

De Colores,

 

Ronnie Hudson
Community Lay Director

Remember that in order to sponsor pilgrims on walks, you must attend a sponsorship training. Sponsorship is a great privilege and a serious responsibility that requires commitment to not only prepare your pilgrim for this life-changing experience, but also to love and support your pilgrim’s family while their loved one is away for their weekend with our Lord. Also, if you’ve signed up to bring agape to the walk, make sure that you understand exactly what you’ve signed up to bring. If you have questions or need help or clarification, ask experienced community members or those in your reunion group who have helped with many walks.

When you sponsor someone on the walk, it is your responsibility to go to sponsor's hour and pray over their cross. Please make sure you are there or have someone to fill in for you if you cannot be there. This is a very important part of your sponsorship duties.

 

Community News and Announcements

IMPORTANT TIME CHANGES

Due to the fact that we are working with fewer tables & pilgrims, the pilgrims are having to wait to come into candlelight & closing.

Community should be prepared for the pilgrims arrive at the following times:

9:30 for Candlelight and 4:00 for Closing

You may continue to arrive for these events at the usual times.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES TEAMS

The Behind-the-Scenes Support Team provides each walk with a team of anonymous servants who serve in the agape room organizing & distributing agape, overseeing the prayer room, providing support to the conference room team, coordinating the Agape Snack, and helping keep the weekend flowing smoothly. Each team is led by coordinators who stay at Ceta Canyon for the weekend to oversee the support activities. Additional team members serve the entire weekend and pay the walk fee, or can potentially work shorter time periods, come and go from home, and pay only for meals eaten at Ceta Canyon. If you have a heart for anonymous servanthood and are interested in being a part of a Behind-the-Scenes Support Team or a coordinator for future walks, please contact Dave Clark at 353-4154 or email.

AGAPE GIFTS

A Walk consists of 36 pilgrims (sometimes 37) and Emmaus conference room teams consist of 26 members. Please plan agape for the pilgrims & team (65 to be safe). It is much easier to plan agape distribution if there is enough for each person at the walk, whether pilgrim or team member.

Please be aware that "copyrighted" material cannot be duplicated and used as Agape Gifts.  This includes but is not limited to:  Music, Tapes, CD's, Poems, etc.  Many of us have received things of this nature on our walks but we have now realized that this is not something we can use as Agape Gifts because of copyright laws.

MUSICIANS

If you are a musician and interested in working a walk, please email your name, address, phone number and other pertinent information to gsemmaus@yahoo.com. Please give us details about your musical skills. Can you lead music? Be an assistant music director? Or play an instrument? Please be specific. If you have never worked a walk, you must send in a YES sheet which you can find online at www.gsemmaus.com.

Also, if you would be interested and available to provide music for candlelight(s), please call Pam Lopez at 655-9360 or email.

SENDOFF, CANDLELIGHT & CLOSING

SEND YES SHEET TO: Jeff Roller, 3004 Sweetgum Lane, Amarillo, Texas, 79124

If you've worked at least one Emmaus Walk, it is not necessary to send in another YES Sheet.

YES sheets are also available online at Yes! Sheet.