Greater Scioto Valley
Emmaus Newsletter
From Our
ChairpersonÉÉÉ...
SLOW
ME DOWN, LORD!
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28,29
I had a wake-up call in my car last week. IÕve been lucky; IÕve been reminded to slow down, but IÕm an impatient, poor listener! The police officer asked me where I was going in such a hurry. He did laugh when I told him the grocery was waiting for me (why not laugh at the situation)! Not only am I ashamed of my speed and the fact that my name and age was published in the local paper, but I am also ashamed of the fact that IÕve let life get the best of me.
This summer has been busier than ever for our family. Little League Baseball didnÕt end in June for our son like normal. HeÕs an awesome 10-year-old All-Star with an awesome dad who is an assistant coach for an awesome team who is on their way to District 8 semi-finals. If thereÕs not a practice, thereÕs a game; sometimes one hour away, which means leaving at least two hours before a two-hour game and another hour home! (You think thatÕs a sentence, try living the schedule!!) Whew! Then, itÕs home to wash the uniform, bathe the kids and get settled and ready for another day. Of course, thereÕs still a house to keep, bills to pay, jobs to do, church to attend and serve, Emmaus Board stuff, kids to entertain, 4-H; and schoolÕs only one month away!
DonÕt ask me to
answer any questions on the service sheet right now. The Priority talk is continually recurring in my head. IÕm guilty of getting things totally
askew. Time for God? What? How can I fit that in when IÕm so tired? Oh yeah Š make time for that most
important thing in your life and everything else will fall into place. Got it!
ThereÕs a song
thatÕs been running through my head, too.
I think Alabama sang it Š the recurring phrase goes something like
this: ÓIÕm in a hurry to get
things done; I rush and rush until lifeÕs no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die; IÕm in a hurry and
donÕt know why.Ņ According to the
song, the only things we have to do are God-designed. Think about it Š God gives us life and God gives us eternal
life through death. ThatÕs all we
ŌgottaÕ do! But we also ŌgottaÕ
let go of the things that are getting in the way of letting God be in control.
I have tried to slow down and am very conscious every time I feel rushed and under pressure Š in the car, with my prayers and devotion time and with my three-year-old (he definitely doesnÕt want to be rushed and heÕs already growing up too fast as it is). The speeding ticket was not cheap, but I think it was worth it because it made me assess my busy-ness and begin re-prioritizing my life.
HereÕs a poem I
received one time on an Emmaus Walk and I think IÕm going to put it in several
prominent places in my home (and my car!):
Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding
of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me, amid the confusion of the day,
the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of
the singing streams that live in my memory. Help me to know the magical,
restoring
power of sleep. Teach me the art
of taking minute vacations - of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with
a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book. Slow me down, Lord and inspire me to
send my roots deep into the soil of lifeÕs enduring values that I may grow
toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Pray
for me. Pray for others you know
who are trying to be in control and who are too caught up in lifeÕs race. And, when you see GodÕs glorious world
rushing by, slow down and take time to look around you and thank HIM Š youÕll
be glad you did!
DeColores!
Diana Hall
DATES TO REMEMBER
Board Meeting August
19,2004 @ 5pm
WomenÕs Walk # 32
September 9- 12
A Word from the Spiritual
DirectorÉÉ..
Got Grace?
The day was Sunday July 4TH, 2004 and I was
greeting parishioners at the door. I am always amazed at those that come and
the absence of those who have promised to be there and do not make it. This
Sunday I was surprised by two of my Emmaus friends and their wives. There were
patriotic music planned and special readings in honor of God and country. I met
two sisters (Grace and Mercy, the names have been changed to protect the
innocent) at the door and I could tell that Grace was not feeling well. She
suffers from arthritis. She asked me if it would be possible for her to be
anointed at some point during the service. I told her that it would be no
problem; we always had time to pray for one another. The service went well.
There were testimonies, a very touching one about an early morning call from a
deployed soldier that a family had received that very morning. After the service there was more
hugging and talking then usual and since I was the last one to leave I locked
up the church. I blew the horn and waved at Mercy, as I passed by her home on
the way to our home. It was not until I was about a mile from her house that I
realized that I had not anointed Grace for her healing. I called as soon as I
got home. Mercy answered the phone and she said, ŅYou just remembered didnÕt
you?Ó
ŅI am so sorry. May I come
over now and pray?Ó I asked. She said that wasnÕt necessary. I asked if a group from our Sunday
evening could come and pray with Grace that evening. They were both on and off
the phone and said that that would be fine. Before the conversation was over
they said that it was really not my fault at all. I asked how that could be and
they said it was their fault because if they really want something done they
should have asked my wife Wanda to see that it was done!
We met that evening at the home of Mercy and Grace. I
anointed Grace and then we prayed. The next day we received a phone call from
Grace and she had been pain free since the anointing.
I was humbled and amazed with the grace and mercy that these
two sisters extended to me. Churches have split over such issues but these
sisters were so loving and undemanding that they were the hands and feet of
Jesus to me when they were in need.
John 15:13 says, ŅGreater
love has no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.Ó When was
the last time you set aside your personal needs to extend grace and mercy to
another?
In Christian Love,
Phil Howard
This month we will be getting
to know a little more about a few more board members. The members for this
month are:
John Tussey whose positions
on the board are twofold. He serves as Sponsorship and Social.
1.)
What was the year and
location of your original walk?
1993
Wilmington Walk
14
2.)
What is your real job?
Builder
3.)
A little about your
family please.
Wife ŠDee,
Daughter- Heather, Son ŠRobby
4.)
What do you do in your leisure time (if you have leisure time)?
I
enjoy having long talks with my wife.
5.)
What church do you attend and what are you involved in there?
Crossroads
6.) Special Emmaus memory?
Giving
my first talk on a team.
7.)
Anything else you would like the community to know about yourself?
I love
this community so very much.
The second member is Tim
Rutherford and his position is Purchasing Agent.
1.)
Year and location of
your original walk?
1996
Wilmington
2.)
What is your real job?
General
Contractor
3.)
Family (spouse, children, and grandchildren)
Wife-
Cheryl Daughter- Mandy
21
Son- Nathan 18
4.)
What do you do in your
leisure time (if you have leisure time)?
Jog
and play my sax
5.)
What church do you
attend and what are you involved in there?
First
Wesleyan where I am Board vice chairman and Sunday school teacher.
6.)
What is your special
Emmaus memory?
Candlelight
7.)
Anything else you would
like the community to know about yourself?
IÕm in love with Rick Hall.
The Third member for this
issue is Savilla Ruggles and her position is Agape.
1.)
The year and location of
your original walk?
GSVE Walk 7 in
July 1997
2.)
What is your real job?
I
work as staff and Bank Specialist for State Farm Insurance, Dave
StricklandÕs office.
3.)
Family (spouse, children & ages, & grandchildren & ages)?
I
am married to Ed; we celebrated our 26th Anniversary on May
20th. We have four children; Eli and his
wife Jenn, Joshua, and
Kayla. Our 1st granddaughter Elizabeth Hope
was born July
18,2004.
4.) What do you do in your leisure time (if you have
leisure time)?
My
favorite pastime is to fellowship with my Christian friends; any activity with Christian
friends is a blessing. I also enjoy scrap booking very much, but IÕm sure our
granddaughter will soon become a wonderful way to spend my time.
5.) What church do you attend and what activities are you
involved in there?
We
attend Frankfort United Methodist Church. We are choir members, serve on the
church board, and are active in the church building committee.
6.) Special Emmaus memory?
When
Christ and the Holy Spirit filled my being and took my doubt away.
7.) Anything else you would like the community to know
about yourself?
It
has been an honor to serve the Lord in this community.
Our other Agape person is
Cindy Sykes and here is how she answered these questions:
1.) The year and location of your original walk?
July 2000 at Trinity
U.M.C. in Chillicothe
2.) Your real job?
Media
Center Aide for kindergarten thru 12th grade at Adena Local School
3.) Family (spouse, children and grandchildren &
ages)?
Bruce
Husband of 32 years
Son: Matt & wife Jenny who have blessed
us with two grandchildren: Hannah 4
& Preston 2. He farms
with Bruce.
Son: Mike who is a
VoAg Instructor at Carey Exempted School
Son: Brent is a loan
officer at the Savings Bank.
Son: Bryan who farms
with Bruce.
4.) What do you do in your leisure time (if you have
leisure time)?
Play
with the grandchildren, read, and SHOP.
5.) What church do you attend and what are you involved in
there?
Clarksburg
United Methodist Church where I am active in the Barnabus Project for college students, share
group, fall and spring WomenÕs Retreats, Vice Chairperson of the Administrative
Board, choir, and take care of collecting orders for the Poinsettia Tree at
Christmas and the Lily Tree at Easter, and work at Clarksburg Field Day which
is sponsored by our church.
6.) Your special Emmaus memory?
I
couldnÕt stop smiling! The joy of the Lord filled me! The whole weekend was
awesome. I couldnÕt believe all the people who served in so many ways!
7.) Anything else you would like the community to know
about yourself?
I
enjoy serving the Lord and am blessed many times over by doing what God asks me
to do. He has taken me out of my comfort zone and shown me what ŅagapeÓ is!
IF YOU HAVENÕT BEEN TO A GATHERING FOR SOME TIME; COME JOIN US AND
BE BLESSED. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HASNÕT BEEN TO A GATHERING LATELY ; INVITE
THEM TO COME AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE AGAPE BY OFFERING THEM A RIDE AND SHARE THE
FELLOWSHIP OF A BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST ON THE TRIP.
Board Hi Š Lites
Lori
Stewart standing in for Diana who was unable to attend this meeting, called the
meeting to order.
Kevin
Pancake, Candy Black, Diana Hall, and Lori Stewart are diligently working on a
Community Data Base
Team
Selection Committee: Mark Crosier, Sharen Bridges, and Steve Zurmehly
All
props, posters, PowerPoint, etc must be ready for talk previews so they can be
reviewed with the talk.
It
was suggested that all acts of agape (special music, Babe Chicks, Sister Act,
and sponsorship) be recorded in an effort to determine team eligibility.
Meeting
was adjourned with prayer.
|
POSITION |
TERM |
NAME |
PHONE |
E-MAIL
|
|
Agape 1 |
3 |
Savilla Ruggles |
740-998-4843 |
|
|
Agape 2 |
3 |
Cindy Sykes |
740-993-2789 |
|
|
Chairperson |
2 |
Diana Hall |
740-335-4361 |
|
|
Chrysalis |
appointed |
Joanne Charles |
740-354-4494 |
|
|
Computer |
appointed |
Kevin Pancake |
740-998-6616 |
|
|
Good Shepherd |
1 |
Phil Howard |
740-820-8557 |
|
|
Housekeeping 1 |
1 |
Denise Kern |
740-993-2710 |
|
|
Housekeeping 2 |
1 |
LouAnn Drummond |
740-993-4386 |
|
|
Kairos |
appointed |
Tony Perry |
740-420-3533 |
|
|
Kitchen 1 |
3 |
Michele Coppel |
740-775-1006 |
|
|
Kitchen 2 |
1 |
Mark Cope |
937-981-3870 |
|
|
Leadership |
3 |
Lorri Stewart |
740-775-2379 |
|
|
Music 1 |
3 |
Alice Maggard |
740-574-8220 |
|
|
Music 2 |
1 |
Rusty Staten |
937-981-7586 |
|
|
Newsletter |
1 |
Cheryl Schomburg |
740-776-7539 |
|
|
Outreach |
2 |
Dennis Mohler |
740-775-7222 |
|
|
Purchasing |
2 |
Tim Rutherford |
740-998-2460 |
|
|
Registrar, Men |
2 |
Bill Fetters |
740-775-1625 |
|
|
Registrar, Women |
1 |
Karen Edmonson |
740-998-5650 |
|
|
Secretary |
3 |
Laura Miller |
740-332-6003 |
|
|
Social 1 |
1 |
Jim Brammer |
937-981-3243 |
|
|
Social 2 |
2 |
John Tussey |
740-869-4038 |
|
|
Spiritual Director |
Acting |
Dennis Mohler |
740-775-7222 |
|
|
Sponsorship |
2 |
John Tussey |
740-869-4038 |
|
|
Treasurer |
2 |
Cheryl Rutherford |
740-998-2460 |