Greater Scioto Valley

Emmaus Newsletter

December 2004

A word from the chair…

BELIEVE

Christmas. I always run the gamut of emotions every Holiday season: joy, elation, sadness over the loss of loved ones, peace, stress, love, and pride in the accomplishments of our children. This year my mind and emotions have been filled with thoughts of The Child.

Recently, my mother asked to borrow a children’s book to read at an assisted living home. I recommended “Alabaster’s Song”, by Max Lucado. Alabaster was an angel perched atop a child’s Christmas tree who sings to Jesus every Christmas morning. Only the child hears the song. The adults are too busy and caught up to hear it. I cannot read the book aloud to my boys without getting a catch in my voice and a tear in my eye. Can you hear the song? Do you believe? Our family went to see “The Polar Express” in the movie theater recently. It has a similar, but secular scenario. The little boy isn’t sure if Santa is real. The Polar Express train takes him to the North Pole where Santa gives him the first gift of Christmas – a bell. On Christmas morning, only he and his younger sister can hear the bell ring. Their parents think the bell is broken. Can you hear the bell? Do you believe?

Oh, to have that child-like faith. Oh, to have the innocence and clarity of understanding so we can hear the bell and the song. Can we? Do we? Or do we go through the motions and emotions of Christmas without living and understanding the meaning? AND, do we leave the belief behind when the last gift is opened and the last strand of garland is put away for another year?

I recently read an editor’s comments in a magazine about the hustle and bustle of Christmas and about finding out what was more important – the chores or the child. She quoted a verse from a poem by Madeleine L’Engle:

This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild

Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child

Here’s my wish and prayer for you. Believe. Listen for the song and the bell. And make room for The Child, today and always.

DeColores!

Diana Hall

FROM THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR--

It's funny how time changes things. Things take on a different meaning as we grow older. Even Christmas keeps changing as our family grows up. Things were a lot different when the kids were little. Toys, lights, presents, Christmas trees, Santa Claus and Christmas mornings were always special times.

The memories that Sue and I have weren't about things received but on memories and attitudes. Sue remembered one Christmas Eve in Bryan. After locking up following the midnight service we were heading out to our car about 12:30 am with the 3 kids--2 in pajama sleepers. A light snow was falling-covering everything with a coating of new snow and everything seemed so serene and perfect--just like Christmas was supposed to be.

My memories are not about specifics, but a compilation of feelings and traditions. Christmas is finding and setting up the Christmas tree each year. It is sticky buns and coffee on Christmas morning and then opening presents around the tree. It is laughter, excitement, looks of surprise, and lights in the eyes of children.

Christmas is what we make it. And when Christ is at the center, then it is always something special. Here's hoping your Christmas will be one to make memories from.

DeColores! Dennis Mohler

COMPUTER PURCHASE PLANNED – WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Greater Scioto Valley Emmaus Board of Directors has agreed to pursue purchasing a laptop computer for use during the walks and to maintain its database. There are many advantages to having our own computer. By having a central location to maintain all documents, it eliminates errors or omissions. By having a computer to use during walk weekends, key points to all of the talks could be stored in generic power point presentations to be customized by each speaker as necessary. There are also many resources that could be stored and accessed by the appropriate personnel to conduct a walk. Quotes have been received for a quality, durable laptop that would fit the community’s needs. Because Emmaus is a non-profit entity and because funds are very limited, we need the assistance of community members to support this project. If you have questions, direct them to Diana Hall, Board Chair or Kevin Pancake, Computer/Technology Chair. If you are interested in making a donation towards the purchase of a community laptop computer, please mail your check to GSV Emmaus, c/o Trinity UMC, 24 S Mulberry Street, Chillicothe, Ohio, 45601. Make sure you include a note to designate it “for computer purchase”. Donations will be earmarked for the computer purchase and can be written off as a charitable contribution. Thank you for your support!

SPONSORS – DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

Signed someone up and don’t remember what all you have to do? Here’s your checklist. Cut this out and keep it somewhere safe so you make sure your pilgrim has the best time on his or her walk.

_____ If your name is on the application, YOU are the sponsor!

_____ Begin now to pray for your pilgrim

_____ Keep in touch with your pilgrim – if they move, make sure you get a new address

_____ Obtain names of special friends, family and start requesting agape letters

_____ TALK TO YOUR PILGRIM ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE WEEKEND – NOTHING IS SECRET!

_____ Go over the list of what to bring for the weekend.

_____ Make arrangements to take your pilgrim to the church on the Thursday evening of the walk between 6:00 and 6:15 p.m.

_____ Make arrangements to take your pilgrim home after closing Sunday evening.

_____ Participate in Sponsor’s hour Thursday evening after the pilgrims have gone to the conference room.

_____ Purchase a copy of the book entitled, “Day Four, the Pilgrim’s Continued Journey” following closing. (this book will be available at Sponsor’s hour)

_____ EXPLAIN TO YOUR PILGRIM’S FAMILY THAT YOU WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM AT ANY TIME DURING THE WALK WEEKEND

_____ Participate in Candlelight Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

_____ Participate in Closing Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

_____ Make sure your pilgrim gets in a share group.

Still not sure what to do? Contact the Sponsorship Chair or any Board member for help!

MEN’S WAITING LIST HAS OPENINGS. Start now and let’s get a full men’s walk in April. Pray for those who you feel would benefit from the Walk to Emmaus and get their applications submitted soon!

www.gsvemmaus.org Check out the website – it’s new, it’s improved, it’s cool! There are many new features to the website – you can join discussion groups, download previous newsletters from the archives, post announcements, chat with a friend, and request prayers among many other exciting things! It only takes a few minutes to register and it’s fun! Contact Kevin Pancake if you are having troubles with the website.

Board Hi Lites…………….

Report on WW32…..All went well

Regional training may 20-21, 2005 Friday is for board members and Saturday is for any Emmaus member who would like to come. Time for Saturday is 8 am til 4pm

Team selections for Feb. and April are going well.

The Spiritual Directors is as follows:

April ………….John Waugh

June…………....Paul Goshorn

September…..…Phil Howard

October………..Dick North

There are 40 men and 93 women on the waiting list for Walks.

Next Board meeting Dec. 16, 2004 @5pm.

NOTICE

It’s time to renew your snail-mail subscription to the Greater Scioto Valley Emmaus Community Newsletter. The renewal will be for the calendar year, 2005. Regardless of when you subscribe during the year, your subscription will expire December of 2005. Cost for the annual subscription is $5.00. You may also view the newsletter in its entirety on the website for free. To receive a monthly e-mail reminder for the most current newsletter posted, contact Kevin Pancake: pancake@bright.net.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU TOOK YOUR WALK IN 2004 — HERE’S ANOTHER GIFT OF AGAPE — YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WILL BE FREE UNTIL 2006!

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SNAIL-MAIL NEWSLETTER, DOWNLOAD THE FORM AS A WORD.DOC OR A ADOBE.PDF AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION BY JANUARY 31, 2005.

Message Board Instructions………..

The Greater Scioto Valley Emmaus Message Board is up and running. The message board replaces the previous Guest Book and Prayer Requests and provides a forum-based site where members of the online Community can exchange information, ideas, etc. between each other and the entire Three-Day community.

This is a private board, open to anyone who has participated in a 72-hour event (Emmaus, Chrysalis, Kairos, etc.). You must register an account to access the board.

First time visitors go here: http://community.gsvemmaus.org/viewtopic.php?t=5

Registered users go here: http://community.gsvemmaus.org/login.php