Greater
Greater
DeColores!
Jon
Mark Hall
Do You Have a Son Tan?
Today we are awash in published materials, both religious
and secular. Much of it is valuable. But if we read them with our backs to the
light, we see only reflected light. It’s not until we immerse ourselves in the
word of God that we can bask in the full, life-giving light. We cannot fully
experience the light until we delve into God’s word. Though other works may
enhance our understanding we need to experience the true light every day. A
spiritual Son tan is a healthy condition for your soul.
Musicians
and Singers Share Your Gifts!
If you
would like to share your musical gifts by leading praise music or providing
special music during gatherings, please contact Community Music Chairman, Peg
Beekman
937-981-9805
Emmaus Board Ballot, for 3 year
terms beginning January 2007
Vote for Six (6)
Marcia Anderson
David Burriss
Pat Cook
Juni Frey
Richard Jones
Denise Kiger
Laura Miller
Les Grooms - Clergy
Dick North - Clergy
Tony Siders
Pat Arthur
Richard Schumacher
Write-In ________________________
Mail completed ballot by November 15 to:
GSV Emmaus
c/o Trinity United
Emmaus Board Elections
This
issue of the GSV Emmaus Newsletter includes the ballot for new board members
for three year terms beginning January 2007. Approximately one third of the
board rotates out each year. Each board member holds a service position. Once
the board is elected a new chairman is selected from among second year board members.
The chairman then assigns service positions to the board members with input
from the board. The service positions and duties are as follows:
Agapé—Two persons hold this
position. They sends agapé to other communities, receive and post agapé from other
communities, sort and distribute table, bedtime and personal agapé during walks,
decorate the dining hall during walks and maintain the agapé room.
Chairperson/Community Lay
Director—This
person is a second year board member and selected by the board. He or she is a
lay person and acts as the administrative head of the community. He or she
conducts board meetings, leads community gatherings, interfaces with The Upper
Room (Emmaus’ governing entity), selects lay directors for upcoming walks,
works with all board members to see that jobs are accomplished, and leads the
closing ceremonies of the walks.
Good Shepherd—The Good Shepherd is in
charge of tracking share groups and making contacts to place Emmaus community
members in existing share groups. He or she may also facilitate the formation
of new share groups.
Housekeeping—Two persons hold this
position. They are responsible for scheduling workers to set up beds and other
items before the walks, to keep the facilities clean during the walk, to return
facilities to original condition following the walk.
Kitchen—Two persons hold this
position. They are responsible for all kitchen operations including decisions
on foods to order prior to walks and the preparation of all meals. They
supervise the cooking, serving and kitchen facilities during the walk, prepare
special foods for pilgrims with special needs and schedule kitchen workers for
all meals.
Music—The community music
representative arranges or provides musicians to lead praise at gatherings and
special music for gatherings,
Leadership—The immediate past
Community Lay Director serves one year in the leadership position, lending his
or her experience and expertise to the current Community Lay Director.
Newsletter—The person who holds this
position collects and writes articles that uplift and inform the community, and
formats them for print and posting on the community web site.
Outreach—This position is held by a
clergy person. It is a support position, backup for the Community Spiritual
Director.
Purchasing—This person purchases all
supplies for the community, including foods, kitchen supplies, office supplies
and materials that support the walks.
Registrars—The Men’s and Women’s
Registrars maintain application files of prospective pilgrims. They call prospective
pilgrims prior to walks filling the rosters. The registrars interface with the
Sponsorship Representative to make sure sponsors are aware that their pilgrims
have been contacted to participate in a walk.
Secretary—The secretary takes minutes
and maintains records of all Emmaus board meetings. The Secretary may also be
asked to take care of necessary correspondence.
Social—Two persons hold this
position. The Social Representatives prepare the facilities for the meal and
clean up following gatherings, returning the facilities to original condition.
Special Projects—This person is charged with
envisioning special projects and events for the community.
Spiritual Director—This position is held by a
clergy person. The Spiritual Director has many duties, including ensuring the
board maintain the proper spiritual attitude, addressing each gathering,
serving communion, and arranging clergy team members for walks.
Sponsorship—The Sponsorship
representative contacts sponsors and sends them sponsorship packets when their
pilgrims are slated to be on a walk. He or she is also responsible for sponsor
education.
Treasurer—The treasurer collects and
distributes all funds for the community. He or she submits detailed financial
records to the board on a monthly basis and keeps open books that may be
audited at the board’s discretion.
There are three appointed positions on the board: Chrysalis, Computer, and Kairos. Because of the
liaison/technical requirements of these positions, the persons holding the
positions only change when the board or the person serving in the position
deems it necessary.
The descriptions of the positions given above are
just outlines. Each position may include other duties on a temporary or
continuing basis.
A Garden
in Our Hearts
I like to think of my heart as a garden that God planted the day I
was born again. In it beautiful flowers and spiritual fruit grow—or at least
they should. God planted the seeds and nourished them with the water of the
Word. Christ’s presence provides the sunshine and the Holy Spirit breathes on
the new growth.
But weeds seem to grow in my garden too. You know what I
mean—unkind thoughts and attitudes, pettiness, blame shifting, gossip, “white”
lies. Where did these things come from? Surely God didn’t put them there. And how can I keep the insidious encroachment
of these weeds from choking out the spiritual fruit in my garden?
Paul gives the answer in his letter to the Philipians where he
writes,
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philipians 4:8
How
many times do we let our minds dwell on the things that are not true, honest,
just, pure, lovely, virtuous or praiseworthy? When someone says something that
doesn’t sit quite right, do we let irritation take root in our gardens or do we
quickly pluck it out? How about that song with questionable lyrics that floats
around in our minds day after day? Is that virtuous or praiseworthy? Someone
once told me that you can’t keep a bird from lighting on your head, but you
don’t have to let him build a nest. It’s the same with thoughts and attitudes.
We have the power to banish them. But it’s easiest if we do it immediately. We
need to weed our gardens daily and pluck out everything we find that doesn’t
measure up to the high standards of holiness set by Jesus Christ. If we seek
out the good in others and dwell on those thoughts will we not have a healthier
more vibrant garden? Won’t our fruit be sweeter?
Heavenly Father, Thank you
for the gift of salvation and for the cleansing blood of Christ. Help us to be
vigilant about the things we allow to grow in our hearts. Give us wisdom to
recognize the things that are not fruitful. Help us to grow vibrant, fruitful
and weedless gardens in our hearts. In
Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
----Editor
Trinity
United Permit
# 2 Postage Paid TrinityUMC Permit No. 2 45601
Gatherings are held at November
Gathering is the 16th.
