Blue Ridge Emmaus - Asheville, NC - December, 2006 Newsletter

The Blue Ridge Emmaus Board of Directors has been mandated to follow all the guidelines from the Upper Room Headquarters in Tennessee. A covenant with the Upper Room is signed yearly and it is our responsibility to adhere to the manual of guidelines provided to the board of directors. With all this said, one of the rules we must follow is to have at least 20 pilgrims per walk by the deadline given by the registrar. This is the first time in the history of Blue Ridge Emmaus Community that this has not been done. Knowing how meaningful our Emmaus walks have been to each of us and realizing that God is in control of each walk and He knows what is best for us even in times when we don’t, the November walk has been canceled.

The registrar has notified the sponsors about moving their pilgrims to the April 2007 men’s walk. Hopefully, all of the men involved, will be able to make this move. With lots of prayer for sponsors and perspective pilgrims in the future, hopefully we will never have to cancel another walk.

The board would like to extend its appreciation to Julius Siebert, Lay Director and his team for the preparation of this walk.

As the Community Lay Director, I want to express my love and thankfulness to the Board of Directors and all the Emmaus Community for the support given in my time of office. I have enjoyed serving and will continue to support and serve in other areas. Blessings to each of you in your life and prayers for God’s love to always surround you.

DeColores!
Peggy Weaver

Feb 1-4, 2007, Blue Ridge Walk to Emmaus # 52 Women’s Walk will mark the first time in North Carolina Emmaus history that Walk to Emmaus has been made accessible to the Deaf. Walk #52 will welcome a full table of Deaf ladies led by a Deaf Pilgrim from the Maryland area. Prayerfully in future Walks that are made accessible, this table will be led by a NC Deaf Pilgrim. There will be 5 N.C. licensed interpreters assisting with this Walk. Everything on the Walk will be interpreted and logistics such as lighting and alerts have been studied and planned for months.

Brenda Reed the Lay Director for this Walk and all the Blue Ridge Emmaus Board has been so helpful, willing and excited to make every effort in making this a reality. This has been a three year process and the Lord is blessing these efforts daily. It is our prayer that as these Deaf leaders in their churches return to their community they will be so excited for the Lord they will spread the Good News of Jesus even further into the Deaf Community.

Who better to share Jesus with a Deaf person than another Deaf person? With prayer and continued efforts in this area we pray that the statistics by many missions groups of approx two percent of Deaf people having a relationship with the Lord will be increased. The Deaf have been listed as the largest un-reached group in North America.

Mark Your Calendars!
♥    Women’s Walk #52 – Frebruary 1-4, 2007
♥    Men’s Walk #53 – April 19-22, 2007
♥    Women”s Walk #54 – September 13-16, 2007
♥    Men’s Walk #55 – November 15-18, 2007
♥    Women’s Walk Walk #56 – February , 2007

Future Blue Ridge Emmaus Gatherings
♥    February 9, 2007
♥    April 26, 2007

Come join us in the Prayer Chapel.
We had a great time on the last Walk singing,
reading scripture and praying.
What a treat it is to see the Holy Spirit at work!
It is an experience you won't forget.

Virginia and Lee Wilkinson,
Prayer Chapel Chairpersons

Do you or someone you know in Blue Ridge Emmaus want to find a way to be more involved? Well the Nominations Committee is looking for people with a servant's heart to fill several upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Committee Chairs who rotate off their 3 year commitment this year are Dining Room, Clergy Rep., Kitchen, Set-up/Tear Down, and Purchasing. Being the Committee Chair does NOT obligate you to doing the role on the weekends, merely making sure it is done. The Blue Ridge Emmaus Community will be voting on persons nominated soon. If you have a name to suggest or more questions, please contact Phillip Crouch at philcrouch@charter.net or call (828) 274-4554.

Information from the Registrar
Jami Davis is the registrar for the Blue Ridge Emmaus.
Please be sure to turn in your balances as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, you can either e-mail me at
jami.c.davis@smithbarney.com or call me at 828-250-8736
or 828-654-8231. Thank you!!!!!
Blue Ridge Emmaus, PO Box 8256, Asheville, NC 28814.

Candlelight Comments

Don ‘t forget to come to candlelight on the Saturday night of your pilgrim’s walk. This is part of your agape for your pilgrim. Watch for future emails or the newsletter for the location and time..

DeColores! Nancy Kiggen, Candlelight Chairperson

I’m sure most of you have seen the TV program ”Fear Factor." The contestants compete for prizes by seeing who can eat the most disgusting things--grasshoppers--worms--spiders--etc. In our Emmaus kitchen we have the sissy version. Our version is who can eat the most Oreo Delight--ginger cookies--yeast rolls---cheesecake. Come join us. We laugh, talk, pray, and share in a great fellowship.

YOU could win the Emmaus Fear Factor for Sissies. (I currently hold the yeast roll title---19 yeast rolls in four minutes.)

How Much Agape?
•    When you are making agape for a walk, please be sure to include enough for everyone (pilgrims and team) plus 1-2 extra in case of breakage or spills. It is helpful to count your agape and label the bag/box with that number.
•    A good rule of thumb – Table/Dining Room agape: 60 items; Pillow agape: 40 items.
•    PERSONAL AGAPE: If you wish to give your pilgrim any personal agape, please do so on the ride home AFTER leaving Christmount.
        We strive to show ALL pilgrims God’s love through agape and when some pilgrims receive things that others don’t, feelings are hurt.
•    Reminder: Table agape is an expression of unconditional love; therefore personal names are not attached, although Reunion Group or church names are welcomed.
•    As you pray for the pilgrims on the upcoming walk, please pray for the Emmaus walks all over the US and the world.
•    Empty ALTOID tins needed ASAP to be transformed into Chrysalis agape. Please contact Julie Bagamary @ 628-1746 or gods6bags@lwol.com. Thank you very much.

The most important next step after your walk is to join or form a reunion group. Reunion groups serve to keep you accountable for living your life to the Glory of God. They also serve as all important sources of strength when you needed it the most. The group provides opportunities to study the ways of the Lord and how to use the Word practically in everyday life. So join or create with others a reunion group. You will forever be grateful for taking this step. When you form our new group, please let the Chairperson of the community know the name, meeting time, meeting place and who the members are.

PARTICIPATE

Not Sure What To Do During A Weekend?
Please note that you do not have to have a pilgrim on the Walk to participate in any of these Community wide activities throughout the weekend. All members of the Emmaus Community are encouraged to attend send-off/sponsor’s hour, candlelight, closing & follow-up.
You are also encouraged to work in the kitchen & dining room, lift up prayers in the prayer chapel, place your name on the prayer banner & pray up the Walk. Always remember the need for snack foods, drinks & baked goods. You may not have a pilgrim on this Walk, but the Pilgrims and Team still need the support of the Blue Ridge Emmaus Community in all facets of the weekend.

SEND OFF – Thursday, April 27 @ 7:00pm
Christmount Christian Assembly – 222 Fern Way,
Black Mountain, Guest House Dining Hall
Directions: From Asheville, drive east on I-40 to Exit 64. Turn right onto Highway 9. After you drive past Wendy’s, the road will split. Stay on Highway 9 bearing left at the fork in the road. Go about 1 mile. Christmount is on the left. Bring a snack to share!

SPONSOR’S HOUR – Immediately following Send Off.
Guest House Chapel next to dining hall – Sponsors need to stay for this to pray over your pilgrim’s cross!

CANDLELIGHT – Saturday, April 29 @ 8:00pm
Christmount Christian Assembly –Lower Chapel

CLOSING – Sunday, April 30 @ 4:30pm
Christmount Christian Assembly – Guest House dining hall.

FOLLOW-UP – Friday, May 5 @ 7:00pm,
Trinity UMC, 587 Haywood Rd, Asheville
Directions: From I-240, take exit 2. Turn west onto Haywood Road. Trinity is 2 blocks on the right.
Parking in back. Bring a snack to share!

Sponsor’s Responsibilities

BEFORE THE WALK
•    Provide application & "What Is Emmaus" book for your applicant.
•    Begin praying for your applicant.
•    Pick up completed application & book.
•    Fill out sponsor's form.
•    Mail completed application, sponsor's form & $50 deposit.
•    Meet with the applicant & family. Tell them about possible changes & answer all questions.
•    Begin collecting agape letters from family & friends, well in advance.
•    Sign up for a slot on the 72-hour prayer vigil.
•    Pay the remaining money for the walk.
•    During the Walk
•    Do something special for your pilgrim's family this weekend.
•    Check on them & answer any questions they may have.

*Sunday
•    Work in the kitchen/dining area if possible, your pilgrim should not see you.
•    Visit the Prayer Chapel and pray for Pilgrims, Walk and the Community.
•    Be at Closing. Closing is scheduled for 4:30. This will be the first time your pilgrim will see you – Smile ☺
•    Help your pilgrim with their bags.
•    Take pilgrim home.