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Blue Ridge Emmaus Community Newsletter
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Volume 15, Issue 3, September 2008
Please be in prayer for the Pilgrims who will be attending Walk #58 and the Caterpillars who will be attending Flight #52 & Journey #16! and their Teams . . .
Girl's Flight #52 - September 12-14, 2008 (Click the link to view list---sign on required)
Men's Walk #58 - September 18-21, 2008 (Click the link to view list---sign on required)
Women's Journey #16 - Oct 17-19, 2008 (Click the link to view list---sign on required)
Notes from the Blue Ridge Emmaus Community Lay director 
Let's be the Community God wants us to be!
I would like to ask each member of the Emmaus community to make a commitment, a commitment to service in your community. We have such a large community and I feel it is one of loving Christians, who want to serve others. There are so many areas you can serve on the Walks, there is the dining hall, prayer chapel, outside servants, signing up on the 72 hour prayer vigil, etc. I challenge each of you to serve in your Emmaus community and you will receive a blessing.
There are also openings on the board and we would love to have you serve. We welcome new board members, it not only is a joy to be a part of but new members can give us fresh views and ideas. The board has to make decisions but we want the community to be a part of those decisions.
I encourage you to let me know what you would like to see happen with your Emmaus community. Please call me, e-mail me or see me at the walks. My numbers are 828-665-1646 (h) 828-231-3820 (c) 828-252-3142 ext 364 (w), or e-mail: evafarren@charter.net.
I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and help these past few months, on the board and in the community. We have faced many challenges but with God's help, love and guidance we are moving forward.
I feel God sees us as a community of love so lets reach out and show God's love to others, in our community and to those new pilgrims just getting ready to be part of the community. Exodus (4:13) says, But Moses said, "O Lord please send someone else to do it." Let us not ask to send someone else but go ourselves. If you think back to your Walk and remember what it felt like to have all those servants of God serving you, how can you not want to give back? I look forward to seeing you at the Men's Walk September 18-21! De Colores
Eva Farren
AGAPE INFORMATION
Start planning early for our agape goodies. If each reunion group would make 1 or 2 items, we would have a good amount of agape. Individuals are also encouraged to make agape. Just a reminder, that things should not be signed except for a reunion group name. Rule of thumb for amounts: 70 for table and 40 for pillow agape. Then maybe one or two extra if something gets lost or broken. If you need ideas, please feel free to call or email me. Lori Freeman; 890-4220 or (lawfreeman@aol.com)
Also, it would be helpful if you could let me know what your group is making so we don't double up on treats.
PERSONAL AGAPE: If you wish to give your pilgrim any personal agape, please do so on the ride home AFTER leaving Christmount.
Do you eat Altoids?
Empty ALTOID tins needed ASAP to be transformed into Chrysalis agape. Please contact Julie Bagamary @ Gods6bags@gmail.com or (828) 628-1746. Thank you very much.
Thinking about sponsoring someone but not sure how to approach it. You can give them a What is Emmaus book. We have received a donation for the What is Emmaus books. Now, they are free so pick one up at the next Gathering, Follow-up or other Blue Ridge Emmaus event. Mailing them is expensive so please don't ask. Let's use this resource to recruit more Pilgrims. Please remember these books are donated so please take all you want but only what you will use!
Q: What can I do This Weekend? A: Come and Serve!
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 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 baked goods, snack foods and drinks. 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.
A New Cook in the Kitchen! The Blue Ridge Walk to Emmaus Board of Directors has made arrangements with Christmount for the September 18th – 21st walk. As we negotiated our contract with Christmount we asked to use their new kitchen and dining facilities and were granted the request with one caveat – their cooks will be preparing the food using our menu. The Board is excited to have the opportunity to use the bigger and newer dining hall.
Even though someone else is cooking we still need volunteers. We can still contribute by plating the food, serving the food, busing the tables, and creating the festive atmosphere – basically all the dining room functions. Also, there are other ways to serve. This would be a great time to try the Prayer Chapel or working as an outside servant. We’ll have someone posted in the Dining Room to help in getting volunteer jobs assigned.
Note: With food costs rising at such exorbitant rates over the last 12 months, we've had to raise our meal costs to all. As a result, we ask those sharing the meal with us to contribute Kitchen agape @ $4 per meal.
Dining Room Servant Schedule:
Friday Served at Arrive at
Breakfast 8:00 am 7:30 am
Lunch 12:30 pm 12 noon
Dinner 5:30 pm 5:00 pm
Saturday
Breakfast 8:00 am 7:30 am
Lunch 12:30 pm 12 noon
Dinner 5:30 pm 5:00 pm
Sunday
Breakfast 8:00 pm 7:30 pm
Lunch 12 noon 11:30 am
Prayer Vigil
Hear ye! Hear ye!
It is time to sign up for the Fall prayer vigils. The Men's Walk is September 18-21 and the Women's Walk is November 20-23. The last day to sign up for the September Walk will be the 15th. Please do so by then. It will expedite things if you sign up for both Walks at the same time. If there are still openings after the 12th we need some volunteers to contact people in their reunion group, church, community etc. and help fill all of the times. I already have a volunteer for Cashiers and Highlands, still need someone from Waynesville, Burnsville, Hendersonville, and a couple of people from the Asheville area. Hopefully, all you will need to do is make a few contacts and put names on the web page or guide the pray-ers to sign up. If you would like to help with this, please e-mail me at trudipeters@hotmail.com or call me at (828) 628-1683. Thanks and God bless you for signing up for the prayer vigil. It is a vital part of the Emmaus Weekend our Pilgrims will experience.
Trudi Peters 
PRAYER CHAPEL
Come and join us in the Prayer Chapel. We have a great time on every 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
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The newsletter is most enjoyable when there is fresh information each time. The Board welcomes submissions from Blue Ridge Emmaus Community. How did the Emmaus experience change or improve your life? Maybe you had a special experience in service during the Walk. Share about your Fourth Day if you wish. Please submit your experiences via e-mail to vanessacrouch@charter.net or mail to Vanessa Crouch, 311 Onteora Blvd, Asheville NC 28803.
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Men’s Walk #58 events we want you to attend!
Send off:
Thursday, Sept. 18 @6:45 pm in the 'Old' Dining Hall. Bring a snack to share!
Candlelight: 
Saturday, Sept. 20th @ 7:45 pm
in the Fellowship Hall (wooden bldg). Please come to support the Pilgrims and join in on that great Emmaus Fellowship, see your old friends, worship together, singing praise music and hearing a message. Service begins at 7:45 PM. Please remember to be quiet while arriving and departing so as not to disturb the Pilgrims. What a wonderful way to show God's love and your support to the Pilgrims and the Community. So come to Candlelight!
Closing:
Sunday, Sept. 21st @ 4:30 pm in the ‘Old’ Dining Hall.
Come an empty vessel and get filled.
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Follow-Up:
Friday Sept. 26th Now October 3, 2008 @ 7:00 pm (rescheduled due to gas shortage) at Weaverville United Methodist Church 85 North Main Street Weaverville NC. This Follow-up that not only serves to welcome the newest Community Members from Walk 58 but as our Community Gathering for September. Bring a snack to share. We’re still hungry!
 Feel like sometimes you've lost your direction?
Well here are some to help you along the way.
Directions to Christmount:
Drive east on I-40 to Exit 64.
Turn right onto Hwy 9. After you drive past Wendy's, the road will split.
Stay on Hwy 9, bearing left at the fork in the road. Go about 1 mile.
Turn left into Christmount and proceed up the hill, main Bldg on left.
Directions to Weaverville UMC:
Take US-19/23 (Future I-26) to exit 19 towards Weaverville.
If coming from the North, bear left at the end of the ramp, cross over the bridge and pass all the stores & banks; at the 3rd light take a right and go 2 blocks; the Fellowship Center will be on the right; you can park there & at the bank.
If coming from the South, take Exit 19 and continue right at the end of the ramp. Go past the shopping center to the 3rd light, take a right turn, go 2 blocks to the Fellowship Center.
If confused or lost, call Mary Shaw @ 645-4473 or 231-2232. De Colores!
Blue Ridge Emmaus Walk # 56 & 57 were unforgettable - for the team and the Community.
Some of the comments heard at Closing from the Pilgrims:
"He's our Strength, our rock, our Salvation."
"Talk about an energized bunny going back to the church!"
"I know what it feels like to be prayed for and doggone it if it don't feel good."
"I thought grace was simple . . . but it's also very complicated."
"I will invite people to have this experience as well."
"What time _is_ it? And where is my cell phone?"
"I want to go back and try to serve the Lord."
"Emmaus is a faith reset button and I've pushed it."
"The power of unity in Christ is SO AWESOME!"
"I've searched for a year why I don't have joy in my life. I do the physical stuff but no happiness. This weekend has allowed me to not think about anything but God."
"I realized I've been using God only as a relief pitcher."
"The missing part was accepting God's grace."
"I left things at the table (in the chapel) that I wouldn't tell anybody!"
"With millions out there we certainly oughta be able to make a difference."
"Grace has been poured over me all weekend long."
"I am going to change the world . . . starting with myself!"
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Click here to view the Sponsor's page
Click here to View REUNION GROUPS
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 your new group, please let the Chairperson of the community know the name, meeting time, meeting place and who the members are.
Note: If your reunion group is not meeting anymore, needs corrections or is not listed, please call or e-mail all changes to Vanessa Crouch at (828) 274-4554 or VanessaCrouch@charter.net
Upcoming Gatherings
Gathering/Follow-up Walk 58 September 26, 2008 Weaverville UMC, Weaverville Gathering October 12, 2008 Longs Chapel UMC, Lake Junaluska
Gathering/Follow-up Walk 59 December 5, 2008 Trinity UMC, Asheville Please check your church calendar for the second Sunday of a month to see if your church can host us or as a Follow- up for a Walk.
This time of gathering is very important. New and old get to visit and know each other and keep us in touch with each other. It helps keep us focused. Mark you calendars for these dates. Dates will rarely change, but locations  might. Be sure to pay attention to Mack Salley's Yahoo! email. If you get this email, please contact someone without email with this information might. We'll try to have hand outs at the next Gathering for those email deprived. If you would like to host a gathering at your church, please notify Carolyn Dickens, (828) 456-2829. De Colores! Carolyn Dickens
Click here for the calendar to view the most current information about Community Gatherings and events.
 Have you checked out our web page? It's a great source for up-to-date information! Especially between newsletters. To get to it, enter www.blueridgeemmaus.org in your browser (Oh, you've already done that)!. Some of the information is of a more confidential nature so we require a password for that! Here's what it looks like on the home page (on the lower left). You have to enter the username and passwords ao you can see the confidentail material. It's published in the paper version of the newsletter but to obtain it online, please send an e-mail with your name and Walk # to Community@BlueRidgeEmmaus.org. We'll confirm that information with our database and then send you the Username and Password. Please allow up to a week for a response. If you need a quicker response, call Phil Crouch at (828) 274-4554 with your information and he'll call you back as soon as possible with the Password. Please note the password is NOT capitalized!
If you want to be on the e-mail list for the Blue Ridge Emmaus Yahoo! Group so that you can get newsletters, updates and prayer concerns, enter our e-mail in the box like this one (above, left) which is on the lower left of the home page. You'll get an e-mail that you must confirm before being added. Click that link and you're all set! How easy is that? Now, go do it!
Want to help us save money? If you have internet access (which it appears you do), you can view the newsletter online. Simply send an e-mail to community@blueridgeemmaus.org and we'll put you on the electronic version. Each name moved to online status saves us about $5.00 a year in postage and printing costs.
Click here to View the Board of Directors & Committee Chairs
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