KOINONIA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 KOINONIA COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER September 2015 An exclusive club for super Christians A replacement for a person s home Church A place to fix emotional, psychological, social and marital problems The Walk to Emmaus Is: Upcoming EMMAUS Gatherings: September 11, 2015 St. Paul Lutheran Church Hondo 1303 Avenue M Womens Team Consecration From Your Newsletter Coordinator: We so often hear folks making comments about Emmaus and whether it is some kind of cult. I came across the following I thought provided a lot of insight: The Walk to Emmaus is Not: A cult A place where a person learns how to become a better servant to fellow believers in Christ (Philippians 2:1-11) A place where a person sees the love of Christ in action A time of spiritual renewal and re-dedication to Christ as Lord An opportunity to grow as a disciple of Christ A place to be reminded of one s first love, Jesus Christ A gift of God s love for you An opportunity to re-valuate your priorities in life A place to experience God s power and direction in your life A time of prayer, fellowship and communion An opportunity to meet new brothers and sisters in Christ A program to strengthen leaders in the local Church Koinonia 2015 Gathering Calendar September 11 October 9 November 13 December St. Paul Lutheran Lytle UMC New Fountain UMC No Gathering

2 2015 Walk to Emmaus Schedule Date Walk Gender FDG Location 08/20/ M Concho Country Christ the King 08/27/ W Coastal Bend Queen of Peace 09/24/ W Hill Country Mt Wesley 09/24/ W BOeRNe Again Omega 09/24/ M Hays Praise Young Judaea 10/01/ M Greater Austin Young Judaea 10/01/ W Living Waters Eagle s Wings 10/01/ W Koinonia Mt. Wesley 10/01/ W Windmill Camp Zephyr 10/08/ W Rivercreek Cathedral Oaks 10/08/ W New Life BluePrint Ministries 10/08/ W Springs of Life T-Tech Junction 10/15/ M NWSA Mt. Wesley 10/22/ W Solid Rock Young Judaea 10/22/ W Concho Country Christ the King 10/22/ W Valley Camp Thicket 10/29/ W 3-N-1 Cathedral Oaks Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 Paul was helping timothy to know how a church should function. How its leaders should be and to be the pillar of truth. Verse 16 is a list of the mystery of Christ. Don Krumrey St. Paul Lutheran Church Hondo, Texas

3 Prayer Vigil Needs We are trying out a new process for filling prayer vigils. We are trying an online service called VolunteerSpot to fill our assigned times for prayer vigils. It has some nice benefits, such as making it less complicated for people that don t attend a gathering to get signed up for prayer vigils, and automatically sending a reminder two days before the prayer vigil time. You can also sign up using an iphone or ipad app, which is inexpensive, but not free. For the Prayer Vigil Coordinator it also provides some easy reporting capabilities. We have set up a group page at The prayer vigils for the first half of 2015 (through May) have been loaded into this group page for us to get them filled quickly and easily. Please take a look and let us know what you think about it! Here's how it works in 4 easy steps: 1. Click this link to go to our group page on VolunteerSpot: 2. Select a weekend that you are available to sign up for a prayer vigil. 3. Enter your address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot) 4. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. It s easy! ***NOTE*** VolunteerSpot does not share your address with anyone. Putting your address in allows the system to send you a confirmation that you have signed up, and a reminder two days before the event. If you prefer not to use your address, please contact Connie Norton (cnortonaggie@yahoo.com) and she can sign you up manually.

4 CANON OF THE EMMAUS TEAM As a member of an Emmaus team I am only one part of a complete being! As an imperfect earthen vessel my position is to be a servant. The Holy Spirit calls for my love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control in all things. Therefore, I will serve in humility and gratitude. My prayer is to submit to the Holy Spirit in every area of my life. The Holy Spirit, as my Counselor, reminds me that God works through committed, obedient, and yielded people as instruments to renew God s Church. By God s grace I am confident that God will work God s mighty acts through me not because of me. I will pray for team members and pilgrims, asking our Lord to strengthen them and to reveal himself to them in new and wondrous ways. My position is to be a servant in word and deed not glorifying myself or any other team member and not emphasizing self-importance. Other people are the main reason for my presence and my prayers; therefore, I must be used as little as possible during these three days. This team is more important than me. In all things I will accept and be obedient to the authority and discipline under which I serve. My responsibility is to be obedient to the church and totally responsive to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Whatever passions and excitement seize me, I will express through joyful praise of the Father, my Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I will give God all the glory for anything and everything that occurs on this Walk. I will raise my voice only in praise of God and will bow my head in reverence and submission to Jesus Christ. God can use me more powerfully as a servant than in any position of my own choosing. As a member of an Emmaus team, in all things during this weekend, I shall pray, Not me, but Christ.

5 Women s Walk #1808 Plans for the next Women s Walk (scheduled for 10/01/ /04/2015) are well underway with the team having completed its third session. Now the need is for Pilgrims. If you know of anyone you feel should be a part of this walk, please encourage them to sign up. And, remember, there is scholarship money available wherever there is a financial need. In addition to the need for pilgrims there s always a need for sponsors. Even if you don t have a pilgrim, you might consider serving as a sponsor for someone who is attending the walk. And.it s never too early to add the Women s Walk #1808 to your prayer list. Be in prayer that God is ever present in the hearts and minds of each and every team member. Also, be in prayer for the pilgrims of Walk #1808 Pilgrim Applications may be submitted via to Michelle Brown at: oakhollow54@gmail.com Or by mail to: Michelle Brown PO Box 793 Lytle, Tx Don t forget September gathering is the Team Consecration for the Women s Walk #1808: St. Paul Lutheran Church Hondo 1303 Avenue M

6 The following is a list of Food Agape requested for the Women s Walk #1808. Feel free to bring whatever you would like. However, a request has been made for the following items. If you can bring anything on this list, please contact Nicki Jeter via either e- mail (nickidunn3@gmail.com) or phone ( ). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Nicki as well. Walk # 1808 Agape Food List 1. Veggie Plate 2. Veggie Plate 3. Veggie Plate 4. 7-layer dip 5. Grapes 6. Bananas 7. Cantaloupe 8. Strawberries 9. Fruit Dip 10. Hot Cheese Dip 11. Hot Sauce & Chips 12. Prunes 13. Multiple bags of Chocolate 14. Individual pkgs of assorted cookies 15. Individual pkgs of assorted cookies 16. Individual pkgs of assorted cookies 17. Individual pkgs of assorted crackers 18. Individual pkgs of assorted crackers 19. Individual pkgs of assorted crackers 20. Dried sausage 21. Cheese 22. (2)Sugar Free Candy 23. (2)Sugar Free Candy 24. (2) Sugar Free Cookies 25. (2) Sugar Free Cookies 26. (2) Cans of Nuts 27. (2) Cans of Nuts 28. Cutie s Clementine s layer dip 30. Dip of your Choice 31. Dip of your Choice

7 Men s Walk #1838 Plans for the next Men s Walk (scheduled for 04/28/ /01/2016) are also underway. The team selection process is now underway and the need is for team applications. If you have been on a walk and would like to serve as a member of the team for the next men s walk, we need your application. We need the applications as soon as possible in order to see what roles you may have served in the past and to determine what role you might serve on this team. Remember, also, that the fees for the walk are not needed at this time. They are due, however, by the final team meeting in April. Also, scholarship money is available wherever there might be a financial need. And.finally, it s not too early to add the Men s Walk #1838 to your prayer list. Be in prayer that God is ever present in the hearts and minds of each and every person who would be a member of this team. Team Applications may be submitted via to Jim Rhoades at: jrhoades68@gmail.com Or by mail to: Jim Rhoades 240 CR 2731 Mico, Texas 78056

8 BE STILL AND KNOW In the devotional, Then Sings My Soul-Devotions Inspired by Ten Beloved Hymns, the devotion entitled, His Still Small Voice, begins something like this: We love to hear God s voice. [God] s kind, affirming words lend boldness and confidence. No enemy is too fierce and no circumstance too great. But when we cease to hear from [God], we become fretful and troubled. Even [God] s chastisement is preferred over silence. Oh how I wish this were true, but I think too often, we choose the silence over the chastisement. We live in a world that has been fooled into thinking it doesn t need or want God. We live in a culture that says the notion of God is antiquated, and a crutch for the fanatic and the weak-minded. When we are disconnected from the worshipping community known as the church, it can become very easy to let these words slip through our faith filters and into our hearts, minds, and behaviors. In Psalm 46:10, God says, Be still and know that I am God. If we want to hear God s voice, we have to be quiet in order to hear God speak...however God chooses to speak. But the world tells us we don t need to listen to God; we can do whatever we want to do! The world tells us that God isn t real or relevant. And all too often, we are so disconnected from the faith community that we cannot hear God s voice above the loud refrain of the world s words.

9 But I still choose God s voice, even if you call me and my church fanatical or weak - minded. Oh, I care, but not enough to choose the world s voice over God s voice. God loves me forever, and the world s love is fickle (if it ever loved me at all). God sent God s own son to die, for love of me (and all of us). God claims me when the world kicks me aside. God is the source of my strength and God is my reason for living. God does give me boldness and confidence, and God walks beside me each and every day. I CHOOSE God s voice, even if (and when) God is correcting me for looking and acting like the world! I gather with my church once a week for my faith boost and faith connection. I gather with my share group once a week to review my spiritual successes and failures, and to review my plan for the week (so that I am more likely to speak boldly when God asks me to, and to be still when God tells me to). I draw upon the prayers, praise, worship, and strength of the faith community so I can embrace both the praise and the chastisement that are necessary for me to grow in my faith. My prayer for all of us is that we never choose to listen to the World s voice. My prayer is that we never choose the silence over the chastisement (lest we convince ourselves that our sinful, worldly ways are acceptable). Even for someone as loquacious as I, one of the most critical verses in scripture is God s gentle reminder, Be still and know that I am God. How blessed we are when we do precisely that! De Colores! Pastor Sherri Springfield Area Emmaus 230 E. High Street Springfield, Ohio 45505

10

11 Reunion Group Opportunity Koinonia Reunion Groups (MEN) Lytle UMC Wednesday Mornings 6:30 AM Scott Martin Lytle UMC Living Dust Mondays 6 PM Scott Martin St. Paul, Hondo Early Birds Mondays 6:30 AM Don Krumrey St. Paul, Hondo Night Owls Wednesdays 7 PM Pat Cleary Hondo First UMC Tuesday 8 AM Fred Meyer Yancey UMC Sam Dubberly Lytle UMC O dark 30 boys Wednesdays 6:00 AM Kyle Jackson Currey Creek Boerne, TX Tuesdays 5:30 PM Steve Balthrop

12 \ Reunion Group Opportunity Koinonia Reunion Groups (WOMEN) Lytle Morning Doves Irma Bayne s Thursdays 6:30 AM Connie Norton Lytle Dusk Angels Linda Bahlmann s Thursdays 6:30 PM Linda Bahlmann The Town Criers Quihi (varies) Thursdays 7:30 AM Tara Lewis Lytle Friday Mid-mornings Debbie Pruett BOA s for Christ St. Paul, Hondo 2/4 Mondays 5:30 PM Deb Cleary St. Paul, Hondo Tuesday Afternoons 5:45 PM Helen Witte Hearts for Him St. Paul, Hondo Wednesdays 12 PM Johnette Dixon Castroville Various places and times Jan Warner Lake Hills UMC Tuesdays 10:30 AM Jackie Blakemore Wednesdays 7 AM Sandy Trenkelbach Please submit any corrections to the above listed reunion groups to your newsletter coordinator at jrhoades68@gmail.com.

13 The Purpose of Emmaus The purpose of Emmaus is the renewal of the Church as the body of the risen Christ in the world through the renewal of church members as faithful and committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Emmaus expands participants' spiritual lives, deepens their discipleship, and rekindles their gifts as Christian leaders in their churches and communities. Pastors and Church Family Please print several copies of this new newsletter and place in your church foyer or lobby for those folks who do not have . Thanks, De Colores!! Newsletter Coordinator: Jim Rhoades 240 CR 2731 Mico, Texas (210)