Rooster Tales. I o w a W a l k t o E m m a u s. Dick and Netha Pipho, Community Lay Directors. Rev. Dennis Shepherd,

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1 Rooster Tales I o w a W a l k t o E m m a u s Greetings and Blessings Iowa Emmaus Community! We pray 2016 has been a wonderful year, and that 2017 will be even greater for you and your families as well as your faith walk with the Lord. We look forward to the many blessings of working with all of you in doing The Lord s work in the coming years. Dick and Netha Pipho, Community Lay Directors First, we want to sincerely thank our predecessors, Brad and Tami, for their dedication, perseverance and faithful leadership of the Iowa Community during the past years. We pray God will bless and reward them richly. We have some pretty big shoes to fill! We ask for your prayers for all aspects of this ministry and the upcoming Walks. Then, of course, a great big THANK YOU to the wonderful Rhonda Garcia, for taking on the job of Editor of these Rooster Tales. Next time you see her, just say, Thanks, God loves you and so do I. May God Bless You All We look forward to the many blessings of working with all of you in doing The Lord s work in the coming years January 2017 Inside this issue: Community Spiritual Co-Director Women s Lay Director 2 Women s Agape Director 2 Conference Room and 3 Agape Positions 4 Winter Walks at West Des Moines UMC Board of Directors Future Walk Dates Connect with us! Rev. Dennis Shepherd, Community Spiritual Co-Director As the season of Christmas gracefully exits our annual liturgical calendar, one more time we continue to focus on the spectacular event that makes this season so special. Max Lucado writes, A particular moment that was like no other, and he continues, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. Approaching another Iowa Emmaus Walk, let each of us become the ones who offer yet one more reception of Jesus Christ into the lives of some unexpected sole who is in need of the knowledge of our Lord. Let us be the Magi who come bearing gifts and become the avenue by which another pilgrim receives the grace of God into their life. In all their susceptibility, there are folks near who need, who deserve, who have the right to be exposed to this special weekend gift of centering one s life on their Savior. Let us be sure we invite and encourage eligible candidates to be a part of the upcoming February weekend. I offer a special thanks to those accepting your role in the Walk at West Des Moines United Methodist Church and for stepping forward to offer encouragement and prayers for all involved. Blessings to each of you who so faithfully offer your leadership and allow God s guidance to touch needy lives through your Christian Action. I express an appreciative Thank You to Dick and Netha for assuming their new Emmaus Community roles and look forward to serving with them on the Board. Also a special heartfelt thanks to Brad and Tami for their years of faithfully fantastic leadership. Blessings in Christ

2 Pastor Evelyn Lewiston, Community Spiritual Co-Director Blessings to all as we begin a new year. As I think about the year to come, I ponder words written to the church in Thessalonica where it says: May the Lord direct your hearts into God s love and Christ s perseverance. (2 Thessalonians 3:5) How is God directing your heart? How are you persevering? The way for us to follow these words is to listen. We cannot direct our hearts if we do not listen to God s direction. Our direction may be toward more prayer, more service, or more time with God s word. As we look to our upcoming weekends there are numerous opportunities for us to direct our hearts. What is God leading you to do? Will you sponsor a pilgrim, work agape, or be a prayer warrior? God is calling are we listening, and will we say yes? In His Service Angela Abbas, Women s Lay Director I cannot begin to thank you all enough for your love and support these last few months as I ve prepared for the February Walk. It is true what they say It is in HIS hands. He leads you to the people that are meant to be in the Conference Room and I know the Pilgrims who will be there are going to have the time of their life. My theme is JOY Jesus Offers You. We are not offering ourselves to the Pilgrims, but Jesus is offering himself through us to each of them. With JOY in our hearts we will touch the lives of dozens of people February 16-19, 2017 with grace, peace, and love. It s that JOY from having Him in our own hearts from previous walks that allows us to continue this Emmaus experience. As we journey down this road together, thank you from a very humble heart to everyone who has helped, prayed, and supported this Walk. You are the best! With JOY JOY Jesus Offers You. We are not offering ourselves to the Pilgrims, but Jesus is offering himself through us to each of them. Cindy Wilson, Women s Agape Director DeColores! Come one, come all 4 th Day Women to SERVE the LORD & our new group of Pilgrims at the February Walk in WDM. As Agape Lay Director, I m so excited to work behind the scenes with you and experience what God has in store for all of us during this Walk. Bring your Black & White for Banquet, your energy & your LOVE of the LORD & join your Sisters for a weekend filled with BLESSINGS & JOY!

3 Conference Room Positions Jerry Slagter Wayne Bruggeman Mike Wessels Darin Woodward Mike Gudka Todd Freese Fred Lehman Doug Amis Jim Louk Jim Burke Wayne Bruggeman Todd Freese Ryan Akers Fred Lehman Jerry Spencer Brent Gibbons Mike Gudka Leonard Willis Doug Amis Gary Vosberg Chuck Yanders Jim Louk Dick McCord Jerry Slagter Mike Wessels Leroy Wicks Christian Elliott Men s Walk Conference Room Lay Director ALD - 1 ALD - 2 ALD - 3 Spiritual Director Music Leader Board Rep Talk/TL/ATL Priorities (ALD-1) Prevenient Grace () Priesthood --Believers (TL/ATL) Justifying Grace () Life Of Piety (TL/ATL) Grow Thru Study (TL/ATL) Means of Grace (SD) Christian Action (TL/ATL) Obstacles To Grace () Discipleship (TL/ATL) Change Our World (TL/ATL) Sanctifying Grace () Body Of Christ (TL/ATL) Perseverance (LD) Fourth Day (ALD-2) Assistant Table Leaders Women s Walk Angela Hansen-Abbas Carrie Brock Cami McColley Mary Patterson Paddy Druhl Jane Shepherd Judy DePue Karen Berg Steve Bibb Tere Rohret Rosie Wurpts Carrie Brock Steve Bibb Brenda Gute-Willis Karen Berg Dawn Parker Jean Yanders Paddy Druhl Jo Bardole Jane Shepherd Jackie Riccio Kendall Vosberg Judy DePue Cathy Bugger Angela Hansen-Abbas Cami McColley Vicki Engh Missy Hall Beng Gallo Sandy Decker

4 Agape Positions Men s Walk Frank Haag John Meister Mark Willson David Mock Brian DePrez Agape Lay Director Spiritual Director Head Cook Kitchen Asst's Women s Walk Cindy Willson Shannon Pascual Toni Anderson Kathy Bice Becky The Men s Walk (126) will be Feb 9-12, The Women s Walk (127) will be Feb 16-19, Jerry Slagter (Waukee) and Angela Hansen-Abbas (Perry) will lead these Walks as Lay Directors. We ask you to please join us in praying for them and when you can, participate in the Walks by working Agape, attending Sponsor s Hour, Candlelight and Closing. All are great opportunities for the community to support these pilgrims and teams. We want to encourage all 4 th dayers to join the Agape team for all or part of the weekend. This will help both you and the team leaders identify and choose your roles in future walks. OH, The Trailer! We always unload the trailer and set up for the walks on Wednesday, preceding a walk. So, on Wed, Feb 8 th at 8:00 pm, we ll do it again! This is also a great way for newer 4 th dayers to get even more acquainted, make more friends, and be a part of the overall picture. Also, many hands make light work, so come and join us for delicious brownies also! I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12: 1 COMMUNITY SERVICE INFO: Walk Set-up: Wednesday, Feb. 8 th, 8:00 pm. Sponsor s Hour: Thursday, Feb. 9 th & 16 th, the Pilgrims should arrive at 7 pm. Sponsor s Hour will be at 7:30 pm or after pilgrims are called out. Candlelight: Saturday, Feb. 11 & 18, arrive at 8:30 pm for service and communion. (Bring your mail for pilgrims and team there will be a basket in the foyer). Closing: Sunday, Feb. 12 & 19, arrive 4:00 pm for closing ceremonies, testimonies and community communion. Come and hear the testimonies of experiencing God s great grace and love! COME AND WORK AGAPE! 1 st timer? Haven t been back in awhile? Just need a refresher? Check out for more info on AGAPE Frequently Asked Questions about working behind the scenes. You will find Agape FA- Q s under the About Us tab. Come for all or part of the weekend and enjoy the friendship and fellowship. We d love to see you.

5 General Information 2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: (MEETING) The Board of Directors will meet at 12:30 pm, Jan. 28 th at Breadeaux Pizza in Grimes. Relate your thoughts and ideas to any one of them. These committed servants have said yes to God s call on their lives. They work diligently to uphold the mission of Walk to Emmaus, organize the leaders for each set of Walks, and coordinate the many details of running this life-changing ministry. Please pray for them that they will serve with diligence and faithfulness to God s will. Community Lay Directors; Dick and Netha Pipho (Grimes) Community Spiritual Directors: Pastor Dennis Shepherd (Panora) and Pastor Evelyn Lewiston (Ogden) Members: Stacey Ahrenstorff (Lake Park), Jeff and Toni Anderson (Belmond), Jim and Linda Burk (Minburn), Ken Kerr (West Des Moines), Brent Gibbons (Minburn), Gary Harris (Belmond), Brad and Tami Leonard (Madrid), David Mock (Ankeny), Steve Nielsen (Ankeny), Jeff and Mary Patterson (Lohrville), Mark and Cindy Willson (Johnston), Rosie Wurpts (Odgen), Chrysalis Rep: Brad & Luanne Gafford (Grimes) 2017 WALK DATES and LOCATIONS: 2017 Summer Walks: Location: Humboldt UMC Men s Walk (#128): July 27-30, Lay Director: Wayne Bruggeman Women s Walk (#129): Aug 3-6, Lay Director: Carrie Brock 2017 Fall Walks: Location: Ankeny First UMC Men s Walk (#130): Oct 5-8, Lay Director: Mike Wessels Women s Walk (#131): Oct 12-15, Lay Director: Cami McColley

6 IOWA WALK TO EMMAUS Connect With Us Stay in touch with Iowa Walk to Emmaus through and Facebook. Contact us via using Access our Facebook page Iowa Walk to Emmaus H T T P://WWW. I O W A W A L K T O E M M A U S. ORG/ The purpose of Emmaus is to develop leaders for the church. Emmaus will inspire, challenge, and equip participants for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of work. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others. IowaWalkToEmmaus.org LOOK for info on upcoming Walks, pilgrim and team lists, articles on Agape FAQ s, Sponsorship info, links to other Emmaus communities throughout