MELBOURNE I S A I A H 6 : 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, Here I am; send me! I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Lay Director 2 Prayer Needs Kairos Inside Closing Prayer Needs Your Board Members Events Who Should go to Emmaus 5 5 COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER M A R C H 2 0 1 0...and the fragrance filled the house John 12:3 Easter is a time when Christians reflect on the extravagance of God s grace and love as revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As I prepare for Easter I ve been pondering on John s account of the anointing of Jesus (John 12.1-11), one of the few stories about Jesus that is common to all four gospels. So it s a very important moment in Jesus life. John is big on extravagant gestures. Jesus first miracle has him producing an over abundance of fine wine for a wedding feast (2.1-11). Later he feeds 5000 people with five barley loaves and two fish. Even the leftovers of that feast filled twelve baskets far more than the original 5 loaves and two fish. Even Jesus claims seem extravagant I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly (10.10). The story of the anointing follows immediately from the account of Jesus raising of Lazarus from the dead. John sets it in the home of Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary at Bethany, on the edge of Jerusalem. It is six days before Jesus own death. During the meal Mary offers Jesus an extravagant gift of love. She unbinds her hair, loosens it as women did only for their husbands or when they are in mourning. She pours expensive balm on the feet of Jesus his feet, as one would anoint a corpse, not a king who would have been anointed on the head. Then she wipes his feet with her hair - a passionate, uninhibited display of love and care. This woman who takes an expensive jar of perfume and lavishes it upon Jesus feet is making a gesture, a heartfelt gesture with a broken -hearted sense of what is to come at the end of the journey to Jerusalem. (...continued on page 3) Welcome Pilgrims to your Newsletter...read, respond and enjoy!
P A G E 2 What are you going to do about it? Our Saviour Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross. He died so that our sins would be forgiven and that through faith in Jesus, we will receive by grace, eternal life with God in heaven. We are well into another year, and by the time you receive this newsletter the first quarter of 2010 would be behind us, and we will be once again celebrating Easter. As I reflect on the events around Easter, my mind is drawn again to that event which is recorded for us in Luke s gospel chapter 2 verses 13 to 35, the event which is the basis of our very movement. Those two disciples met with a life changing experience on that road to Emmaus on that first Easter, and they couldn t wait to share it with others. For all of us who have been on our Walk to Emmaus it has had an impact on each of our lives. My question for you this year is; What are you going to do about it? As the Melbourne Emmaus we have scheduled four more Gatherings for this year, details of these can be found in this newsletter as well as on the website (more about the website later). Whilst the first Gathering in February was only attended by a few, those who met together had a good time of fellowship as we encouraged one another in our ongoing fourth days. Our next Gathering will be on Saturday 2 April at The Uniting Church in Warragul. Let me encourage you to take the time to come and meet together as we journey on our fourth days. In the last newsletter I informed you that we needed to look for a new venue to hold our Walks due to the unavailability of the facilities at IBLP. I am pleased to announce that we have been able to procure the Uniting Church facilities at Grantville. These facilities have been undergoing some major redevelopment and are well suited for the purpose of conducting our Walks. We will be holding one set of walks for this year, and the dates for these walks are: Men s Walk No: 5, 2 nd to 5 th September, Women s Walk No: 55, 9 th to 12 th September. I am also pleased to announce that Sue Newcombe will be the Lay Director for the Women s Walk and I hope to be able to announce the Lay Director for the Men s Walk by the time of our Gathering in April. So now that you know the dates of our Walks, let me encourage you to start praying about those people whom you could approach as pilgrims for these walks. Also, I would ask you to give prayerful consideration when you are approached by the Lay Director to serve on the forthcoming teams. Remember that you are being called to serve the Lord in the role that you are being asked to take, and that the Lay Director has prayed and sought the Lord s guidance in approaching you to fill that position. Consider it an honour my brother and sister to share God s Grace and Love through this ministry....continued on page 3
P A G E 3...continued from page 2 I made mention earlier of the website. I am pleased to announce that our web master David Lewis has been able to update our webpage on the website, and it is now up and running. The Melbourne webpage can be accessed on www.melbourne.emmaus.org.au and you will be able to check on coming events, and download Pilgrim and Sponsor application forms for the walks, Newsletters and Power of Prayer. In addition there are links to activities at a National level. The National website can be accessed on www.emmaus.org.au There is a 10 minute Video entitled The Walk to Emmaus that you can download from the webpage, which you can use to introduce the Emmaus movement to those whom you would like to encourage to be a pilgrim at the forthcoming walks. So let s work together in 2010 and fill the walks with pilgrims, and make the effort to attend the Gatherings and build one another up to serve the Lord. De Colores Lorensz Stork Lay Director...continued from page 1...and the fragrance filled the house As death looms, Mary takes the best and breaks it open over the feet of Jesus, the one she loves, the one she is about to lose. Barbara Brown Taylor describes this as a prophetic act, there will be nothing prudent or economical about the death of this man, just as there has been nothing prudent or economical about his life. In him the extravagance of God s love is made flesh. In him the excessiveness of God s mercy is made manifest. As I reflect on this story and the account of Jesus last days to follow, I can only wonder about our own hearts and our own giving our hearts broken open to one another and to the world God loves. Those moments when a gesture of love and generosity transforms a situation. A generous spirit that offers forgiveness and healing. A spirit of kindness that offers hope and speaks words of encouragement. A spirit of freedom that gives out of the abundance we live in, so that others have enough to live. This woman, even in the face of criticism, held nothing back. This woman, so full of love, helps us to recognise who Jesus is and who we are called to be as his faithful followers. And now, my sisters and brothers, we turn with Jesus toward the road to the cross. May our vision be clear and our hope fixed on the one we follow. On then, to Jerusalem. De Colores Beth Hancock Spiritual Director
P A G E Prayer Needs... Please pray: For the planned 2010 Walks... That people we approach to attend the walks will be open to accepting the invitation For the Emmaus... To consider being involved in a Reunion Group to build up our community For the Melbourne Emmaus Board... Ask God to stir others to fill the important vacant position of Supplies Co-ordinator The person would be responsible for looking after the supplies of materials used for the walks, and to ensure that they are available on site for the Walks. Please contact the Prayer Coordinators, Bruce & Sue Crilly, with your prayer requests and praise points. Bruce and Sue will keep you up to date via the Power of Prayer Newsletter. Email: brucesuecrilly@optusnet.com.au Phone: 03 957 7773 Kairos Inside Closing Fulham Friday April 23 rd If you would like to support the prisoners by attending the Closing please contact Dennis Kimberley on 9729 7775 or email dkimberley@aapt.net.au An Application to Attend must be submitted by April 15 th You will need to be at the Fulham Correctional Centre (near Sale) by 5.30pm. Celebrate...He is Risen...Jesus is Alive! Your Board Members Please feel free to contact any of the Board Members if you have any questions or suggestions For more information on vacant positions, or to offer your services in any area, please contact Lorensz Stork on 9736 3062 or email lstork@bigpond.net.au Lay Director Lorensz Stork 9736 3062 Spiritual Director Beth Hancock 9803 1378 Board Chairperson Lorensz Stork 9736 3062 Secretary Grant Gibb 5623 72 Treasurer Dennis Kimberley 9729 7775 Registrar Louise Noorbergan 9728 255 Supplies Coordinator VACANT Music Coordinator John Churchward 9512 058 IT and Communications David Lewis 953 9500 Prayer Coordinators Bruce & Sue Crilly 957 7773 Training Coordinator Dennis Kimberley 9729 7775 Librarian Reunion Group Coordinators John Frisbee Marguerite Menon Jim Murray 567 115 5662 53 Agape Coordinator Alison Morris 9763 938 Team Selection Coordinator Lorensz Stork 9736 3062 Gathering Coordinator John Churchward 9512 058 Newsletter Shirley Briggs 9795 906 Data Base David Lewis 953 9500 Book Stall Coordinators Janette Fernandez Shirley Briggs 9700 50 9795 906
P A G E 5 Events 2010 Gatherings: Saturday 2 th APRIL 2.00 pm Uniting Church Sutton Street, Warragul Join us...on Saturday @ 2.00pm June 26 August 21 November 27 Dandenong Church of Christ Leongatha (venue to be advised) Dandenong Church of Christ MELBOURNE 2010 Walks: Men s Walk #5 2 nd - 5 th September Women s Walk #55 9 th - 12 th September Venue: Uniting Church Facilities Grantville WHO SHOULD GO TO EMMAUS? 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 opens a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others. Emmaus is open to members of any Christian denomination. Emmaus is for the development of Christian leaders who: Are members of a local church; Have a desire to strengthen their spiritual lives; May have unanswered questions about their faith; Understand that being a Christian involves responsibility; Are willing to dedicate their everyday lives to God in an ongoing manner. SPONSOR someone TODAY! We re on the web www.melbourne.emmaus.org.au