Texoma Emmaus Community 1 Newsletter, February, 2016 Ed. Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road and how they had recognized him as he was breaking bread. Luke 24:35 NLT A message from our Chair Sandra Wood Newsletter news: Please get your email information into the database to ensure continued electronic receipt of the newsletter. Go to www.texomaemmaus.com to enter your email address. If you need to receive a paper newsletter, please send your mailing information to: Texoma Emmaus P O Box 665 Sherman, Tx 75091 UPCOMING WALKS Women s Walk #93 Lay Director: Cathy Pugh April 7-10, 2016 Welcome to 2016! I saw a quote about New Year s resolutions, real resolutions get a do over and start on February 1 st! I hope each of you are starting out the year, full of joy and hope in our Lord and resolute in staying the course. Our community continues to grow and with growth comes newness of life. Each spring the plants, trees and grass all come back from a long winters sleep and bring much hope and anticipation. It is with the same hope and anticipation that I start this year as your board chair. I am looking forward to the work the Lord has laid out for us and the growth and newness of life for our community. I hope each of you will join us at every opportunity to be a part of the encouragement, joy and growth of the Texoma Emmaus Community! DeColores Sandra Wood Texoma Emmaus Board Chair Philippians 4:8 Men s Walk #94 Lay Director: Leonard Huntsman April 28 - May 1, 2016
2 Is it Winter yet? We can't count on anything! It s funny how we are led by our expectations. Texas weather is a great example. We think that we know what to expect and when to expect it, but we are always surprised. Someone mentioned that they had been disappointed in our lack of winter this year and I simply responded, well, it isn t March yet. The same thing could be said about life. We have these grand plans and big ideas, but the truth is, we don t have any control over anything. Just when we think things are going our way, we are surprised and turned around by reality. If we don t consult God in our plans, how can we have any expectations at all? Woody Allen said it best, if you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. Whenever we endeavor into anything, it seems like a smart move for us, would be to seek guidance, and strength, and wisdom from the One who created us. And, if we want to be doing the work that God has called us to do, it wouldn t make sense to proceed without first bowing our heads or kneeling in prayer. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. As we move through this new year, let s be intentional, in all that we do, to look to God for the answers. And sometimes, it isn t just about getting the answers, but it s learning to ask better questions. I look forward to this new year with the Texoma Emmaus Community. Let s build on the momentum that we have going. Invite some friends. Reach out to members who have become inactive. Let someone know that they matter- to you, to the community, but mostly to God. Tell them about the walk. It changed my life. What about you? And remember Jesus words in Matthew 28:20- I am with you always. Now, there s something that we can count on! Peace, Donny A message from our Spiritual Director Donny Haywood
3 A message from our Vice-Chair Paul Welborn Hello everyone and here s to a great 2016!!!! As your newly assigned Assistant Chair/ Team selection Person I am so excited about the year ahead. I love New Year, a new beginning, fresh start, and a clean slate. My challenge for you in the coming year is to be looking for new and exciting things all things. You know how sometime you travel the same road day after day, after day, but one day you see something different and you think WOW I never seen that before. I pray that you all see or find something new in your life this year and make a difference in someone s life this year. Invite a friend to Emmaus if not Emmaus invite them to Church. I m am looking so forward to serving you this next year and pray you see something new every day. God Bless, Paul Welborn A scripture from our Secretary Michelle Dunaway I would like to share the following scriptures for they have spoke a lot into my life recently. Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:13-19 NIV A message from our Agape chair Leeora Bryant Hello Texoma Emmas Community!! My name is Leeora Bryant for those of you who may not know me. I am so... proud to be your Agape Chairperson for 2016. It is an honor to be a part of the Board members working together to be the "hands & feet for Christ". As Agape Chairperson I will be working with you "The Emmaus Community" to pass as much Agape Love" as possible to the Pilgrims that God has chosen for the up coming Walks this year. It would truly be appreciated if you, "Our Emmaus Community" would assist in making bed and table agape for the pilgrims. Examples : place mats, pins, bracelets, head agape, book marks etc... Sharing the Love of God. Hebrews 13:1-2 says "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." My experience as a pilgrim in 2010 was a weekend that changed my life forever. I'm sure that many of you feel the same from the experience of God's Agape love through our Emmaus community. Let's continue to pass God's love to us on to others so God's love can continue to flow as the blood of Jesus flows through our veins. Remember!! It's not about us!! Its about Jesus!!! I would like to also remind everyone not only do we need bed and table agape, we also need ( agape snacks ) like cookies, chips, candy, peanuts, "Emmaus Crack", fruit, sodas, bottle water and gallons of drinking water. Oh, did I mention "Emmaus Crack"? We have Prayer Vigils that also float around during gatherings and followups so that we can send up special prayers for our Pilgrims. Galatians 5:22-23 says : "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law." The greatest of these is love! God's love is unconditional!! So... Let us show brotherly love to others!! De Colores!!! Alpha Grace Amazing Perfect Everlasting Love
4 A Message from our Treasurer Fred Lehman Are you in a quiet place? Good, get out your wallet and put some cash in you hand. Yes, stop right where you are and get out some folding money. Coins might work but not nearly as well. Got it? Great, now read the following starting from Psalms 115:3. Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. Hopefully as you read They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. this your thoughts were They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. about what was in your They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot hand. You got it, you are make a sound. holding the true American Idol in your hand. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. NLV Mouths that cannot speak, eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear, noses that cannot smell, hands that cannot feel, feet that cannot walk, and throats that cannot make a sound. Don t despair, you have a way out. You can show that feisty and evil little idol just who is the boss. Fold it up right now, put it into an envelope and bring it to the next Gathering where you will have the opportunity to place it with the idols of others. Or mail it to Box 665, Sherman, TX 75091. We will then put all of them into that fiery cauldron know as the Emmaus Checking Account, melt them down, and make them go and do the work of the Lord. A few of you might remember my first stint on this Board when I often wrote about my imaginary friend, Jerry. There was much speculation as to exactly who he was but nobody ever obtained the truth. This despite the fact that with each newsletter a short and true story about my imaginary friend was published. Here s the first story: I was with my imaginary friend Jerry at our Walmart last week and we decided to get in on their weekly charity raffle. We both bought five tickets at a dollar a pop. I won first prize, a year s supply of gourmet spaghetti sauce and extra long spaghetti. Jerry won 5th prize, a lovely chrome toilet brush that looked to be from Star Wars. A week passed when I ran into him back at Walmart. He asked how I liked my prize and I answered, Great, I really love spaghetti! I asked, How about you and that space age toilet brush? His answer was, Not so good, I ll probably go back to paper. Thank you for supporting our community in so many ways. Stewardship isn t just about money. It s also about time, it s about work and it s about living your life as an example for others. Be generous with your community, it has been generous with you. Decolores! Fred Lehmann, Treasurer
5 A Message from our Kitchen Cha Chair Chuck Everest As I start this challenge as the new Kitchen Chair I feel both honored and challenged. Honored to serve this community and challenged by the task ahead. I will be asking 24 members of this community, 12 men and 12 women, to serve as Kitchen Cha s. Even as you are reading this newsletter I will be searching for those wonderful servants who will step forward to prepare food for the; conference room team, the cha s, and, most of all, the pilgrims and they travel together on the walk to Emmaus. With that said, if you want to be added to the list of those who will be considered for service, please send me an email me at: charles.everest@hotmail.com or text your name and phone number at: 469-644-9585. I will be putting together 4 kitchen teams for this year, a women s walk this spring, a men s walk for this spring, a women s walk for the fall and a men s walk for the fall. So, if you, your reunion group, or a group of friends want to serve, contact me. Serving as a Cha is the first step in serving on an Emmaus team. For me the Texas Emmaus Community gathering consists of 6 F s: Friends, Family, Fun, Food, Fellowship, and Faith. More than dinner and a movie, it is dinner and a movement, it costs less and gives us a chance to get together and share our belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We get to spend time with those we love and those who love us, we get our spirits lifted, sing praises to God, and renew our bond with Jesus. I send each of you a personal invitation to come to the community gatherings. I guess I should tell you that my reason here is selfish. The more of us that are at gatherings the stronger the love feels and I know that if I feel it, He feels it too. Come join us, we can share hugs, calories, songs and His love. A Message from our Registrar- Ben Foytik Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. and sponsoring them for an Emmaus walk event Okay, I know that last part didn t come from Matthew s gospel but it is certainly an effective way to empower and inspire your Christian friends to carry out the great commission. Take a moment to look around at your church family, your neighbors, people you come in contact with through your work and see if you can identify some good potential candidates that could benefit from the Emmaus experience. You could be giving them the opportunity to have a close, personal encounter with Jesus Christ and giving them a glimpse of what the body of Christian believers looks like when people from all walks of life and various faith backgrounds, put their differences aside and come together united in a common goal. Sharing their love for God and love for their neighbor without expecting anything in return. As most of you remember, it is an awesome, overwhelming display of Christ like compassion. Why not give that priceless gift to someone you know! Ben Foytik Chuck Everest
6 From our Past Chair J Net Chambers What s in your footprint? Moses led the Israelites from Egypt. He knew the journey would be difficult. He also knew God would go before him. He left his mark on eternity. Genesis tells us that Noah walked with God. Of course he relied heavily on a big boat but he walked with God. Enoch walked with God. He begat Methusalah but subsequently he walked with God. Micah tells us to walk humbly with God. And although not scripture, Henry Ford said Those who walk with God, always reach their destination. Of course he made a fortune off his assembly line, but I m betting Henry walked with God. Just a whole lot of walking going on. As followers of Christ, we are frequently called into leadership roles. I get weak. I resist. I hope someone else will step up. I get scared. Fearful of failure, error, mistake. What if I make someone mad, what if I hurt someone, what if I embarrass myself, what if I fall short of the Glory of God? I m such a minuscule part of God s plan. Am I fit to tie Moses sandals or row Noah s boat? Imagine being called by God to lead his chosen people to freedom or to save mankind from a flood. Forty years in the hot, dry wilderness, 40 days (and nights) of constant rain and a big ole gopher wood boat that must have smelled nasty. Bottom line each of us is called by God. Some for bigger things than others. My time as board chair of the Texoma Emmaus Community has come to an end. It has been a blessed journey and one that I was privileged to make. Two years ago, when asked by Charlie Philips to accept the vice chair position, I knew I would eventually have to fill his shoes. Oh my! I have known Charlie for many years. I have known and worked with him professionally and I have worshiped with him at First United Methodist Church McKinney. So you see, I knew that he would be one tough act to follow. I believe him to be a man of honor, integrity, and more importantly, one of tremendous faith. Oh, how honored was I that he asked me to walk with him in leadership of the community. There have been times in the last year when I have sought (and trusted) his guidance. He spirited me along. This part of my journey is over. As I walk forward I trust my footprints will reveal I have been faithful to the community, fulfilled the obligations set down by the Upper Room, and most importantly honored my God. I am shaking the dust from my sandals and preparing for my next journey. I am confident that some of you will be called to walk with me. God s Peace to you all, and again thank you for the privilege of serving. J Net
7 From our Newsletter Chair Colleen Reilly With February being the month for love, (at least commercially that is) I wanted to share a scripture with you. John 13:34-35 New Living Translation (NLT) 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. If you think about it, there is not one person Jesus does not love and wants to save. That means our neighbors next door, the homeless man on the street, your rude boss at work, the driver in the car that just cut you off, etc. We are called to love like Jesus! Sometimes that is easier to say than to do. As Christians we are called to love in action, to actively love! This could mean taking a warm meal to the new neighbors that just moved in, or helping serve dinner at a soup kitchen, visiting the elderly at a nursing home, giving grace to a person who you were arguing with, and putting others first before yourself. Why not share God s love by sponsoring a friend for the Walk to Emmaus? By sponsoring a pilgrim you are actively loving them by your acts and putting them first during the weekend. What better way to show God s love to someone!! DeColores, Colleen Reilly From our Fundraising Chair James Pegram 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. Hello, James Pegram here. I am so blessed and honored to serve the Texoma Emmaus Community as your new Fundraiser chair. Looking forward to a truly awesome year with upcoming walks and gatherings. And can't say enough about the other board members that I am allowed to serve with. I have the awesome t-shirts and other memorabilia representing the Texoma Emmaus Community. I also have the purple worship books and walk applications. I have some other fundraising endeavors I am pursuing to be announced soon. Let's fill the next two walks!! What a blessed gift it is to sponsor someone. Can't wait to see you all soon! James Pegram DeColores
8 2016 Board Members If you would like to serve in any area, or have any questions, please contact any of the following Board members. Sandra Wood Chairperson 903-819-3871 Sjetc.me.com Paul Welborn Vice Chair/Team Selection 972-369-6342 Paul.welborn.cgci@statefarm.com Donny Haywood Spiritual Director 903-436-7889 thepastordonny@gmail.com Pam Zolczer Assistant Spiritual Director 469-585-9440 downthebayou@att.net Fred Lehmann Treasurer 903-821-7896 folehmann@cableone.net Michelle Dunaway- Secretary/Historian Chair 214-578-5593 mychelledunaway@yahoo.com Ben Foytik Registration Chair 903-647-0373Ba bfoytik13@gmail.com Leeora Bryant Agape Chair 903-271-0117 leeorabryant@gmail.com Kim Jordan Communications Chair (Website, Facebook page) 972-658-7664 kimpickettjordan@gmail.com Duane Marks 4th Day Chair 972-658-1688 Duane1688@gmail.com James Pegram-Fundraiser Chair 972-838-5674 tejasjames@yahoo.com Audra Williams Literature Chair 903-815-5554 audranrod@yahoo.com Abbie Gregg Supplies chair 903-436-1006 abbiegregg1@gmail.com Chuck Everest Kitchen Chair 469-644-9585 Charles.everest@hotmail.com Eddie Herman Database (eblast) Chair 903-267-3460 toniaherman@yahoo.com Chuck Bell Follow-ups and Gatherings 903-821-9808 thebells_ct@excite.com Craig Parson Music Selection Chair 469-734-8981 theparsonclan@me.com Colleen Reilly Newsletter Chair 972-369-0042 Colleen.reilly@sbcglobal.net J Net Chambers Past chair 469-766-2144 jnet1957@aol.com 2016 Texoma Emmaus Calendar Saturday, March 12, 2016-5 p.m. Board Meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Gathering, FUMC Blue Ridge Sunday, April 3, 2016-2:30 p.m., Setup for Walk #93, Baptist Camp Thursday, April 4 April 10, 2016- Women s Walk #93 Tuesday, April 19, 2016 - Follow-up meeting for Walk #93, First Baptist Church, Sherman Sunday, April 24, 2016-2:30 p.m., Setup for Walk #94, Baptist Camp Thursday, April 28 - May 1, 2016 - Men s Walk #94 Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - Follow-up meeting for Walk #94, Howe UMC Saturday, July 16-5 p.m. Board Meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Gathering, Stonebridge UMC, McKinney, TX Saturday, August 13, 2016-5 p.m. Board Meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Gathering, Kings Trail Cowboy Church Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016-2:30 p.m., Setup for Walk #95, Baptist Camp Thursday, Sept. 22 - Sept. 25, 2016, Women s Walk #95 Tuesday, October 4, 2016- Follow-up meeting for Walk #95 Sunday, October 16, 2016-2:30 p.m., Setup for Walk #96, Baptist Camp Thursday, October 20 - October 23, 2016 - Men s Walk #96 Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - Follow-up meeting for Walk #96 Saturday, November 12-5 p.m. Board Meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Gathering Saturday, Decenber 3, 2016-5 p.m, Board Meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Gathering, Crosspoint Church, McKinney, TX