Cross 

 Point

MONTHLY GATHERINGS (7:00 p.m.) (Board Meeting at 5:00) May 13 Christ Community Church, Ardmore

Men’s Walk #63, Women’s Walk #64, 9/28/06-10/1/06 10/5/06-10/8/06

I want to welcome the pilgrims from Emmaus Walks #61 and #62. You are now a part of the Cross Point Emmaus Community. Congratulations!

I remember when I went on my Walk. I went kicking, fighting, looking for any and every way out. I remember, after I was invited to go by my senior pastor, thinking that I didn't have the money to go at the time and hoped that would get me out of it, but my senior pastor said, "And our church will pay for you and Cheryl to go."

I remember, after reading up on it, thinking I still had a way out, because every pilgrim needed a sponsor and I didn't have one. But our district superintendent said, "And Nancy and I will sponsor you." I said, "Oh, thanks!"

I remember that my wife wasn't wild about camping situations and never been to Cross Point Camp, so I thought, "Maybe if I paint a black picture, she'll bow out and I won't have to go." So I went home and lied--told her about the lumpy mattresses, no air conditioning/heating, outdoor johns, and sloppy joes twice a day. And she said, "That sounds like fun!"

Once I got there, we marched out to that chicken song and I thought about grabbing a new best friend I had met and telling him that I'd take him home too, if he wanted to go. But I forgot that someone brought me.

Well, I stayed and I was completely overwhelmed. And right after the weekend someone helped me to get into a reunion group. And the next Walk I sponsored eleven people. I've been active in Cross Point Emmaus ever since.

I invite you to get active in the Cross Point Emmaus Community. Join or form a reunion group. Sponsor someone on the next set of Walks. Fill out the team selection sheet and plan to work in some capacity on the next set of Walks. AND, participate in the monthly Gatherings of the community (and bring a snack). We worship; we eat; and we fellowship. See you at the next Gathering!

De Colores,
Dan Patman, Cross Point Emmaus Spiritual Director
Cross Point Emmaus Walk #1

2006 Cross Point Emmaus Board of Directors

It has been almost a month since we completed our Community’s last set of walks, Men’s Walk #61 and Women’s Walk #62. For the Board of Directors I want to express our appreciation to Tim Shields and Paula Pfau for an awesome set of walks and for the spirit in which the teams were formed and trained, and for touching the lives of approximately 60 new members of our community. Again, I also want to welcome these newest members into the Cross Point Emmaus Community and encourage them to become as active as they wish to become in the activities of the community.

The Walk to Emmaus is an international movement, directed by The Upper Room Ministries of the United Methodist Church, and is evangelical and ecumenical in design. Into its 28th year, the Walk to Emmaus continues to grow and touch the lives of countless Christians around the world. As of the first of the year, there are 377 Emmaus communities worldwide—296 in the United States and 81 in 30 other countries. The movement purpose is to develop Christian leaders for the local church and for the transformation of the world. Each community has a Board of Directors, with at least 15 members, whose primary purpose is to put on walks for bringing others to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen their Christian discipleship and leadership. The Board of Directors is responsible for selecting Lay Directors and Spiritual Directors for each set of walks. The Lay Directors, using the volunteer sheets submitted by community members, and with support and direction from a Team Selection Committee selected by the Board, along with constant prayer, formulate teams that will serve as called to put on each set of walks. Once the teams are established, they are required to meet for at least four training sessions so that team building can be accomplished, various team members can learn their roles in the context of leading others, and so that talks can be prepared and critiqued to be God’s best for each set of walks. If you wish to be a part of an Emmaus team, please make your wishes known by filling out a volunteer form and submitting it to Mark Marion, Assistant Community Lay Director.

Each year the Cross Point Emmaus Community, represented by your Board of Directors, signs a Letter of Agreement with the Upper Room, which authorizes the Community to conduct Walks to Emmaus using the Emmaus name, Emmaus resources, and Emmaus model for the three-day event and the Fourth Day emphasis. The Letter of Agreement is an essential part of our covenant with each other to be faithful to the gift of this movement entrusted to us by God. If you would like more information about the Upper Room, or the Walk to Emmaus movement, I invite you to visit their website, www.upperroom.org/emmaus. You can also access The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide at this site and have it emailed to you each day.

I pray that each of us will remain true to the essentials of Christian discipleship that we all learned on our individual walks and that we apply these essentials daily in our walk with Christ. I also pray that each community member will remain active in the community, participate as they are called to serve and support the community, and be willing to provide leadership as the Lord leads you.

DE COLORES!!

Garmon Smith, Community Lay Director

As far back as God has allowed us to look into eternity past, we find worship. Even before He created our world, there was worship. In fact, it was over worship that the archangel Lucifer led his rebellion in heaven when he tried to overthrow the throne (Is 14:12-14). A large part of heaven’s angelic host joined him in his attempt to unseat God, so that Lucifer could be the object of heaven’s worship. They were, of course, eventually defeated and cast out of heaven, but the attempt to dethrone God did not end there. From that point on, Satan and his demons have been working to secure the worship of God’s creation. He is fighting for the allegiance, or the worship, of humankind.

Have you observed that God has placed into human nature the need and the desire to worship? Think about it. If we were to go to the most remote area on earth and watch the most primitive tribe, we would find those people worshiping some god or gods. (Sidebar: Did anyone have to instruct a sports enthusiast to “get with it” to encourage his/her team? Does a teenager (or an adult, for that matter) have to be shown how to “actively enjoy” himself at a live concert of his/her favorite musician or group?) Why is this? Simply, this is the way God created us.

Everyone is a worshiper of something or someone. That which is most important to us, that which we value the most, is the object of our worship, and it is to that (or that one) we will bow, giving our allegiance, our interest, our time, and our affection. Yes, everyone worships something or someone.

If an unseen observer closely followed you for a month, what or whom would be concluded is the object of your worship? More importantly, what does your own honest reflection about your preferences and choices cause you to conclude is the object of your worship?

Monthly Emmaus gatherings provide our community an opportunity to worship together, bearing witness to the importance of unity and purpose in how we share the body of Christ, one with the other. Let’s gather at Christ Community Church on May 13 to worship in spirit and truth!

Blessings,

Patty Laramore

Greetings Cross Point Emmaus Community (read to Community before women’s #62 candlelight):

It is with great joy and celebration that I greet you on behalf of the ladies of Walk #62. God’s grace is amazing, and we have been bathed in it. Thank you all for your gifts of prayer, and for the gift of your presence here tonight.

The beautiful pilgrims and team of Walk 62 met the rain of Thursday night with no grumbles – and we were treated with vehicle agape both from the dining hall to the conference room and later from the conference room to our luxurious beds. New best friend time was filled with laughter – even though at times it was raining so hard that we couldn’t hear ourselves think – let alone our new sisters introduce each other.

Friday morning wake-up came early – but pilgrims and team alike were not only prompt, but EARLY! (yes, you heard me right…we were early ALL DAY!!) The sun began to peek through the morning fog, and the newly formed table groups enjoyed lively discussions – even after the Priorities talk. God’s presence was evident – and we all felt the beginnings of Holy Spirit wind as we began singing together after lunch.

We have, of course, been showered with food. Each meal announcement has brought about cheers – one pilgrim announced that her husband affectionately referred to his walk last weekend as a “Walk to Obesity”.

Our evening artistic response time was lively, loud, and filled with laughter – and even a few hugs and tears. We enjoyed skits, cheers, and beautiful posters. We had a couple of original songs written and quickly copyrighted, and we sang a few songs from the songbook as well. It seems that Justifying Grace put a song in everyone’s heart because every table chose a song as their response!

Saturday morning dawned cloudy and dark – and the table groups seemed to model the weather outside. That is, until we traveled to the chapel after the Means of Grace talk. There, we were greeted with a beautiful sight – the cross was surrounded by candles and rose petals. In that beautiful place, we laid down some UGLY baggage (PRAISE GOD!). After consuming each others’ grief while sharing holy communion, we danced (yes..we ALL danced) and worshipped God in thanksgiving of the New Day we are now living in. Consider our quiet and somber mood gone – the SON is shining!

The vision that the team shares for this weekend began as a rosebud – perfectly formed by God – made up of lots of unique and imperfect rose petals (also known as team members) tightly bound together in the grip of grace. During this weekend, our rosebud has begun to open up as we have shared our stories, our lives, and our love with these beautiful pilgrims. They have, in turn, blessed us by sharing themselves … and the fragrance of Christ is everywhere.

I am eagerly anticipating the love of Jesus shining through your faces and your candles in a few minutes – and I know that these ladies will be blown away by your love once again.

Thank you again for your prayers – please keep them coming. We look forward to closing and to beginning our fourth day with you all.

De Colores
Paula Pfau, Lay Director
Cross Point Walk to Emmaus #62

Recently we received as a gift a book entitled “Where Jesus Walked” by Ken Duncan, who was the photographer for Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. This book presents those places in Israel, with pictures by Ken Duncan and contemplative insights from various authors, where Jesus lived, and taught, and died, and rose again, all drawing you closer to the Savior of the world. One particular writing by Kay Arthur spoke volumes to me as I read her insight into Jesus’ teaching of the Beatitudes while looking at a beautiful picture of the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, a place where I have actually walked upon myself. I wish to share Kay’s words with you.

The Beatitudes When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-11

As He begins the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus Christ tells us eight times in nine verses that blessedness is found in who we are. It is a blessedness that comes from being poor in spirit, mourning, being meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being peacemakers, and even from being persecuted!

That last one seems especially strange, doesn’t it? We should be blessed—truly happy—because we’re persecuted? You couldn’t get much further from the world’s definition of happiness.

Is it any wonder that Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount so amazed his listeners? Here was the mighty Creator of all speaking to his created ones, telling them that the wellspring of what they craved was found in a sense of his approval.

Yes, friends and loved ones may belittle and ridicule our words and our choices, but what does it matter as long as God continually whispers, “I know who you are, my child, and it brings me pleasure.” Man, after all, was made for God’s glory, God’s pleasure. How then can man be complete or satisfied until he achieves that for which he was created?

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!
Garmon Smith, Community Lay Director

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