Cross 

 Point

MONTHLY GATHERINGS (7:00 p.m.)				WALKS
		(Board Meeting at 5:00)		Men’s Walk #69		04/03/08-04/06/08
Dec 8		United Methodist Church, Sulphur		Women’s Walk #70		04/10/08-04/13/08
Jan 12		First United Methodist Church, Ada		Men’s Walk #71		09/25/08-09/28/08
				Women’s Walk #72		10/02/08-10/05/08

There have been times of late when I have had to confess the cry of the Psalmist (Ps 130): "Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications....I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope."

While I was still in seminary, I was outlining a year of sermons on faith, hope, and love. I could say a lot about faith and love, but wound up with only five sermons on hope. And I sought counsel as to why I could only come up with five sermons. The instructor seemed to suggest that the longer I lived, the more ammunition I would have for such sermons. He was right!

In a recent Celebrate Recovery lesson I was asked, "How do we find hope?" The answer was easy--by faith in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

But let me ask you a question… Where are you trying to find hope? Where are you struggling to gain the upper hand? Is it finances? Is it relationships? Is it moral or ethical issues? Is it illness? Is it your local church? Is it a particular ministry you've been serving in? Is it the Walk to Emmaus?

I remember in the talk on "Perseverance" that we are challenged to "glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Rom 5:3-5) When was the last time that the love of God was poured out in your heart? When was your last really "closest to Christ?" For many of us it's been too long.

I encourage you, if you're having trouble finding hope right now, to search your heart and confess your tribulations to God and to one other human being--a pastor or someone in your reunion group, someone who can hold you accountable. Someone who will say to you, "I love you and I'll pray for you. I'll shoot you straight and tell you the truth. I'll go the distance with you. And I'll be there for you."

The words of Jesus are the most hopeful words in the scripture for me: "Lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:20)

DeColores,
Dan Patman, Community Spiritual Director, Cross Point Walk to Emmaus #1

WHO WILL GOD HAVE YOU SPONSOR FOR THE SPRING 2008 WALKS???

Come to United Methodist Church, 2022 14th Street, Sulphur, OK, for the gathering and fellowship on December 8, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. Please plan to be there to worship, snack, greet old friends and to make new friends!

We need churches to volunteer to host our monthly gatherings and board meetings on the second Saturday of each month. Please make arrangements to host one soon! Contact Rev. Paul Reed, FUMC, Ringling, OK , (580) 662-2266

Please share your Emmaus experience or Fourth day testimony through an article. Others need to hear how your life has been impacted by the grace of our loving Lord. Readers might be encouraged, inspired or even feel more loved when they learn what God has done for or through you! Email articles to croberts70@yahoo.com or mail to Charley Roberts, P.O. Box 387, Marietta, OK 73448.

The election ballots are in and have been counted. Thank each of you who voted for your effort and interest! The following won a three year term on our board beginning January of 2008:

Julie Altom
Barbara Wood
Doug Little
Toni Hignight
Rev. Scott Spencer

Please congratulate these new board members and be ready to help them as they begin to serve God and our community in these new positions.

Thanks so much for your extra giving in support of the newsletter. This is one of our largest expenses outside of the walks themselves. Postage, paper, printing and labeling have all gone up (like most things). If you have an email address or if you know someone who has a different address let us know! You can check addresses at our website which is www.crosspointemmaus.org. God bless you for your help!

The next set of Chrysalis flights is coming in January, 2008. If you would like for your child, niece, nephew, grandchild or that special youth from your church or neighborhood to experience the love of Christ like you did on your walk, sign them up for January! The boys’ flight is January 3rd through January 7th and the girls’ flight is January 17th through January 20th. To be eligible the youth may be from a second semester sophomore in high school through a first semester freshman in college. Contact a board member or Katie Creed, our representative on the Chrysalis Board. (see below)

Hello, my name is Katie Creed. I am currently the only Cross Point Emmaus community member on the Heartland Chrysalis Board. We are trying to change that, however. Our goal is to involve at least 3 adults, 3 youth, and 3 clergy from each of our 4 supporting Emmaus communities, of which Cross Point is one. If you know of anyone, clergy, youth, and/or adult, who would be interested in and committed to serving on the board, we would love to have them.
Our meetings occur every last Saturday of the month, and they take place in or around Oklahoma City (this is a long drive for people from our region, but is the most centrally located place for all four communities to meet). If anyone is interested, I would love to talk to them. You can reach me at (580) 436-1300. Thank you and De Colores!

2007 Cross Point Emmaus Board of Directors

“…(I was) in prison and you visited me….I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!” Matthew 25: 36 & 40
Kairos is the branch of the Walk to Emmaus that brings the walk into our prisons. For information:

kairosoklahoma.org

Please let us know if you have email access so we can save printing and postage expense on the newsletter. You can also check your address on the Cross Point website to be sure your’s is correct and that you are listed. If you need to make changes you can do so on the website. While you are on the website you can check contact information on other members also.

What happens to the extra table agape when you make 75 and we only need 60? Unless you let us know you would like to have the extra returned to you, it is often given to the outside team on the walks. If you want your extra pieces of table agape returned to you, please indicate this clearly on your box or sack with a note! If you put a note on your agape container, the extra will be kept for you in the agape room below the dining hall for you to pick up. Please be sure to pick up your extra by closing of the women’s walk so it doesn’t get lost when the walks are over. Thanks for being so generous and working so hard on the table agape!

OUR NEXT GATHERING IS AT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 2022 14th Street, SULPHUR, OK, ON DECEMBER 8, 2007, AT 7:00 P.M. Make it a priority to stay connected to your brothers and sisters in Christ! Come to the gatherings and bring a friend!

“…there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” “And the shepherds went back’ glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen…”
Luke 2:11b & 20

Have a joyous Christmas season remembering to glorify and praise God for His Son, our Savior.