Cross 

 Point

MONTHLY GATHERINGS				WALKS
(Board Meeting at 5:00 PM)				Men’s Walk #75		Sep 24th - Sep 27th
Sep 12th		Ardmore Asbury UMC 516 Maxwell St. NW		Women’s Walk #76		Oct 1st - Oct 4th

Well, we’re at that time of year again. The next set of Walks are staring us in the face. Excitement is running strong! Team training sessions are going great! And, people are running around at the last minute — Signing up to work the Walks! Inviting pilgrims to go on the Walks! Wondering if there’s still time for them to go!

It’s the regular activity that surrounds each set of Walks. But each time I wonder, “Why do people wait so late to sign up to work? Why do people wait so late to invite pilgrims to go? Why do people wait so late to indicate interest in going as a pilgrim?”

I know the answer to the above questions. It’s because there’s so much excitement engendered in and surrounding the Walks. Emmaus people remember their Walk. They remember what it was like. They are reminded of what it can mean in a pilgrim’s life. And, they think of a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, a fellow church member, or a family member. They think, “If they can experience half as much as I experienced on my Walk, then it’s worth it.”

I remember being scared out of my mind. I remember wanting to bail out after the chicken song on Thursday night (“De Colores”). I remember taking a Bible study course with me and hoping that I wouldn’t be too bored on the weekend. I remember that I mowed the lawn right before I left for the Walk, had chiggers, and needed a bath badly (which I didn’t get that night).

But I also remember meeting new friends, some of whom are dear to me this day. I remember learning new songs, enabling me to worship in the Spirit more freely. I remember eating meals that were not the regular camp fare. Three homestyle, all-you-can-eat meals that were “to die for” together with snack agape all day long and pull-down coke machines and flavored teas and coffees! I remember guys bearing their souls and opening their guts with personal stories that tugged at my heart. I remember the cross at the Point, Dying Moments, Candlelight, opening letters, and receiving my cross with the words, “Christ is counting on you.”

When you remember those things, do you get excited? Do you want to be part of it again? You can! Call Ben Owens or Karen Black and let them know you want to work. Sit down with that friend or fellow church member, explain the Walk to Emmaus, and sign them up to go. The deadline for signing up is September 10! Remember, Christ is counting on you!

De Colores,

Dan Patman
Cross Point Walk to Emmaus #1
Table of Mark

Pilgrims’, sponsors’, and scholarship application forms are available on the website. If you need forms but do not have internet access (or a printer), then please contact a board member.

Men’s #75 (Sep 24–Sep 27) and Women’s #76 (Oct 1–Oct 4)

• Pilgrim and sponsorship forms are due to the registrar no later than Sep. 10th
• Remember to sign up for the prayer vigils, either online or at the next gathering
• Please contact Kelly Shannon if you can help provide snack agape
• Please contact Karin Nuner if you can help provide table agape
• Candlelight will be at 8:00 PM Saturday, Sep. 26th and Oct. 3rd, respectively
• The team volunteer fee has been reduced from $125 to $100 for this set of walks

Spring 2010 Men’s # 77 Apr 15-Apr 18 Women’s #78 Apr 22-Apr 25

Fall 2010 Men’s # 79 Sep 30-Oct 3 Women’s #80 Oct 7-Oct 10

The next Gathering is scheduled for September 12 in Ardmore, OK at the Asbury United Methodist Church (516 Maxwell Street NW). The worship service will begin at 7:00 PM and will be followed by fellowship and, of course, food. The board meets at 5:00 before each gathering. If you would like to host a gathering at your home church, contact Reverend Kay Buchanan.

Mark your calendars, invite a friend or neighbor, and we hope to see you there!

Candlelight worship services are special gatherings that are held on weekends when we have a walk. Note: Candlelight services begin at 8:00 PM. Afterward, we wait anxiously to light our candles, sing Jesus Jesus, see God at work in the pilgrims faces, and quietly go home.

Here is the gathering schedule for the remainder of this year…

	September 26th		Men's Candlelight		8:00 PM
	October 3rd		Women's Candlelight		8:00 PM
	November 12th		Ada FUMC		7:00 PM
	December 12th		Ringling UMC		7:00 PM

Is someone on your heart to sponsor on the upcoming Walks? Have you been praying for this person? Is God truly leading you in the sponsorship? If the answer is yes to each of these questions, you need to begin having discussions and praying with him/her. The purpose of the Walk to Emmaus is to build leadership within the local church; therefore, it is imperative that the pilgrim be involved in their local church.

Applications are due to me no later than Thursday, September 10th. To complete the application, I will need the following items: pilgrim application, sponsor application, and a $35 deposit. If the sponsorship is for a couple, each spouse must be willing to attend the Walk.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding sponsorship at 580-223-8260.

Julie Altom, Registrar

New Snack Agape lists are ready! We have added some "protein" to the men's walk snacks, such as nuts, beef stick, and beef jerky. We need lots of items - 2-liters of pop, crackers, block cheese, chips, dips, vegetables, fruits, homemade cookies and fruit breads. Whether you like to bake, or just have time to buy nonperishables, there are varieties of snack items to choose from. I will email/call everyone the week before each walk as a reminder of what you've signed up for, so don't worry about signing up too soon. If you would like to email me or call me to put you down for something, please do so.

Thanking you in advance for all of your support for the upcoming walks!

Kelly Shannon
kellysue.shannon@sbcglobal.net
580-223-1371
Kitchen/Snack Agape Board Rep

The International Emmaus and Chrysalis Office announced the introduction of new Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis neck crosses. Both are made of Alder wood. Alder wood is used in making guitars, artificial limbs and cabinets. There is a ring at the top of the cross so a wide or thin lanyard can be added to complete the neck cross. The current pewter neck cross was introduced in 1988 so that is what most of us have on our lanyards. But the Upper Room does not own the rights to the design or molds of the pewter crosses. Chrysalis, Emmaus and Clergy Regional Leaders chose the final design for communities to use nationwide.

When I attended my Walk to Emmaus, my sponsor presented me with one more agape gift. It was a plastic "Agape" box with a lid to store all of the agape I had received on the walk. It was decorated with rainbows, roosters, and "De Colores" written all over it. It was one of my prized possessions after the walk. I keep all my letters and goodies in it, and have gone through it again and again. Since my walk 6 years ago I have served many times and I actually had to replace the box with a bigger one, so I handed my original one down to my husband for his letters and agape. My point is this: I am so thankful for all the reunion groups that send agape for each set of walks. The gifts mean so much to the pilgrims, they literally light up when they see the tables. Now the challenge is this: I challenge each and every reunion group to send 2 to 3 agape gifts for the men and women’s walks. Oriental Trading, Hobby Lobby, and Wal Mart has tons of items to offer. You can buy already made or if you are of the crafty kind, make something unique to your group. No matter how small or large, it is always appreciated. Add a cute saying or a Bible Verse and your reunion group name. Remember a total of 130 pieces are needed for each set of walks, that is 65 for each walk. I know that we can do it.

Thanks for all You Do!

De Colores,
Karin Nuner
Table Agape Board Rep

YouVersion (http://www.youversion.com) is a new internet Bible resource made available by LifeChurch.tv. This website seems to have something for everyone, including:

• totally free of charge
   
• sixteen different English language translations are available along with about 40 foreign language translations
   
• “there’s an app for that”…If you have an internet enabled cell phone, such as a Blackberry or iPhone, then you can download the entire Bible and carry it with you at all times. You may want to have several translations
   
• there is a community forum for discussions and comments among readers around the globe, intended for collaboration and sharing with others
   
• a reading plan is designed to help guide you through the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelations in a year’s time
   
• the audio Bible feature lets you hear any chapter in the New Testament. (check it out, you may experience a greater sense of Jesus and His disciples speaking directly to you)

If you have a 4th day testimony, a devotional, a news article, or an announcement that you would like to share for publication in the Cross Point Emmaus newsletter then please send it by mail to Joe Sherbert, 16214 CR 3590, Ada, OK 74820 or by email to: joe.sherbert@gmail.com.
Thank You!

Rev. Dan Patman		Community Spiritual Director
Vicki Swigert		Community Lay Director
Paula Pfau		Assist. Community Lay Director
Rev. Kay Buchanan		Gatherings
Rev. Les Bussell		Fourth Day
Rev. Roger Wood		Candlelight | Sponsors Hour
Barbara Wood		Secretary
Toni Hignight		Literature
Mike Carnahan		Letter Agape
Dewayne Gipson		Treasurer
Karin Nuner		Table Agape
Jeff Hiller		Music
Ben Owens		Setup | Tear Down
Julie Altom		Registrar
Joe Sherbert		Newsletter
Kelly Shannon		Kitchen | Snack Agape