Western Sydney Emmaus Newsletter September 2015
Community Lay Director
I watched a movie a number of years ago called “Pay it Forward” and whenever I think about the movie the parts I remember clearly seem to have greater significance for me in relationship to Emmaus.
So I ask myself the following questions.
1. Why would I not want anyone I know or meet not to experience the joy and peace I found from my Walk to Emmaus?
2. Why would I not want anyone I know or meet to feel the love my community expressed for me on my Walk to Emmaus?
3. Why would I not want anyone I know or meet to find themselves in the company of saints like I know exist in my Emmaus Community?
In the movie a 12-year-old boy, his mother and his teacher failed to recognise this 12-year-old boy’s single act of kindness had changed the lives of thousands of those people. Were it not for the investigative journalist, who was one of thousands who received an amazing the act of kindness who traced the acts of kindness back to the 12-year-old boy, the impact would never have been understood.
The two friends who sponsored me on my Emmaus walk helped to change my life as I hope Jacqui and I have helped to change the lives of those that we have sponsored.
Importantly, I want you to think about all the people you sponsored and how from just one act of sponsorship so many lives have been changes and the love of God demonstrated though your efforts in paying your sponsorship forward.
Saturday night the 17th of October, make an effort not just to come to candle lighting, bring a friend, fill every seat in your car and let’s gather not just to welcome our newest members of the community but also to look around the room to see the effects PAYING IT FORWARD have made to so many.
NSW Regional Meeting
Western Sydney Emmaus hosted the NSW Regional Emmaus meeting in August and used the opportunity to identify issues affecting each community, their strengths and the areas where they need to put more effort.
Following is a list of the nine most important success factors the attendees ranked by priority.
1. Praying community
2. Passionate board
3. Good succession plans
4. Offers walks
5. Healthy community – encouraging each other, good leadership, mentality involving passion
6. Enthusiastic gatherings
7. Number of people sponsoring
8. What people do post Emmaus
9. Maintains fairness and openness of walk
The Board will be working through these factors over the coming months to ensure to ensure we are strengthening the Western Sydney Community.
Board Elections
If you think Western Sydney Emmaus Board meeting are dull boring events or a good opportunity to waste some of your precious time think again!
Our Board meetings are short (One and a half hours) and we are trying to focus on issues that will help us grow and ways in which we can encourage non active members to step up and get involved again.
The last meeting was interrupted by a comical quick-witted comment that sent all members of the Board into stiches of laughter lasting almost 10 minutes.
When we compare Western Sydney Emmaus Boards success factors to the NSW Regional list points above, one and two are outstanding success factors for us.
Our Board is filled with hard working committed and very passionate member who are trying everything they can to make Western Sydney Emmaus a great community.
So if you are looking for a challenge and want to help us focus on point three (Good Succession Plan) then fill in a nomination form and help make a difference.
Emmaus National Website
The National Board is looking for input on the development of a new National Website. It would seem the favoured platform is a WordPress site following in the footsteps of our own Western Sydney Emmaus website.
The October Women’s Walk
Meet the team of Walk 92
October 15 – 18 is only a few short weeks away and there is still time for you to sponsor.
Sponsoring
The women’s walk 92 is fast approaching and it is time to get serious signing up your pilgrim. We have a great team of women that are all ready to go. Do not miss this opportunity to bless someone. Register Here
Prayer Vigil
There are still a number of vacant places on the Prayer Vigil, including many in afternoon/evening. Please show the team and pilgrims how much you care for them by filling these spots. To sign up, go to the Prayer Vigil or phone Pat Kinnear on 0414-375494.
Serving
A walk is just not about the team that leads the pilgrims – its all the community serving together to show Gods love. Why not be a part of the walk 92 Team and server the pilgrims, by serving meals, attending closing ceremony and of cause candle lighting.
Candle Lighting
Candle lighting for the Women’s Walk 92 is on Saturday October 17 and if you can for a moment recall, how blessed you were on your candle lighting by the many attendees then it is time to pay it forward.
Make an effort; fill every seat in your car with members of your church and reunion group and make this night as special for these pilgrims as it was for you all those years back.
Walk Commissioning
The next gathering and Walk Commissioning is this Saturday. I hope you can join us. If you have Agape, please can you bring it along to the gathering.
Spiritual Touch Point
One of the readings for this week has been Eph 3:14-21. This is the second prayer of Paul to the Ephesians, the first being in chapter 1. Whilst Paul wrote specifically to the Ephesians, this prayer has as much to do with us as it has them.
Whilst there is no particular formula for prayer, maybe with the exception of the Lord’s Prayer, Paul here gives us reason for our hope in Christ. He prays that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen us with power through the Holy Spirit within us, so that we may have Christ dwell in our hearts through faith. Just as in Emmaus we show and encourage pilgrims to experience the Love of God, Paul wants us all to remain rooted and established in Love and have the ongoing and increasing understanding or knowing of the Love of Christ; that we may know the width and length, the height and the depth of this love of Christ that no one here on earth can even deem to have full knowledge of its extent; that we indeed may have a full measure of the fullness of God.
Prayer is not about a list of demands, nor does it have a particularly posture we need to use. Do you remember the Sunday school days when you put your hands together and had to close your eyes? Christ himself taught the disciples how they ought to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is a complete prayer and whilst we can use it as a structure for our own prayers it is but an example of a good balanced prayer to the Father.
In 1 Thess 5:16-18 we are challenged to Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Prayer remains one of the least supported disciplines for many Christians. Along with your ever increasing Actions and your dedication to Study, may Prayer become the backbone of your faith as you Act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)
Prayer is the way we keep in touch with God, be it while driving the car, washing the dishes at the kitchen sink, in the garage, at work, sport, church or recreation. Keep on Praying and our God will honour your prayer, for it was indeed to have a relationship with Him that he created us to be.