Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Nashville Emmaus Community June 2016

The Upper Room Walk toEmmaus vision is “FourthDay leaders embodying Christ”. The goal of this ministry, as we understand it, is to help Christian leaders grow into their understanding of how could they be more like Christ. EmbodyingChrist means thinking like Christ, acting like Christ, living like Christdid. Our whole life journey should be anchored on this premise.

As we all know, becoming more like Christ is not as easy or simpleas it sounds. Even when we are deeply committed to steer ourwhole life to accomplish this goal, we will always find many obstacles on our path to imitate Christ. Our pride; our desire tobe in control; our selfishness; arejust a few of the obstacles thatwill obstruct our journey, as wetry to be more like Christ.

As a spiritual director, I havebeen part of so many “DyingMoments” communions inEmmaus. To be honest I have found myself givingthese obstacles to Christduring many of thosedying moments. I don’tknow about you, but I have come to realizethat even though I confess these faults toGod, and even thoughI am honest in askingGod to take them

away from me, occasionally theycome back to bite me again. It is

so frustrating, I would like for them to go away, but I have to remindmyself that I can expect to be perfect, I am just, as Wesley’s said,on my way to perfection. Through God’s sanctifying grace I amchanged little by little by the power of his Holy Spirit. The apostlePaul also wanted to get rid of a thorn in his flesh and asked Godto take it away from him. However, God didn’t take his thorn awaybut reminded Paul that God’s grace, given to him, should be sufficient (2Cor.12:9).

The spiritual disciplines of prayer, scripture reading, fasting, Christianconferencing which we learned during our 72 hours experienceare helpful tools for us to keep growing into a deeper relationshipwith Christ. As we worship with our faith community, as we

participate of the means of grace on a regular basis our liveswill be transformed. Christ has promised to walk by our sideif we allow him. By keeping him in our midst, through thepower of the Holy Spirit, we will learn to be less judgmental,less selfish, more humble and more trusting of God’s will forus. We will become more like Christ. For some of us thisprocess could take years, but remember that when we put ourlives in God’s hand, what seems to be impossible becomes areality. Please, keep in mind that you are not alone in your journeyof being more like Christ. Paul reminds the Philippians, “I can doall things in him (Christ) who strengthens me…” (4:13).

De Colores!

Rev. Victor PerezCommunity Spiritual Director

We had a wonderful uplifting gathering at Fellowship UMC in Clarksville on May 14th. 72 people attended! We were allblessed! Thanks to Steve Zuercher and Fellowship UMC in Clarksville for your wonderful hospitality, fellowship and amazing

worship at our May gathering.

Make plans to attend our next gatherings:June 11 at Cedars of Lebanon State Park (shelter 7). • July 9 Smyrna 1st UMC • August 13 Upper Room in Nashville

All gatherings begin at 6pm (All meals will be potluck.)SEE YOU THERE!!!

Frances Blackwell Gail LeverettGwen Carter Beanie RankinNancy Cathey Judy VecchioneAnne Davis Mike WebbBuddy DeFord Roger WellsDiana Fitzpatrick Judy WheelerYvonne Hayes Dick Williams

Congratulations to the pilgrims from our Face to Face Encounter#6!!! There was no doubt as to the fact that the Holy Spirit was in attendance. May your next daysbe blessed!

May Gathering

JOURNEY TO THE TABLE is a new ministry in the family of Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, and Face to Face. It is specifically designed for youngadults, ages 18 – 35 years old. Journey to the Table seeks to inspire andequip individuals to create spaces of Christian action in their homes,schools, places of work, and communities.

After two years of development and testing, The Upper Room is hostingthe first public event in Nashville July 8th – 10th. 17 team members and36 participants will be coming from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico tobe part of this new program. I would like your help creating the environment of agape love for them.

We need a few volunteers to help sort agape items during the day onthe 8th or 9th, and people to attend candlelight the evening of the 9th. Contact Patrice Rullo at proverbspatrice@gmail.com

You can also find out more about Journey to the Table, and findregistration information for participants at Journey.UpperRoom.org.

Kairos #2 was held at Tennessee Prison for Women at the maincampus on April 28th – May 1st. While this was weekend #2, itwas the first weekend at the main campus. We had 18 participantsand an enthusiastic team that was covered in prayer as evidencedby a very long prayer chain and an overfilled 72 hour prayer vigil.

Because this was a new venue, we were very fortunate to have oneof the officers that worked with Kairos both at the Annex last falland at Riverbend Kairos with us for the majority of the weekend.Officer Stephens helped smooth the way and worked on our behalfto help the other officers understand what we were about, and tohelp us get all the needed supplies through checkpoint. TPFW alsohas a new warden, Carolyn Jordan, but she transferred from Riverbend, and was familiar with Kairos, so that was an additionalblessing.

The women were so appreciative of everything that was done forthem in the name of Jesus. All of the participants spoke at closing,and the consensus was that walking with Christ started where theywere now, not once they were released. For many of the ladies,TPFW will be their home for a long time, and they expressed a desire to make positive changes for Christ on the compound by theirprayers and actions.

One of the biggest blessings of the weekend was that the ladieswho had participated in Kairos in Memphis and were now residentsat TPFW came to closing, and were a real encouragement to ourladies.

Two weeks after the weekend on May 14th, we had what is called

an instructional reunion. Several team members returned to theprison, and we grouped with the participants from the previousweekend to help establish prayer and share groups. Like with Emmaus, this is the heart of the program. The only participants notin attendance were two that had child visitation and one lady whowas transferred to the Annex. This also showed their level of commitment.

A few prior team members return to the prison every 3rd Saturdayat the Annex and every 4th Saturday at the main campus for group reunions. We really get to know these ladies, and we try toencourage them in their Christian journey.

At the main campus, 153 women expressed interest in Kairos andsigned up in hopes of being able to participate. Because of the number of volunteers we could only serve 18 ladies. In Kairos, weconsider a full weekend to be 42 participants, but we have not beenable to serve that many at either the men’s (Riverbend) or thewomen’s (TPFW) prison due to the number of available volunteers.If you are interested in being part of this ministry, please contactBonnie Perry (the next weekend leader) for TPFW or Jim Melrose(Chair of the Riverbend advisory council) for the men. Bonnie’s e-mail address is mrphybon60@yahoo.com and Jim’s e-mail is:melrosejm@aol.com.

We thank all of our Emmaus brothers and sisters for their prayersupport. It was definitely felt and appreciated.

Women’s Kairos at TPFW April 28th – May 1st, 2016

During the Board Retreat in April, we decided to be more proactive in walk preparation starting with the Fall Walks. We already had a Men’s Lay Director in place and he now has histeam built. We recently received a Women’s Lay Director and shehas begun building her team. The plan is to have both teams inplace no later than the end of June. We ask you to join us inprayer for these teams.

With the Teams built this early our Registrar is reaching out to thesponsors who had Pilgrims on postponed walks to see if they canparticipate this Fall and we are already receiving new applicationsfor these walks. We expect to know the walks will make well before it time for the teams start their team meetings. In reality we expect to have full walks this Fall. It’s time to be praying for thepilgrim that will be brought to you to sponsor. If not this Fall, thenin 2017.

Yes, 2017! We already have our dates! With the Men’s Fall Teambuilt, I am pulling the list of people for the Board to approve forthe Spring Walk Lay Director. As soon as the women’s team isbuilt I’ll be doing the same for Women’s Spring Walk. The goal isto have the teams in place as close to a year in advance as possible. That way if a pilgrim has a desire to attend a walk butthe dates don’t work, we can go ahead and let them know whenthe next walk is and possibly sign them up for that one. It will,also, allow the teams to know their walk is a go before they starttheir team meetings and the community to know the team is builtbefore they sponsor a pilgrim.

The Spring 2017 dates are Men’s Walk March 16-19, Women’s Walk March 29 – April 4. The Fall 2017 dates are Men’s Walk Oct 5-10 and Women’s Oct 19-22 and Nov 2-5. Please begin praying for the teams that will come together forthese walks and the pilgrims that will be brought to them. I already have several people who have asked to be called toserve on the Spring Walk teams. Which brings up one last thing.

We are still updating the database. If you feel lead to serve on ateam, but haven’t been contacted, it may be your contact information is out of date. Please contact our Team SelectionBoard member Carla Snodgrass or myself and let us know. The Holy Spirit is very active in our Nashville Emmaus Community and it is a wonderful thing to experience!

De Colores,

Sandie GloverCommunity Lay Director

Upcoming Nashville Emmaus Walk

Please embrace the following members of our community in prayer:

John Arnold – Leukemia

Bonnie Perry and her daughter Anita Murphey- In the loss of Bonnie’s husband Tim Perry to an automobile accident.

If you know of anyone in the community that we need tobe in prayer for please email Anne Proctor at:anneproctor1011@gmail.com.

Men's Walk #193 at Hermitage UMC Oct. 20-23, 2016Women's Walk #194 at Hermitage UMC Nov. 3-6, 2016

Send Off - ThursdayRegistration and Reception in Gym 7:00 pmSend Off in Sanctuary 7:45 pmSponsor’s Hour 8:00 pmCandlelight - Saturday - 8:15 pmClosing - Sunday - 4:30 pmFourth Day Meeting - Tuesday - 7:00 pm