From the Community Lay Director

For Christmas 2024, my wife gave me a book of daily readings from the works of C. S. Lewis. I made it to May 23rd. The book spent the rest of 2025 nestled on a shelf. I have picked the book back up and started reading again. Not as a New Year's resolution, but as an effort to establish a fresh start, a fresh beginning, a fresh renewal of spirit. 

The not-quite discouragement that I wrote about last month has returned to a certain extent. The Salvation Army bell ringing endorphin rush has worn off. I am hoping to draw some renewal from the writings of C. S. Lewis and from being a part of Chrysalis Flight 41 coming up in a couple of weeks. I don't know if it is all the snow, ice and cold of these past days or if I have somehow wandered into a spiritual desert. 

The C. S. Lewis reading for January 30, the day that I am writing this, is from A Slip of the Tongue (The Weight of Glory). He writes of the concern that having been in God's presence in prayer, in devotion time, in receiving the Sacrament, many things will be made inconvenient when he returns to ordinary life. His behavior and life outlook should change after having been in God's presence. He really wants to protect his temporal life and keep things the same. That is a struggle we all have. Fortunately, as Christians, that is not a struggle we have to engage in on our own. The more we try to do it on our own, the harder it gets. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to empower us, to help us to bring our lives more in alignment with the lives God makes available to us.

As we continue into this new year, let us remember spending a weekend in the presence of God. Let us remember the first talk of our Emmaus Walk about priorities. Let us remember our acknowledgment during the cross ceremony that Christ is counting on us. Let us do our best in the coming year for The King. Count on Christ to help us with that effort. Whatever that means in our lives. Reading the Newsletter every month. Coming to Gatherings. Sponsoring pilgrims and caterpillars. Coming to the Sendoff, Candlelight and Closing events even if you are not sponsoring a pilgrim or caterpillar. Participating in Emmaus Walk and Chrysalis Flight teams. 

Looking forward to seeing you for the Community events of Chrysalis Flight 41, February 14-16, at Richmond First United Methodist Church.

DeColores!
Michael Watts

Community Lay Director

Mission Statement
Renewing Christian Disciples
Strengthening Local Churches

Welcome to the Lexington Emmaus Community!

Next Gathering

Date: Friday, February 6

We will meet at 6:00 for fellowship, Potluck dinner at 6:30 and worship at 7:15.

place: Trinity Hill Methodist Church; 3600 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY, 40502

NOTE: During the Winter months Emmaus Gatherings will follow Fayette County Schools policy on closings in the event of inclement weather conditions.