From the Community Lay Director
Some would say "Yay, summer is finally here - my favorite season of the year". Others would say "Oh no, summer is here - it gets so hot and muggy, and there are so many bugs!"
For me, as long as it rains on a regular basis (and that is a big if), Summer is probably the most beautiful season in Kentucky. Trees are all leafed out. Flowers are in bloom. Bees and butterflies flit around amongst those flowers. Lightning bugs help to brighten summer evenings.
But each season brings its own set of delights: each season can present a beauty all its own. Green things poking out of what looks like dead earth in the Spring. Vegetable plantings maturing for harvest as Autumn approaches. Flowers forming seeds to continue the next generation. A fresh snowfall covering the land, only interrupted by some bunny tracks and Christmas lights shining through the snow.
Do you have a favorite season of the year? I don't think my favorite season of the year actually has a name. My favorite season is the months leading up to and through an Emmaus Walk. All of Creation's seasons of the year are wrapped up in those months leading up to and through an Emmaus Walk. No team members and no pilgrim applications yet -- the cold of Winter. Team members start to commit and pilgrim applications start to arrive -- the joyous promise of Spring. The Emmaus Walk itself -- like watching my tomatoes and cucumbers grown and mature through the Summer -- watching pilgrims and team members grow and mature in their relationships with each other and with God. Fourth Days as lives become more colorful like the leaves of Autumn as each pilgrim and even team members live more in accordance with God's plan for their life,
The Lexington Emmaus Community is coming into Springtime. Teams for our October Walks are coming together. The kickoff meeting for team training is scheduled for August 16. We have started to receive pilgrim applications for both the Men's and Women's Walks. Unlike Creation's seasons which are out of our control, the seasons of an Emmaus Walk are in our control. With God leading, it is up to us to become part of an Emmaus Walk team, to recruit pilgrims, to provide Agape love during the Walks, to support pilgrims through their Fourth Days at Gatherings and in reunion groups. The October Walks will be here before we know it. It's time to get to work.
As noted in the June newsletter, your Board of Directors has decided that we will not be setting a minimum number of pilgrims to hold a Walk anymore. We have come to understand that the uncertainty over whether a Walk will happen or not undermines the willingness for potential pilgrims and potential team members to commit to the Walk. In fact, we have decided to go in the other direction and set a maximum of 15 pilgrims for each Walk. So get those applications ready soon!
I am looking forward to seeing you and helping to prepare a meal for you at the Gathering on Friday, July 11.
De Colores!
Michael Watts
Mission Statement
Renewing Christian Disciples,
Strengthening Local Churches
Rejoice, Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!
Welcome to the Lexington Emmaus Community!
Next Gathering
Date: Friday, July 11
NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE!