From the Community Lay Director:
Well, after over four decades of living in my own home, living in my own home and getting a new roof finally intersected. No roof leaks or obvious problems with the roof, but almost all of the other houses in the neighborhood, all about the same 20+ years old as ours, have had a new roof installed. My wife and I decided we wanted to get out ahead of any issues and go ahead and get a new roof. If we stay there, we won’t have to think about the roof again until we are almost 100 years old. Got new gutters with leaf guards too, so not planning to worry about the gutters for a good long time either. We have received a couple of compliments about the gutter and downspout color we picked. Never thought of gutters and downspouts being an attractive feature of a house, but they are.
Sitting on the back porch under our new roof, I got to reflecting about getting a new roof and the life I have had since my Walk to Emmaus. The roofers use some kind of flat blade tool to peel the old roof shingles off and pull out the old nails. Debris goes flying everywhere. Shingle pieces and roof felt ended up in the yards of the neighbors on each side of us. Filled up a dumpster with the old roof materials. Then the air compressor and nail gun ran the rest of the day and into the next morning. Since my Walk to Emmaus, God has stripped away my old priorities like those old roof shingles. My understanding of my place in the world, my purpose in the world, has been stripped away. My somewhat immature understanding of my relationship with my Lord and Saviour has been stripped away. God used a much kinder tool that did not make a big mess and He did not try to get it all done in a day or two.
New priorities have been set in place. My understanding of my place, my purpose, in the world has been revealed to a certain extent. Still a journey of exploration of place and purpose. My somewhat immature understanding of my relationship with my Lord and Saviour has bloomed into a relationship that has comforted me, protected me emotionally and spiritually, like a new roof. I relish how often He calls me friend (John 15:14). It is with anticipation of similar changes developing in the lives of others that encourages me to be part of the team for as many Walks as I can.
If someone is teetering on being a pilgrim for Walk 157, it is not too late to get their application to Registrar Kristin Hobbs. She can be contacted through the website. An emailed application would be terrific. October 6 will be the deadline to make sure there is time for the Walk Lay Director to pray over table assignments in the conference room and rooming assignments at the Asbury Inn.
Please come to the October Gathering at Richmond UMC. The team for Walk 157 will be commissioned as part of the worship time for that Gathering. The team will cherish your encouragement. Please come to Sendoff. Please bring Agape items and Agape snacks. Especially please come to Candlelight to support and encourage the pilgrims of Walk 157. Please come to Sendoff to hear about the impact of Walk 157 on those pilgrims. Times and locations for these events can be found elsewhere in the newsletter.
DeColores!!
Michael Watts
Community Lay Director
Lexington Emmaus Community
Mission Statement
Renewing Christian Disciples
Strengthening Local Churches
Rejoice, Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!