Welcome to the Lexington Emmaus Community!

Next Gathering

Date: Friday, May 3

TimE: 6:00 Fellowship

6:30 Pot LUCK DINNER

7:15 Worship

place: TRINITY HILL Methodist Church

3600 Armstrong Mill Road, Lexington, KY 40517

From the Lay Director:Wally Briggs

I grew up in East Bank, WV along the Kanawha River, about 20 minutes southeast of Charleston.  My mother was a devout Christian, and she took me to Sunday school, church services, and vacation bible school.  I loved them all. I was hooked. I believed in God.  When I turned 12 my mom gave me the option to continue attending church.  That pesky free will.  I chose to sleep in on Sunday mornings.  I slept in for over 20 years.

After moving to Lexington my family received an invitation from our neighbors to attend their church.  We attended and I listened to sermons that often made me uncomfortable because I thought they were written specifically for me. I believed I was OK, and life was good.  My neighbor also invited me to join his small group at church.  I would sit in the group and just listen, watch and learn.  These men shattered my image of what I thought a Christian was like.  They were imperfect. They were human.  But through listening and watching I discovered these men had a strong faith.  They had a connection that was strong because they were connected through Christ.  Well, who needs this connection, remember life is good, and I still believe.

February 4th, 2009 changed my world forever.  My marriage had failed and I separated from my wife and two daughters.  I quickly hit rock bottom.  Loneliness, suicidal thoughts, guilt, shame and depression engulfed me.  I was in trouble.  I had a coworker introduce me to a Bible verse, the first one I ever heard outside of church.  It was Philippians chapter 1 verse 6.  It was a verse that I thought pertained to my marriage, but I think my Brother knew I was about to embark on my spiritual journey, leading me to right here, this moment.

Shortly after my separation, I answered the invitation to the altar.  The only thing I brought to the altar, to my salvation that Sunday morning was my sin. That Sunday morning my world had broken me, but God's love started shaping me.  That Sunday morning I gave my life to Christ.  I was saved.  I was redeemed.  I still believed, but I did not follow.

For over four years I sat in the pews at my church listening, trying to learn, but there were these obstacles (shame, anger, humiliation) that were keeping me veiled from God's grace.  Eleven years ago, this same neighbor, invested his time, energy and money into me, a fledgling Christian.  I am not sure what Dave saw in me, but he loved me and wanted the best for me in my Christian journey. He invited me to attend some three day weekend called an Emmaus Walk.  Dave secured agape letters from the church I quit attending at the age of 12.  I don't know if Dave received a return on his investment, but his pilgrim is penning this newsletter.  The return I received is ongoing.  I have a reunion group of men that I love and a great community of people who love and support me.  

What did my weekend mean to me?  It gave me an inner peace.  It removed the veil that was over me.

But what is the lure of Emmaus?  What keeps me coming back?  The fifteen talks? (I do enjoy them).  The food? (OH YEAH).  Agapeland? Candlelight? Dying moments? (all powerful events).  Closing? (I love hearing the answers to the two questions). The people? (the new pilgrims and community are so important to me). Asbury? (a special place)

The week of women's walk #149 started with a revival at my church.  We had a guest speaker giving the sermon for the whole week.  On Tuesday night ( I golfed Monday, imperfect human vessel here) the pastor spoke about the veil Moses had to wear after encountering God because the brilliance/shining of his face may scare the people.  I immediately thought about the veil I mentioned earlier.  But the preacher went further and talked about how often do I veil my face and not let people see Jesus in me.  On Wednesday he talked about being righteous versus being a sinner who falls short and asks for forgiveness.  OUCH !!  Never thought about it that way but one way seems way easier than the other.  I know I CHOOSE to sin and ask for forgiveness instead of asking for help, praying or choosing the right (righteous) path.  Why do I think sinning is easier than being righteous? Something I need to consider and work on.

Then Thursday arrives.  I just feel the need to get down to Asbury early.  Maybe the team thinks I am there to support them (and I am), but I want to encounter the PEACE Emmaus brings me.  Sitting outside or in McKenna and seeing my Emmaus people.  People I love and care about.  People I want to talk to and hug. Then the pilgrims and sponsors and community start to arrive.  I enjoy saying hi to the pilgrims and seeing friends from the community.  Helping the registrar (Kristin) if she needs it.  High fiving the team and pilgrims as they head to the conference room on Thursday night.  Maybe I know what some will encounter during the next three days.  I want/need to be a part of that.

Then Friday comes and I venture to the agape room.  I don't want any part of lugging stuff around, but Teresa found some work I could do sitting in a chair.  I admire the folks who love to work agape.  They are special people !!!!

Saturday starts in the prayer room after running a special errand to pick up a quilt for Kristin.  I waited for Max to return from dying moments to see how the walk was going.  I think Max described it as “unlike any dying moments he has ever seen”. Good enough for me.  After that I went outside and sat talking to team members and pilgrims.  I enjoy seeing how they are doing and how it is going.  Then I venture to agapeland and help set up and serve.  During set up I encounter a young woman who tells me about her walk experience.  I was enthralled and eager to make my pitch for her to work a walk in the conference room.  I was blessed to listen to her and it made agapeland set up worthwhile for me.  Then we got to sing in the conference room as they entered agapeland.  We got to serve them and entertain them.  It is always a blessing to hear laughter (even when it is directed at you and well deserved) and pure joy during this meal.   Then we transition to candlelight and get to fellowship and take Holy Communion with the Emmaus community.  I enjoy witnessing the emotions as we file by the pilgrims. During my walk the guy standing beside me asked if I were OK?  Due to the flood of emotions coming from me (hard crying).  My answer was “no, I am not” . This was caused by the outpouring of love I felt and witnessed from my church and the Emmaus community that night.

Sunday is here.  Little to do in the agape room early afternoon.  Then I sat in peace in the McKenna chapel lobby just reading and taking it all in awaiting closing.  Then you listen to the pilgrims speak and you hear their emotion and passion. I am usually moved to tears as I listen, so I sit in the back where noone will know.

Remember, I mentioned that bible verse earlier?   I take comfort in the bible verse my Brother shared. Philippians chapter 1 verse 6: “and I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

What am I going to do about it?

I consider Emmaus a good work, and I want to continue to share it with the people I know and people I meet.  I want everyone to experience this “gift” called Emmaus. I want to continue to encounter the PEACE  from God that Emmaus brings me. That is what lures me to Emmaus.

So as we journey together along the road of life, we encounter the risen Christ in each other. As we laugh and cry and dance (even a cancan dance) and drive and yes, break bread together, our eyes are opened and we know that Jesus is with us. So the Emmaus story isn’t just an ancient story about two disciples and Jesus; Emmaus happens all the time among us, right now, right here to God!

De Colores / Fly With Christ - Wally

From the Agape Chair:

We need the community 's help for the upcoming walks. The last 3 walks I have worked,  there has only been 2 full time people working in Agape, and this last walk the kitchen only had two people working full time there as well. These two areas of a walk are just as important as the conference room team. It takes the WHOLE team  to put on a walk. Just as you can not have a walk without a Lay Director, you also can't have a walk without an Agape team or Kitchen team. The board has voted that if there are not 5 full time workers on the Agape Team from now on, we can not have the walk. So, if you are asked to be on the Agape or Kitchen team, please say yes. I know they are hard jobs, but remember the more help you have the less work it is. I hope to see you on the next team.

DeColores.