February 1993
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

At the January Emmaus Board meeting there were a number of issues that were discussed, and one of them was on the topic of "SPONSORSHIP".  I invite each of you to read the article I have written regarding sponsorship within this newsletter.  If you have questions regarding sponsorship, please contact any of the Emmaus board members.

I received a letter from the Director, Emmaus International Office this week and she spoke about several projects that they are working on.  

One:  Clergy talk outlines.  They are going to be presenting to the National Steering Committee during their annual meeting in February 93, the new National Model Clergy talks.  After some editorial work, they will be asking a number of communities around the world to field test the talks during the 1993 spring walks.  They are looking to be able to publish them for all communities to use starting in September 93.  As I receive further word on these new talk outlines, I will let our Spiritual Directors know.

Two:  Emmaus Video.  National Emmaus is also working to produce a 10-12 minute Emmaus video which will be designed to be shown to persons who might be interested in attending Emmaus.  They plan to field test the video in May and Jun. 93 with its premier at the Emmaus National Meeting at Lake Junaluska, NC on July 18-22 1993.

As I stated in the last newsletter, the teams for the Spring 93 weekends are up and running,  Both Jim Graham and Sylvia Seiden ask for you to keep them in your prayers as they continue to team. These weekends will be held at Camp Easter Seal 11-14 March, 25-28 March 93.  

If you are interested in serving as a Cha on either the Men's or Women's weekend, the sign up sheet will be pass out at the next gathering.  If you would like to call me at home or work I would be glad to add your name.  It is an experience you will not want to miss.

If you are thinking about sponsoring candidates for the upcoming weekends you need to get the applications in.  Gary Farrar is already calling the candidates for the weekends.  There is still lots of room.  Also if you would like to serve on a team, you need to get your application in.  It is not to early to get them in for the fall weekends.  

Remember, God loves you and so do I.  God bless.

David Young

The Next Fredericksburg Gathering

What:	Fredericksburg Emmaus Community Gathering
Where:	Peace UMC, Fredericksburg VA.
Why:	Worship and Fellowship
	Worship	- 6:30 PM, February 13, 1993
	Begin music for the Gathering	- Promptly at 6:30
	Opening Prayer of Gathering	- 7:00
	Fellowship & Refreshments	- ≈ 8:30 PM (after Gathering)
How:	In Grace of Our God & Fellowship of His Holy Spirit

The Fredericksburg Emmaus Community looks forward to seeing each of you at the monthly Gatherings (known as "Ultreyas" elsewhere). Our Gatherings are open to fellowship for all Christians whether you have been to an Emmaus/Chrysalis/Cursillo Walk or not.  Feel free to bring friends or guests from your church to share in the Grace of our God.  For directions, see the map elsewhere in this newsletter.

Upcoming Weekends

Dates	Weekend	Dates	Weekend
Mar.  11 thru 14, 1993	F'burg Emmaus Men's 7	Mar.  25 thru 28, 1993	F'burg Emmaus Women's 8
Nov.  11 thru 14, 1993	F'burg Emmaus Men's 9	Dec.  9 thru 12, 1993	F'burg Emmaus Women's 10

Reunion Groups

Small groups are the backbone of keeping the fires burning.  The weekly challenge to Study, Piety and Action as well as the special fellowship and the power of His Presence amongst you are a continuing inspiration.  We encourage all of you to join or start a group.  WHY GROUP?

A basic continuation of your Walk to Emmaus is a group reunion.  This is important in keeping open the lines of communication and sharing, which were discovered on your walk.

HOW TO GET STARTED?

Initiate a group reunion as soon as possible after your weekend by finding a number of pilgrims from your table, church, neighborhood, place of business, etc., who wish to meet on a weekly basis to share their Christian walk.  A group of 3-6 members is ideal.  Come together in the spirit of sharing through use of the Group Reunion Card (Service Sheet) you received on the weekend.  This is not a social time, but a time of building trust, being supportive, and aiding each other in becoming better Christians.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A GROUP REUNION?

Friends in this atmosphere soon learn to share everything:  what they are, do, and have in terms of a Christian life.  Piety, study, and action are basic points to consider through the service sheet because it asks specific questions of each of us.  Pick a group, a time and place, and your reunion group is started.  Make a firm commitment to this weekly reunion.  Some day, when you feel you don't need or want to attend your grouping, may be just the day when one of your group desperately needs to hear what you have to say and share.  Use this commitment as one of your methods of perseverance on your Fourth Day.

OPEN GROUPS

If you want your group to be open to others, we will periodically list groups in this column of the newsletter.  Some of us group as listed below.  These are open groups and you are welcome to join in.  We'd love to see you!!  Call David Young @ 703-659-5921 if you want your group added to the list.

When	Place	Contact	Address	
Saturday @ 7:30 AM	Roy Rogers	Steve Seiden	Route One across from Aquia Town Center
Wednesday @ 8:00 PM	Sammy T's in rear	Joe May	Caroline Street in Fredericksburg

Cha's, Cha's, Cha's

Sign ups are open for F'burg #7 & 8 as indicated below.  This is a big commitment and your presence throughout most of the day will be required.  Evening Cha's will be asked to arrive about 5:00 PM so that the others may head for home at a reasonable hour.  The hours are long, there is no pay, but being a cha, selflessly serving the Lord and the Pilgrims is one of the greatest rewards Emmaus has to offer.  While a Cha you will also be able to participate as a prayer warrior in the prayer chapel's during talks.  If you would like to sign up to be one of the Community cha's on either weekend, contact Steve Seiden @ 703-659-8953, or sign up at the next Gathering.  There are many who want to serve, so initially please sign up only once.  If there are still vacancies for the weekends at the February & March Gatherings, you will have an opportunity to sign up for more than once at that time.

F'Burg 7 - Men	F'Burg 8 - Women
March 11 - 14, 1993	March 25 - 28, 1993

Day	Name	Day	Name

Friday Daytime, March 12		Lead	Friday Daytime, March 26	Tony Morris	Lead
Friday Daytime, March 12			Friday Daytime, March 26	Pat May	
Friday Daytime, March 12	Bob Lootens		Friday Daytime, March 26	R.L.T. (Dick) Beale	
Friday Daytime, March 12	Albirta Lootens		Friday Daytime, March 26	Don Pulsifer	
Friday Daytime, March 12	Larry Garfield		Friday Daytime, March 26		
Friday Daytime, March 12			Friday Daytime, March 26		
Friday Daytime, March 12			Friday Daytime, March 26		
Friday Evening, March 12		Lead	Friday Evening, March 26		Lead
Friday Evening, March 12			Friday Evening, March 26		
Friday Evening, March 12			Friday Evening, March 26		

Saturday Daytime, March 13		Lead	Saturday Daytime, March 27	Eva Wehrle (Jenny)	Lead
Saturday Daytime, March 13	Eva Wehrle (Jenny)		Saturday Daytime, March 27	Andy Wehrle (Rachel)	
Saturday Daytime, March 13	Andy Wehrle (Rachel)		Saturday Daytime, March 27		
Saturday Daytime, March 13	Fay Dunmire		Saturday Daytime, March 27		
Saturday Daytime, March 13	Howard Dunmire		Saturday Daytime, March 27		
Saturday Daytime, March 13			Saturday Daytime, March 27		
Saturday Daytime, March 13			Saturday Daytime, March 27		
Saturday Evening, March 13		Lead	Saturday Evening, March 27	Dave Stefano	Lead
Saturday Evening, March 13			Saturday Evening, March 27	Larry Shrum	
Saturday Evening, March 13			Saturday Evening, March 27	Pete Crabill	

Sunday Daytime, March 14		Lead	Sunday Daytime, March 28		Lead
Sunday Daytime, March 14	John Weinhardt		Sunday Daytime, March 28	John Weinhardt	
Sunday Daytime, March 14			Sunday Daytime, March 28		
Sunday Daytime, March 14			Sunday Daytime, March 28		
Sunday Daytime, March 14			Sunday Daytime, March 28		
Sunday Daytime, March 14			Sunday Daytime, March 28		
Sunday Daytime, March 14			Sunday Daytime, March 28		

Supplies Needed for Weekends

Weekend Equipment and Supplies:  After each Emmaus weekend, there is a need to replenish supplies exhausted for the next weekends.  Gracious gifts of the items listed below will contribute to the success of the Emmaus program.  Pray about what you can do, and contact Sylvia Seiden @ 703-659-8953 to let us know what you plan to give.

Kleenex	Foot Washing Soap
Safety Pins (1 box)	Blue tack (5 packages)
Two Pocket Portfolios (with three hole paper retainers)

Pray about Providing Scholarships for Weekends

Can you help Scholarship others?  We are a Community of faith, and we have faith that Christ will meet the needs!!

Prayer Requests

A column will be open each month for Prayer Requests.  Submit your praises or needs to the newsletter editor, Steve Seiden @ 703-659-8953, by the first Saturday after each Gathering:

G.C. Branton - Pray for church retreat of 18 members & for his heavy workload this spring	Seidens + Debbie & Mandy Bennett - God's blessing on us all as Debbie & Mandy join our family	
Seidens - Praises for reunion with daughter Susan	F'burg EM 7/8 - Pilgrims & Teams	
Bill-Dave Young - Recent engagement to Christy Soles	Linda LaCoursiere - Surgery & recovery	
Alice Young - Praises for all the prayers she has received from each person in our Community - keep prayin'
Mike Vincent - Peace & direction	Tom Berish - Praise for life in Him - Praise Him for His many blessings - Praise for children, for being a parent	
Prayers for healing Joe Pace's Mom recovering from sinus surgery & Joe's sister recovering from a colostomy	Kristy Erisman - Safe travel from VA to PA & Colorado as I return home from Christmas break	
Pray for the unsaved of Mexico & those of the F'burg EM Community who minister to them	Pray for the F'burg EM 7 team, Em 8 team & Kairos Team, all now forming	
Sherry & John Trudeau - Adoption hearing Jan. 11 for Andrew John	Ginny Martell - Receiving a wonderful healing	

SPONSORSHIP

Definition

A sponsor is the person who identifies, recruits, supports, transports, sustains, assists, and maintains Christian contact over time with a candidate to an Emmaus Weekend.

Introduction

Probably the most difficult, demanding part of the Emmaus program - and often the least understood - sponsorship is a long term responsibility - perhaps a year or so of personal involvement.

Sponsorship starts with prayerful evaluation of our environment and then moves into the candidate selection process.

The objective of the process is to reinforce the Christian experience of those in the environment who have the best potential to be leaders in Christianizing that environment.  This includes not only  laymen but also the clergy.  Clergy persons are particularly essential both as future Emmaus spiritual directors and as advocates for Emmaus in their own churches or areas of responsibility.

Once potential candidates are identified, personal contact is essential to determine if they are indeed ready to accept the challenge of becoming open to God's plan in their lives.

To accomplish this, the sponsor must give witness to an authentic Christian life and, in doing so, spark the desire for growth in the potential candidate.

Discussion

Once this desire for growth is confirmed, a sponsor can initiate the mechanics of setting the three days in motion by:

	-  Contacting a Spiritual Director for support
	-  Completing the requirements of the application process
	-  Refocusing prayer on the three days to follow
	-  Beginning coordination of efforts such as agape, group    reunion formation, and other Fourth Day activities.

The role of the sponsor also includes nurturing: preparing the candidate for the three days by taking off all pressure possible -home, work, etc.

The sponsor also needs to educate the candidate on what he or she needs to know to gain the most from the weekend.

Support for the three days is a short step in the sponsor process but it often is the key to bringing Christ up to the surface of a candidate's existence.  This includes:
	-  The mechanics of transporting the candidate to and from the weekend site.
	-  Support for home responsibilities in such a way that the candidate can focus exclusively in the Walk to Emmaus.
	-  Providing prayer support and other agape for the weekend.
	-  Being present at the weekend in mind and spirit, as well as in body for Candlelight and closing ceremonies.

Probably the most critical stage of sponsorship from the candidate's perspective is curing the post Emmaus period - the Fourth Day:
	
	-  As in many other human experiences, follow-through is the decisive factor in success.
	-  Constant personal attention is appropriate to nurture and encourage the new pilgrim.
	-  Arrange for a group reunion - even if it means leaving your own to start a new one at the candidate's convenience.
	-  Share on a regular basis your respective Christian growth.
	-  Ensure the candidate has access to and is encouraged to meet with a spiritual director for guidance in the process.
 	-  Persevere in this support until the new pilgrim is fully	 incorporated into his or her own Christian community and active in Christianizing the surrounding environment.

Sponsorship Guidelines

Know your candidate.  He/she should:
	
	-  Be known to you as a Christian and be active in church life.
	-  Have a desire to grow as a Christian
	-  Be a person who influences others, whose ideas move others, and whose attitude motivates others.
	-  Have the ability and desire to live in and for a community.
	-  Be aware that Emmaus in not just a weekend, but an aid to a fuller Christian life.
	-  Have no psychological or emotional problems.

Before making a decision to sponsor a new candidate, you should:

	-  Pray for guidance.
	-  Know the goals and methods of Emmaus.
	-  Live the message of the weekend.
	-  Speak to God about your prospective candidate before you speak to him/her.
	-  Explain Emmaus.  Keep it simple and don't be secretive. (Most questions can be openly answered and discussed without giving away any of the surprises.)  
	-  Explain the Fourth Day and its plan for continuing Christian fellowship.
	-  Make sure your candidate is going because he/she wants to and not just as a favor to you.

After making a commitment to sponsor a new candidate, you should:

	-  Pray for your candidate daily.
	-  Be prepared to transport your candidate to and from the retreat center, or make arrangements for that transportation.
	-  Support your candidate with agape, at candlelight and closing ceremonies.
	-  Maintain contact with you candidate in the Fourth Day encouraging participation in regular group reunion and gathering activities.

Cost of a Weekend

The cost of a candidate for a three day weekend is $130.00.  When the candidate applies for an Emmaus weekend he/she is also asked to send a check for $10 in with the application.  If the candidate is selected to go on a weekend the sponsor of that candidate is committing to provide love agape of $130 to support the candidate

Sponsors should provide the funds prior to the weekend or they can make regular contributions to Emmaus for the purpose of supporting a candidate.  God has been very good to the Emmaus community in seeing that funds have always been available for the weekends.  If you would like to sponsor someone and do not have sufficient funds, contact one of the board members who will provide you guidance.