September 1993
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

	Well is everyone getting as excited as I am?  Excited about what you ask.  We have two Emmaus weekends coming up!  Steve Seiden and his team of men have started their preparation for the mens' weekend, November 11-14, 1993.  Nita Cline and her team of women are about to begin preparation for the womens' weekend, December 9-12, 1993.

	Remember to hold each and every one of these servants up in prayer.  I read a story recently about a young man who asked his Dad this question.  "Is prayer the same as a wish?"  His Dad thought about this and told him he thought that a prayer carried a commitment to be open to God's will and be willing to do your part toward the prayer's fulfillment.  When you offer your prayers to the Father be willing to do your part toward them being fulfilled.

	Please pray about sponsoring someone for the upcoming Walks.  Remember your Walk to Emmaus.  Wasn't it a blessing of a lifetime!  There must be someone in your church who would benefit greatly from this experience.  If you don't have an application, they are available at the Gatherings.  If you can't get to the Gathering, give Gary Farrar a call.  He can get an application to you.  Or call on any of your Board members.

	We'll be passing around the sign up sheets for food agape at the next Gathering.  Lots of goodies are needed to last through the weekend.  We especially need homemade items during the womens' weekends.  I know some of you guys know how to bake cookies!  Have the kids help you.  The ladies enjoy homemade goodies too.  The sign up Cha duty for the mens' weekend will go around again.  If you've not experienced this, why not give it a try.  Cha duty is another way to help the community and blessings are many.

	For all you who have volunteered to do the various jobs in the community to keep us on track and who fill jobs that make the weekends possible, thank you from all of us for your willingness to serve.  For all of you who donate items of food, supplies, etc., you too are appreciated and loved.

	Remember my telling you at the last Gathering . . ."Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving?"  It is so true.  Share the gift of His love with someone else.  We in the church are to prepare ourselves for service to others.  Through the Emmaus experience our leadership skills are strengthened and we carry the Word of the Lord to the world.

	I look forward to seeing each of you at Peace UMC for the October 9, 1993 Gathering.  Fellowship is from 6:00PM to 7:00PM with music, devotions, fourth day, and communion to follow.  See you there.

The Next Fredericksburg Emmaus Gathering
	Where:	Peace UMC, Fredericksburg, VA. 	Why:	Worship and Fellowship

	When:	6:00 PM, October 9, 1993 Social Hour*	6:00 - 7:00 PM
Begin music for the Gathering	Promptly at 7:00 Opening Prayer of Gathering	7:30
	How:	In Grace of Our God
		& the Fellowship of His Holy Spirit
	Devotions:	Larry Garfield
	Fourth Day Speaker:	Prim Young
	Child Care Providers	The Paces 
*Please bring light refreshments for this time.

Mark your calendars now for the November gathering.
Date:  November 20, 1993
Time:  6:00 PM 
Place:  Peace UMC.

The Fredericksburg Emmaus Community looks forward to seeing each of you at the monthly Gatherings. 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.  Child care is ONLY provided for children through fifth grade; older children are expected to sit with their parents during the Gathering.

Mark the dates of other upcoming Gatherings!

	December 18th*	Peace UMC
	*(Start at 5PM with a Pot Luck Supper)
	January 8th**	Fredericksburg UMC
	**(Also Day of Deeper Understanding	1-4PM)

New Newsletter Feature

On the next page you will find an article for the "Desk of Our Spiritual Director"  This will be a regular monthly feature to our newsletter.  Jim Luck is our Community Spiritual Director.  He is currently working at Germania Community College.  I had several very positive responses to his article last month.  Phyllis Andrews says "Thanks Jim for making us stop and think!".  So take a few minutes and read the article Jim have prepared for us this month.  

AGAPE BAGS + AGAPE BAGS

As you can see we have two walks coming in November and December!  For these walks we will need approximately 60 bags.  We are asking now for your help!  First, we need to know if there is anyone out there willing to sew the bags for us.  You do not know how to sew you say--well maybe you can help by donating supplies.  We can use colorful fabric and shoelaces, fabric paint, wonderunder or you can donate money to go towards purchasing these supplies.  Anyone who feels they can help in any way with these Agape bags, please give Diana Farrar a call at 372-7535 or bring it and give it to her when you see her at the next Gathering.  Thanks for your help.

Music Notes

Just a few reminders for our Community musicians:

If you are interested in leading the music at one of our monthly Gatherings or are available to lead one of the Community Candlelight services, Please call Joe May at 898-7784.

Also, for our December Gathering we will feature "Lessons In Carols", a Community celebration of the birth of Our Savior.  All musicians are welcome to participate.  If you feel led to perform a solo (either instrumental or vocal), or would like to be a reader, please contact either Tony Forstall at 659-2461 or Joe May at 898-7784. 
……….

Praise God From whom all blessings flow!
 _
 
Hello and praise our Lord Jesus Christ

Praise is necessary as is prayer.  God inhabits the praises of His people and He waits upon us to talk to Him.  I am in search of those willing and obedient vessels that will answer the call to pray for the team, pilgrims, and sponsors
on the upcoming Emmaus weekends.  There is much to prepare for and much to do.  Pray about what you can physically do, and pray about praying for those involved.  Each one of us is equally important and equally called. (1 Corinthians 12: 14-27)

	-Think about Thursday when . . .
	someone was praying for you!
	-Think about Friday when . . .
	someone was praying for you!
	-Think about Saturday when . . . 
	someone was praying for you!
	-And Sunday, remember Sunday . . .
	somebody was praying for YOU!
Will you pray for someone?

Your prayers are needed!

I recently asked a young man if he would like to take a Walk to Emmaus, and he replied, "yes".  Later, he came to me telling me that maybe he ought to think it over because he had had a dream.  In the dream, upon arriving at Camp Easter Seal he noticed that there were huge walls surrounding the grounds and guards were all around.  In overhearing a guard talking with another he felt an urgency to pray because he knew suddenly that no one could leave that place.  Someone had just been caught trying to.  In the dream, this young man went around trying to get someone to pray with him but was told over and over that prayer was not something done around there.  Then he awakened.

I assured him that there was much prayer and would answer any questions he asked.  He was at peace with his decision to go. . . but will you be at peace with your decision to pray, or not to pray.  God's Word tells us that His people perish for lack of knowledge, so now, I am sharing with you that you are needed physically and spiritually.  You are special and so very loved, have a glorious day in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Love,
Angel

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Frank Outlaw

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.  I encourage all of you to join or start a group.  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!!
 
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 F'burg
 
Upcoming Weekends

 Dates

Weekend	Dates
Maryland Emmaus Men's 30	30 September -3 October 1993
Southside VA Emmaus Women's 6	30 September -3 October 1993
West VA Emmaus Women's 32	7-10 October 1993
Nat. Cap. Emmaus Women's 56	7-10 October 1993
Richmond Emmaus Women's 23	13-17 October 1993
Shenandoah Emmaus Men's 5	21-24 October 1993
Sonshine Emmaus Men's 3	21-24 October 1993
Shenandoah Emmaus Women's 6	28-31 October 1993
Tidewater Emmaus Men's 22	28-31 October 1993
Maryland Emmaus Women's 31 **	4-7 November 1993
Sonshine Emmaus Women's 4	4-7 November 1993
Lyncgburg/Central Va Men	4-7 November 1993
F'burg Emmaus Men's 9	11-14 November 1993
Tidewater Emmaus Women's 23	11-14 November 1993
Lynchburg/Central Women's	18-21 November 1993
F'burg Emmaus Women's 10	9-12 December 1993

*  College Age	** Deaf Included

Praise, Joys, and Concerns
The list below is taken from last months Gathering.  However, I will be glad to list any others I receive from the community through a letter or telephone call..  Submit your praises or needs to the newsletter editor, Mary Ruth Forstall @ 703-659-2461 or mail to P.O. Box 34 Brooke, Va.  22430, by the first Saturday after each Gathering:

Praise and Joys
Our new exchange student daughter Johanna
Lillian Park - Praise for God's presence during my back surgery & continued healing!
Praise for the team of Maryland Crysalis #10, it was great: Nathan Morrow
Praise the Lord for the return from the hospital of Toni & Terry Stanley
Joy for sister & her family visiting from Berlin, Germany
Births:
Rebecca Elwood to David & Pam (Timothy & Catherine) Pinney

Prayers and Concerns
F'burg 9 & 10 - Blessings for teams & Pilgrims to come F'burg Emmaus Board of Directors
Ruth Ellis - (mother Mary Ruth Forstall) continuing chemotherapy
Lorita Shelton
Travel Mercies
Travel prayers for daughter Amy and Dominic as they drive home from San Diego
Judy & Kim Rice - Kim traveling to Malyasia
Children as they head back to college and school unafraid
Kathy Holler's birth into the kingdom
Joy's neuropathy
Ellen Woodworth job hunting
Bob and Nancy Graver
Bill & Patti Kennedy
Abby & Brenda Ravella
Grant Koontz
Harry Woehrle
The Dunn Family and all families
Brain Fairbanks - 11 yr old received bone marrow transplant-pray marrow regenerates
Frank Rice - to make the right decisions
Nicholas Doumlele - 5 year old who needs open heart surgery before Christmas
Nichole Davis - realizing that she doesn't need to fight for wordly things anymore
Jennifer Keller - realizing that she needs the Lord in her life
David Young & Christy Soles - preparation for upcoming marriage on 11/6/93
Alice Young - continued prayer for good health
Dave - he bruised his rib on Monday
Mrs. May as she continues dialysis
Pray for a healthly grandson anytime
For all who suffer from any type of sickness
Those who have lost their jobs
Kairos #8 Buckingham Correctional Center
Pray for those who seem to be unable to do anything right
Pray for the men who missed Kairos, to have been held this weekend
Pray for Grandson Stephen, born on July 9th and may be blind
Decolores! 
Mary Ruth Forstall
Emmaus Newsletter____Tony Forstall,_Tony Forstall,