Jan/Feb 1994
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: 

	Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.  Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.  And You shall renew the face of the earth.  O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

	Here we are at the beginning of a New Year.  We have just completed two more weekend retreats which brings our total to 10!  Two more teams are forming for the Spring and our Fall leaders have been chosen and accepted.  The growth in our community is wonderful.

	And, when I read my International Newsletter from Nashville they too are amazed with the growth of Emmaus around the world!  What follows is an excerpt which contains some concerns for the movement as a whole, but amazingly enough can also be applied to our community in Fredericksburg and many other communities as well:

"This continuing growth also leads to some of our worries.  It is increasingly clear that training is vital to the continuing vitality of Emmaus.  Our concern is that the vision of Emmaus will be lost or diluted without the proper training of new community leaders.  It is tempting for community leaders to focus on putting on exciting, spiritually high weekends without giving even greater attention to Fourth Day concerns.  And without a concentrated focus on Fourth Day, Emmaus becomes yet one more retreat experience.  It is the focus on follow-up which sets Emmaus apart from other retreat designs.  How do we effectively train our new leaders about the vision and intent of Emmaus?  As we enter a new year, it might be helpful to step back and take a look at the overall picture of your community.  What are your wonders?  What are your worries about your community?"

	Let us begin the year reaquainting ourselves with the purpose of Emmaus and how that purpose can be met.  The following excerpts have been taken from the Emmaus Handbook written by Stephen Bryant.

	"Luke 24: 13-35.  This is the resurrection story and illustrates what happens for pilgrims on their walk.

	Our faith is reexplained through fifteen talks and discussions, addressing important aspects of God's grace and Christian discipleship.

	Grace is reexperienced through rich worship services, daily Holy Communion, the support of a caring Christian community, and other expressions of God's Love.

	Christian community is realized.  On the Walk, people live in Christian community for three days and have opportunities to share fun-filled moments as well as serious moments, small group discussions, common meals, singing, worship and communion.

	The Body of Christ is renewed.  After the Walk, discipleship is sustained through strong follow-up which is called Fourth Day.  This emphasis involves participation in church and in small support groups for encouragement, guidance, and accountability."

	As you all know, the purpose of Emmaus if the renewal of the Church.  The purpose of Emmaus is not fully realized during the three days of the Walk, but rather in the Fourth Day.  Those of us whose spiritual lives have been renewed and strengthened are called to share the grace we've received with our community and local churches.  We share this grace by participating in group reunions, Gatherings, sponsorship and support of Walks, and service on teams.

	Let us marvel at the wonders which have taken place within our community since we began this work for the Lord and His church.  Let us consider the worries our community may have and deal with them with love.

	Galatians 3:23 - 4:7 tells us:  "All of you are one in Christ Jesus."

	We have just celebrated the birth of our Lord.  Let is look to the New Year with hearts that love as much as Jesus did when He stretched His arms our on the cross and died for us.

	Let us consider what Emmaus has meant to us and how we will serve the Lord.

Upcoming Fredericksburg Walks

Fredericksburg Men's Walk #11 coming March 24-27 and Women's Walk # 12 coming May 19-22 are fast approaching; how will you serve?  Would you like to team for the women's walk or sponsor a pilgrim for either walk, if so, get those applications in NOW!  If it is not possible for you to do the above , can you help in any of these other ways:

	BE A CHA	Call Steve Seiden  659-8953
	Purposely Pray (Prayer Wheel)	Call Angel Fulkerson 490-6499
	Bake Goodies	Call Stacia Rice (804) 769-2368
	Make Agape Bags or Placemats	Call Diana Farrar 372-7537
	Donate Supplies	Call Pam Pinney 659-7369

The Next Fredericksburg Emmaus Gathering
	Where:	Woodbridge Christian Church 	Why:	Worship and Fellowship

	When:	6:00 PM, February 12, 1994
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:	Laurie Mitchell
	Fourth Day Speaker:	Kim Rice
	Child Care:	Garland Hanks
*Please bring light refreshments at this time.

Mark your calendars now for the March Gathering.
Date:  March, 12, 1994
Time:  6:00 PM
Place:  Woodbridge Christian Church

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!

	March 12, 1994	Woodbridge Christian
	 Child Care Provider	Earl and Betty Gray Thompson
	April 9, 1994	Hopewell UMC
	May 14, 1994	Hopewell UMC

Upcoming Weekends

 Dates

Weekend	Dates
F'burg Emmaus Men's 11	24-27 March 1994
F'burg Emmaus Women's 12	19-22 May 1994
F'burg Emmaus Men's 13	 3-6 November 1994
F'burg Emmaus Women's 14	8-11 December 1994

Next Newsletter deadline is February 18, 1994!

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
 
 Tuesday @10:00AM
 Brenda Sunderlin' Home
 Brenda Sunderlin
659-3975
 427 Telegraph Rd
Stafford, Va.
 
 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

Los Angeles Earthquake; below freezing tempatures: cholesterol levels; snow; deaths in Bosnia; sexual harassment; ice; rolling power outages; freezing water pipes; the Bobbit trail; white and black extremist in South Africa; AIDS; Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan; Michael Jackson . . . a child molester!; Walt Disney; traffic; congestion; Route 3; Spotsylvania tolls?; Christmas bills; Christmas bills; Christmas bills; local county budget discussions (fights); date rape; King George landfill; carjackings; embezzlement by state senator Russell; arson at Virginia Union University; jobs or lack thereof; mortgage and rent payments; car loans; domestic violence; alcohol; Arafat and Rabin; Dole and Clinton; national debt; taxes; Branch Davidian trail; new and improved everything (call now!); Ollie North and Chuck Robb; health care; the kid's soccer game; Fredericksburg homeless shelter; La Rouche out of jail ; welfare reform; abortion rulings; gun control; prayer in schools?; diet plans; NYPD Blue; the Bills and Cowboys (again!); and priests dismissed because of pedophilia.

The sad thing is that I could have kept going.  No wonder we're so confused.  No wonder we're in such pain.  No wonder everything around us seems to be falling about.

Part of the problem is that we worry too much about that which we have no control over, and are all but impotent when it comes to those things that we can affect.  For example, there is not much we can do to prevent an earthquake disaster like we had in California.  However, our lives are complicated enough without buying anything and everything .  Have you noticed that time saving devices use up time?!  Besides, do we really need the latest version of MS Dos?  Do we really need a new car?  Do the kids really need all 378 Sega Genesis games?  Do we really need a $200,000 home?  Do we buy clothing because its fashionable or useful and needed.  In the words of Richard Foster, "We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.  We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like. . .  Covetousness we call ambition.  Hoarding we call prudence.  Greed we call industry". (Celebration of Discipline, pp.80-81)

The preacher of the book of Ecclesiastes said: "God made man simple; man's complex problems are of his own devising" (7:9).  So while the problems above are far from simple, part of the solution lies in simplicity.

Shalom,

More on Sponsorship from our Registrar

You've invited someone on a walk, she/he give you (the sponsor) her/his application.  Then what?  When a sponsor receives a completely filled-out application, she/he needs to see that the sponsoree has included a check for $10.00 (refundable if sponsoree decides not to attend)  when submitting the application to the registrar.  This application fee is used to offset expenses incurred by mailings, etc.  Important:  if your sponsoree has accepted the invitation and finds that she/he cannot then attend, the sponsor is responsible for informing the registrar at the earliest possible date to afford the opportunity for another pilgrim to attend.
Sponsors also need to arrange for the payment of the expense of your pilgrim's weekend.  Please prayerfully consider your financial responsibility.  The cost for the Fredericksburg Emmaus weekend is $130.00.  No pilgrim should be denied a Walk to Emmaus because the sponsor cannot afford the cost; however, the sponsor is responsible to either make payment(s) or make arrangements for the payment to be made.  The Emmaus community understands the impact of sponsorship.  Please submit your need to God in prayer.  Many a sponsorship need has been met by Him through such trust.
When you turn in an application, DO NOT guarantee to your pilgrim that she/he will be on the next walk.  With the application in hand, the registrar calls and invites your pilgrim.

Hello and Hallelujah! Rejoice Evermore!

It's a new year!  We should rejoice as we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we share with others the love God has for us that is so good that He gave "Us" His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh dwelling among us. Amen! Rejoice!
	Have you, oh.. . . I'm sure you have, but still, I must ask. .. .  Have you accepted Jesus, this gift God's given you, the way to God our Father, the only way?  Is he your Savior, your Lord?  You see, I only ask so that we can further share.  The Bible is for the believer,  the saved. . .But first, we must believe that God gave us a way to Himself, a savior, which is Jesus Christ the Lord. . .. our Lord!  Do you ever wonder about tomorrow . . . are you really saved. . .. when we pray, does God really listen . . . Open up that instruction booklet of your and let's find out.  Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved".  Romans 10: 9-11, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness (right standing with God) and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (eternal life with Jesus).  For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed".  Try this one in 1 John 4:2, "Hereby know ye the spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. . . 
	You see, as we read, study and pray, God speaks to us and teaches us through His Holy Spirit whom Jesus left as our Comforter.  He teaches us eternal life salvation which is our choice each step of our lives.  We must learn who Jesus is so that we can allow Him to rise up big in us, reaching out to please the Father and drawing other into this place of refuge, this place of salvation only through Jesus.  We need to find out who He is and where He is directing us.  First, do you believe the Bible is the written word if God?  Do you believe it is the truth?  All of it?  If you are saying yes, turn with me to John 1: 1 ,"In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God".  This is the Bible which you believe, all of it . . . let's go on.. . . John 1: 14, "And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth".
Who is it?
Jesus
	Jesus is the Word made flesh, it is written and now that we have learned this, let us seek out and find out more about this Jesus who we want to reign more in our lives.  Amen!

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
Thank you God for 1993, a growing year and thanks for your Spirit to guide us in 1994
Praises for a new laborer for the harvest
Praise for His healing hands in our life & the good doctor's reports
Caterpillars & Team on National Capital Chrysalis #22
Congratulations to Sonny Thompson on his ordination

Prayers and Concerns
Daughter's reading disability
Fredericksburg Chrysalis #1 as leadership and team is being chosen
Many unspoken prayers and the thanks for answers to them
Paul Horsey's healing
For the Tolbert family unity and physical and spiritual health
Stepson (Vince Sanchez) recently become a father to Janell Alexandia-needs direction in his life & Jesus
My broken family on my mother and father's side
For direction in my life and in my challenge as I seek the "right" job -I ask for God's direction
Frances Ansell injured back
Tom Grigspy
David Grey
Vicki Pickett - recovery from illness
Carmen & Richard Barnfield (Diana Farrars Aunt & Uncle) - lost their only son
Crysta Fore and her finance in their wedding plans and arrangements
Jim and Winkie Fore in their recent move to their first house and in their preparation for their 1st child
Jeremy - who is continuing down the wrong road. Pray the Lord reaches his heart
Son's evaluation of ADHD/LD
Jacquie for strength and guidance
The unsaved, world-wide, and all those who labor to spread the Word that others may know Him as a Savior
Quick healing for Michelle Stevens ankle; thanks for all the prayers and love thru all this 
Son, Bob and family to return to church and strength for myself- Jill
Strength from the Lord for my  sister, Sandy, to quit smoking
Pray for the lost and those in darkness to search for the light
Sylvia Seiden - wisdom in making decisions regarding surgery and relief from nagging aches and pains

Our sympathy is extended to the family of Garry Epple; Fred. #9.  We shall keep you in our prayers.

ship and team is being chosen
Many unspoken prayers and the thanks for answers to them
Paul Horsey's healing
For the Tolbe
Emmaus Newsletter____Tony Forstall,_Tony Forstall,