Matthew 1:23 says,   "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

As I walked through the store on Monday listening to the music over the air way, I heard a song that said this is the "most wonderful time of the year"! While I knew the song was referring to family and friends and food and gifts and celebrations, in my mind I thought, yes that is true, this is the "most wonderful time of year" because this is the season that we celebrate Advent, the Coming of Jesus Christ.

Thus, the good news of "this wonderful time of year" is the fact that Jesus, the one announced as "Emmanuel God with us," has chosen to come not only to reign over us, but to also live with us in our hearts, and to become active in our everyday lives so that our feelings and needs can be reached and touched by God. And, the great news of "this wonderful time of year" is the fact that Emmanuel, is not somewhere a million miles away sitting on a throne, but because He is "God with us," He is as close to us as the air we breathe." And, the glorious news of this "wonderful time of year" is that Jesus is not only the Son of God, but He is also the Son of man. And because of His birth, death and resurrection, no matter what we may be experiencing here on earth, we can be confident that God as Jesus Christ, has walked where we walk, went through what we are going through, and has won for us victory over the trials of this life that we seek to become victorious over. And, because He has been through it before us, God the Holy Spirit is here with us right now, and is ready to walk with us and lead us in our daily endeavors.

TECHNICALLY INCLINED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Dallas Emmaus Community needs a group of technically inclined women and men to serve the Community on a relatively short-term and in some cases, long-term basis.  

For the short term, we need volunteers to assist in designing how we want our community database to function and to automate as many functions as possible, to include on-line registration, tuition payments and report generation capacity such as Walk lists, 4th day lists, etc. Individuals with knowledge of and practical experience with database administration software and their applications are particularly sought. The effort will also include the examination of utilization of a vendor and/or purchase of new software. This commitment will last 3 to 6 months, depending upon the frequency of meetings and needed follow-up.  

A volunteer or volunteers are also needed to serve for the long term as the Community Database Administrator. Terry Hershberger, who has served us admirably in this role for many years, is stepping down as soon as his replacement is identified and trained. Many thanks to Terry for his work to revitalize the database and keep it up to date. This individual or individuals should be well versed in computer technology and database administration, have a flexible schedule, attention to detail and be self motivated.  

If you have an interest in either role (or both) please e-mail Chuck Rohre (communications@dallasemmaus.org), Community Communications Chair, or Anna Clemons (laydirector@dallasemmaus.org), Community Lay Director, to indicate your interest. Contact Chuck on his mobile phone 972.839.0884 for questions.

Tie the Apron On 

I first heard of the Walk to Emmaus when my husband received a letter from someone he served with in the Boy Scouts. If you have ever sponsored someone, you are familiar with these letters! It was a year later that I got to take my walk, in November of 2004, at Lake Lavon.

It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by the Love of Christ that was so apparent through the people, the talks, and all the agape gifts. I do not think I had ever heard the name of Christ spoken so frequently. As the weekend went on, I experienced the reality of His presence and His love in ever increasing ways.

The 4th Day Team involves Emmaus Community members in anonymous positions of servanthood, which model Christ's posture and practice of humble servanthood.    

 
Read the following verses from John 13:3-5 and12-15 in the New Living Translation:

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

As a 4th day Team Member, we can model quiet, invisible servanthood. Being part of a 4th day team gives us the opportunity to "pay it forward." Being involved in the Walk as a 4th Day Team member gives us the opportunity to get to know new people. This is a great way to meet some of the new pilgrims from recent walks.

Continued service on 4th Day Teams is a requirement for service on inside teams.

Let me encourage you to serve at least once a year on a 4th Day Team. It is a wonderful way to continue to tie the apron on and serve up some agape.

DeColores,

Kathie Johnson 

4th Day Chair  

Table of Elizabeth 

A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Anna Clemons

Community Lay Director

Walk #96

Table of Ruth