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 | Upcoming Emmaus Events
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The 2012 DEC Walk Schedule is now available!
January 21st 2011
DEC January Gathering
Highland Park UMC
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Feb 16th - 19th Men's Walk 237 Mt. Lebanon
Mar 15th - 18th
Women's Walk 238
Sabine Creek
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and
Kairos of Texas
Inside & Outside
If you know any woman who would benefit from Kairos Outside, please contact KONT by email |
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Men's Walk #237 February 16th - 19th
Mt. Lebanon
Women's Walk #238
March 15th -18th
The Community is encouraged to attend the following events for all Walks:
Send-off which starts at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Candlelight begins at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Closing will start around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Please be careful not to arrive earlier than 7:15 p.m.
for the Candlelight services on Saturday.
The online Prayer Vigil supplements (but does not replace) the paper Prayer Vigil passed around at Candlelights and other DEC events for signature. Both Prayer Vigils are posted during Walks for Pilgrims to see who has been praying for them. Please follow the links above to sign both Walks' online Prayer Vigil.
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You are invited to the
DALLAS AREA JANUARY GATHERING Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Highland Park UMC 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas TX
[on the SMU Campus - corner of Hillcrest and Mockingbird Ln] 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM DON'T MISS THIS REALLY EXCITING ANNUAL EVENT!
This attached flier has all event and activity details, including:Meet & Greet Breakout Sessions Potluck Dinner Song & Worship Service SPECIAL & IMPORTANT UPDATE: The church with the largest percentage of its Emmaus Community members in attendance at the January Gathering will receive one free scholarship to any Weekend in 2012! |
Message from the Community Spiritual Director
What Time is It?
As I sit and write this article, it is about 10:00 a.m. on a rainy Monday morning. It is time to look at my to-do list
for the week, to catch up on emails, and to visit with some of the staff at my church. It is time (chronos time, that is) to get started on another week. But it is also time to look for the opportunities God will put before we today to bring warmth and sunshine to the people around me. Today is more than just 24 hours of chronos time to fill purposefully with God's work. Today is kairos time given as a gift that God might use you and me as hands, feet, and voices to make a difference in the life of someone (or even something) around us.
Take a look at the story of Esther today, a woman with the gift of time that truly made a difference in the Jewish community. Her cousin, Mordecai, speaks words of challenge when he encourages her to speak with the king about the plight of the Jewish people, but these are also words of confidence.
For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.
- Esther 4:14
When Esther wasn't sure she was up for the task ahead of her, Mordecai challenged her and reminded her that SHE was the one in the right place, at the right time, with the right opportunity to make a difference.
What time is it for you?
How would you fill-in-the-blank with your own situation?
Perhaps you have come to _______ for just such a time as this.
How will you make the most of the time you have been given today and in the year to come?
Rev. Stacey Piyakuhn
Assistant Community Spiritual Director
Walk #204
Table of Hannah
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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.
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Message from the Community Lay Director New Year Priorities
Ready or not, 2012 is here! Have you looked back on 2011? Were you happy with what you saw? If not, you CAN change some things. One of the greatest powers we have is the freedom to set our own priorities. I believe one of the most difficult things for us to do is to maintain balance in our lives. Why is it that some people do it and others don't? Why do some people truly achieve balance and happiness? The tragedy is that many people let life control them instead of realizing they can control life to a degree. Sure, it's a balancing act. There will always be obstacles and challenges to overcome. But without our priorities in order we will be like a boat without a rudder. We will be drifting aimlessly, tossed by the waves created by others around us and we end up being the driftwood in life rather than steering our own course.
Matthew 6:21 says, "The place where your treasure is, is the place you most want to be, and end up being." (The Message)
 Think about your priorities. Are they leading you where God wants you to go? If so, great! If not, start today to change them. Write them down, and develop a plan of action to achieve them. Review them each week.
Living life is a continual reevaluation of our priorities.
Do this with a positive and expectant attitude. This is
the beginning of a New Year containing 366 new days you have been given to use. You can waste it---or use it for some good purpose. But what you do with this day
is important---because you have exchanged a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. I hope you will not regret the price you paid for it.
I wish you a wonderfully balanced and spirit filled year.
DeColores,
Anna Clemons
Community Lay Director
Walk #96
Table of Ruth
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Message from the Community Communications Chair
The General Population
As a Christmas gift I received the book To Be a Runner by Martin Dugard, a collection of short essays about running, coaching and endurance sports in general. I have read a few other works by Dugard, a well known and respected author who specializes in reporting and writing about endurance sports of all sorts, the more extreme the better. There was an element in this work I had not noticed before, one of a spiritual nature. In several of the essays, Dugard mentioned a scriptural passage to help make his point and referenced the Apostle Paul at least twice. On balance, he also cites such authorities as Kevin Costner, Branch Rickey, George Carlin, Monty Python and Lance Armstrong.
The book made me think of my undistinguished, plodding "career" as a runner. For a number of years I ran fairly regularly and competed in 5K's, 10K's and even three marathons (1984, 1985 and 1994), always finishing in the group that made the top half possible. It became popular for runners in those days to evaluate their speed or level of fitness relative to the "general population." Speaking frankly and with the benefit of hindsight, it was not a kind-hearted comparison. Whether I ran a 5 minute per mile or a 10 minute pace, I was better than "them," the other people in the world who did not run - I was fitter and therefore better.
I long ago gave up New Years Resolutions, choosing not to set myself up for failure, being so poor at follow-through on them. For 2012, I do have some thoughts I will attempt to actualize and hope for the best. First, if I choose to compare myself as a believer and Christian, I will be cautious when I refer to the "general population" of unbelievers in the secular world, never looking down on them and always keeping in mind that they, like I, are children of God and ask myself who am I to judge them?
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
- Matthew 7:1-2
Like you and like me, the "great unwashed" have already been washed in His blood, they just don't realize it yet. I will do my best to avoid the arrogance and pride that comes from comparisons. And lastly, when I do meet the "general population" in the form of unbelievers or unpracticing believers, I will see that as an opportunity to witness through prayer and the power of example. St. Francis of Assisi noted that our way of life, not our words, is the most powerful expression we can offer of our faith: "Preach a great sermon and, if necessary, use words."
De Colores and Happy New Year,
Chuck Rohre
Community Communications Chair
Walk #186
Table of Paul
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 You can easily donate money to the Dallas Emmaus Community at any time by clicking here. PayPal is a secured donations system which directly deposits all funds into the Dallas Emmaus Community account. This is a great way to make payment for a pilgrim you are sponsoring or to keep the cost affordable for others who may not otherwise have means to sponsor a friend or loved one. |
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Help Wanted
 Working on a Fourth Day Team is a rewarding way to participate in the Emmaus weekend as as the hands and feet of Christ, and the easiest way to stay connected with the Community. To sign up, email the 4th Day Director for the walk you want to serve on. |
DEC is on FB
Next time you are on Facebook, search the Dallas Emmaus Community, then select the "Like" button to be updated on the latest news and events including Candlelights, potlucks, prayer requests and more. "Share" or "Suggest" the page to your friends so they can stay easily connected to the Dallas Emmaus Community too. As of November 1st 2011 there are 421 likes!
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: You do not have to be on Facebook to see what's going on... click here to see what's it is all about. Email Melinda O'Brien with any questions. 
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Looking for an opportunity to serve in a powerful ministry? Visit Kairos of Texas online to find out about the units and areas of ministiries near you.
Kairos is a prison ministry whose success is dependent on the community of faith support in providing agape such as prayer chain signatures, cookies, and financial donations. If you are interested in knowing more about how you can participate, or to find out how to attend a Kairos closing, email the editors for information.
"... whatever you did for the least of my brothers, you did for me."
~ Matthew 24:40
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Contact Information
214-502-4072
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