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 | Upcoming Emmaus Events
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February 21st - 24th
Men's Walk 244
Mt. Lebanon
March 7th - 10th
Women's Walk 245
Sabine Creek
June 20th - 23rd
Women's Walk 246
Camp Copass |
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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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February 21st - 24th
Women's Walk #245 March 7th - 10th
The Community is encouraged to attend the following events:
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.
As you begin to contemplate what the New Year will bring,
please prayerfully consider if you are being called to sponsor
a friend or member of your congregation.
"The aim of sponsorship is to build up the body of Christ."
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The Dallas Emmaus Community is sponsoring Upper Room Training on Friday, March 1, 2013 (Clergy only) from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. Then on Saturday, March 2, 2013 training for the entire community will be held from 9:00am to 3:00pm. This will all take place at First United Methodist Church, Richardson in rooms 225, 227, and 230 in the Education Bldg., West End. Please RSVP to Kerry Goad at
KM_Goad@yahoo.com if you plan to attend any of these events or if you have any questions by February 15, 2013. |
2013 Dallas Emmaus Community Board Elections
This is the time of year when the Community elects new members to its Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of 12 men and women elected for three-year terms who serve in a variety of roles to assist in the work and faith life of our Community. The election period runs through March 31. Newly elected Board members begin their terms June 1st and Board members completing their term roll off then. Each year four women and four men run for election and the voters, by majority vote, elect two new Board members of each gender.
The candidates are:
Women: Laurie Bubel, Robin Corser, Deborah Dennis and Suzie Purifoy
Men: Dennis Fuller, Jim German, Mike Pappas and O'Keefe Scallan.
Board members completing their terms are:
Women: Anna Clemons and Pat Downing
Men: Tim Bubel and Kelly Wade
There will be ballots available at Gatherings and Candlelight's though March or you can vote electronically at www.DallasEmmaus.org
Please be sure to vote and just as important, give a big "Thank You" to these servants who said "Yes" to the Community's call. |
Message from the Community Communications Chair
It Is Well With My Soul!
 This song was written by a Christian who faced terrible sorrow. (He lost his whole family) While sitting and thinking about what's happened to him, and being a spiritual person, he wrote a song -"Whatever my Lord, you have taught me to say... It is well; it is well with my soul."
Do you ever feel the weight of the world on your shoulders? Have a bad day? Feel alone and tired? I have days like that. I try to remember to thank God for the following:
I am thankful I had a good night's sleep.
I am thankful I am alive with possibilities.
I am thankful I have a job.
I am thankful I have family and friends who love and care about me.
And mostly, I am thankful that I have the Lord Jesus Christ on my side.
"Little is much when God is in it. It is Well with My Soul!"
Attending or working a Walk to Emmaus event - it is well with my soul! I always am renewed and refreshed with God's loving ways. Please consider sponsoring a Pilgrim in 2013 or working on a Fourth day team this year. It will be well with your Soul!
De Colores,
Ruth Dunn
Communication Chair
Walk #178
Table of Elizabeth |
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A Message from the Board
God Blessed the Broken Road
Early last year, my daughter embarked upon Route 66 and made her way to what's called the City of Angels. At night, you gaze out over the city's skyline and see that bright lights are part of what makes California sunny even in the darkness.
Recently, she called home to relay the events of a NEON party. She found a very creative way to incorporate neon into her costume. Ahem. Such energy and resources to make sure she was 'shining bright' for the party.
Neon signs compete with many other forms of advertising in our high tech world, but that warm neon glow still attracts our attention. I'll bet you can recall (fondly, of course) a few of them yourself.
Oh, that we as children of God would be as concerned about glowing warm and bright for the glory of God in heaven, serving as an advertisement of Christ's witness or perhaps a well-lit guidepost.
For myself, the Walk to Emmaus was the result of someone leading me off my broken road, guiding me back to the path I was meant to travel. I am blessed and eternally thankful.
Today, my most trusted travel companions are my amazing reunion sisters. Their sweet, compassionate hearts glow with an "Open" sign. If you are active in a reunion accountability group, you may have grown to cherish the Christian love and concern within your group. I know the names of those that are jumping up and down right now saying "Amen to that!"
Or, you may still be seeking the right group. And so, it breaks my heart when I get an email or phone call from someone looking for a reunion group, and there are little or no options available.
If your group is glowing "Open" to other travel companions, please update your group's information on the Dallas Emmaus website Click Here. One can feel deserted having to traveling alone. Energize and encourage others by sharing Christ's love through a reunion group.
If you are seeking a group, we will have details soon about new special 'get acquainted' events in the community! Those with the gift of organizing social events who would like to volunteer their talents should contact us at:
ChurchConnection@DallasEmmaus.org
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
Lyrics by Marcus Hummon and Jeff Hanna
De Colores,
Patricia Downing
Community Church Connection/Clergy Chair
Walk #155
Table of Esther |
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A Message from the Community Lay Director
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way. . . .:"
[Excerpt from the preface, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens]
With apologies to Charles Dickens, it was the best of van rides and the worst of van rides....
In my recent business travels, I have had two opportunities to take a shuttle ride ("The Big Blue Van") from the downtown of a major city to the airport and vice versa. The first was in Orlando and the second, more recent, was in Los Angeles. The first experience was memorable for a calm, smooth, unhurried ride, the pleasant driver and the fact that I was the only passenger. The driver picked me up at exactly the appointed time, was courteous and friendly, and drove carefully but efficiently to the airport. The second experience could not have been more different. The driver crammed my bag into an already overflowing luggage compartment, I had to cram myself into the rearmost seat that was already had two relatively large passengers, and he zoomed off before I got fully seated. The passenger next to me talked continually all the way downtown on his cell phone in a loud and angry tone. There was a man on the van who was late to pick up his son from day care and unpleasantly chastised the driver for every stop and perceived detour. When I got there, he refused to accept a credit card even though Master Card and Visa logos were all over the place, claiming the system was down. All in all, an unpleasant and annoying ride.
They both served the purpose - they got me there from point A to point B fairly efficiency and for much less cost than a cab ride. And, both van rides cost about the same amount of money. Obviously for me, one was a better experience than the other. Part of the Upper Room model is that we conduct Emmaus Walks in such a way that the Pilgrim gets a similar and meaningful experience whether the Walk is in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas or Bangkok. Beneath the surface similarities, what kind of experiences are our Pilgrims getting? Do we have fully committed and engaged Clergy on every Walk? Is the Lay leadership organized and motivated? Is the conference room team adequately experienced and able to put aside any personal issues that might adversely affect the Pilgrims? Is the Fourth Day team adequately staffed and trained to provide the support needed? Is the Board Representative providing quality assurance to maintain the Upper Room model? Is the Community involved, through sponsorship and attendance at Candlelight and Closing, regardless of weather and other events?
I sincerely believe that most of our Pilgrims receive the "ride" I described in the first case, pleasant and rejuvenating. If we are not vigilant, however, through lack of involvement, lack of sponsorship or Community "burnout," the danger lurks of my second experience. Both vans looked alike, both were the same color, make of vehicle, had the same number of seats, etc. One, however, was a better experience and the second was nothing I ever want to repeat. Will you join me in working as diligently as we can to ensure all our Pilgrims have an energizing, enlightening and faith-building experience? If they don't, they will tell their friends to "not bother" with Emmaus. The future of the Dallas Emmaus Community and Emmaus worldwide is in the hands and feet of the Pilgrims as they continue their Fourth Day. Let's give them a van ride they will rave about to family and friends.
De Colores,
Chuck Rohre
Community Lay Director
Walk #186
Table of Paul |
 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 2012 there are 489 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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