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Dallas Men's #259
9/24-27, 2015
Sabine Creek
Dallas Women's #260
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If you know any woman who would benefit from Kairos Outside, and visit the Guest tab for the reservation form. |
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UPCOMING WALKS
Dallas #259 Men
9/24-27, 2015
Sabine Creek
Dallas #260 Women
11/5-8, 2015
Mt. Lebanon
Pilgrims spots are available on both Walks - sign up today!
Click here to view Walk Rosters
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. if just attending 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.
The Prayer Vigils are now available online for the 2015 Walks. Please click go to the Walk Roster and click on the Prayer Vigil to add your name and pray for the Pilgrims!
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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Now is the time to share the love that you experienced on your Pilgrim Walk with one of your Brothers or Sisters in Christ! There are still many slots available for Pilgrims on the upcoming Men's Walk at Sabine Creek on September 24th-27th and the upcoming Women's Walk at Mt. Lebanon on November 5th-8th.
Sponsor a Pilgrim and encourage others to sponsor a Pilgrim on one of these Walks, and give your friends the opportunity, through an Emmaus Walk, to feel the awesome power of God's abundant grace and love! Applications can be downloaded by clicking here.
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 Greetings Emmaus Brothers and Sisters, I had the privilege to experience Emmaus on Walk #258. I had heard the experience lives within you always and now I understand why. I had wanted to go on a Walk for almost 20 years now and was thrilled when the opportunity was proposed at a staff meeting. My position in the church as Christian Education and Children's Ministry Director is one that requires long hours and a great deal of patience. As the day drew near to leave "the world" behind, I began to panic a little. I had so much left to do and not enough time to complete everything I felt I needed to do. I came to Camp Copass, exhausted, frustrated, and doubting why I should be allowed this experience. I realized that first night I had brought baggage with me I didn't need to have. I had forgotten in all the busyness of my job, that Christ stands beside me, and will carry what I think are my burdens. The burdens of my job were nothing. On Saturday, I was cleansed of some baggage I had not realize I had been harboring. Forgiving is perhaps the single hardest thing for humans. If you cannot forgive, you cannot heal inside. I know that I had long ago forgiven and prayed for someone who continues to harbor ill will against me. What I did not realize was that each time I encountered her, the sadness in her affected me. It was in one on one prayer that night that I finally felt relief. As we prayed together for her I felt a release inside, peacefulness like no other. I still pray for her, but I no longer carry her burden of being unforgiving. My 72 hours apart from the world reshaped me into a new Disciple. My eyes are opened wider, with a greater understanding of Christ's touch on my life, and the path I am called to follow. Both are now crystal clear. Grace and Peace, Greta Cuellar Walk #258, Table of Elizabeth |
Message from the Community Spiritual Director
Where Do Pets Come From?
A while ago the following showed up in my email box from a friend who teaches Textual Criticism (the science/art of the preservation and interpretation of Old and New Testament Biblical Manuscripts). I found the content intriguing. What do you think?
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It is reported that the following part of the Biblical Book of Genesis was discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. If authentic, it would shed light on the question, "Where do pets come from?"
And Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me everyday. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with  you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will know that I love you, even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish and childish and unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, even in spite of yourself."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "But Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and all the good names are taken and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to God and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but no one has yet taught him humility."
And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for Adam a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. This companion will remind Adam of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration."
 And God created CAT to be another companion to Adam; she would not obey Adam, but would sit and twitch her tail and look with disdain upon Dog and upon Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cats eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being; from this Adam learned humility, and it was good.
And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved, though Dog was greatly frustrated.
And Cat, for her own part, just sat there, licking her paws, washing her face, and not caring one way or the other.
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Hmmmmmm ... I don't know about you, but having owned dogs, and having been owned by cats, this story sounds like it might just be original!
De Colores!
Dr. Greg Neal
Dallas Walk #97
Table of Luke
Community Spiritual Director
Senior Pastor
First United Methodist Church of Commerce, Texas
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Message from the Community Lay Director
Candlelight Memories
We had just finished poster party on Saturday night, and we were  all having a good time singing and dancing to whatever the musicians were playing at the time. The ALDs somehow managed to get us lined up by Table with our Table Leaders and Assistant Table Leaders, then led us outside. We were all still laughing and singing away. We headed across the parking lot at Lake Lavon to the building where sendoff had been Thursday night when we saw all of these lights and heard other people singing. As we got closer, we stopped singing to hear what they were singing - the Jesus, Jesus song. I was in awe! All of these people serenading us with candlelight. We walked through the crowd hand in hand, tears streaming down our faces, trying to pick up this new song as we walked in to the building with yet more people. WOW! Who are all these people? Why are they here? So many questions going through my mind. We went to the front of the room to line up as the people filed back to their seats. Then the Spiritual Director tells us what's going on. All these people had come out just for that moment...to share the love of Christ with each of us. They had shared communion and prayed for each of us by name as we were having our poster party. WOW! She asked us to sing the Jesus, Jesus song back to the community to show our appreciation, then everyone in the room stood and joined in and started to file past us, sharing a smile that showed Christ's love for us. Again, WOW!
I couldn't get over the number of people who showed up for that Candlelight that night. I couldn't tell you the number, but the room was filled with people. I have learned since how big that room at Lake Lavon is and how many people it took to fill it. Over the last few years attendance at Candlelight has not been what it was when I went on my Walk. Sure, the Pilgrims don't know if there should be 5 people there or 500 hundred but wouldn't it be great
to give them that special experience to know that all of these people came just for that moment to show them the love of Christ. To know that all of these people are praying for them by name. We have two remaining opportunities to attend Candlelight this year:
Men's Walk #259, September 26th at Sabine Creek Ranch
Women's Walk #260, November 7th at Mt. Lebanon
Candlelight starts at 8pm with fellowship and community worship. The Pilgrims generally come through about 10pm.
Please consider coming out to share the love of Christ with the pilgrims at Candlelight.
De Colores!
Suzie Purifoy
Community Lay Director
Walk 175, Table of Esther
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Message from the Board
Spiritual Thirst
Poor August. Every month of the year has a special something to celebrate but what does August have? January starts the year off with a bang as we ring in a New Year, and then celebrates again with the MLK holiday. February is lucky enough to have two special
days - President's Day and Valentine's Day. Spread that love around! March claims the beginning of spring and frequently shares the Easter spotlight with April. In May, we celebrate our Mothers, and in June our Fathers. And don't forget July - with fireworks,
picnics, and patriotic music. September begins with Labor Day and the end of October spooks us all with Halloween. In November, we eat ourselves silly with good food and spend happy times around the Thanksgiving table. December ends the year with the
biggest holiday of them all - Christmas!
 So again, what does August get? Heat! If you're like me, by the time August rolls around, you want to stay in either the air conditioning or a swimming pool somewhere. I find myself too often in slug status, not being productive and wishing the month away.
It's certainly a dry month, no rain, no excitement, just heat, heat and more heat. How exactly does that connect in any way to the Walk to Emmaus? Well, I don't know about you, but I've had times in my life that were pretty dry, spiritually speaking. In fact, that's one of the main reasons I went on the Walk to Emmaus. Before I went on my Walk, my spiritual life was certainly in need of a lift. I wasn't being very disciplined about piety, study, or action. I was in a holding pattern, just waiting for something, kind of like how I feel every August as I wait for the weather to cool off.
As you take a good look around, I pray that God will show you someone who needs to attend the Walk to Emmaus. We have a great need to fill up our Emmaus Walks, not just so our Emmaus community will be healthy and well functioning, although that's also true. No, we need to fill up our Walks because there are many, many people out there in spiritually dry places in their lives. They need to come to the pool of refreshing Holy Spirit water and be spiritually inspired. They need to be reminded about piety, study and action and get moving again. Come to think of it, we all need that.
Pray that God will direct you to someone you can sponsor for an upcoming Emmaus Walk and give them a heat busting, dry spell breaking weekend. There's room available right now on both the upcoming Men's Walk in September and the Women's Walk in
November.
De Colores!
Melinda Propes
Walk #133, Table of Rachel
Community Communications Chair
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T-Shirts!
Available for sale at Dallas Emmaus Community Gatherings
and Candlelights
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Successful Sponsorship
Are you interested in sponsoring a Pilgrim on an upcoming Walk? Be sure to check out the "Successful Sponsorship" video that was recently posted on YouTube. Whether you are a first-time sponsor or a seasoned veteran, you're sure to pick up some great tips to help your Pilgrims have the best sponsorship experience possible. To view the video, click here
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4th Day Help Needed!
 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, view the Walk Schedule to get in touch with 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 Dec. 2014 there are 588 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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 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. |
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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