Help Needed: Bloodmobile at St Augustine's tonight

I received the message below from the church softball league commissioner. Let's see if we can get some Signal Crest folks to help them out with their blood drive tonight!

Frank Zahrobsky

I know this is a late note but Tina Harr, our catcher John Harr's wife, is very ill and has needed blood for many years. Her need for blood has increased so much that we will have the Bloodmobile at St Augustine's this afternoon from 3 to 8 PM. Please consider giving a pint for John and Tina.

SCUMC Softball Team Plays Tonight!

Sigcrstholeysox

The Signal Crest HOLeY SOX (40+ Men’s Softball team) is making a run in the playoffs!  


They play tonight at 6:45p vs. Signal Mountain Baptist for sole ownership of 2nd place.  


Should our guys win, they take on Signal Mountain Presbyterian to begin championship play at 8:00p.  


Come one, come all to cheer on your old guys and their ringer, Rev. Mark Gooden!


The games are played at Driver Field behind the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club.  Admission is Free!

"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 12-AUG-2011

In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we’ve been sending two or three Frequently Asked Questions about the program each day this week.  Today’s email is the last in the series.

Today’s Topics:  Who from Signal Crest has attended a Walk before?  What do they say about the experience? How Can I go on a "Walk to Emmaus?"  

Who Else From Signal Crest Has Attended a Walk Before?

The following members of Signal Crest have all attended a Walk to Emmaus (or a Chrysalis flight):

Women

Annette Flynn  

886-2330

aflynn@signalcrestumc.org

Linda Norwood

886-7612

norw8884@bellsouth.net

Nancy Krebs

870-2911

krebsnancy@aol.com

Kathy Robertson

886-6106

kjrdc@etenn.com

Kristin Robertson

886-6697

krobertson@signalcrestumc.org

Kim Harpe Stinnett

827-7143

kimmielou@comcast.net

Connie Miller

886-9200

cmiller@signalcrestumc.org

Megan Eades

517-0328

meganeades@yahoo.com

Kendall Brown

718.5301

kendall12@comcast.net

Ann Huckaba

 

annahuckaba@gmail.com

 

Men

Bill Thornton

886-7654

bill_thornton@cable.comcast.net

Larry Davis

886-6007

ldavis-family@comcast.net

Stuart Vaughn

304-9574

Stuart.Vaughn@raymondjames.com

Brian Eades

517-0328

breades71@yahoo.com

Tom Sheets

886-0082

rtsheets@yahoo.com

Vance Grant

475-5204

vance.grant@propexus.com

Dick Gee

886-2527

john_gee06@comcast.net

Shelley Brown

 

shelley_brown@VSHPTN.com

Jason Luna

314-7713

jason@thelunas.com

What Do These Folks Say About The Experience?

“My experience was one I will carry for the rest of my life………the three day walk to Emmaus truly was akin to a three day walk with the Holy Spirit.”
—  Bill Thornton

“The walk to Emmaus is an opportunity to see God's love in action.  This singularly significant event makes sense of the statement, "a new creation".  Though one may have a pre-conceived notion of what a "spiritual renewal" retreat means, Emmaus is indescribably more and beyond any expectation.  This is an opportunity to let God show you in real ways just how much He loves you, how uniquely He has designed you, and just how much He has in store for you if you relinquish your will to His.”
—  Kathy Robertson

“For the first time I felt TRULY forgiven for all the things I had done to break God's heart.  It was freedom . . .”
—  Kim Harpe Stinnett

“There are but a handful of experiences that take a patchwork of information collected over a lifetime and weave a quilt of understanding in so short a period of time.  In what amounts to a long weekend you have the opportunity to participate in a love story as a main character as opposed to a casual observer. It will change your life if you let it.”
—  Stuart Vaughn

“Walk to Emmaus is one of my most positive and profound personal and spiritual experiences. Life changing. Say "YES" to God and Emmaus!” 
—  Nancy Krebs

“The walk is a literal and philosophical stepping out of your understanding, and onto a faith-supported bridge to another place.  The other place is as different spiritually and perspective-wise, as you let it be.  Deciding to take the walk is literally the first step on the journey.”
—  Tom Sheets

“[A Walk to Emmaus] brings together everything you have learned all of your life about Christianity. It is an intensely personal experience that focuses on God as a forgiving God who is full of grace, rather than a God who looks on us with shame, as is sadly very prevalent in our society.  I would highly recommend it to anyone.”
—  Brian Eades

“Here's what I would say about my Emmaus experience: It was a place where I could truly 'retreat'.  As the spouse of a busy pastor and the mother of two young children, it was heavenly to have someone else take care of me.  I was loved, fed physically and spiritually.  It was a time away where God could have some time with me without having to compete with all the business that otherwise occupied my life. I was scared to be that open to God (which is normal, I've come to understand).  But God is all about the LOVE not the fear.  What I experienced was that God just wanted to love me- and if I would quiet down and slow down God could renew me.  I learned that God really just wants me to rest in him, and that by doing so, God can just love me with that mysterious and holy love that gives me calm and peace and deep breathing that nothing else can give.”
—  Rev. Annette Flynn

So How Can I Go on a “Walk to Emmaus?”

You can go by contacting anyone in the list above who has been to Emmaus.  This person will help you decide whether you would find this experience helpful, and they can help you with the application process.

Do prayerfully consider attending a walk.  The upcoming Men’s Walk (September 22nd through 25th) still has a handful of slots available, but they are filling up.

I hope these Frequently Asked Questions have helped you understand more about the “Walk to Emmaus” weekend retreat and the Chattanooga/LaFayette Emmaus Community.  But these are only some of the questions people have.  If you have other questions, please contact anyone listed above.

DeColores!  

"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 11-AUG-2011

In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we will be sending two or three Frequently Asked Questions about the program each day this week.

Today’s Topics:  When will upcoming Walks take place? Where are they held? What is Chrysalis and Crossroads? What’s the deal with the "DeColores" bumper stickers?

 

When will upcoming Walks take place?

 

 

September 8-11, 2011 

Boys Chrysalis/Crossroads (High School Youth and College)

September 22-25, 2011 

Men's Walk

October 20-23, 2011 

Women's Walk #56

November 3-6, 2011 

Girls Chrysalis /Crossroads (High School Youth and College) 

 

Where are they held?

All Walks in the Chattanooga/LaFayette Community are held at Camp Lookout in Lookout Mountain, GA.  The beauty of the natural setting combined with all of the buildings onsite (chapel, cabins, large conference room) make it an ideal place for an Emmaus Walk.

 

What is Chrysalis and Crossroads?

Chrysalis is the name given to the version of “Walk to Emmaus” designed for high school youth, and Crossroads is the name given to the weekend for college-aged adults.

A person can only go through one of these spiritual renewal weekends once in his or her life.   So if a person goes on a Chrysalis “flight” as a high school student, he or she will become a full part of the Emmaus community and will never be invited to be a pilgrim on a “Walk to Emmaus” when he or she is older.

 

What’s the deal with the "DeColores" bumper stickers and the rainbow colors?

The expression, "DeColores," used by those who have attended a Walk, is rather by coincidence, because of a song titled "De Colores!" which was very popular at the time of the first Cursillo on the island of Majorca (a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea where spring is a real enchantment of colors).   That song expresses the joy of living and exalts the beauties of creation.  It was readily adopted by the first Cursillistas as a reflection of their inner feelings.  Its popularity carried over from one Cursillo to another and it ended up eventually becoming the them song of Emmaus, even though it was never officially recognized as such.

A “DeColores” bumper sticker indicates that the driver has attended a Walk.  DeColores means “Of Colors” in Spanish, hence the rainbow colors associated with Emmaus.

 

Bonus Question: Were I to attend a Walk, would I be pressured into doing a bunch of volunteer work or committee meetings afterwards?

Not at all.  People who attend a Walk are encouraged to join a reunion group, if they like.   They are also welcome to help with future walks, but there are no mandatory meetings or fund-raisers or anything that will demand your time.  The 72-hour Walk, as hard as it may be to believe, is a gift intended to enhance a person’s relationship with God.   Those who volunteer with Emmaus or sponsor another person for a Walk do so completely voluntarily and as a gesture of Christian “Agape” love.

 

Tomorrow’s topics: Who else from Signal Crest has attended a Walk before?  What do they say about the experience? How Can I go on a "Walk to Emmaus?"  

"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 10-AUG-2011

In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we will be sending you two or three Frequently Asked Questions about the program each day this week.

Today’s topic: Why are there Separate Events for Men and Women, and What Should I know Before Attending a Walk to Emmaus?


Why Have Separate Events for Men and Women?

Having separate events for men and for women is another feature that distinguishes Emmaus from other church retreat experiences. Although seemingly unusual, this   approach proves to be one of the strengths of the program for many participants— both single and married.  Emmaus encourages equal commitment to attend a Walk on the part of both persons within a marriage relationship. In this way, their common experience deepens their oneness in Christ. After the three-day experience, men and women participate together in all Emmaus-related activities, though many prefer separate group reunions as well.

Marriage enrichment is not the aim of the Emmaus Walk. Emmaus's structure focuses on the individual's spiritual life, so separate events keep the focus on the person.

Separate events grant married persons individual time apart to explore their relationship with God. Married persons can give themselves to the three days without worrying about how their spouses are faring. Separate events also free some spouses from limiting patterns of behavior in their marriages that would normally inhibit them from speaking openly about some aspects of their lives or about spiritual matters in the presence of each other. For example, in ordinary settings, spouses sometimes have a way of speaking for each other.  In The Walk to Emmaus, all persons think and speak for themselves. Persons have the space to revisit their own relationship with God and to express themselves.

Separate men's and women's events also offer single persons and married men and women freedom for expression and sharing that some do not feel in the company of the opposite sex. Separate events relieve single persons of the discomfort of being the "unmarried" ones in the midst of many married couples. This arrangement gives men an opportunity to express natural emotion—something that many are reluctant to do in our culture, especially in the presence of women. Separate events give women the same freedom, especially those whose identities, outlook, or creativity have been defined by the men in their lives.

One noteworthy benefit of separate weekends is the way men make significant spiritual connections with other men, and women with other women. For example, men get beyond the typical male exchange about work, weather, and sports to open to one another about their relationships with God and the quality of their lives. In a day when many men have vanished from churches, Emmaus is reenlisting them effectively into the ranks of congregations. Through Emmaus, they hear anew Christ's call to commitment within their roles as husbands, fathers, workers, church members, and leaders. They make friends who hold them mutually accountable and keep them focused on their priorities.

What Should I Know Before Attending a Walk?

Emmaus is for church persons. Emmaus is designed for active church members and their leaders who want to rekindle their faith or renew their vision. Emmaus also benefits less active church members who are seeking to renew a relationship with God, to grow spiritually, or to discover firmer foundations for their lives.  However, Emmaus is not an evangelistic outreach to non-Christians. The content of the Walk assumes a certain familiarity with the basics of the Christian faith and tries to build on each person's positive relationship with the church.

Emmaus is for people who want to grow spiritually, who hunger for the bread of life.  Emmaus is for persons who simply want to understand the Christian faith more fully and to mature as disciples of Jesus Christ.  Emmaus is for persons who want to build up the church in love and contribute to its ministry. 

The Emmaus Walk is mainstream in theological outlook. Emmaus has room for a great variety of Christians who seek to grow, share, and give themselves to a three-day walk with Christ. Emmaus is a common meeting ground for the great diversity of Christians in our churches who celebrate their unity in Christ and feel they can learn from one another, be they traditionalists, evangelicals, liberals, conservatives, activists, or charismatics. Emmaus is for those who seek to follow Christ without regard to labels and camps.

Emmaus is for building faith and discipleship, not for working through grief or psychological problems. Emmaus teams are not trained for counseling or group therapy. If you are preoccupied with working through personal dilemmas, consider waiting to go through Emmaus when you feel freer to focus on the message of the Walk.

Emmaus is for fostering unity in Christ, not for theological debate and arguments about denominations. Emmaus tries to foster appreciation and openness to the different faith-perspectives of the participants. Bring a spirit of Christian tolerance and charity toward others, including members of other denominations. If you cannot affirm your unity with other kinds of Christians, if you tend to define Christianity narrowly and legalistically or are intolerant of those who see things differently, then Emmaus is probably not for you.

Emmaus is a concentrated three-day course in Christianity, not a relaxing retreat. Don't bring work from the office or have hopes of tak­ing an afternoon off to read. Except for break times, Emmaus is a very full experience. Come with empty hands and open hearts, planning to give yourself completely to the experience.

Tomorrow’s Topics:  When will upcoming Walks take place? Where are they held? What is Chrysalis and Crossroads? What’s the deal with the "DeColores" bumper stickers?

"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 09-AUG-2011

In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we will be sending you two or three Frequently Asked Questions about the program each day this week.

Today’s topic: What are the Strengths of Emmaus and What are the Potential Pitfalls?

 

What are the Strengths of Emmaus?

God is using Emmaus in our time. When countless adult Christians experience true renewal and the healing of love, and feel moved to make fresh and informed commitments to Christ and his church, the Holy Spirit is at work. 

Emmaus attempts to strengthen the local church through the empowerment of disciples and the raising up of fresh leadership in congregations.  

Emmaus maintains important balances and holds together the unity of personal spirituality and Christian action in the world.

Emmaus is dependable. Emmaus leaders strive for consistency in form and quality from event to event. Team members' faithful adherence to a standard manual prevents the dangers inherent in experiences centered upon the whims of leaders. Reliance on proven guidelines also allows more laity and clergy to serve in leadership positions and ensures safe space in which persons can be themselves with God and one another.

Emmaus includes follow-up aimed at undergirding the ongoing discipleship of the people.

Emmaus makes partners of laity and clergy, involves both in leadership together, and is based on confidence in laypersons' willingness and competencies for Christian service.

Emmaus focuses on essentials of the Christian faith. John Wesley's words express the spirit of the program well. He wrote, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, charity."

Emmaus is ecumenical in the sense that both the three-day experience and the follow-up seek to foster unity and mutual appreciation among Christians of different denominations who participate in the program in each community.

Emmaus is fun and full of joy, while at the same time reminding Christians that Jesus meant what he said and did, that God's business is important business and so are our commitments, and that God loves us more deeply than we ever knew was possible.

 

 

What Potential Pitfalls are on the other side of Emmaus?

Emmaus, like every vital renewal movement in the church's history, has its down side as well as its up side. Church leaders and members who have participated in Emmaus can anticipate several pitfalls as they work to realize the full benefit of the program for their church. Some of the common pitfalls are these:

Walking to Emmaus and never leaving. Many people have such a positive experience that they have difficulty moving beyond it. But as Luke tells us, once the disciples returned to Jerusalem to tell the story, their focus was the risen Christ and service in his name, not where they first encountered him.

Making Emmaus their church. Rather than propelling them back into their congregations, Emmaus becomes the focus of some people's religious activity. This typically results when an Emmaus participant's link to a church is weak or nonexistent. Emmaus should strengthen, not replace, persons' relationships to their congregations.

Acting cliquish or elitist. This perception may result when enthusi­astic Emmaus participants continually talk together about their common experience, causing others to feel left out. Sometimes people mistakenly assume that Emmaus follow-up groups are closed societies, instead of straightforward discipleship groups. Sometimes people’s talk about their experience is louder than their actual witness through their deeds of love and service in the church. One of the pastoral challenges is to help enthusiastic Emmaus participants focus on servanthood and to encourage them to share the gifts they have received with the whole church.

Talking   about  Emmaus   as   though   Emmaus   were   secretive.  Sometimes people who have attended Emmaus do not reveal aspects of the three-day event so as not to spoil the experience for others.  But as this daily sharing of information illustrates, nothing that occurs in Emmaus is secret. This withholding of information creates an air of secrecy that hurts the program and sets Emmaus participants apart in the church.

Viewing Emmaus as exclusive. This perception may result from the fact that participants have sponsors rather than being able to sign themselves up. However, sponsors play an important role in supporting the participants in special ways before and during their Walk.  Sponsors also enable participants to find follow-up groups after the three-day experience. Anybody may ask a person who has been to Emmaus to assist them in their decision to attend.

Attending Emmaus for the wrong reasons. When persons go on the Walk for reasons other than those for which the program is intended, it may result in disappointment or a misuse of the program. For example, Emmaus is not designed to deal with fresh grief over recent loss or psychological instability, nor is it a haven for persons who live on the fringe of the church. Emmaus is for those who will return home to build up the community of faith in love.

Failing to understand the potential of Emmaus. As a result of this failure, sometimes pastors do not channel Emmaus participants' energy in avenues of servanthood and do not encourage their continued growth. Sometimes church leaders do not know what to do with people who return from Emmaus with raised expectations for the church and for their own spiritual lives. Without leadership and guidance, Emmaus may become an irritant in the status quo rather than a creative force for change and renewal.

Getting off balance theologically. Sometimes the theological leaning of Emmaus leadership in an Emmaus community gets off center and develops a narrow focus. Emmaus then loses its balance and fails to serve the whole church. The quality of Emmaus depends on the involvement of a broad spectrum of mature laity and clergy.

The Upper Room works with local Emmaus groups to provide the training and resources necessary to minimize these problems and to guarantee the highest quality program.

Tomorrow’s Topics:  Why are there Separate Events for Men and Women, and What Should I know Before Attending a Walk to Emmaus?

New Worship Times Begin This Weekend at Signal Crest UMC

Just a friendly reminder that beginning this Sunday, August 14th, Signal Crest will begin a new schedule for worship services and Sunday School. 

Please make a note of the new times:

8:30a Worship - Early Worship Service 

10:00a Sunday School

11:00a Worship - Traditional Worship Service

Please contact the church office if you have any questions.

"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 08-AUG-2011

In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we will be sending you two or three Frequently Asked Questions about the program each day this week.

Today’s topic: What Happens During the Three-Day Emmaus Weekend and What Will Be Expected of Me Were I to Attend? 

What Happens During the Three-Day Emmaus Weekend?

The Emmaus event schedule that follows is a bare outline of the Walk to Emmaus experience.  This two-dimensional overview of the weekend, which lists activities and topics, cannot adequately communicate what really happens in and among the people as a result of being together for three days, focused on the love of God. Nevertheless, this outline gives a picture of what goes on among the pilgrims in the conference room and chapel. This outline also shows why we describe the Walk to Emmaus as a short course in Christianity, not a relaxing retreat. While the Emmaus Walk is fun and rejuvenating, it is also concentrated and full.

The three days have distinct phases and reflect a Trinitarian framework.  The focus of Day One is God and the relationship God offers. The focus of Day Two is Jesus Christ and each disciple's response to the grace of God in the context of Christian community. The focus of Day Three is the Holy Spirit and the call to live as an active member of the body of Christ through service in church and community. All three days point to the Fourth Day-living every day as a walk with Christ in the company of one another, through a lifestyle of regular prayer, study, and service.

A moment of reflection, discussion and creative responses follow each of the fifteen talks. The services of worship and daily prayer are thematic and are designed especially for the Emmaus Walk.  Each day includes break times.  The three days as a whole are embraced by prayer and signs of the sacrificial service on the part of many who help make each Walk happen.

Thursday

Friday

7:00 P.M.-Registration
Introductions 
Orientation
Reflections 
Evening prayer 
Silent time

Morning prayer 
Talk #1 -- Priorities 
Talk #2 -- Prevenient Grace 

Break
Talk 3# -- Priesthood of All Believers 
Talk #4 -- Justifying Grace 
Break 
Talk #5 -- Life of Piety
Celebrating the day's message 
Evening prayer 

Saturday

Sunday

Morning prayer
Talk #6 -- Growth Through Study 
Talk #7 -- Means of Grace 
Holy Communion 
Break
Talk #8 -- Christian Action 
Talk #9 -- Obstacles to Grace 
Break
Talk #10 -- Discipleship 
Celebrating the day's message 

Morning prayer
Talk #11 -- Changing Our World 
Talk #12 -- Sanctifying Grace 
Talk #13 -- Body of Christ 
Break
Talk #14 -- Perseverance 
Talk #15 -- Fourth Day
Holy Communion

Closing

 

What Will be Expected of Me Were I To Attend?

Be yourself.  No one is asked to sing a solo, make a speech, or bare themselves spiritually before an audience.  No one is expected to be pious, saintly, or have a thorough knowledge of the Bible.  Participants are expected only to be honest, to participate fully, and to respond genuinely to the message of the Walk as it unfolds.

Come with openness to the message of the three days, to others, and to God.  Emmaus is not the place for observers and spectators.

Be present for the whole three-day course.  Each component of the Walk is important and plays a part in conveying the overall message.  Each participant becomes an indispensable member of the three-day community and of his or her table group.  If it is impossible for you to be present for the entire 72 hours, wait for a date when full participation is possible.

Leave your world behind for 72 hours.  Emmaus is a time apart with God.  Participants are asked to work out their affairs ahead of time to really be away for all three days without interruption, to remain on site the entire time, and to refrain from making telephone calls to home or work except in case of emergency.  If your family has an emergency while you are away, your sponsor will come get you. 

Tomorrow’s Topics: What are the Strengths of Emmaus and What are the Potential Pitfalls?

"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 07-AUG-2011

In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we will be sending a couple of frequently asked questions about the program over the next 6 days.

Today’s topics:  What is the "Walk to Emmaus," where did it originate, and Why is it called a "Walk to Emmaus"?

 

What is the Walk to Emmaus?

The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders.

The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of 15 talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God’s grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church.  The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion.  The “Emmaus Community,” made up of those that have attended an Emmaus weekend, support the 72-hour experience with acts of love and self-giving.  Men and women attend separate events.

During and after the three days, Emmaus leaders encourage participants to meet regularly in small groups.  The members of the small groups challenge and support one another in faithful living.  Participants seeks to Christianize their environments of family, job, and community through the ministry of their congregations.

The Upper Room of the United Methodist Church sponsors The Walk to Emmaus and offers it through local Emmaus groups around the world.  The three-day Emmaus experience and the follow-up groups strengthen and renew Christians as disciples of Jesus Christ and as active members of the body of Christ in mission to the world.

 

Where did Emmaus originate?

The Walk to Emmaus is an adaptation of the Roman Catholic Cursillo (pronounced cur-SEE-o) Movement, which originated in Spain in 1949.  Cursillo de Cristianidad means “little course in Christianity.”  The original Cursillo leaders designed the program to empower persons to transform their living and working environments into Christian environments.  During the 1960s and 1970s, the Episcopalians and Lutherans, along with several nondenominational groups, such as Tres Dias, began to offer Cursillo.  

 In 1978, The Upper Room of the General Board of Discipleship adapted the program for a primarily Protestant audience and began to offer it under the name The Upper Room Cursillo.  In 1981, The Upper Room made further adaptations and changed the name of the program to The Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.  In 1984, The Upper Room developed a youth expression of Emmaus called Chrysalis.  Since 1978, over half a million persons have participated in Emmaus.  Today, Emmaus programs can be found in U.S.A., Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Germany, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and India.

 

Why the Name “Walk to Emmaus”?

The Walk to Emmaus gets its name from the story in Luke 24:13-35, which provides the central image for the three-day experience and follow-up. Luke tells the story of that first Easter afternoon when the risen Christ appeared to the two disciples who were walking together along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Like Christians and churches who are blinded by preoccupation with their own immediate difficulties, these two disciples' sadness and hope­lessness seemed to prevent them from seeing God's redemptive purpose in things that had happened.

And yet, the risen Christ "came near and went with them," opening the disciples' eyes to his presence and lighting the fire of God's love in their hearts. As they walked to Emmaus, Jesus explained to them the meaning of all the scriptures concerning himself.  When they arrived in Emmaus, Jesus "took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them," and their eyes were opened. They recognized him as Jesus, the risen Lord, and they remembered how their hearts had burned within them as they talked with him on the road. Within the hour, the two disciples left Emmaus and returned immediately to their friends in Jerusalem. As they told the stories about their encounters with the risen Lord, Jesus visited them again with a fresh awareness of his living presence.

However, the story of Jesus' resurrection does not conclude with the disciples' personal spiritual experiences. Jesus ascended to the Father, and the disciples became the body of the risen Christ through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were sent forth by the Spirit to bear witness to the good news of God in Jesus Christ. They learned to walk in the spirit of Jesus, to proclaim the gospel to a disbelieving world, and to persevere in grace through spiritual companionship with one another.

The Walk to Emmaus offers today's disciples a parallel opportunity to rediscover Christ's presence in their lives, to gain fresh understanding of God's transforming grace, and to form friendships that foster faith and support spiritual maturity. While Emmaus provides a pathway to the mountaintop of God's love, it also supports the pilgrims' return to the world in the power of the Spirit to share the love they have received with a hurtful and hurting world.

Tomorrow's topics: What Happens During the Three-Day Emmaus Weekend and What Will Be Expected of Me?

Seeking Volunteers for August 4th, 5th, and 6th

Dear Signal Crest,

Lone Oak Community Center needs additional volunteers to help in the kitchen Thursday through Saturday, August 4 – 6, during the 127 Sale (a.k.a. “The World’s Longest Yard Sale.”) Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be preparing and serving food to raise money to support the community center’s services, which include Signal Mountain’s free health and dental clinics and the Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department.

If you enjoy contributing to our community and serving with cheerful companions, we have a place for you! You can join us for one, two or all three days. To volunteer or for more information, please email sharon_dorough@hotmail.com or call Sharon Dorough at 886-7677.

We have several regulars who will not be available to help this year, and desperately need more help. The three days I listed are our busiest days. We work pretty hard but also have a great time together. I am one of the kitchen coordinators this year, so I will be there 9:00 - 4:00 Wednesday - Sunday. Several other Signal Crest members also volunteer at Lone Oak.

Thank you!
Sharon