PUMC Hosting an Emmaus Encounter (5/11/17)

On the first Easter, Cleopas and his friend (the Bible doesn’t give this disciple’s name) walked along the road to a village called Emmaus.  They were not alone.  Three people were on the journey, but Cleopas and friend didn’t know who the third Person was.  Jesus was traveling with them.

Isn’t that much like our lives?  Do we journey along thinking we’re by ourselves or maybe with our friends and family, but all the while forgetting that there is another Person with us?  Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Have we ignored or forsaken His continual presence?

Over the past 20 or so years, members of our church have experienced a weekend called “Walk to Emmaus.”  These weekends follow a format written by The Upper Room, and the local weekends are organized by an organization of Christian volunteers called “The Garden State Walk to Emmaus.”  Weekends are held at the South Seaville Camp once per year.

In it’s simplest form, a “Walk to Emmaus” is a weekend retreat where you  listen to a series of 15 “talks” about the fundamentals of our relationship with God.  But you also develop relationships with the 3-5 new friends (fellow “pilgrims”) who are part of your table.  As you you share with your table group and fellowship with the entire group… as you discuss the talks, openly share about your own walks, and pray for eachother and worship together, you will develop personal relationships which will draw you closer to Christ.   By the end of the weekend, you might realize in a deeper way that Christ has been walking with you all along.

It’s a great experience!  A Walk to Emmaus weekend is a chance to get away from the “normality” of life and to focus on your relationship with God in an undistracted setting.  Unfortunately, because the “undistracted setting” involves bunk beds, sleeping bags, bathrooms “down the hall” and some outdoor walking from building to building, the Emmaus Experience has been impossible for those of us whose last camping outing was too many years ago.

Face to Face Encounter

Because the “rigors” of a typical Emmaus weekend have not permitted many seniors to experience a Walk to Emmaus, the Garden State Walk to Emmaus Community has developed an alternate way to experience the Emmaus Weekend.  Those who are 60+ (‘ish) or have other physical limitations are invited to a “Face to Face Encounter.”  Instead of being held in the rustic setting of the South Seaville Camp, the “Encounter” will be held at our church!  Instead of spending the weekend in a sleeping bag, the Encounter will be held over a series of four all day meetings with no overnight stays (held at PUMC).

The Garden State Walk to Emmaus has chosen our church as a location for this year’s Encounter!  Here are the dates/times:

Registration

Pre-registration is required.  The $50 fee covers all material and food (lunches and lots of refreshments!).  To register, click the below button, print out the registration form, and mail it to the indicated address.