{"id":14748,"date":"2017-04-22T13:49:26","date_gmt":"2017-04-22T17:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=14748"},"modified":"2017-05-12T08:09:53","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T12:09:53","slug":"pumc-hosting-an-emmaus-encounter-51117","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=14748","title":{"rendered":"PUMC Hosting an Emmaus Encounter (5\/11\/17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the first Easter, Cleopas and his friend (the Bible doesn’t give this disciple’s name<\/em>) walked along the road to a village called Emmaus.\u00a0 They were not alone.\u00a0 Three<\/strong> people were on the journey, but Cleopas and friend didn’t know who the third Person was.\u00a0 Jesus was traveling with them.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Isn’t that much like our lives?\u00a0 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?\u00a0 Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.<\/span><\/em>”\u00a0 Have we ignored or forsaken His continual presence?<\/p>\n

Over the past 20 or so years, members of our church have experienced a weekend called “Walk to Emmaus.<\/span><\/strong>”\u00a0 These weekends follow a format written by The Upper Room<\/a><\/span>, and the local weekends are organized by an organization of Christian volunteers called “The Garden State Walk to Emmaus<\/a>.<\/span>”\u00a0 Weekends are held at the South Seaville Camp once per year.<\/p>\n

In it’s simplest form, a “Walk to Emmaus” is a weekend retreat where you\u00a0 listen to a series of 15 “talks” about the fundamentals of our relationship with God.\u00a0 But you also develop relationships with the 3-5 new friends (fellow “pilgrims”) who are part of your table.\u00a0 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.\u00a0\u00a0 By the end of the weekend, you might realize in a deeper way that Christ has been walking with you all along.<\/p>\n

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The Garden State Walk to Emmaus also sponsors a similar weekend called “Chrysillas.” These weekends are specifically targeted to youth.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

It’s a great experience!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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Face to Face Encounter<\/span><\/h3>\n

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.\u00a0 Those who are 60+ (‘ish) or have other physical limitations are invited to a “Face to Face Encounter.”\u00a0 Instead of being held in the rustic setting of the South Seaville Camp, the “Encounter” will be held at our church!\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n

The Garden State Walk to Emmaus has chosen our church as a location for this year’s Encounter!\u00a0 Here are the dates\/times:<\/p>\n

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