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Emmaus
What is the story behind Emmaus?
A
Journey With Christ - The Gospel of St. Luke relates the story of
the risen Christ appearing to two who were going along the road from
Jerusalem to Emmaus. Two friends were walking together, sharing
their hearts' deepest concerns. The risen Christ joined them and
explained the scriptures as they walked, how it was ordained that
Christ should suffer and so enter his glory.
This experience on the road was a heartwarming experience as the
risen Christ walked and talked with them. The illuminating climax of
the experience was when Christ took bread and said the blessing,
then broke it and gave it to them. The two had their eyes opened and
they recognized him as the risen Christ and they rushed back to
Jerusalem to tell the others. (Luke 24:13-35)
What is “A Walk to
Emmaus”?
The above story provides the image for
Emmaus, an Upper Room program that calls forth and renews Christian
discipleship. Like its predecessor, Cursillo de Christiandad
(Spanish for "short course in Christianity"), the Walk to Emmaus is
a three-day experience which takes a New Testament look at
Christianity as a lifestyle. It is a highly structured weekend
designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people, and
through them their families, congregations and the world in which
they live. Emmaus is a combined effort of laity and clergy toward
the renewal of the church.
What happens at Emmaus?
The "Walk to Emmaus" is a 72 hour
experience. The weekend begins on Thursday evening and ends Sunday
evening. At Emmaus you will spend three busy but very enjoyable
days, usually at a retreat center. You will live and study together
in singing, prayer, worship, and discussion. Discussions center
around fifteen talks given by laity and clergy. These talks present
the theme of God's grace, and how that grace comes alive in the
Christian community and expresses itself in the world. You'll also
discover how grace is real in your life, and how you can live in the
life of grace, bringing grace to others. You will have the
opportunity to participate in the daily celebration of Holy
Communion, and to begin to understand more fully the presence of
Christ in his body of believers. You will experience God's grace
personally through the prayers and acts of service of a living
support community.
What happens after
Emmaus?
One of the primary strengths of Emmaus
is the follow-up. Your weekend lasts only three days, but you are
invited to build on it for the rest of your life. Those who attend a
"Walk to Emmaus" are encouraged to do two things following their
weekend:
• Expand their own spiritual lives through study and congregational
participation.
• Become more active disciples of Christ in the world through their
churches.
To nurture this process of discipleship, the Emmaus movement offers
specific opportunities. First, reunion groups of four to six people
meet weekly to reflect on their quest for spiritual growth and
encourage one another in their discipleship. Second, there will be
monthly meetings called "Community Gatherings." All people in a
particular Emmaus community or area are invited for fellowship,
worship, and informal instruction. Third, through emails, members
become aware of support needs for upcoming Walks to Emmaus and there
are opportunities to work during future weekends in a variety of
ways.
What is the history of
Emmaus?
Originating in Spain in the late
1940's, Cursillo moved to America in the late 1950's. It was
primarily a Roman Catholic movement until the 1970's. As Catholic
centers started accepting applications from Protestants, efforts
began among some groups to make the Cursillo experience available to
all Protestants. In the late 1970's The Upper Room (a unit of the
Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church) formed The
Upper Room Cursillo Community in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1981, by
mutual agreement between the National Secretariat of the Roman
Catholic Cursillo movement and The Upper Room, the name of the
Nashville Protestant community was changed to Emmaus. The Emmaus
movement is ecumenical.
What is the purpose of
Emmaus?
The focus of Emmaus is God as known in
Jesus Christ and how that finds expression in the local church. The
objective of Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and equip local church
members for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of
work. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled life to be lived
and shared with others.
Who should go to Emmaus?
Emmaus is for the development of
Christian leaders who:
• Wish to strengthen their spiritual lives.
• May have unanswered questions about prayer, study, and sharing
their faith.
• Understand that being a Christian involves responsibility.
• Are willing to dedicate their everyday lives to God in an ongoing
manner.
• Have positions of responsibility in the church and the world.
Emmaus is open to members of any denomination.
I am interested, now
what?
We invite you to join in a refreshing
weekend spent meeting Jesus as he comes to you through other
Christians. For more information on Emmaus and the schedule of
upcoming events, please see the information on the bulletin board
located near the Kitchen or contact Claire Collins (daviddcollins@comcast.net).
What is “Chrysalis” or
“Young Adult Chrysalis”?
"Chrysalis" is the name chosen for the
youth and young adult version of The Walk to Emmaus, its parent
movement, because it symbolizes the spiritual growth that is
essential between adolescence and adulthood. That growth is as
crucial for youth as the cocoon is for the caterpillar. It is that
precious time of nurturing a person's faith for discipleship.
Chrysalis "Flights" (for 10th through
12th graders) and "Journeys" (for young adults, ages 19-24) are
three-day events. This three-day spiritual renewal time provides an
opportunity for you to learn more about faith, to experience
Christian love and support, and to make new faith commitments. The
point is to inspire, challenge and equip you for a closer friendship
with Christ and for Christian action at home, church, school, and
community.
Chrysalis lifts up a way for you to
enjoy Christ's friendship and love and to be Christ's friend and
partner in the world. The three days focus on God's grace, your
experience with Christ as friend, what it means to be the body of
Christ, and giving love to a needy world.
I have been to Emmaus or
Chrysalis and I want to be a part of the local Emmaus community at
Cannon.
Please contact Claire Collins (daviddcollins@comcast.net)
so that you can join us for feasting and fellowship, reunion groups,
and planning meetings to support local Walks and Flights.
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