A message from from the Community Lay Director

A Happy Spring to all of you!

When I became Community Lay Director in January of this year, it was clear that Emmaus was straying from the Upper Room model, from our traditional rules, and from the promises the teams make under the Team Canon.  When I requested a list of priorities from the board, their overwhelming “charge” to me was to bring the community back to the basics.  So, during the last four months we completed the printing of new manuals for teams and leadership (and every form and set of instructions has been or will be re-written), there has been a new organization chart built around the Upper Room model, the board has become a “working” board after the model – meaning every member on the board has an active “job” that involves making the Walks stronger, the website has started to be revamped, we have purchased all new sound equipment, and team training has be revamped and will continue to be revamped until we feel we have done it right. In between all of this we have had/will have seven gatherings (that is more gatherings than we have had in the last two years combined!) plus we completed the Spring Walks.

The fast pace we are working at and the changes that have already been made have proven that we are working in the right direction.  As the board continues to move forward, we continue to ask for your prayers and support. And, once we turn the Titanic around in a bathtub (as one board member commented) Emmaus should emerge stronger and be on track for a future full of promise!

 

April was an exciting month when we welcomed eleven new men pilgrims and thirteen new women pilgrims.  There is a place for each new pilgrim to participate in Emmaus events and the door is open to each of you!  Just look at our “under construction” website and contact us if you have any questions or needs!

Saturday, May 9th will be team selection for the fall walks!   Don Rosborough is the board advisor and Dave Noshay will be the lay director on the men’s side; while Ellen Leidy is the board advisor and Michele Skinner is the lay director on the women’s side.  Our website has been busy with people requesting to be considered for the teams, but calling by the lay directors cannot start until after team selection.  The fall walks will be at Loyola October 8th-11th (men’s) and October 15th-18th for the women.

We have four gatherings coming up in May and June:

May 9th at Cary UMC –potluck at 5:30 and worship at 6:30 (bring a dish to share)

May 17th at Roscoe UMC – worship at 4:00 followed by a potluck dinner (bring a dish to share)

 

May 31st at United Methodist Church of New Lenox – gathering at 3:00, meal at 4:00 (they will

provide hamburgers and hotdogs, please bring a dessert to share) & worship at 5:00

June 20th at Gurnee Community Church – potluck at 5:00 (bring a dish to share) followed by

worship

 

All board meetings are open to the community, and you are invited to attend to see how we work together with the underlying prayer being: that all we do will make Emmaus a better experience for the Pilgrims in the future.

In His Service,

Barb Golden