Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Nashville Emmaus Community January 2015

Let me share a story I heard a few years back and again lately.

Some years ago in the North, a little girl went out and got lostin the woods. It was bitterly cold and snowing. Hundreds of peoplesearched all over the forest area, desperate in their efforts to find her.Time was important and they knew she couldn’t survive long in theweather. They searched for hours with no luck. Finally, searchers cameup with the idea of joining hands and walking together through the forestin a line.

They tried it and in less than fifteen minutes she was found. Itwas too late. She had died from the cold. In the hush of that moment,someone said, “Why oh why didn’t we join hands sooner?”

This past year, when conflict and trouble came to our “house”,we (the Board) began walking around in different directions trying to findthe solution to conflicts and concerns. Colossians 3: 15 (The Message)reads ‘let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in stepwith each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing.’

We realized we were not in tune with each other while searchingfor solutions. It changed when we began walking together, holding handswith each other and finding the solutions. We are going into 2015 withthe restart of Gatherings; working on better communication with eachother and the community; reaching out to you to form committees to helpus; beginning again the trainings that have not been offered for the lastfew years to help us all understand the different aspects of Emmaus andthe weekends and we have become more intentional in helping with theFourth Day through a Reunion Group database.

We are looking forward to an exciting 2015 and walking hand in handwith you.

De Colores and Fly with Christ,

Edna VaughanCommunity Lay Director

Laity

Wilda StreetDavid ChavisLisa HobbsCarla SnodgrassCathy WedekindDoug Ball

Clergy

Bill OwensSandra Griggs

At the December Board meeting, Edna Vaughan was elected to serveas Community Lay Director for 2015 and Allen Weller was electedCommunity Spiritual Director for 2015. Areas of service for the 2015Board will be set at the January 2015 Board meeting.

While they were talking and discussing,

Jesus himself came near and

began walking with them...

Luke 24:15

In This IssueAccountability/Reuinion Groups .........................................2Who Do You Say I Am? ...........................................................3Welcome New Pilgrims .............................................................3Up Coming Events.......................................................................4Chrysalis ............................................................................................44th Day..............................................................................................4Gathering #2 ..................................................................................5Nashville Emmaus Board .........................................................5Face to Face .....................................................................................5Elections ............................................................................................6

Welcome New Board Members

Searching – Struggling

In Emmaus, when it comes to time, we regularlyrefer to God’s time meaning it will happen when Godwants it to. This does not mean we sit back and wait forGod to call “time”. Rather we go about our given tasks tothe best of our ability leaving the final outcome in God’scare. Time and time again were amazed at how goodGod’s timing is.

God’s time does not apply just to Emmaus activities. It figures in everything we do as I was remindedof recently. Back in 2010 I was on the CommunicationsCommittee at my church. The Committee took note ofhow the communications environment was changing andthat we needed new capabilities in the church staff to keepup with the communications demands of the 21st Century.So the Committee prepared a job description to meet thatneed and presented it to Staff Parish Relations Committeewhose job it is to implement such changes.

One might think the Communications Committeewas setting up the SPRC for a messy job of making staffchanges, but that was not the case. The message to SPRCwas that this was where the church needed to go. They

did not need to act on it now, but take note and look toGod’s timing for the next step.

Fast forward to 2014 and the church has a staffmember retiring creating the opportunity to add a new resource with the needed skills. Church committees arenot noted for long-range planning but God handles thatwell. One of the people involved in the current job searchremembered the work done in 2010 and that work became the foundation of the job description for the new hire.

Back in 2010 the Communications Committee onlyknew new staff capabilities were needed. They had no ideaif or when it might be implemented. In truth, that part ofthe plan was not for Communications to be concernedabout. We needed to be patient and have faith that Godwould take care of the next steps in his own timing whichhe has done and done very well.

Have you noticed God’s timing at work in your life?

Peter Cassidy

In God’s Time

We have been advised by the International Emmaus officethat we can have a 4th ALD for AV purposes on our Walks. Thisposition is a conference room team member and would attend allteam meetings and stay at the facility for the weekend as other conference room team members do. They would run the powerpoints and help with other AV needs. We are starting a database ofpersons who would like to be called for this purpose.

If you are interested, please call me at 615-758-0366 or 615-516-2439 or email evaughan@tds.net

Something New andLooking for Your Help!

What’s Happening in Your 4th Day?

We all remember our own Emmaus experience and what it meant to us personally. We held that cross at Closing and answered the questions about what the Walk meant to us

and what we are going to do about it.

Others can benefit from our stories of what happened next. They are witness to God’s work in our lives and an inspiration to others as they persevere in life’s challenges. If you would like to submit your story for consideration, please email it to the

Candlelight Editor at News@NashvilleEmmaus.org

The dates are set for the winter flights. The Girl’s Flightwill be January 17-19, 2015 and the Boy’s Flight a month lateron February 14-16, 2015. Both will be held at Fellowship UMCin Murfreesboro.

Our Board continues to look for a few more lay andclergy members. Let me know if you are interested.

Fly with Christ,

Randy WilliamsNashville Chrysalis CommunityLay Director

Chrysalis

The dates for the 2015 Encounter are May 6, 7, 13, 14at Hilldale UMC in Clarksville. We appreciate the Communitysupport in encouraging pilgrims to attend.

Face to Face is looking for some kind people to makebanners for us. It would be so great to have our very own, somewe could fold because as we move around we have to packeverything in boxes. If you can do this, please contact Pat Mishlerat pmish5@comcast.net or 615-406-1367.

Face To Face

Emmaus Walks and Face To Face Encounters are about our 4th days and Next days. We urge you to be involved with an accountability group(also called reunion groups) to encourage and support you during your 4th day journey. As a community we want to assist in your search for an existinggroup to join, find new members for your existing group or start a new group. Therefore, your Emmaus Board is asking for your assistance in this effortby completing the following survey. This information will be used to match requests for groups by location, gender, etc. You can download and mail thisform or complete it online at www.nashvilleemmaus.org/Reunion_Groups/

Your participation is truly appreciated as we endeavor to support our community members not only on the Emmaus Weekends but every dayof our lives as followers of Jesus.

DeColores.

Accountability/Reunion Groups

2015 Nashville Emmaus Board of DirectorsExecutive LeadershipEdna Vaughan - Chair/Community Lay DirectorVice-Chair/Assist. Community Lay Director (Elected at Jan. Board Meeting)Secretary (Elected at Jan. Board Meeting)Treasurer (Elected at Jan. Board Meeting)Lay Board MembersDoug BallJeannie BellDavid ChavisSandie GloverSteve GraysonLisa HobbsCarla HuntNancy LaSuerHugh MasonJane MelrosePat MishlerJohn NanceBill NelsonCarla SnodgrassWilda StreetSam TrottCathy Wedekind

ClergyAllen Weller - Community Spiritual DirectorJon BellSandra GriggsLloyd MabryBill Owens

Ex-OfficioRandy Williams - Chrysalis

For More Info on Board Members and their areas of service, or toemail a Board Member visit NashvilleEmmaus.org/About_Us/

Our next community gathering is scheduled for February 7th at 6:00pm at Christ United Methodist Church inMcMinnville. The address is 200 Chapel Drive, McMinnville. It will be covered dish. Come and enjoy fellowship with yourEmmaus friends!!!! (More details later.)

If your Emmaus Group is interested in hosting a gathering,please contact: Jeanne Bell jonbell0213@gmail.com

Gathering February 7,McMinnville

Emmaus WalksMen’s April 9-12, 2015Women’s April 23-26, 2015Men’s October 1-4, 2015Women’s October 15-18, 2015

Chrysalis FlightsGirl’s Flight January 17-19, 2015, Fellowship UMC,Murfreesboro Boy’s Flight February 14-16, 1015, FellowshipUMC, Murfreesboro

Face To Face EncounterMay 6, 7, 13, 14 2015 • Hilldale UMCClarksvilleCheck the Community website for the latest schedule