March 2005

Hello All,

As most of you know, I just completed the Walk to Emmaus (http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/). What is Emmaus? It is described on the website as:
The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The program's approach seriously considers the model of Christ's servanthood and encourages Christ's disciples to act in ways appropriate to being "a servant of all."
This experience is unique for each and everyone that attends. For me, I discovered my spiritual gift. My call to fulltime ministry is very real and may take on many different looks through out the course of the rest of my life. One of the leaders of the said that the walk is for those that think they need it the most just as much as it is for those that think that they need it the least.
There is also a youth version of the walk called Chrysalis (http://www.upperroom.org/chrysalis/). Chrysalis is described on the website as:
Before it becomes a butterfly, a caterpillar goes through a growth stage during which it is called a "chrysalis." On the surface it may not look like much is happening, but the delicate chrysalis process changes the fuzzy caterpillar into an awesome butterfly with wings of intricate designs and intense colors. The chrysalis process symbolizes how Christ can transform you into something beyond your dreams. It happens when you grow beyond yourself, opening your life to Jesus' power and love.
"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" 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.
We witnessed some incredible things this past weekend. One of our brothers is on dialysis and is waiting for a kidney transplant. On Saturday he had to go to a treatment. We had a special service to pray for him where he was anointed with oil, hands were laid on him, and we prayed (boy did we ever pray) for him. The two sessions that he missed were then taped for him so he did not miss one step of the walk. Later in the day it was announced that Gary would be on his way shortly, but that he was running behind … his ride could not get there when he was finished. You see his ride had planned on getting there at the normal time as she (his wife) knows how long she has to wait before she leaves to get him. The problem was that he got done in one of the fastest sessions that he had had – Praise God! When he returned he shared with us how he was able to reach out to one of the nurses that was going through a tough time. And in another twist to this story, this is not something that he would have done prior to this weekend. Now, not only is he praying for this precious child of God, but so are we. That means instead of going it alone she now has 40+ praying for her. Pretty incredible “stuff” don’t you think?

Here is my challenge to you. Think about attending a Walk to Emmaus or Chrysalis Flight. Pray about it. Talk to someone who has already been. There are several of us here at Hus (those that I know of so far are Delores, Jean, Marcia, Will, Jackie, Jennifer, Bonnie, Michele, Dave, and now me). If nothing else ask us questions, we would love to see you go! You will not regret it.

Because of Him,
Terry and Diane

To God be the Glory
Heavenly Father, we come to you each and every morning blessed with a clean slate that you provided through your Son, Jesus Christ. It is with joy in our hearts that we take each new day and glorify your name in each and everything that we do. We know that giving glory to you is not just done in worship on Sunday mornings, it is something that we do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We bring glory to you by honoring our parents by keeping our rooms clean. Our parents honor you by going to work each day, doing the best that they can, and then returning to us at night. Lord we ask that you provide someone to everyone that does not know you the way that we do so that they might come closer to you. Lord, it is all about you. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.

"32Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" (Luke 24:32 The Message)