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While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself
came near and walked with them.
-Luke 24:15
A JOURNEY WITH CHRIST
The Gospel of St. Luke relates the story of the risen Christ
appearing to the two who were walking along the road from
Jerusalem to Emmaus(Luke 24:13-35).
Two friends were walking together. They were sharing their 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 heart-warming experience
as the risen Christ walked and talked with them. The illuminating climax
of the experience was when Christ took the 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.
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WHAT IS THE 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, Cursiilo de Christiandod (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.
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WHAT HAPPPENS 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.
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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:
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Expand their own spiritual lives through study
and congregational participation;
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Become more active disciples of Christ in the
world through their church
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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 a newsletter, 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.
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HISTORY OF EMMAUS
Originating in Spain in the late 1940s, Cursiilo moved to
America in the late 1950s. It was primarily a Roman Catholic
movement until the 1970s. As Catholic centers started accepting
applications from Protestants, efforts began among some groups
to make the Cursiilo experience available to all Protestants.
In the late 1970s, The Upper Room (a unit of the Board of
Discipleship of the United Methodist Church) formed The Upper
Room Cursiilo Community in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1981,
by mutual agreement between the National Secretariat of the
Roman Catholic Cursiilo movement and The Upper Room, the
name of the Nashville Protestant community was changed to
Emmaus. The Emmaus movement is ecumenical.
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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.
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WHO SHOULD GO TO EMMAUS?
Emmaus is for the development of Christian leaders who:
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wish to strengthen their spiritual lives;
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may have unanswered questions about prayer, study,
and sharing their faith;
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understand that being a Christian involves responsibility;
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are willing to dedicate their everyday lives to
God in an ongoing manner;
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have positions of responsibility in the church
and the world.
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Emmaus is open to members of any denomination.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED?
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 weekends
in your area, contact:
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©2002 Upper Room Ministries
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