07/14/21

Pilgrim/Sponsor Application Information

July 14, 2021

Greetings Richmond Emmaus Community,

As you know the #136 Mens Walk that is set for September 23-26 is almost here. We are excited for Pete Tucker and his team to finally set their feet on the Nazarene Campground in Buckingham, but before that can happen, we need your help. As of right now, we have 8 pilgrims confirmed and our goal is to have 20 pilgrims by September 9. 

We have made a way for you to either fill out an application online or print out the application and hand it to the future pilgrim. I am posting a link to where both of these applications can be found.

Please go to: https://richmondemmaus.com/forms/  Once you are on the website, you will see a Pilgrim/Sponsor application. If you would like to print the application, please go to the print icon on the screen and follow directions to print. 

Once the application is filled out, please send the application and appropriate fee(s) to: Richmond Emmaus, ATTN:  Registrar; P.O. Box 1717, Midlothian, VA 23113

If you would like to fill out the application online, please click the Pilgrim/Sponsor application under the printed copy and you are able to fill it out online. 

If you have any questions regarding the application or the website, please contact the Emmaus Board members.

We are excited to see what God is going to do during this walk and the transformation of lives that will take place. We ask you to keep praying for the future pilgrims and the team during this time.

We look forward to seeing you at our next Gathering on August, 14 @6pm at Bon Air UMC.

DeColores,

Juliana Paradie

Secretary and Website Administrator

R-130

07/10/21

July Gathering Info

July 10, 2021

Greetings Richmond Emmaus Community,

We will be holding our July Gathering tonight at 6:00 pm at Bon Air UMC. It is located at 1645 Buford Road, Richmond, VA. We will be holding the Gathering inside, at this time no food can be served.

We are currently looking for people who have an interest in updating and rewriting the by-laws. If you have an interest on serving on the board, they will be a discussion held by the nominating committee.

Last but not least. We have a mens walk scheduled for September 23-26. It will be held at the Nazarine Camp in Buckingham. We are currently taking applications for the walk. Prayerfully consider sponsoring a pilgrim.

Looking forward to seeing you there. If you have Emmaus family and friends, please forward this email to them.

Your brother in Christ,
Clyde Lessard
CLD       R-100

06/10/21

June Gathering Info

June 10, 2021

Greetings,

Gathering will be held June 12th beginning at 6:00pm. We will be meeting at Bon Air UMC, 1645 Buford Road, North Chesterfield. Our meeting will be held outside, at this time we cannot have food. Please bring a comfortable chair.

We will be introducing the pilgrims from Walk 134, that was led by Sarah Zammett. Come out and show your support for our new Emmaus members. Think back to when you were introduced to the Emmaus Community. The excitement and love you felt at that time. Let’s share that love and excitement with our new members.

Walk 135, that will be led by Pete Tucker, is fast approaching. That walk is taking place September 23rd-26th. We are currently accepting applications for Pete’s walk. Now is the time to send pilgrim applications in.

We look forward to seeing you, as we start moving forward with your Emmaus Community.

De Colores,
Clyde Lessard, R100
Community Lay Director

06/3/21

June Gathering Information

June 2, 2021

Greetings everyone:

Happy June! I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.

Great things are happening in our Emmaus community! We have started to hold our monthly Gatherings in-person again. Can I get an AMEN? We came together as the Body of Christ on May 15, 2021 at Bon Air UMC for a beautiful outside Gathering. Our new Community Lay Director, Clyde Lessard, gave the Community his vision for moving forward in 2021. Clyde needs everyone in the Community to come together so we can get Richmond Emmaus moving at “full speed” once again. The Men’s Walk is scheduled for September 23-26, 2021 and we could not be more excited. In order to have this weekend, we need Pilgrims. Please think of someone you can sponsor and get their application in ASAP.

Our next Gathering is scheduled for June 12, 2021 at Bon Air United Methodist Church starting at 6:00 p.m. Due to COVID shutdowns, the Pilgrims of Richmond #134 were never introduced at the March, 2020 Gathering. Now that we have started meeting again in person, it’s time to meet the newest members of our Community. Please make every effort to attend this Gathering so that you can give them a warm welcome.

The Board of Directors desires your input regarding new Board members. A term of service is three years and a new term begins January 1, 2022. There are four slots to be filled for the 2022 term. Please contact Cody Dedmon or Bob Moseley if you, or someone you know, would like to be considered to become part of the Board of Directors.

Be on the lookout for additional information from your Community Lay Director regarding the June Gathering and the fall weekend. Please begin praying and thanking God for the Pilgrims He is bringing for the fall weekend.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

De Colores!

Sandy Livingston, R-28

ACLD

05/10/21

Message from Clyde Lessard (CLD)

May 10, 2021

Greetings,

The past year has been a struggle for all of us in our daily lives. The time of separation has taken a toll on our families and to our Emmaus community families. As we move forward in our lives getting back together with families, I am happy to say we come back together as an Emmaus family.

Kevin, Shawn and Abbey had to step down from their positions on the board. I would like to thank all of them for their hard work through the years as members and leaders in our Emmaus community. They certainly will be missed. I ask each of you to keep them in your prayers.

I am notifying the community that we will be having an in person Gathering this Saturday, May 15th beginning at 6:00pm. The location of the Gathering is; Bon Air UMC, 1645 Buford Road, North Chesterfield. The meeting will be held outside, at this time we cannot have food. Please bring a mask and a comfortable chair. We will be socially distanced. Holy Communion is planned using pre-packed elements. Ned Hood will be providing music, and a 4th day speaker is scheduled.

We look forward to getting back together for in person Gatherings. Please pass this on to your friends and the folks you have sponsored.

De Colores,
Clyde Lessard, R100
Community Lay Director

05/7/21

Message from Rev. Mark Rooks (CSD)

May 7, 2021

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The past 14 months have been a tumultuous time for everyone. This includes Richmond Emmaus. Walks have been put on hold, the few Gatherings have been virtual and Reunion Groups have been limited in their ability to meet. Connection and community have been lost. The good news is that things are improving and the ministry of Walk to Emmaus will resume. There are even walks scheduled for this fall and next spring.

During this time your Richmond Emmaus Board of Directors has continued to meet and discern a course forward. We realize that many are ready to resume our ministry activities and that is our desire as well. As we push ahead there is important information that I write to share with you today.

First, I am saddened to share that our CLD Shawn Holt and his wife Abbey will be leaving our community. Shawn has accepted a new position in North Carolina and they will be moving very soon. Both Shawn and Abbey have been active in our community; Shawn most recently as CLD and Abbey as a Spiritual Director. Their loss will be keenly felt. Please join me in wishing them well as we hold them in prayer.

Next, stepping in to serve as CLD will be Clyde Lessard who has been serving as Assistant CLD this year. In addition Sandy Livingston will serve as the new Assistant CLD. Both of these have been very active in our community. Please keep them in your prayers. But, let me also add that the fruitfulness of our community is not determined by a few leaders, rather by all of us serving and using our gifts together to carryout the mission of Walk to Emmaus. I encourage you to get reconnected and involved in our community however you are able. The Board needs your help.

Now I’d like to share something encouraging. An in-person Gathering is coming up on Saturday, May 15th beginning at 6:00pm.

The details are…

Gathering location: Bon Air UMC, 1645 Buford Road, N. Chesterfield

Other details: We will be meeting outside, there will be no food served at this event, you should bring your own chair, masks are required, we will be socially distanced. Holy Communion is planned using pre-packed elements. There will be singing, a 4th Day Speaker, fellowship and more.

Over a year ago the Board began exploring a new location to hold our Gatherings. We made arrangements to begin meeting at Bon Air UMC and then the pandemic hit. Bon Air UMC will be our new home for Gatherings going forward but actually this is kind of a ‘return home’. Prior to our time at Bethia our community held gatherings at Bon Air UMC for several years.

Finally I share this: “They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing him.” Luke 24: 14-16

We know well these verses. As the two disciples walked along, Jesus was there even though they did not recognize his presence. The ministry of Walk to Emmaus has not ended and Jesus has not disappeared. He continues to be with us, lead and guide us into the future. Is there a lot of work ahead of us? Will we face challenges going forward? Certainly the answer is yes. But, Jesus continues to walk with us. We will be witnesses of His presence when we gather on May 15th and as we carryout the mission of Walk to Emmaus. I look forward to seeing you soon.

De Colores!

Rev. Mark Rooks, R67
Community Spiritual Director

03/13/21

March Gathering information

Richmond Emmaus Community Members,
 
Let’s try this again! We will have a Virtual Gathering on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 6:30PM. The “Zoom Doors” will open at 6:00PM for those that want to join early and listen to our brother Ned Hood’s musical gifts! 
 
As a reminder, we will have extra Zoom security measures in place (Password Protected, Waiting Room, etc.), as well as the invitation only sent to verified Richmond Emmaus Community Members via email. And as before, it is important that when you log into the Zoom meeting, you use your full name (e.g., Shawn E. Holt) rather than nicknames or computer names (e.g., Uncle Mikey’s iPAD).
 
We will send out the Zoom link to all of you on Friday for our Saturday meeting. We will have music, a Devotion and a 4th Day Speaker, Breakout Rooms, Prayer Concerns, among other things. Just like last time, you’ll need to provide your own food for this Gathering!
 
I am looking forward to seeing you all virtually Saturday, March 20, 2021! 
 
Your brother in Christ,
 
Shawn
 
Shawn E. Holt, CLD 2021

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Gal 5:6

02/9/21

February Gathering Information

Richmond Emmaus Community Members,
Just a reminder to you all that our Virtual Emmaus Gathering will be on Zoom this Saturday, February 13th with the meeting opening at 6:00PM (EST) and the festivities starting at 6:30PM (EST).
We will have extra Zoom security measures in place (Password Protected, Waiting Room, etc.), as well as the invitation only sent to verified Richmond Emmaus Community Members via email. It is important that when you log into the Zoom meeting, you use your full name (e.g., Shawn E. Holt) rather than nicknames or computer names (e.g., Mikey’s iPAD).
We will send out the Zoom link to all of you on Friday for our Saturday meeting. We will have music, Devotion and 4th Day Speakers, Breakout Rooms, Prayer Concerns, among other things. Unfortunately, you’ll need to provide your own food for this Gathering!
I am looking forward to seeing you all, in a virtual sense, this Saturday!
Your brother in Christ,
Shawn
 
Shawn E. Holt, CLD 2021
01/24/21

January Message

Happy New Year, Richmond Emmaus Community!

 

I hope and pray that your 2021 has started off well and that, despite all that’s going on in this fallen world, you’ve found ways to strengthen your relationship with God.

 

When I began praying about being the Community Lay Director in early December, it was clear that God called me for one specific purpose, really one specific word: UNITY! Unity in our Emmaus Community, Unity in our churches, Unity in our families and homes, Unity with our neighbors and coworkers and friends, and most importantly, Unity in our hearts as servants of the One True God!

 

Let’s just be perfectly candid: we have differences. In fact, we are all different, and we need to embrace that diversity, whether it’s politics, race, education, socioeconomic background, or even denomination. Think about the fact that our churches are all unique, whether your church has pews or chairs, hymnals or contemporary music or even a choir, emails or phone trees, a female or a male pastor. But what doesn’t differ is our belief and faith in Jesus Christ as a Lord and Savior! That’s the type of certainty we can be confident in; that’s the definition of “UNITY”!

 

Consequently, your Richmond Emmaus Board has laid out some ambitious goals for this year, which includes plans for restarting Gatherings and a new Reunion Group Coordination and Support Team. One of the keys to keeping our community together is actually being together, and it is our hope that Gatherings and creating/maintaining healthy Reunion Groups will accelerate our ability to be unified.

 

We have scheduled a Virtual Gathering via Zoom for February 13th with appropriate security in place, limited to those Community Members in our database. You will receive at least 2 emails about it: one with the details (date, time, etc.), and another with the Zoom link 1-2 days before the Virtual Gathering. If you know of someone who is not receiving these emails, please have them contact me (my email and phone number are below), and we’ll get them in the database.

 

We will provide more details on Reunion Groups in the coming weeks, but if your Reunion Group does not appear on the Richmond Emmaus website (HERE: https://richmondemmaus.com/richmond-community-reunion-groups/), let me know as soon as possible, and we’ll get it added.

 

Please take some time this week and pray for UNITY in all aspects of our lives, in our Community, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces, and in our world. And prayerfully consider starting or strengthening a Reunion Group.

 

Thank you for your commitment and service to our Emmaus Community, and I look forward to serving Him with you all!

 

Your brother in Christ,

Shawn E. Holt, R-108

Community Lay Director 2021

804-514-5839

seholt44@gmail.com

12/10/20

November / December Message