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

08/8/20

Saturday’s Gathering is Postponed

Your board met tonight and have decided to postpone our virtual gathering scheduled for Saturday night August 8tn.  More information will be coming out soon on future plans.

Please reach out if you have questions or concerns kevinhughes0914@gmail.com or 804-787-4214

God Bless and Stay Safe

07/26/20

Prayer Request Needed

Good Evening Emmaus Family,

Please keep the following requests in mind.

Roby Heare is having hip replacement Surgery, please continue praying for his healing for a speedy recovery.

Please see below for a special request from Pastor Mylicia Markham:

Andy and Vicki Pope are long time Richmond Emmaus family.  Their son, Jason’s, celebration of life service will be held Monday July 27, 10 am  graveside at Powhatan Community Cemetery.

Jason Calib Pope died unexpectedly on July 18, 2020 in Stuart, FL at the age of 37.  Jason is survived by his wife Kirsti Pope, daughter Sadie Pope, his parents Andy and Vicki Pope as well as extended family. He is preceded in death by his brother Andrew C. Pope.

Jason was born on September 10, 1982 in Jacksonville, FL to Andy and Vicki Pope. He graduated from Blessed Sacrament Huguenot High School in 2001. He moved to Myrtle Beach, SC where he attended Coastal Carolina University and worked as a sous chef. He then spent some time in Virginia taking care of his parents’ chicken farm while his father was recovering from a car accident. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard where he became an Aviation Electrical Technician working with J60 helicopters. He married his wife Kirsti in 2009 after joining the service and lived in Kodiak, AK until getting stationed in Clearwater, FL to welcome their baby girl, Sadie, in December of 2013. He completed his time in the service in 2015 and relocated to Stuart, FL after building his relationship with the Lord. He and his wife grew to know and love the Lord as well as one another throughout the years and Jason always was so proud to be a husband and father. His daughter remembers him as a kind, gentle, patient, and loving father who encouraged her to be brave and kind-hearted, and to love the Lord.

Jason was a generous, loving, witty, funny, and kind individual who loved surfing and fishing, and who was passionate about spending time with his family and making others feel encouraged and loved. He had so much love for those around him and touched so many lives positively. He will very much be missed.

Jason Calib Pope

September 10, 1982 – July 18, 2020

07/9/20

Gathering Date Change!

De Colores Brothers and Sisters of Christ,

I hope you all had an amazing holiday weekend.

Our monthly gathering will be held a week from Saturday on the 18th at 7 PM and NOT this Saturday.

It will be virtual and your board has been hard at work putting additional security in place so it will be secure.

The link will be emailed to you on the day of the gathering.

Continue to pray for peace and healing and how God can use each of us in this process.

We look forward to seeing you next Saturday and if you have any questions or suggestions please reach out.

God Bless

Kevin Hughes

Richmond Emmaus Community Lay Director

804-787-4214

06/8/20

June Message

05/30/20

June Prayer Chart

  1. The Homeless
  2. All graduating Seniors – High School and College
  3. Those suffering from all forms of Mental Illness
  4. People fostering Children
  5. Families of those affected by drug abuse
  6. Single Parents
  7. Those suffering financial difficulties
  8. Benjamin Barbee – continued healing & Elizabeth & Mark Barbee during this journey
  9. Adoptions – those new to the process – may their families be blessed!
  10. Schools including colleges as they look to the new school year.  Decisions for when to start
  11. Children of the world
  12. For Scientists working on a vaccine
  13. For God to remove the Corona Virus
  14. For Families that have lost loved ones during the Pandemic
  15. For those suffering from loneliness
  16. For those that have lost jobs and having financial issues
  17. For our Military
  18. For our President and Governor
  19. For First Responders, EMT’s and Firefighters
  20. For all Medical Personnel
  21. For all Fathers – those with us and those that have gone to be with the Lord
  22. For Teachers and their students
  23. Future Emmaus Walks
  24. For Christians to be the Light during trying times
  25. For Respect and Protection for our Police
  26. People suffering from hunger
  27. Salvation for the Unsaved
  28. For our Pastors
  29. Those being persecuted for their belief in Christ
  30. Business in USA.  Growth and Prosperity
  31. Alternate: Our Country as a whole to come to Christ

 

 

Presented by Gracie Girls Reunion Group