Columbus IN Area Emmaus Manual
Columbus IN Area Emmaus Manual
1st Printing - January 1994
2nd Printing - Summer 1994
3rd Printing - December 1994
4th Printing - February 1995
5th Printing - May 1995
6th Printing - June 1998
7th Printing - January 2002
8th Printing – February 2004
This manual is the property of Columbus IN Area Emmaus Community.
It is to be used only for an actual Walk.
There are 15 manuals for each walk that are distributed as follows:
Walk Lay Director (1)
Walk Spiritual Director (1)
Assistant Lay Directors (3)
Assistant Spiritual Directors (4)
Head Kitchen (1)
Head of Agape Team (1)
Musician Team (3)
Board Representative for the Walk (1)
Please observe the following instructions:
• Do not write in this book. Please use sticky notes or insert pages.
• After the Walk, remove any pages that you inserted.
• Make sure that you return this book at the completion of the Walk to the Walk
Board Representative.
• Make a note of any pages which need to be replaced addressed to the
Board Team Selection Representative.
• Attach securely to the outside of the manual.
(All scripture references are New Revised Standard Version)
This book is not to be copied or used for any purpose other than during the weekend of a Walk of the
Columbus IN Area Emmaus Community due to the fact that materials used are taken from
Copyrighted materials of the Lay Director’s Manual, Spiritual Director’s Manual, Handbook, etc. of
The Upper Room, Nashville, TN. The Emmaus Office at the Upper Room, Nashville, TN granted
permission for our reprinting and using materials in this manner only.
Guide for the Use of This Manual
This manual is intended to aid those with key program and logistical responsibilities
during a Columbus IN Area Emmaus Walk weekend at Camp Lakeview.
The Lay Director’s Manual and the Spiritual Director’s Manual published by The Upper
Room have been combined into one manual so that key individuals are working from
the same “script”. This book also add specific instructions for the Assistant Lay
Directors and some “scripts”, i.e. for send off, etc.
Understanding of the format of this manual:
1. Each day (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is marked with an index tab.
2. Each event’s start time is listed followed by a simple heading in bold.
Example:
6:30 P.M. - Registration and fellowship
Any action to be taken will follow this heading.
3. Items of information for the community or team are in a smaller
type inside a box. Example:
|As the Pilgrims and Team file past, those remaining from the community should applaud until all pilgrims and |
|team are out of sight. |
4. Whenever the Lay Director, Spiritual Director or one of the Assistant Lay
Directors are expected to talk or do something at a certain point of the weekend,
it will be noted outside the left margin of the page in bold type.
The end of that section will be marked in the same manner outside the right
margin. Example:
ALD #1 END ALD #1
5. If there are some instructions to the team member speaking in a certain section,
There will be notes in italics and in brackets. Example:
[Stand on a chair so that you are higher than anyone else. It will take an ALD with loud voice.
Perhaps a bell would be helpful to get the community’s attention.]
6. Those sections that are actually to be spoken aloud by someone will be in larger,
bold type, and double-spaced. Example:
Welcome! My name is [say your name] . We are going to take a
few minutes to get to know each other. Each of you needs to find a partner.
This needs to be someone you have never before met.
Thursday
Team
• The walk team should begin to gather at the Camp Lakeview Church anytime from noon on.
• Team members giving talks should, upon arrival, turn in their talk materials—including copies of the talk, posters, transparencies and any props--to the Talk Agape Team Member (ATM). Bring them in a file folder labeled with your name, talk name and talk number. This folder will assist the Talk ATM in keeping all items in order.
• Those arriving early in the day can help set up conference room – fill folders, set out items on tables, etc. Walk Lay Director might want to appoint an ALD to oversee these duties.
• The Team may be asked to make themselves available for a brief team meeting before the Pilgrims arrive, should the Lay Director decide instructions are necessary before the Walk begins.
• The Team will be served a light dinner at the time of the Lay Director’s choice (usually between 4:30 and 5:15).
• Later, after the Pilgrims have gone to bed, the team attends the evening team meeting, and then participates in the Team communion service. The communion elements will have already been blessed, and those attending Sponsor’s Hour will have already partaken. The agape team will move the elements from the dining room to the conference room after sponsors’ hour. The Team should leave the communion service in silence and observe the silence as they retire for the evening.
Facilities
• It is advisable to have one ALD responsible for camp facilities. That person should make room assignments and direct Team where to go upon arrival on Thursday afternoon. The facilities ALD should know where all items are kept, and be ready to coordinate with Head of the Agape Team as necessary. Cabin assignments should be made in advance and available in the conference room as the team members arrive. The Lay Director will assign one or two ATMs in each Pilgrim cabin.
Lay Director
• The Lay Director will see that the bed assignments are made. Keep in mind the need to balance the requirements of those with physical limitations and the natural desire to please everybody. Obviously, not everyone can be assigned to a lower bunk. Bed nametags should be placed on the wall above the Pilgrim and team beds. Agape Team has other responsibilities—see Agape Team booklet.
• It is very important that the Team provide the bed assignments to the registration people. It is advisable to name an ALD as liaison to Head of the Agape Team to avoid overlapping of tasks, etc. ALD and Head ATM could work together on Pilgrim bed assignments/bed tags.
Agape Team
• Head of the Agape Team should make sure where the three-legged stool is and be sure the Talk ATM has it—originally shipped to Prayer Chapel—ready for tonight.
• Team members giving talks will be given “Before Talk” and “After Talk” agape—usually letters from team, community members and prayer partners. This agape should be given to the Talk ATM and not put in boxes with the rest of the Pilgrim and Team agape letters. Otherwise, the Agape Team may not see agape until after the talk is completed!
• Refreshments will be set up at the back of Mohegan Lodge or outside if weather permits.
• The chapel (Mohegan Lodge) should be set up with chairs around the room in a circle for New Friends. The registration table will be set up at Mohegan Lodge. These chairs will have to be moved to set up Per Agape Team Manual—Chapel Diagram For Thursday Night Film during the break. The Chapel ATM should be in charge of making sure the video is ready to go – know which buttons to push – have the volume already set, etc. No banner, communion elements, etc. on Thursday night.
• Advance planning is needed to decide how to display the banners without damaging the walls in the conference room (church).
• The “needs list” also needs to be displayed in a manner that does not damage the wall.
6:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. - Registration and fellowship
|Registration is geared to start at 6:30 p.m. at Mohegan Lodge. |
|Pilgrims and their sponsors have received letters that state they should arrive no sooner than 6:30 and no later that 7:00 p.m. |
|Registration personnel and team members should be at registration at 6:15 to welcome Pilgrims!! Team members should have their |
|flashlights with them. |
|Have registration table set up (in Agape Team booklet). |
|List of Pilgrims and how much owed (Registrar takes care of) |
|Name badges to be displayed on table in alphabetical order |
|Bed assignments sheet |
|Some from team and/or community should be assigned to help carry luggage for Pilgrims. |
|Assign person (s) to direct the sponsors to the small parking area between Quapaw and Mohegan lodge for registering the pilgrims. The |
|sponsor should drive their car to the area outside the dining hall as soon as the pilgrim is registered, luggage taken to his/her room |
|and the bed made. The sponsor should then drive the pilgrim to the dining hall and park in the dining hall parking lot. All other |
|community members are to park in the dining room parking area. |
|Emmaus community members should refrain from hugging each other at this time. |
|Do all that you can to make pilgrims feel comfortable. |
7:00 P.M. - 72-Hour Prayer Vigil begins
|Prayer Vigil charts will be at Sponsor’s Hour. Any empty slots should be completely filled in before anyone leaves Sponsor’s Hour. The|
|chart will be shown to pilgrims on Friday. |
7:15 P.M. - Send Off
|Those attending send off should be: Pilgrims, sponsors, team and others of community who have gathered to send the pilgrims off on their|
|Walk. After registering the pilgrims and making the beds, sponsors need to drive the pilgrims to the dining hall for send off and park |
|cars in front of the dining hall. Then, the pilgrims will not be disturbed when the community leaves after sponsor’s hour. Send off |
|can be in the dining room, on the patio or on the gravel area by the kitchen. Remember—if send off is done in the dining hall, the |
|cross will have to be hidden behind one of the partitions. |
ALD #1 [Stand on top of picnic table or on a chair to be higher than anyone else. An ALD with a loud voice
will be selected. Perhaps a bell would be helpful to get the community’s attention.]
Good Evening! [You may have to say this a few times until everyone is listening.] Welcome to
Columbus IN Area Emmaus Walk # (say #) ! My name is (say your name) .
I am going to read the name of each person participating in the weekend. We are going
to form a line starting here and moving to my left [You may want to use your hand to point out how the
line is to form.] and circling around this area. [If you’re inside, you will have
to improvise.] When your name is called, you should respond by repeating your name loudly
for all to hear. Then move quickly to the line, next to the person called before you.
We want to end with everyone in a circle around this area.
OK, let’s begin.
[The Lay Director will have the prepared list before the Walk. You must check with the Registrar to see if
there are any last minute changes. Start reading the list that will consist of pilgrims’ and team members’
names interspersed. Read the list without making distinctions between team and pilgrim names. The first
person called should be an ALD followed by another team member. Those persons will be the “examples”
as to how to respond and where to start the line. Do not call the name of any team member who is not present.
The last name read should be an ALD—to bring up the rear. It is advisable to have a pen to mark off the names
as they are read to keep your place.]
|The community supports each Pilgrim and Team member with applause when each name is called and as he/she responds. |
|The LD and ALDs will insert the listing of names as a temporary, personalized next page in the manual, which you will remove after the |
|walk. |
[When you have finished reading the list…] Is there anyone I have missed? Now starting with
the beginning of the line, I’d like all of you in the line to follow me to Mohegan Lodge
so we can begin the Walk to Emmaus. End of ALD #1
|As the Pilgrims and Team file past, those remaining from the community should applaud until all Pilgrims and Team are out of sight. |
|Sponsors and community then quietly and quickly gather in the dining room for Sponsor’s Hour. |
|The Mohegan lodge is the gathering place for introductions. The room should have chairs placed in a circle around the room. Each person|
|can choose to sit or stand. The “New Friends” sign will be placed up front (writing hidden) by the fireplace. The sign is sent to camp |
|with supplies. The ALD giving instructions and the Lay Director will speak in front of the fireplace. |
7:30 P.M. - Introductions
|During the Lay Director talk, the conference room bell and the purple worship book will be shown—head of the Agape Team makes sure these |
|two things are in Mohegan Lodge (perhaps on small table or podium) for the LD’s talk. |
|The Agape Team can all be present during introduction time. However, the LD may choose to have only the ATMs assigned to the cabins in |
|attendance at new friends due to the space restrictions. |
|ATMs should have replacement watches with them. They will be passed out during the LD’s talk before taking a break prior to viewing the |
|film. |
ALD #2 Welcome! My name is (say your name) . We are going to take a
few minutes to get to know each other. Each of you needs to find a partner. Your
partner should be someone you have never met before. The two of you will have about 5
minutes to learn information about each other. You need to learn each other’s name,
something about family and an interesting fact. The two topics you are not permitted to
discuss now, or anytime during the weekend, are where you attend church and your job.
After the 5 minutes, you will have the opportunity to introduce your “new friend” to the
rest of us. So, find a partner and chat for a few minutes. [Maximum of 5 minutes. ALD #2 and
ALD #3 should chat with each other and be prepared to “set the example”.]
[After the 5 minutes – no longer please…] Now it is time for us to introduce our new friend. We
want you to keep it to 1 minute – so be brief. We have a sign to remind you of the things
you need to share with us about your “new friend”. My “new friend” and I will start
things off to give you an example. [Remember you are the one to set the pace – keep it brief!]
…..Is that everyone?……
It is now my pleasure to introduce you to our Spiritual Director for the weekend…
(say name of Spiritual Director) . END ALD #2
SD Welcome to the Columbus IN Area Walk to Emmaus. I look forward to the
opportunity to personally visit with each of you this weekend. It is my pleasure at this
time to introduce the Assistant Spiritual Directors for this weekend:
[Announce the names of the four ASDs]
We will be available for conversation with regard to any concern, struggle,
or matter of faith you may have. Emmaus is open to various traditions and
denominations. Holy Communion will be celebrated daily and is open to all
traditions and denominations.
It is my pleasure at this time to introduce your Lay Director for the weekend……
(state Lay Director’s name) . End SD
LD 8:00 P.M. - Lay Director’s Talk on Thursday Evening
Welcome to the Walk to Emmaus. These three days will be a short course in
Christianity in which we all will experience the love and grace of God. In essence, we
intend to spend the next three days learning more about what Christianity really is
and what living the life of a Christian should really involve.
We’ve come here to consider our journeys of faith and to fill our hearts with fire.
To accomplish this, it is essential that we do not judge prematurely. To even BE
here tonight, we have trusted the advice and recommendation of others. Perhaps
we’ve seen how effective the Walk to Emmaus has been in the lives of men and women
who have previously attended. Now, we are asked to have the same confidence in this
experience that they had. We’re asked to put aside any mistrust. Many of us have been
trained in our work to analyze, to judge, and to evaluate things. This is fine – we want
everyone to do that. But, it is extremely important that we don’t make any judgment
until we have ALL the facts given to us. Wait until Sunday night to judge. Please don’t
PREJUDGE. Please DO NOT ANTICIPATE during the next three days. Let us
simply do what is asked of us at the time it is asked. Let’s not worry about the next day –
or even the next hour – or even the next minute. Let us LIVE FOR THE MOMENT.
The Walk to Emmaus is a well-constructed experience in which every part is
important, no matter how insignificant it may seem to us at the time. As each part is
presented, rest assured that it is important. All that is asked of us is that we have
confidence in the Emmaus Team and go forward MOMENT by MOMENT, HOUR by
HOUR, without fear or mistrust.
Let me illustrate what we can expect these three days. [Read Luke 24:13-35. The text
follows:] [New Revised Standard Version] Now on that same day two of them were going
to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with
each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and
discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept
from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each
other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.
Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “are you the only
stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there
in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about
Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all
the people, and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be
condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to
redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things
took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the
tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back
and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women
had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are,
and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not
necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things
about himself in the Scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if
he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is
almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it
to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished
from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us
while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven
and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen
indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” They told what had happened on the road,
and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. [End of scripture]
This story provides the image for our three days together.
Two friends, disciples, were walking together. They were sharing their hearts’
deepest concerns. The risen Christ joined them and walked with them. Christ
responded to their needs through the scriptures. This was a heartwarming experience
as the risen Christ walked and talked with them on the road. The illuminating climax
came when Christ blessed and broke the bread during the meal. The two had their eyes
opened and they recognized the risen Christ. They jumped to their feet and ran all the
way back to Jerusalem to tell others about their experience.
This Walk to Emmaus is with friends – either friends we now have or will make
during these three days. The scriptures will be explained so that they bring light and
understanding to our needs. For many, this will be a heartwarming experience. We
will share so deeply in worship and Holy Communion that our eyes will be opened and
we will see the risen Christ. We will study, discuss and experience God’s grace in
this community of friends.
I believe we’ll find the Walk to Emmaus to be a moving experience. Don’t judge the
parts we are given. DON’T ANTICIPATE what the next part will be. It may seem to
be unneeded at the time. But if we can refrain from anticipation or prejudgment, by
Sunday night I think we will find the experience has been a beautiful one. In fact, on
Sunday, this Sunday, we will be asked to describe the three days. Maybe then we will
see why our friends said they couldn’t easily describe the Walk to Emmaus – that we
have to LIVE IT first.
I ask of us, then, these three things – our faith, our self-surrender and our spirit
of charity. Faith, first of all, in God, who uses us to work out God’s purposes. The
Walk to Emmaus, as we know, didn’t come directly from heaven – it didn’t fall out
of the sky ready made. On the contrary, it is the work of men and women. Many
persons have labored for years to make it the instrument it now is – an instrument
for bringing us closer to God. Faith is the belief that something great is possible and
will happen. These three days are largely a result of the commitment of many people
to what they believe. We’ll be seeing people in the background supporting us with
food, prayers, and other expressions of their love and friendship.
Another group of people will be helping me this weekend as members of this
Emmaus Team, and I’d like to have them stand now for you to see them. [Pause]
Let’s adopt a spirit of self-surrender. Surrender ourselves to God first of all,
and also to the pattern of the three days. Let’s NOT ANTICIPATE, but give
ourselves fully to God here and now – be truly aware of Christ working in us.
Men and women have come to an authentic relationship with Christ through the
Emmaus experience—LET IT WORK ON US. Let’s not sell it short, particularly
during this initial period. Tomorrow will be better than tonight; Saturday will be
better yet; and by Sunday—we may not want to leave. Let’s have faith in God and
in this instrument, the Walk to Emmaus. We hope to fill our minds with ideas and
our hearts with fire. Have faith in the Emmaus team presenting this experience.
It is quite obvious that we’re human—both the clergy and the laypersons. But our
strength is in the Holy Spirit who works in us. These may seem like high-sounding
words now – but by Sunday we’ll know how true they are. Our complete surrender
NOW is our guarantee to a hundredfold return in these three days.
In addition, we ask for a spirit of charity – putting other people’s interests first.
When we go from one place to another, let’s be prompt, charitable and cooperative.
Have a spirit of charity and cooperation for one another and for the speakers. We can
learn in our time here a way of living that can be a pattern for all our life – in PIETY, in
STUDY and in ACTION. Our lives should be what we see and live during these three
days. All that is asked is that we take advantage of the occasion. We have an opportunity
here that should not be wasted. We’ll have a lot of fun. We’ll laugh, sing, and have
a really good time together. The food will be great, and there will be plenty of it.
Lastly, let me stress that the Walk to Emmaus is not an ordinary retreat. On the
contrary, a retreat, such as many of you have probably attended, is often an annual
event. The Walk to Emmaus is once in a lifetime.
This evening we will maintain silence as a spiritual preparation for our prayer and
discussion for the next three days. The Walk to Emmaus is not a quiet, interior,
personal thing. No, we’ll laugh together, sing together and we’ll enjoy all the advantages
that life in common can bring. For tonight only, however, we ask cooperation in this
preparation for tomorrow’s schedule by remaining silent until after Holy Communion
tomorrow morning. In order to maintain the silence, we also request that you refrain
from taking a shower this evening. There will be enough time for this tomorrow.
Also, as another element of self–surrender, we are asked to remove our watches
and put them in our pockets. When we go to our rooms tonight, we will put them in
our suitcases. This is important while we are away from the secular, time-watching
world; let’s give up our slavery to the clock. We have replacement watches we will
now give you to wear for the weekend.
[Agape Team Members quickly hand out the replacement watches for everyone.]
[The LD will continue reading the following after the bracelets are passed out.]
If you are on medication or a special diet, let one of the leaders know.
I have already said that these three days require of us our faith, self-surrender,
and charity. Remember that life in common, as we will share it for the next few days, is
not always easy. We’re all asked to be considerate of others and to cooperate willingly
with the demands of the schedule.
We will ring a bell [ring bell] to alert everyone to come to the conference room or the
dining room or the chapel or anywhere part of the weekend is taking place. Please
respond to the bell promptly. Our cooperation in these small matters will benefit the
entire group.
We will be moving from one building to another during the next 3 days. If at any time
during the weekend you would rather ride than walk, transportation will be available.
Tonight, after the final dismissal, please let us take care of our personal needs
within an hour and be ready to jump into our luxurious beds when the lights go
out. Remember, no one showers tonight. Let us surrender ourselves and have
charity for the routine and for others.
Let’s set our sights high these three days, striving to attain the greatest good
the Walk to Emmaus has to offer. Perhaps we can eliminate thinking and
wondering about our life at home or at work. We can be assured that by
concentrating on the matter that will be presented these three days, we will
return to our families and our jobs with a better attitude and far greater
enthusiasm.
So, let’s keep our minds fastened on Christ and what Christ will say to us
these three days. If anyone has a question, come to me anytime, or to any of
the clergy, or to the assistants.
Let us have charity for our fellow Christians here, and then high idealism
for ourselves. Let us surrender ourselves to the pattern of these three days.
Let its message unfold in our minds and hearts. These days may prove to be
the most valuable of our lifetime. Let’s not lessen their effectiveness by failing
to give ourselves completely to the message and experience of the Walk to
Emmaus.
Dress informally and comfortably. Please let’s wear our name tags at all times
so we can get to know one another quickly. Tomorrow morning we will be
awakened by this bell. [Ring bell.] Smoking is not allowed inside any building.
There will be plenty of breaks for you to go outside if you need to smoke.
Each of us will receive one of these worship booklets. [Hold up book.] We should
always carry it with us because we will use it in the conference room, in the chapel
and in the dining room. Otherwise, all materials will be provided for us.
We will now be taking a short time (indicate 10 to 15 minutes with your fingers) for a
restroom break. We will go outside and next door to the Quapaw Lodge for this short
break. (Team members can use the restrooms at Mohegan. If you are having snacks and drinks available during
this break, announce it here.)
There are bathrooms on each side of the cabin for your use. Please take care of your
needs quickly . You may gather outside in the parking area when you are done. Please
assemble quickly when you hear the melodious bell.
|The ATMs will set up the chairs in preparation for the film and put the TV and VCR in place during the break. Head Agape and Lay |
|Director may choose to have drinks and finger snacks available during the break under the outside covered area if weather permits. (In |
|the case of bad weather, the prayer chapel in Quapaw could be used for refreshments with the prayer chapel items placed at the back of |
|the room and covered.) |
|ALD #1 and ALD #3 should go to the Mohegan Lodge door now to be there to keep pilgrims from entering prematurely and to hand out |
|worship booklets when the pilgrims and team arrive. Everyone gets worship booklet. |
[When all have returned….]
We will be going to the Mohegan Lodge, which will be our chapel for these three days.
When you enter the chapel, there will be someone to hand you a worship booklet. Please
fill in the front seats in the chapel first.
In the spirit of self-surrender, of high idealism, and of charity, let’s prepare
ourselves for further meditation. Follow me as we continue our spiritual walk.
From now on we will observe silence. END LD
|LD and SD should lead the way. ALD #2 should be last to leave – make sure everyone has gone to chapel. When ALD #2 enters the chapel,|
|this should be a signal to the LD and SD that everyone is in the room and the video can be started. |
8:20 P.M. - Show film “In Remembrance”.
|The Spiritual Director should have a flashlight or a book light (there is one packed in the chapel supply box) for this evening. The |
|chapel ATM should put the book light on SD’s chair. |
SD [Following the film “In Remembrance” help the participants set a proper focus for their responses to the three
days by using the following guidelines. Some may be anxious, skeptical, or preoccupied with work or home.
This meditation can go a long way in setting the pilgrims’ minds at ease concerning the journey ahead. The
Spiritual Director’s comments challenge the participants to use the silence to get to know themselves, to
honestly look at their relationship with God, and to open their hearts to the gift of the next three days.]
Let us reflect on the film. Each disciple responded in a different manner to the
life and ministry of Jesus. Each of you has responded in your life in a different way to
Jesus. Each of you will respond differently to the Walk to Emmaus. If you bring all
of yourself – your feelings, emotions, aspirations, and doubts – and deal with yourself
honestly, then you will do as much as can be expected.
Give yourselves to these three days. Put aside your job- and family-related
worries and spend this time with yourself. The purpose of the silence tonight is to
give you time to locate where you are in your faith journey. By knowing where you
are in your journey, you will be better able to take in and be nourished by the content
of these next three days. If you are going to take a three-day Walk to Emmaus, you
need to know from where you are starting.
When faced with difficult situations, Jesus often sought a quiet place where
he and his disciples could pray, meditate, and discuss what God’s will was for them.
We read in the Gospel of Luke:
He (Jesus) came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives;
and the disciples followed him. When He reached the place, He said to
them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then He
withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed.
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will
but yours be done.” [Luke 22:39-42 NRSV]
We need a quiet place where we also can confront basic questions of life:
Who am I? Where am I going in my life? What is the meaning of life? Viktor
Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning had all the exteriors of life – his family,
His job, his respect, his vocation—stripped from him in the concentration camps in
Nazi Germany. Frankl’s answer came as he confronted his relationship with God.
That relationship gave meaning to everything else in his life.
Think for a moment. Would you say that God gives meaning to your life –
your marriage – your vocation – your relationships?
Take this period of silence and get to know yourself – your hopes – your
dreams – your motives – your feelings – yourself. Be honest in your silence and,
at the very beginning of this three-day Walk to Emmaus, get to know yourself. END SD
|Chapel ATM should turn on lights in room. Pilgrims will be reading from worship books and will |
|need to see. |
9:45 P.M. - Lay Director Leads Prayers.
LD Please stand now as we continue our evening with a sense of worship. Turn
to page 16 of your worship booklet and read with me the Apostles’ Creed as we
reflect upon these affirmations of faith. [Give them a moment to turn to page.]
[The following is from book…all read together]
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Please be seated.
[The following bold print is what you say – leading all through prayer.]
Let us pray.
Lord, we offer our prayers for those living in sin. [short pause]
Lord, we offer our prayers for those who resist your grace. [short pause]
Lord, we offer our prayers so that we will make good use of these three days. [short pause]
Lord, we offer our prayers for those of us who need this weekend the most, and for
THE ONES WHO THINK THEY NEED IT THE LEAST. [short pause]
Lord, we offer our prayers for those who are sacrificing themselves for our sake during
these three days. [short pause] Amen.
Please turn to page 10 and pray with me. [Give them time to turn to page.]
[The following is from page 10 – All pray together.]
Lord,
Where should I look for you?
My day is all filled with much to do –
with love,
with hate,
with encounters that go nowhere.
My emotions are touched by a picture of a starving child, the laughing of my Aunt
Bess, the cries of a lonely world, the clumsiness of big government, the potential
of big government.
My hope is stirred by the promise of youth, reading the Gospels, the acts of love I
see, the acts of justice I see, your acts of mercy I know.
I question my future when I see outbursts of anger between people and among nations.
My life is refreshed by notes of celebrating songs, and by the sun shining through
clouds of terror.
But, Lord, the questions still haunt me, “Where should I look for you?” “Where are
you trying to reveal yourself to me?”
Am I seeing this wrong?
Should I be asking, “Where am I trying to reveal you – your love, justice, and mercy?”
Help me to be your spokesperson. Amen.
[Following the evening prayers]
Please close your books and listen closely. Jesus Christ speaks to you. Listen.
“I have picked you ahead of everyone else, and I have called you to three days in
my company. Because I want you, and I love you. Because I love you and need you.
I want you to be holy so that you may help me bring about the changes in your
brothers and sisters. Don’t be apprehensive or hesitant. I am your God, and I
want to be your friend. Remember, it was not circumstance, not a friend, not a
fellow worker, not a pastor – not anything or anyone – that has brought you here.
IT IS I WHO HAVE CALLED YOU.”
[long pause]
Now we are going to bed, but remember, in silence. We are all tired and
need rest. So, please be considerate of others. There will be time for conversation
tomorrow. Don’t worry about what time we need to get up. We will be awakened
by our melodious bell. When the bell rings, we will have 30 – 45 minutes in which
to shower and dress. Please wait in the cabin until the bell calls you to the chapel,
which will be in this room. Again, we are asked that silence be kept until after worship
tomorrow morning. This time of silence will allow us time for personal reflection before
we join with our brothers / sisters in this Walk to Emmaus. Our spiritual directors are
always available to meet with you even during the quiet time.
Good night and God bless you!
|Spiritual Directors remain in chapel, if necessary. |
10:10 P.M. - Pilgrims go to cabins.
10:15 P.M. - Pilgrims prepare for bed in silence
Team meeting in conference room
|Team meeting in conference room. LD leads the team meeting. LD makes final decisions on table assignments in conference room with |
|input from the TL and ATL. The assigned ALD must get the count of team plus pilgrims. ALDs put out folders after table assignments |
|finished. Each folder must have person’s name on outside and a steno pad, songbook and pen inside. The folders should be placed face |
|down at the Table Leader’s place. That chair will have its back to the speaker’s podium. Each table should have on it the rooster with |
|the name of the table, a plastic box full of supplies for making posters, Kleenex, and a trash receptacle, each which should be kept |
|emptied by the ALDs or Agape Team. The Lay director will have a prepared list with the table name, Table Leader, Assistant Table Leader |
|and Pilgrims’ names to use Friday morning. |
[LD will suggest that each Table Leader and Assistant Table Leader stand at each place at their table and
pray for each Pilgrim who will be at their table. The LD will make brief announcements for tomorrow.
Remind all of the photo session at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. All Kitchen and Clergy should be in the picture
if possible. Ask if there are any other business or concerns to bring before group.]
END LD
ALD #3
[Ask if there are any questions about sleeping rooms or facilities.]
END ALD #3
SD
[Any words? May want to specifically pray for table leaders, kitchen, etc. Take prayer requests
and close with prayer.]
Team Communion (in the conference room) – then team off to bed in silence.
END SD
Agape Team
[The Lay Director usually has an ALD arrange to have community members stay in the cabins with the
Pilgrims after the cabin ATMs get the Pilgrims settled in. This allows the ATMs to join the rest of the
Team for communion. The ATMs staying in the cabins should get back to the cabins right after the
communion time so the community members can leave. The cabin ATMs secure the cabins and turn the
lights out. Make sure bathroom night-lights are plugged in. Make sure all pilgrims are okay. Make
sure the signs are up for morning which remind Pilgrims to have name badge, worship book, mug,
flashlight, umbrella, etc.] End Agape Team
Friday
5:45 A.M. - Assistant Lay Directors, Lay Director and Agape Team get up.
ALD #1, #2, #3 [ALDs rise and wake Kitchen crew if necessary – they are probably already up. Shower
& dress - 20 minutes. Note: Women are rising earlier to give Pilgrims a little more time to get ready.]
|Take bell to cabins. Be sure to have everyone up by 6:20. Use no music – remember, silence is still being observed. Leave for Chapel|
|(Mohegan Lodge) at 6:50 a.m. Agape Team sets up juice and coffee each morning for pilgrims. |
6:15 A.M. - Team and Pilgrims Wake Up
ALD #1,#2 [Go to Pilgrim cabins and verify they are up. The cabin ATMs may already have awakened the Pilgrims. Ring bell to wake them up if necessary.]
ALD # 3 [Make sure all team members are awake.]
|There should be a sign posted on every door at the Pilgrim’s cabins: |
|DO YOU HAVE??? |
|Your name badge |
|Umbrella |
|Purple worship book |
|Mug |
|Coat |
|Flashlight?? |
6:30 A.M. Board Rep to chapel
6:50 A.M. - Leave for Chapel.
[Ring bell to alert all to leave.]
ALD #1, #2, #3 [#1 & #2 check to make sure that Pilgrims are on way to chapel. Check for stragglers.
ALD #3 advise Team of time and leave for chapel.]
END ALD #1, #2, #3
|Agape Team should have chapel set per diagram #2. Altar table should have table cloth, with plexiglass cover, |
|communion elements, cross (be sure correct side is facing the front), Bible, picture of Jesus, lighted candle. The candle should be |
|positioned so that it lights the picture making it easy to see the face of Jesus (candle and picture on one side of the cross, Bible on |
|the other). Emmaus banner should be hung on wall – hang high enough so it is easy to see. |
7:00 A.M. - Morning prayers in Chapel
LD Good morning, sons/daughters of God. Turn to page 8 in your worship booklet
and join with me in morning prayer. [Page 8 is as follows – all read together.}
Dear Lord
As I start this day,
help me focus my mind and spirit on you;
make me go about as if I am wearing a pair of
glasses, so I can see everything through you;
help me choose you;
help me be your witness in the world.
Make me witness for you, Christ, in every moment.
In times of joy when my friends find some new
moments of maturity, help me to remember the
foundation of mature actions.
In moments of agony and pain of loss or setback,
guide me to you for security and support.
In heart-to-heart dialogue, remind me to enrich my
conversation with the cement of your love.
In decision and resolution, enable me to be your
witness to the foundation of all deciding.
When authority is being tested and people are
challenging or setting the course of history,
direct me to be your witness and share the
authority of eternity.
When people are claiming pride in their ancestors,
enable me to remember the roots of my heritage,
the God of Abraham and Jacob.
In moments of pride, make me not be prideful of
my accomplishments, but witness to the accomplishments
made by you, through me.
Day by day, minute by minute, opportunity by
opportunity, give me the strength and presence
of mind to witness. Amen.
Our Spiritual Director will lead the service of Holy Communion at this time.
END LD
Liturgy of Holy Communion by Spiritual Director.
[Spiritual Director will need worship booklet]
|Songs and music by Pilgrims are not appropriate because the period of silence is not over and the service |
|should be meditative. The SD and LD may choose to have a short meditative solo or instrumental music. |
SD [Prayers from worship booklet or other appropriate source can be used. Use printed liturgy on page 25 for
Communion. You will probably not want to use the entire litany. If the SD would like, he/she can request that an
ALD give a signal when there are about 10 minutes left in the chapel time.]
[After communion, do the meditation. This meditation begins the first day of the Walk to Emmaus. The
focus of the talks during this day will be that God freely offers grace to all those who respond to live a life of love.
This is the story of the prodigal son, which presents the goodness and mercy of God. This meditation is meant to
awaken the pilgrims to the fact that God is already halfway down the road to meet us. It is important to share this
meditation from a first-hand view. Rather than talking about God’s mercy, share how you have experienced God’s
mercy and love.]
Meditation #1: The Prodigal Son (Spiritual Director)
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them
said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’
So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered
all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in
dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout
that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of
the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly
have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him
anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘how many of my father’s hired hands have
bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my
father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I
am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him
and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed
him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly,
bring out a robe – the best one – and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and
sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they
began to celebrate.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and approached the house,
he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going
on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf,
because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to
go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his
father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I
have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young
goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came
back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf
for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is
mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours
was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’” [Luke 15: 11-32 NRSV]
[Narrative:]
The story of the prodigal son tells our personal story. We are somewhere in
this story. Either we are in the far country, [short pause] on our way home, [short pause]
the other son, [short pause] or feasting on the fatted calf. [short pause]
Major parts of this story are: 1) God’s love and mercy; 2) We separate
ourselves from God; 3) We have to make a conscious decision to return; and 4) We
may have stayed home and still do not know the joy of a relationship with a loving
and merciful God.
Let me first talk about God’s mercy. The story of the Bible is the story of
God always reaching out to us, wanting a relationship. When Adam and Eve had
done the very thing that God had told them not to do and hid in the garden. God
went walking among the bushes calling “Adam, Eve, where are you?” The story of
Abraham and Jacob and David and Amos is God reaching out for a relationship.
The story of Jesus Christ is that same story, God calling to us, “Bob, (Nancy, Fred,
Ann, George) where are you? I want a relationship with you. I want to love you,
and I want you to love me.”
[Spiritual Director: Tell your own story of God offering you a relationship. Then talk about personal
responses using Luke 15:17-20….Insert your script/thoughts for this section.]
[Narrative:]
From time to time, all of us find ourselves in a far country, thinking that the
husks of the world look good. We need to come to our senses and realize that
back home we have a loving father who is more than willing to kill the fatted calf
for us and celebrate our homecoming. However the first step in this journey for
each one of us is to make a conscious decision to return home. No one can make
that decision for us. Each one has to make it personally. When we do, we will
find God already halfway down the road, ready to embrace us and welcome
us home.
The story of the other son is the story of those of us who have never
left home and experienced the pain of separation. But because we haven’t
felt the pain of separation, we may not realize the love we live in. The love
relationship we live in may seem like duty, not joy. Our churches are filled
with people who are living out their duty and not experiencing the great joy
that a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ can bring.
[Spiritual Director: End the meditation on a note of challenge, using Luke 15: 31-32.]
[Narrative:]
God is waiting for you to come home. The message of this day is that
God’s mercy and love are available to you if you will only come home. We hope
your response will be, “I will return to my father.”
END SD
LD [Immediately following the close of the service the Lay Director says:….]
Before we go to breakfast, let us pray [short pause]:
Let us pray for the Church, the Body of Christ. [short pause] Let us pray for
our families. [short pause] We pray for all clergy. We pray for all leaders of our
churches. [short pause] We pray for our nation, the United States; for our President;
and all officials of our government, national, state, and local. [short pause]
We pray for the problems we have and for the one who has the tremendous
problem of not having any at all. [short pause]
We pray, dear Lord, for the one among us who needs your help the most,
and especially for the one who thinks they need it the least, [short pause] for the most
courageous among us, and for the most cowardly, [short pause] for the most intelligent
and for the most humble. [short pause] We pray for each one of us, that we find here
during these three days what you want of us – our true, authentic happiness. [short pause]
We pray for those who have, who are, and who will sacrifice for us during
these three days so that your grace and love will be more evident to us.
Help us to see things clearly – in the spirit of high idealism, cooperation,
and charity.
We offer these prayers in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friends, the silence is over; follow me to breakfast!
END LD
|Walk up road to dining room. No music to be sung on the road yet. Agape should have van ready, if needed. |
7:40 A.M. - Dining room for breakfast.
|DO NOT HAVE THE GRACE POSTERS UP YET. Pilgrims do not sing graces until lunch on Friday. |
LD [Lay Director prays before meal. LD should check with the Head Kitchen and give any special instructions
for breakfast.] END LD
|The first speaker needs to report to chapel by 8:15 a.m. for prayer prior to his/her talk. ALD #2 will go to the chapel to pray with |
|speaker and to get the speaker when the group is ready in the conference room. The speaker may not want to go to morning chapel and |
|take that time to eat breakfast -- some do not like to talk right after a |
|meal. Allow the speaker some freedom of choice. The kitchen can hold some breakfast for the speaker to eat after the talk. This first|
|talk is given by an ALD and is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. |
|Agape Team - The prayer chapel should be set up with some type of altar. There is usually one available. If |
|not, a small table can be set up with several wool blankets folded up in front of it for kneeling. There should be a lighted candle |
|and the small picture of Jesus on the altar. The hand crosses should be on the altar. Before talk agape letters should be placed on |
|altar while the speaker is dressing so he/she can read them before praying. |
|ATM with a golf cart must be ready in case of rainy, snowy, cold or very hot weather to get the speaker to the conference room. |
|The speakers take a hand cross from the chapel with them to the conference room for support during the talk. The prayer partner holds |
|the second cross. Following the talk, the cross is returned to the chapel for the next speaker. |
|After-talk agape can be placed on altar in chapel for the speaker. |
|Talks run approximately 20 to 25 minutes. |
|The conference room should be set up: Pilgrims’ tables, table for LD, ALDs, SD, and ASDs, chair for BR, chairs, stands, and |
|microphones for musicians, podium with small table with table cloth holding candle/candle holder, overhead projector and Bible. Have |
|matches or lighter placed out of site on table or under lectern. Lectern should be set up—microphone adjusted. There is an easel |
|available in case a speaker has a poster, picture or other prop requiring one. Transparencies should be placed on the table next to |
|the projector prior to the ALD starting preparation for the next talk. |
|Talk ATM makes sure there is a fresh glass of water at the speaker’s podium for each speaker. |
|Snack ATM should have coffee and drinks ready snack table and put snacks out during photo session. |
LD Prayer after meal [Lay director prays after meal.]
8:10 A.M. Send Pilgrims to conference room after bathroom break.
We are going to take a short restroom break here. [Give directions to the restrooms in the
dining facility.] We will ring the bell when it is time to prepare to leave the dining room.
We will now be leaving this room and going into the conference room. Please
bring your mug, worship booklet, and other personal belongings with you.
When you arrive in the conference room, please sit down at one of the seats at any
of the tables. If any of you would like a ride to the conference room, please meet
near the door. An agape person will drive you to the conference room. [At the end of
meal, it might expedite the bathroom breaks to take any pilgrims wanting a ride directly to the conference room
and let them use the restrooms at the conference room. If there are not any pilgrims needing a ride, perhaps you
can send two of the tables ahead to use the restrooms in the conference room. Please be sure an ALD goes to the
conference room to show them where to go and be there as the pilgrims come to the conference room.]
END LD
SD (Serve communion to Kitchen Team after breakfast.)
END SD
|Agape Team can put grace posters up any time after Pilgrims leave the dining room and before lunch. |
8:25 A.M. - Conference room for table assignments.
ALD #1
[This should be the ALD who will be introducing the first speaker. Ring the bell and check bathrooms to make sure
all are back in the conference room—count the pilgrims and team to be sure all are present before the LD begins.]
END ALD#1
8:30 A.M. - Lay Director’s Talk
LD
We are now ready to begin the work of the Walk to Emmaus proper. Last
night’s period of spiritual silence is over. Last night may have been tiring and a
little slow. Today will be better, tomorrow much better, and Sunday will be the best
of all. We will soon find ourselves enjoying this event called the Walk to Emmaus.
I’ll describe something of the format we’ll be following over the next three
days, although there will be exceptions. On each of the three days we will have five
talks making a total of 15 talks. Laypeople will give ten talks and five will be given
by clergy. During each of these talks, we ask for your continued cooperation in
giving yourselves completely to the experience. Please give your total attention to the
ideas the speakers express and take notes throughout each talk. Take a lot of notes.
They will be very valuable, now and in the days to come. There are pens and notebooks
for this purpose on the tables. Self-surrender, by giving your complete attention to
the speaker and by taking notes, is an essential element of the Walk to Emmaus.
Following each of the 15 talks, there will be a small group discussion on the
ideas presented by the speaker. In a few minutes you will be assigned to table
groups. Each table has been given the name of one of our Christian leaders. You
will remain a member of the same table community throughout the weekend. At
each table, we have selected a leader. The leader will appoint a secretary. The
secretary will sit directly across from the leader. This position of secretary will
rotate after each talk. The leader’s job will be to keep the discussion focused on
the subject of the talk just presented and to help each person at the table have a
chance to express their personal opinions.
The secretary’s job will be to summarize the ideas discussed at the table.
Remember, everybody will be taking notes during the talk itself. The secretary
of each table will have the additional job of writing down the ideas expressed by
the people at the table during the discussion following that talk. Then, the entire
table group will collaborate on the actual drawing and coloring of a poster.
Materials will be provided to do the posters. Sometimes, instead of a poster, a
table may decide to do a skit or a song for a summary.
At the end of each day, we’ll ask each table to present its summaries and
posters or skits to the entire group. So, take care that the summaries really reflect
what was actually discussed at the table, and work to make the posters or skits
do the same. Posters or skits may be serious or humorous. We will ask that for each talk
summary and poster, one person present the table’s summary and another person from
that table describes the poster or skit. This method will enable everyone to participate
actively. Each talk summary should be limited to a COUPLE OF SENTENCES.
So, the format will be something like this – a talk (by a layperson or a clergy-
person); a discussion at each table; a summary of the ideas by the secretary with the
aid of all the table members; a poster, a song or a skit developed with everyone’s
assistance in some way; and finally, the presentation of your handiwork to everyone
at the end of each day.
Now, I ask everyone to stand along the back and sides of the room, and we
will assign each person a table. In our spirit of charity, remember not to be critical
of those selected as leaders and secretaries – probably all of us could do the jobs.
After I call out your name, please repeat it and go to the table assigned. The
leader will be called first. The second person called will be the secretary and
should sit opposite the leader. Then, everyone else at that table will be called.
[Call out names by table.]
|Each table should have the folders face down at the place where the Table Leader will sit. This chair should |
|have its back to the speaker’s podium. The Assistant Table Leader is the second person to be called and he/she should sit directly |
|across from the Table Leader. Insert the listing of names as the next page in the manual. Remember to first call out the Table |
|Leader, secondly the secretary (Assistant Table Leader) and then the remainder of the table members. Remember to remove this page at |
|the end of the Walk. |
|The procedure for the ALD bringing speakers from Chapel: Walk or drive the speaker to the conference room about 10 minutes before the |
|scheduled time for each talk. ATM needs to be sure the door and the sliding curtain |
|at the back of the conference room are closed. The speaker and ALD can enter the back kitchen door and remain in the kitchen until time |
|for the talk. The ALD can open the door and have visual contact with an ALD and the Musicians to indicate that the speaker is ready. |
8:35A.M. - 1st Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back of
the conference room no later than 8:40 AM.
ALD #2 [Bring first speaker from Prayer Chapel – see note above.] END ALD #2
LD These are our table groups for each time we meet in this conference room. We
ask that the leaders and appointed secretaries always sit opposite each other. The
other members of each table should take a different seat each time we come into this
room—but always at the same table.
Each person has a folder with his/her name on it. Table Leaders, please pass
out the folders. The folder contains a steno pad and a pen. When you are
handed a folder, please write your name on your steno pad. This is your notebook
to keep. It will not be picked up at the end of these three days, and no one else will
look at it at any time. Again, we urge you, please, to take many, many notes during
each of the talks. It will prove most beneficial to you later on. We will be praising
God in songs through out the weekend. The words will be projected on the screen
and there are also songbooks on the tables for your use.
Each table has a box of pens, markers and other supplies. Poster board will
be distributed at the appropriate time.
Summaries and posters may be humorous or serious—this is left to your
imaginations. It may be a skit or a song. The summaries should be indicative of the
discussion at your table after each talk presented – the most important aspect of
that discussion. The summaries are to be presented by different people at each table,
as are the posters. The time for summaries will be limited to two minutes per table.
We will have a restroom break before each talk, and we ask, that if at all
possible, everyone remain with their table after each talk and participate in the
table discussions. Again, we emphasize that you should take plenty of notes. You
will enjoy having these to review long after this weekend is over. END LD
ALD #1 [Signal from ALD #2 that speaker is ready.]
[Speak from front of room at podium] Notebooks open and pens ready…then, let’s
continue with the spirit of self-surrender, charity, and high idealism. [Light candle.]
We light this candle as a symbol of Christ’s presence and have the open Bible as
a symbol that all the talks are based on scripture. The first talk will be given by
a layperson. END ALD #1
8:45 A.M. - Talk #1 – Priority
|The talk ATM should put talk script on the podium, overheads on the table and any props on the shelf in the podium. Speaker #1 walks |
|up to podium and starts talk. If using an overhead projector, transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. There is no |
|song before the talk. There is no Prayer to the Holy Spirit here and the talk is not ended with De Colores. The talk should be 20 – |
|25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference room, return|
|to the chapel and end with prayer. The speaker does not return to conference room until after poster time. |
ALD #1 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation. [Blow out the
candle now. Wait in silence only 1 to 2 minutes. Some people have a problem with being silent. You may have
to say something more specific after the next talk if there is a problem with the silence being observed. After the
1 to 2 minutes has passed:]
You may begin your discussion of the talk.
|ATM gets snacks ready to put out after the photo session. |
[The Talk ATM should now remove the transparencies and props from the conference room.
The ALD allows 12 to 15 minutes for discussion, then says:]
You should now take a short time and write a summary of your discussion.
|The person sitting opposite the Table Leader is the secretary for this talk and should write down a summary of |
|the discussion of the table. For the first talk, the secretary will be the Assistant Table Leader. |
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board. ALD #2 can assist.]
|Agape Team should have dining room or other location set up for pictures. The weather may help determine where the group pictures are |
|to be taken. |
You can now begin working on your posters. Let your creativity flow!
[Allow 15 to 20 minutes. You should tour the room and collect the completed posters. There are extra
supplies in a box behind the Table of Concern that tables may want to use for their posters.]
|ALD #2 should remind Kitchen/Agape Team of group picture at 10:00. |
|Special effort should be made to have all Clergy, Kitchen, and Agape Team Members present for the photo. Encourage Clergy to stay |
|through lunch. The Spiritual Director should discuss this with Clergy during team meetings. |
|ALD needs to check on arrival of photographer. Please check with photographer on preferred location of the pictures—depending on |
|weather, physical limitations of Pilgrims, etc. If in the dining room, the ATMs |
|can have semi-circle of chairs set up. Have some stand on back row of chairs, a row standing in front, a row sitting in chairs, row on|
|knees in front of them, and a row sitting on the floor in front. |
|A picture should be taken of the entire group first—Pilgrims and all of the Team. The picture of the Table of Concern should be taken |
|right after the group photograph. This allows the Clergy giving talk #2 to get ready. |
|The Table Leader should hold the rooster with the table name to identify the group. |
|An ATM can take film to one-hour photo in Columbus. There will likely be several other errands to do at that time. An ATM will then |
|go back to select the “best” shots and then order the appropriate number of photos. Someone from the community can pick up the |
|pictures and bring them to camp—perhaps someone who is serving dinner on Saturday night. Arrange for charge from photo place or |
|reimbursement. These pictures must be ready to put in packets for Sunday. |
|The speaker for Talk #2 should go to change clothes right after the Table of Concern picture and report to the chapel at 10:35 for |
|prayer. |
|The talk ATM should have the before talk agape on the altar in the chapel. |
10:00 A.M. - Take group photos
Ladies/Gentlemen, we now will have group photographs taken so that you will
have mementos of the weekend. Table leaders, please bring your table rooster with
you for the picture taking. Leave your notebooks and folders here and follow me.
[Make sure you or the head agape takes charge of giving directions to keep the process moving.]
10:35 A.M. You have this much time [Indicate about a 5-minute restroom break with your fingers.]
to take a restroom break. [If the pictures are taken in the dining room, encourage pilgrims to use the
restrooms after each table completes the pictures.] Please return quickly to your tables in the
conference room when you hear the bell.
|The Agape Team can set out snacks during the photographs. The Pilgrims may want to pick up something after the break before returning |
|to the table. |
10:40 A.M. - Ring bell to return to tables. [Ring bell. Take a head count.] END ALD #1
10:50 A.M. - Music
Musicians
|Musicians teach the group a song for singing before each talk (to be decided by the Lay Director and practiced during the team meetings|
|– “Sing Alleluia to the Lord” (page 41 in the worship booklet) is used frequently. De Colores (page 35) and the meal songs also need to|
|be learned. Musicians should be prepared to also share the history behind “De Colores” and the Emmaus practice of singing grace before|
|and after meals. The tradition of having grace before and after meals (page 25) is a Benedictine tradition of praying God’s blessing |
|before the meal and thanking God for the blessing of the food after the meal. |
|“De Colores” was written by the early participants in Cursillos, who on their way home after having heard the many talks on the many |
|colors of God’s grace, had their bus break down near a barnyard. Seeing the field in |
|the spring colors of flowers and blooming trees, the iridescent colors of the roosters and chickens, and seeing a rainbow in the |
|distance, they wrote this song – “De Colores”, which means “of the colors”. There are 99 verses; undoubtedly the bus was broken |
|down for a long time. However, we will learn only a few verses. |
11:00 A.M. - Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back of
the conference room by 11:05 AM.
|Musicians will lead group in singing at least one song before each talk, before the ALD announces that it is |
|time to prepare for the next talk. At different times during the weekend, there will be opportunity to sing more than one song and you|
|may need to “fill in” at certain times. Always be prepared to lead the group in singing. |
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of|
|sight of the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the speaker has selected before his/her talk. After that song is sung, |
|the ALD will announce speaker and Musician will ask group to rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
|Talk ATM should put after talk agape on the altar in the chapel before leaving to get in place in the |
|conference room before the speaker enters to avoid distraction. |
END MUSICIANS
11:10 A.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #1 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person sitting
across from the Table Leader. [Allow a few moments for seat changing.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, we have encouraged you to take many notes. During these
talks you will hear several scripture references. Don’t worry if you do not get all of
those references written down. At the end of the weekend, you will receive a listing of
scripture references used by each of our speakers.
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk which will be given by a
clergy person. [Light candle.] END ALD #1
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
11:15 A.M. - Talk #2 - Prevenient Grace
|The speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until the song is finished. Then the speaker asks the group,|
|“Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” All will pray prayer. It is taped on the |
|podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. This talk is ended with |
|“De Colores”. The talk should be 20 – 25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the speaker should |
|take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference room, return to the prayer chapel and end with prayer. |
ALD #1 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[After the 1- 2 minutes have passed:]
You may begin your discussion of the talk. [Blow out candle.]
[Allow 12 – 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time to write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board. ALD # 2 can assist.]
|The person sitting opposite the Table Leader is the secretary for this talk and should write down the summary of the discussion of the |
|table. |
You can now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or a
song instead of a poster. Please take the opportunity to take a quick trip to the restroom
sometime while working on your poster or skit.
[Allow 15 to 20 minutes. You should tour the room and collect the completed posters. There are extra
supplies in a box behind the Table of Concern that tables may want to use for their posters.]
|Breaks should be taken during poster time. Be careful of abuses. ALDs should monitor. |
ALD #3
12:00 noon - Contact kitchen
[Contact Kitchen to see if lunch is ready. Make sure grace posters are up.] END ALD #3
12:20 P.M. - Dining room for lunch
ALD #1 It is now time for lunch. You may sit wherever you like in the dining room.
Please bring your worship books with you. Turn to page 36 as we sing De Colores on the
way to lunch. END ALD #1
MUSICIANS
[Lead pilgrims into dining room with “De Colores”. After all arrive in dining room, ALD will announce
singing of grace before and after meal – you will lead in the singing of grace before and after the meal.]
END MUSICIANS
|Speaker for Talk #3 – Priesthood of All Believers – should leave now to change clothes and then report at 12:45 |
|P.M. to the chapel for prayer. Please let the Kitchen know you would like to have lunch after your talk. Or, you can eat a quick lunch |
|first. The talk is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. |
12:25 P.M. - Grace before the meal.
ALD #3
Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal. The
words are printed on poster board above the windows. [Musicians will lead the singing.]
Please be seated. [Any instructions from kitchen?]
|Eat lunch. After the joke time, you will show them the needs list and announce it will be posted in the conference room. |
12:45 P.M. - Joke Time
It is an Emmaus tradition to tell jokes at mealtime. Anyone may share a joke
during this time. However, we have three simple rules for joke time. They must be
short, clean and funny! [The simple rules for joke time should be made clear in a fun way. These points
should be made as often as necessary to make joke time a good experience for everyone.]
12:55 P.M. - Announcements
We want you to be comfortable this weekend. If there is anything that you
need or anything that you want during the weekend, – anything--please write it on
this “NEEDS LIST”. It will be posted on the wall in the conference room. Also, if
you need assistance with taking your medication on time, let the Lay Director or
one of the assistants know. We will have someone responsible to let you know when
to take your medication at the proper time. Don’t hesitate to ask us for anything.
1:00 P.M. - Grace after the meal.
Please stand for the singing of the grace after the meal. The words are printed
on poster board. [Musicians will lead the singing.]
Please take a break about this long [indicate about 10 minutes of time with your fingers]
to use the restrooms here and return to your tables in the conference room when
you hear the bell. Anyone who would like to ride, please meet the agape person at the door.
END ALD #3
ALD #1 [Ring bell in the dining room for all to return to the conference room. Ring the bell again in the
conference room to get pilgrims to their tables. ] END ALD #1
1:10 P.M. - Return to the conference room.
MUSICIANS [Lead singing.] END MUSICIANS
1:15 P.M. - Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back of
the conference room by 1:20 P.M.
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of|
|sight of the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the speaker has |
|selected to be sung before their talk. After that song is sung, the ALD will announce speaker and musician will ask group to rise to |
|sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
|Talk ATM should put after talk agape on altar in chapel before leaving for the conference room. |
1:25 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #1 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.]
END ALD #1
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
1:30 P.M. - Talk #3 – Priesthood of All Believers
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. This talk is ended with De Colores. The talk should be 20 – 25 minutes in |
|length. When the talk is finished, the speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference room, return to the prayer|
|chapel and end with prayer. |
ALD #1 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[After the 1- 2 minutes have passed:]
You may being your discussion of the talk. [Blow out candle.]
[Allow 12 – 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
|Clergy for Talk #4 should now leave to dress and then report at 2:15 to the chapel. They have approximately |
|20 minutes to dress. The talk is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. |
You should now take a short time to write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board. ALD # 2 can assist.]
You can now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or a
song instead of a poster. Please remember to make a quick trip to the restroom sometime
while working on your poster or skit.
[Allow 15 to 20 minutes. You should tour the room and collect the completed posters.
There are extra supplies in a box behind the Table of Concern.]
|Breaks should be taken during poster time. Be careful of abuses. ALDs should monitor. |
2:30 P.M. - Prepare for next talk. [Ring bell for all to return to tables. Take head count.]
END ALD #1
MUSICIANS [Lead singing. Check with ALD about approximate time available for singing.]
END MUSICIANS
2:35 P.M. - Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back of
the conference room by 2:40 P.M.
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of|
|sight of the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the |
|speaker has selected to be sung before their talk. After that song is sung, the ALD will announce speaker and Musician will ask group |
|to rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
|Talk ATM should put after talk agape on altar in chapel. |
2:45 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #1 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
Sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a clergy person. [Light candle.] END ALD #1
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
2:50 P.M. - Talk #4 – Justifying Grace
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. This talk is ended with De Colores. The talk should be 20 – 25 minutes in |
|length. When the talk is finished, the speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference room, return to the prayer|
|chapel and end with prayer. |
ALD #1 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[After the 1- 2 minutes have passed:]
You may being your discussion of the talk. [Blow out candle.]
[Allow 12 – 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time to write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board. ALD # 2 can assist.]
You can now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or a
song instead of a poster. Please make a quick trip to the restroom sometime while working
on your poster or skit.
|At this point bring out one or two banners – but no more. It is more effective if this type of agape just keeps coming all weekend. |
|Please do not staple or nail banners to wall. These banners are used over and over again and need to look “brand new” for each walk. |
|You can also do this with other community agape letters. |
|The ALD can announce something like the following: |
ALD #3 Ladies/Gentlemen, we would like to present to you a banner made as an act of
agape. [Make sure you do not say that the banners “just arrived” or “made for you”. That is misleading.
Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the poster time. Observe when most of the tables seem to be done.
You should tour the room and collect the completed posters There are extra supplies in a box
behind the Table of Concern that tables may want to use for their posters.]
END ALD #3
3:45 P.M. - Long Break
ALD #1 Ladies/Gentlemen, we will now have a break about this long (indicate about an
hour and a half—depending on how the schedule is going). You may walk around this area,
take a walk, or return to your cabin for a rest or a nap. Please do not go back
into the woods where you would not hear the melodious bell. We will ring it all
the way from the cabins to the conference room. When you hear the bell, you
have about this much time (indicate about 10 minutes with your fingers) to return to the
conference room. Transportation will be available at the cabins for those who
would like a ride back to the conference room. END ALD #1
|The reason for calling everyone back to the conference room following breaks, lunch, etc. is to check quickly by tables to see if|
|everyone is present without having to count off or call the roll. In case of inclement weather, the lay director could opt to |
|have the pilgrims go directly to the dining hall and ask them to line up by tables, verify the count during the song, and sing De|
|Colores there. |
|Depending on the schedule, the Lay director may choose to call everyone back early to sing before dinner or just let them rest |
|until time for dinner. |
5:00 P.M. - Check kitchen schedule
ALD #3 [Check with Kitchen to make sure the meal is on schedule.]
5:15 P.M. - Call everyone back to the conference room. [Start ringing bell at the cabins and
continue ringing it while walking back to the conference room.] END ALD #3
ALD #1 [Ring bell. Check pilgrim count.]
5:25 P.M. - Go to dinner—singing.
It is now time for us to go to dinner. You may sit wherever you like in the dining
room. Please bring your worship books with you. Turn to page 36 as we sing
De Colores on the way to dinner. END ALD #1
MUSICIANS
[Lead Pilgrims into dining room with “De Colores”. After everyone is in the dining room, ALD will announce
the singing of grace before and after the meal. Musicians will lead the singing.] END MUSICIANS
|The speaker for Talk #5 -Life of Piety- may leave now to change clothes and then report to the chapel at 6:00 P.M. for prayer. The speaker |
|has about an hour before the talk. The speaker may choose to eat a quick dinner. Or, the kitchen can hold dinner for the speaker to eat |
|after their talk while the tables are discussing the talk and doing posters. The talk is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. |
|The talk ATM should have the before talk agape on the altar in the chapel. |
5:30 P.M. - Grace before the meal.
ALD #3
Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal. [Musicians will
lead the singing.] Please be seated. [Give any instructions from the Kitchen.]
5:50 P.M. - Joke time
Ladies/gentlemen it is joke time. Please remember the three simple rules—short,
funny and clean.
5:55 P.M. - Grace after the meal.
Please stand for the singing of the grace after the meal. The words are
printed on poster board above the windows. [Musicians will lead the singing]
6:00 P.M. - Break
Take a break about this long to use the restrooms here in the dining hall
[indicate time with your fingers] and return to your tables in the conference room when
you hear the melodious bell. END ALD #3
ALD #1
[Ring bell for all to return to conference room. Ring the bell again in the conference room to
get everyone back at their tables.] END ALD #1
|Agape team should set up the chapel for the Emmaus Road Prayer Experience after the pilgrims leave. |
6:10 P.M. - Return to conference room
6:15 P.M. - Prepare for next talk.
Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back of
the conference room by 6:20 P.M.
MUSICIANS [Lead singing] END MUSICIANS
|Signal from ALD that the speaker is ready—the speaker should be in the kitchen. |
|Talk ATM should put after talk agape on altar in chapel before leaving for the conference room. |
6:25 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #1 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary –
the person sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow a few moments for seat changing.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #1
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
6:30 P.M. - Talk #5 – Life of Piety
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. The speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using |
|an overhead projector, transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. This talk is ended with |
|De Colores. The talk should be 20 – 25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the speaker should |
|take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference room, return to the prayer chapel and end with prayer. |
ALD # 3 [After the talk is over, check on set up of the chapel for the Emmaus Road Prayer Experience. The
Agape Team is setting up per the diagram and will use the Lay Director’s choice of focal point. This can be the
Emmaus banner or a picture.] END ALD #3
ALD#1 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[Blow out the candle. After the 1-2 minutes have passed the lay director should begin her/his talk.]
END ALD #1
7:00 P.M. - Lay director’s talk after Life of Piety
LD
Friends, please call to mind your favorite picture of Christ and keep your
heart centered upon Christ. [pause]
We’ve reached a point in these three days when we are beginning to have
better appreciation of the love of God – of God’s love for us and the love that exists
among the members of Christ’s Body, the Church. Perhaps we haven’t realized before
what this love really meant, but we are beginning to understand it now. Perhaps we have
never realized before the intensity and depth of this love among the members of Christ’s
Body, the Church, but we are beginning to appreciate this, also.
Perhaps, for the first time, we are becoming aware of what other members of
Christ’s Body are doing for us – the love they have for us. Many of these people we will
never see, never meet, and never know. Yet, their love for us is so great that they are
willing to make sacrifices for us so that the grace of God will touch our hearts. Even
though many of them are far removed from us geographically, their love for us is strong;
it is Christ-like. And perhaps, for the first time, we are becoming aware of what real
love is – that there is a real meaning to this word “love” – a meaning that makes sense out
of this concern, this longing for our spiritual welfare. This love is so obviously shown in
the letters of prayer and sacrifice on the walls in this conference room and in the 72-hour
prayer vigil.
If there is such real and strong love evident among Christians, one for another,
what must the love of God for us be like? To what degree does God go to make sacrifices
for us, to assist us, to guide us, to enlighten us, and to love us?
Don’t the passion and death of Jesus Christ make more sense now? Isn’t love
so often not returned, but instead, too often ignored or even rejected?
We are all adults, mature in our bodies. We like to think that we are mature in
our minds and emotions, also. But, are we mature in our understanding and
appreciation of God’s love for us? Are we really awed, as well we should be, when we
think of Jesus Christ’s death upon the cross for us? Do we take it for granted, as an
historical fact we believe, or do we really appreciate it as a Christian should? Does this
love of God for us really change our lives, transform them, mold them, guide them and
give sense to them? Do our lives project our love for God – and for our neighbor? Do
we light our world and our neighbor’s world?
We have just heard that Christian love is a courageous thing, a natural thing and
a joyful thing. It is not sentimental, nor artificial, nor cowardly, not something that comes
and goes with the wind. It is not here today and gone tomorrow. It should be expressed
naturally as befits a mature person; it needs to be courageous – not ready to cower or
back down at the first sign of trouble or persecution or discrimination or ridicule. It must
grow daily. It must be nurtured. Just as a baby is nurtured we, too, must be nurtured
until our entire lives are consumed by this love of all persons. We must learn TO LOVE
ALL – FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
Please follow me as we now go in silence into the chapel and meet this
God of love in prayer. Please stay with your tables and sit together in the chapel. END LD
7:10 p.m. - To chapel in silence for the Emmaus Road Prayer Experience
Emmaus Road Prayer Experience
(Taken directly from the Spiritual Director’s Manual)
|Spiritual Director: Following the Lay Director’s talk on Piety, the Pilgrims and Team members go to the chapel in silence. This prayer |
|experience is an opportunity for Pilgrims to share their hearts with God and begin living from a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. |
|Lead the Emmaus Prayer Experience as follows: |
SD [Luke 24: 13-35 NRSV] Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called
Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these
things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came
near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And He said
to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood
still, looking sad.
Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only
stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in
these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus
of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and work before God and all the people,
and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death and
crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides
all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of
our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did
not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of
angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and
found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then He said to them,
“Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then
enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted
to them the things about himself in all the Scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, He walked ahead as if
He were going on. But they urged Him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is
almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When
He was at the table with them, He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and He vanished from their sight.
They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to
us on the road, while He was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up
and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered
together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and He has appeared to Simon!”
They told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in
the breaking of the bread. [End of scripture]
[Narrative:]
Now reflect on the flow of this story. First, two persons shared with Jesus what
has happened [vs. 18-20]; then they shared their hope with him [vs. 21]. Jesus responded
by sharing through scripture his mind and heart with them; and the two felt Christ’s
presence [vs. 31]. Finally, the two set out immediately to share with others their experience
with the risen Christ, to share the mind and heart of Christ.
Now, let’s make our reflection on this story a prayer experience for the balance
of this meditation. I will guide you by pausing in places to give you time for your personal
reflection and prayer. [Pause]
Think of your own situation. [Brief pause] What is troubling you? What are your
fears, anxieties, and hopes? Share with Christ, as the two on the road did, everything
you are feeling. Don’t hurry; take this time now, for two or three minutes to reach down
deep into your own heart and let Jesus see what is there. [Pause for no less than 3 minutes]
Now, visualize Jesus walking into your situation, just as he walked with those
two on the road. Sense what He would do and what would He say? [Pause] How
would Jesus respond to your fears, your hopes, and your anxieties? What scripture
might He offer? Hear his words of comfort or challenge. [Long pause]
Remember that Christ came to give himself to you. Try to put on the mind
and heart of Christ. Try responding to your fears, anxieties and hopes as Jesus would.
Recognize that Christ is here in your midst, just as He was present for those
on the Emmaus road in the “breaking of the bread.” CELEBRATE HIS PRESENCE
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. [This is central and needs to be strong.] See that He wants to be
a part of your life just as it is, and with you right where you are. [Pause]
Now visualize him walking away from you, going to become actively involved
in your situation. He is going to “work” for you. Catch up with him and become his
voice, hands and feet to act out his response to your life, your needs, fears, possibilities
and hopes. [Prayer by the Spiritual Director]
|Spiritual director: End this experience with a prayer that God will send the Holy Spirit to equip each person for the task of being |
|Christ in the world. Allow time for silence and do not rush. Then, send the Pilgrims back to the conference room to discuss the talk |
|on Piety. |
END SD
7:30 P.M. - Return to conference room.
|The Agape Team should now set up the dining room for the clown skit – see the diagram. |
ALD #1 You may begin your discussion of the talk.
[Allow 12 – 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time to write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board. ALD # 2 can assist.]
|The person sitting opposite the table leader is the secretary for this talk and should write down the summary |
|of the discussion of the table. |
You can now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or a
song instead of a poster. Please take the opportunity to take a quick trip to the restroom
during this creative time.
[Allow 15 to 20 minutes. You should tour the room and collect posters of those completed.
There are extra supplies in a box behind the Table of concern that tables may want to use
for their posters.]
|At this point bring out one or two more banners. |
Ladies/Gentlemen, we would like to present to you a banner made as an act of
agape. [Make sure you do not say that the banners “just arrived” or “made for you”. That is misleading.]
8:15 P.M. - Break
You will now have time for a break about this long [Indicate with your fingers
about 10 minutes. During the break, the ALDs will return all posters to each table for the poster party.]
8:25 P.M. - Return to conference room. [Ring bell]
|Depending on your time—how tired everyone is—and if you need more singing time—the Lay Director may |
|choose to limit the summaries and posters to 3 of the total 5. |
We are now going to have a poster party. Each table will present a one-minute
summary of each talk and a poster, song or skit to the entire group. Each table will
present all five (or the number selected) summaries and posters before we go to the next table.
Your secretary for each talk will need to give a brief summary of the talk, then someone
should present your poster/skit and tell us how it portrays your summary. Please
remember to keep your summaries and explanations brief. What table would like to go
first? [Call on tables, as they are ready to give their presentations.] END ALD #1
|Some Table of Concern members may want to add to the excitement/humor of the evening and give out awards |
|after all the presentations. The awards could be for the most artistic group, the most creative, etc. Each table should receive an |
|award—no award should appear to be any better than another. The real fun is to have outrageous awards—plastic roosters or other items |
|from a novelty store—paper plate awards—“rounds of applause” or any other such “gag gifts”. These are not meant to be serious—just |
|fun! |
9:50 P.M. - 10 minute break
ALD#1 We will be going to the dining room for tonight’s meditation. We will take a
quick break [indicate five minutes with your fingers]. Please return to the conference room
quickly when you hear the bell. [If you have pilgrims needing a ride, send them ahead to the dining
room to use the bathrooms there. You could send another table or two ahead also to expedite the process.
Please have the TLs, ATLs, and an ALD go with them to make sure all are present. They can be seated in
dining room by table as they are finished in the restroom. The TL and ALD can verify that all are present.]
10:00 P.M. -
[Ring bell. Take head count—begin when all are ready]
Please follow me to the dining room. END ALD #1
10:05 P.M. - To dining room for prayers and clowns.
LD We are going to make an examination of conscience.
[The following is on page 14 of the purple worship book. LD reads and concludes with the prayer on page 15.
It is too dark in the dining room for pilgrims to see to follow and read from book.]
My child, think about your interior attitudes and disposition. Have your
thoughts, your aspirations, your words, your actions of this day been worthy of one
of my apostles? How have you faced your problems today? Have you fallen in the
face of them? What was the reason? Think it over.
Think about the means of grace available to you, the ways that you may grow
in my grace in all that you do: morning and evening devotions, prayer, worship, Holy
Communion. Are you availing yourself of these means of sanctification? Could you
attend to them more fully?
How long has it been since you have visited your spiritual director? When
will you go?
And what about your serving? Could you have been more generous—more
courageous—more self-sacrificing—more cheerful? What are your obstacles? Are
you removing those obstacles to my grace, which you find along the road?
What about your time? Do you make the time to be a disciple? Listen to Me.
Isn’t it true that for the things, which really interest you, you do find time? I who am
your God, would almost be satisfied if you would treat me as well as you treat any
of your friends.
As my disciple, what have you done today that I may be better known, that I
may be better loved?
Are you with me—or against me? At work—in your profession—at recreation—
have you been my disciple? Would you have been proud to have me accompany you
through the day?
Remember that what wounds my heart most is the infidelities of the “faithful”.
I COUNT ON YOU! ON YOU! And you, on whom or what do you count?
My child, don’t stop halfway. I search for your fire, your energy and your
surrender. A Christian has a right to be enthusiastic. If you want to be, you can be.
Tell me honestly: “Cost what it may”—because it does cost—“I shall live in your grace,
Lord.” Everything depends on your really wanting to.
Let us pray to the Lord:
We, who are sinners, put our trust in you, O Lord, and your many mercies.
Accept us in the company of your apostles by freely forgiving our offences through
Christ. Amen.
Please listen closely. Each night we make a special examination of conscience.
The form is not important, but each of you should have an opportunity to reflect on
your attitude toward what Christ is asking you to be and to do. If you like, you may
stay here in the dining room to reflect in your own way. If you would like to speak
to one of the spiritual directors, please step to the rear of the dining room. Before
we go to bed, our spiritual director has a few comments. END LD
SD [This talk will come in the middle of the chapel time at the end of the first day. It is meant to be a review
of the first day’s experience and can be as specific as you want to make it, including comments from each
of the talks given during the day.]
[Narrative:]
You have completed the first day of a three-day journey. It is just a few
miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It probably didn’t take Cleopas and his
companion but one day to make that journey. But we are taking three days.
We are walking very slowly, because we do not want to miss any of the message our
Lord is sharing with us as we walk.
You have been challenged today to think about what is most important in
your life [short pause], to be a bridge between God and the world [short pause], to
respond to God’s offer of grace and accept God’s love [short pause], and to be
intentional in cultivating your relationship with God [short pause].
Now, there are two things I want to share with you before we go to bed.
First, there is no formula response expected of you this weekend, any more than
Jesus expected a pat response from the disciples. If you have given yourself 100%
to the experience, then your response is authentic. The way we are giving is in
common, but the outcome is individual. If you have been honest with yourself and
honest with those around your table, then you have made an authentic response.
Second, everything that happens these three days can become an occasion for
insight into your relationship with God. Cleopas and his companion could have
resisted the stranger who joined them on the road to Emmaus, but instead they met
Christ in the stranger and found life in his words. So let the risen Lord reach out to
you through the experience of these three days. Begin to practice an awareness of
God’s presence in your life. And be open to the message the day brings.
[Spiritual Director: If necessary, add any specific comments you feel would help the participants reflect
on this day’s activities. This should be a short reflective time, not a sermon. It is not a time to give an
invitation as that will be the focus on Saturday night. Questions and silence can be used. Spend no more
than 10 minutes for your entire comments.]
Let’s be silent for a minute. Take a moment to consider God’s word for you
this day. END SD
[After a long pause….the spiritual director should say “AMEN”—then the music is started for the clowns.
This will help the pilgrims look up to see the clowns as they enter.]
[Clown Skit]
|Agape Team should have the van available to take pilgrims back to cabins. |
LD We are now going to bed. It is late, and we all need our rest. Please do not
waste time on the way to the cabins or in the cabins so that we do not bother others.
Transportation is waiting for those wanting to ride to the cabin. The day has been
long. When the bell rings to awaken us in the morning, you will have 30 to 45
minutes in which to get ready. Those who wish to have some quiet time tonight may
stay here. Those who wish to talk with a spiritual director may step to the rear of the
dining room. The spiritual directors are here for us.
Good night and God bless you. END LD
10:30 P.M. - Pilgrims return to cabins
- Team meeting in conference room after all pilgrims have gone
from the dining room.
[The Assistant Table Leaders should linger in the dining room or disappear into the restroom so the Pilgrims
are not confused when the ATLs do not leave with the Pilgrims. When it is not obvious to the pilgrims, they
can head on up to the conference room.]
LD/SD [The team meeting should include sharing of celebrations from the day, a report of
each table family, a review of Saturday’s agenda and team assignments, and team
prayer. The confidentiality of the Pilgrims should be honored. If discussion of a Pilgrim’s
personal problems is necessary, it should take place in private with the Spiritual
Director or Lay Director.]
END LD/SD
SATURDAY
5:45 A.M. - Assistant Lay Directors, Lay Director, Board Rep, Kitchen and Agape
Team Members get up.
[Lay Director makes the decision whether chapel is indoors or outdoors.]
ALD #1, #2, #3
6:15 A.M.
|Take beTake bell to cabins to wake Pilgrims. Transportation should be ready at Pilgrims’ cabins at 6:50. |
END ALD #1, #2
6:30 A.M. Board Rep to chapel
ALD #3 [Make sure all team members are up. Ring bell to alert all to go to chapel.]
6:50 A.M. - Leave for chapel
ALD #1, #2, #3 [#1 and #2 check to make sure that Pilgrims are on the way to the chapel. Check for
stragglers. #3 advise Team of time and leave for chapel.] END ALD #1, #2, #3
7:00 A.M. - Morning prayers in chapel
LD Good morning. Please turn to page 9 in your worship booklets and pray
with me. [Page 9 is printed below—it goes to the top of page 10, ending with Amen. All will pray with you.]
Almighty God,
Teach me timing.
Not the kind used for cars, music, or clocks.
Teach me the kind of timing needed for life in Christ.
Turn, turn, turn.
The world turns in haste. Seldom do I find the time
for things of eternal value.
Lord, teach me the seasons, the time for everything
under the heavens.
There are times in my life to plant
an idea in the mind of an inquisitive child,
a seed of hope for someone in need,
the gift of trust in one birthing faith.
There are times in our lives
to scatter stones that build walls
to gather stones that build bridges between
alienated individuals.
Teach us the times to seek
out the fellowship of the body of Christ,
the solitude of meditation,
to serve others with humility and love.
For every activity—silence, speech, mourning,
dancing, weeping, laughing,
tearing, mending, loving and hating—
for all these things we praise you.
Help us use them to know your work in the world
and our calling to that work. Amen.
[This following part is for the LD only.]
Please close your books. We are going to have a meditation led by our
Spiritual Director entitled “ Four Responses to Christ”. END LD
SD
Four Responses to Christ
[Spiritual Director:
This meditation at the beginning of the second day sets the attitude for the talks of the day. The
focus of the second day is the message of Christ—Christ is the message God sent to the world.
This meditation needs to convey the invitation to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
The meditation centers around four responses to Christ. These responses should be presented in
such a manner that participants will reflect upon their own response and may even see one of
these responses as being their own. There are, of course, numerous ways to respond to Christ, and
these are simply a backdrop against which one can review one’s own response. [These may be
given by you and ASDs on the walk.]
The four responses are:
1. The Samaritan woman at the well—wasn’t clear about the invitation.
2. Judas—responded with dishonesty and self-centeredness.
3. Peter—failed because of weakness and self-reliance, but repented and found the way again.
4. Woman with a hemorrhage—exhibited total faith that Jesus could meet her needs.
[Narrative:]
Through this meditation, we are asked how we are going to respond to
Christ’s invitation. We are going to look at four responses to Christ. There are
numerous ways to respond to Christ. These four may provide a backdrop against
which we can review our own response.
Samaritan Woman at the Well
So [Jesus] came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that
Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his
journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw
water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to
buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink
of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you,
‘Give me a drink.’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you
get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well,
and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who
drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will
give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring
of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water,
so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” [John 4:5-15 NRSV]
The woman is intrigued with her conversation with Jesus. But at first, she is
more interested in things than what Jesus is offering her. He offered her living
water--not a thing, but a relationship. “Where is your bucket? How will you get
water from the deep well? Where should we worship God?” she asked. Even at the
end of the conversation she was not aware of to whom she had been talking.
We are tempted to look at what a person can do for us or for our business or
our club. We fail to accept the relationship that is being offered to us. We are more
interested in things than relationships. Is this your response? [Long pause]
Judas
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him),
said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given
to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a
thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
[John 12:4-6 NRSV]
In this scripture, we see that Judas’ response is one of selfishness and dishonesty.
Judas, like the other disciples, chose to follow Jesus for some three years. In the beginning,
Judas was probably as faithful as any. But, little by little, moment by moment, decision
by decision, Judas let something else dictate his relationship with Jesus. Maybe it was
self-centeredness, or maybe Judas had some ideal which he felt was more important
(maybe Zionism) than what Jesus was offering. In any case, Judas lost his enthusiasm
for Jesus and betrayed him.
Is this our story? [Pause] Did we accept Jesus enthusiastically at first, but then
minute by minute fall away from our commitment? [Pause] What things do we think
more important than giving time to the ministry of Jesus Christ through our churches?
[Pause] Have we a greater plan for the salvation of the created order? [Pause] Has our
response to Jesus been one of dishonesty and self-centeredness? [Long pause]
Peter
And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am
raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all
become deserters, I will not.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this
very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he
said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And
all of them said the same. [Mark 14:27-31 NRSV]
Peter, like Judas, accepted the call to be one of Jesus’ disciples. Ironically,
Peter’s weakness was that he depended too much on his own strength. He relied
too much on his own abilities to get the job done. Peter put it boldly, “Jesus, I will
never forsake you,” and then the cock crowed (Luke 22:54-62). Peter wept when he
realized his insincerity.
The saving grace of Peter was that he knew how to ask for forgiveness. Peter
had sensed the forgiving nature of Jesus as Jesus forgave and healed. Thus Peter knew
he, too, could be healed of his self-centeredness if he asked for forgiveness. This is an
essential quality of life—to know how to ask for forgiveness and to believe you have
received it. Is this your story, your response to Jesus? [Long pause]
Woman with a Hemorrhage
While [Jesus] was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue
came in and knelt before him saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay
your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his
disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for
twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to
herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her
he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly, the
woman was made well. [Matthew 9:18-22 NRSV]
This is often called “the miracle on the way to a miracle.” This woman had
simply said to herself, “If I can only touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak, I’ll be healed.”
She didn’t need to be the center of a great healing miracle. She wasn’t asking for
a special audience. She simply wanted to be rid of a 12-year-old ailment and had faith
that she could be healed.
How many of us want to be known for displaying great faith? “My great miracle
resulted from my great faith.” “I am the one who is healed. I am the one displaying
faith.” I am the one who has received a miracle.” There is an awful lot of “I” in that
kind of faith. This woman simply wanted to be whole. Is this our king of faith? Is this
our story? Is this your response to Jesus Christ? [Long pause]
We have all responded to Jesus Christ in some manner. Even our indifference
and apathy is a response. There is no set formula for a human response. To be
authentic, each of us will have to respond in our own way. What is the model for your
response: the woman by the well; Judas, the betrayer; Peter, the forgiven; the woman
of simple faith; your pastor’s; your spouse’s; a friend’s? Or, is it your own human
response, including your weakness and strength—and involving your ultimate trust
in God?
[Spiritual Director may be seated] END SD
LD [Following the meditation]
Please turn to page 48 and pray the Prayer of Thanksgiving, at the bottom of
the page, with me. [Wait until they have turned to it—it is at the bottom of the
page in the worship book, so they may need a few seconds to find it. Page 48 is as follows:]
Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever, we give you thanks for all the
gifts you have bestowed upon us. Amen.
Please close your books. Before we go to breakfast, let us spend a few minutes
in silent prayer. [Pause] Let us pray for our church, [pause] our families, [pause] our
nation, [pause] our world, [pause] and our community. [Pause]
We also pray for the problems each one of us has, and for the one who has the
tremendous problem of not having any at all. [Pause] We pray for the one who needs
these three days the most, Lord, and for the one who thinks they need it the least. [Pause]
We pray for each one of us, that we all find here during these three days what
You want for us—your grace—our true, authentic happiness.
We pray for those who are sacrificing through acts of love so your grace will be
made known to us. We ask for your sense of idealism and charity, so we can share in
the spirit of cooperation. Help us give not only our minds, but also our hearts to this
weekend. Accept this, our prayer, as Jesus taught his disciples, and let’s use the word
“sins,” saying, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive
us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.”
We will now go to breakfast. Please follow me. We will sing “De Colores” on
the way. [Sing on the way to the dining room.] END LD
MUSICIANS [Lead the singing of De Colores all the way to the dining room—until all have arrived.]
END MUSICIANS
7:30 A.M. - Dining room for breakfast.
MUSICIANS
[After all are in the dining room, ALD will announce singing of grace before and after the meal—you
will lead in the singing of grace before and after the meal.] END MUSICIANS
|Speaker for Talk #6 – Growth Through Study – should leave now to change clothes and then report to chapel |
|by 7:40 A.M. for prayer. The talk is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. |
|The talk ATM should have before talk agape on the altar in the chapel. |
|The ATM in charge of the book table should have it all set up and covered. The Board Rep will uncover |
|it as everyone is getting ready for talk #6 (about 8:10 a.m.) The Board Representative may help |
|with the set up. The Board Representative is responsible for monitoring the book table and taking inventory on |
|Sunday afternoon (after the book table is closed to conference room participants). |
7:30 A.M. - Grace before the meal.
ALD #1 Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal.
[Musicians will lead the singing.] Please be seated. [Please announce if there are any instructions
from the Kitchen on what food is available other than what is being brought to the tables.]
7:50 a.m. - Joke time
[Evaluate your schedule. This may be a good place to catch up on time without having joke time
here. If not – announce joke time – you may have to remind everyone that the jokes should be short,
clean and funny.]
7:55 A.M. - Announcements
7:59 A.M. - Grace after the meal.
Please stand for the singing of the grace after the meal. [Musicians will lead the
singing.]
8:00 A.M. - Break
Take a break about this long [indicate 5 minutes with your fingers] to use the
restrooms here. Those who would like a ride should leave now and use the facilities in the
conference room. [You may want to send a couple of tables, TL, ATL and
an ALD on ahead also.] Please return to your tables in the conference room when you
hear the bell. [Check for water on the speaker’s podium.] END ALD #1
8:00 A.M. - Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back
of the conference room before 8:05 A.M. to avoid being seen by the
pilgrims coming back from breakfast.
8:05 A.M. - Return to conference room.
ALD #3 [Ring bell for all to return to conference room. Ring the bell again in the conference room to get
the pilgrims to return to their tables.] END ALD #3
MUSICIANS [Lead singing—you will have time for only one or two songs before the speaker’s song.]
END MUSICIANS
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of sight of|
|the pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the |
|speaker has selected to be sung before their talk. After that song is sung, the ALD will announce speaker and musician will ask group |
|to rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
|Talk agape team member should put after talk agape on altar in chapel. |
8:10 A.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #2 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the
Person sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
8:15 A.M. - Talk #6 – Growth Through Study
|During this talk the speaker should introduce the book table. The speaker will have been given words of explanation on how to get |
|books from the book table. |
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray the prayer (it is taped on the podium for speaker). Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of sight of|
|the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the speaker has selected to be sung before their talk. After that song is sung, |
|the ALD will announce speaker and musician will ask group to rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
|The speaker will leave the hand cross on the podium for the Lay Director to use in his/her talk following the |
|Growth Through Study talk. |
ALD #2 [As soon as the speaker exits the conference room, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[Blow out the candle. After the 1-2 minutes have passed the Lay Director should begin her/his talk.] END ALD #2
|Clergy for talk # 7 should now leave to dress and then report at 9:10 a.m. to prayer chapel. You have approximately 45 minutes to |
|prepare. The talk is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. |
8:45 A.M. - Lay Director’s talk after Growth Through Study
[The Lay Director should have the hand cross for the following talk, which is given from the speaker’s podium.]
LD You have probably noticed that each speaker who presents a talk to us has a
cross with them, either in their hand or on the podium in front of them. [Hold up the cross
for the Pilgrims to see.] The cross reminds each speaker that Christ is the reason they are
here. Before they come into the conference room, our speakers go to a small prayer
chapel that we have set up in Quapaw. There with several other Christians, they
pray to God that they may be a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in bringing Christ’s
love to us. Before leaving the chapel to come to this room, they pick up the cross from
the altar, left by the previous speaker, and carry it throughout their talk. Upon
completion of their talk, they return to the chapel to thank God for using them as an
instrument. Then they place the cross back on the altar where it remains for the
next speaker.
Also, while each speaker is here with us, several people, sometimes many people,
remain in the chapel in prayer, asking God to make the speaker a worthy and
effective channel of the Holy Spirit that we may see and feel more clearly the love of
God in our lives. These people remain in prayer until the speaker returns from
presenting their talk. This is true of all speakers – they know that while they are
here with us, there is always someone in the chapel praying for them that we might
be moved by the Holy Spirit working through them.
So, we have speakers offering themselves for us. We have others on their knees
praying for us. We have the unknown numbers offering prayers and sacrifices in their
homes and at their jobs for us.
Now, how about us? From now until Sunday night, it is important that we begin
talking with God, truly talking with God, about our real feelings, our doubts and fears,
our hopes and disappointments, our longings and frustrations. Don’t forget that the
Spiritual Directors are here for you. If you would like to visit with a spiritual director,
seek one out or let an assistant know of your desire.
It might sound trite, but it is true nevertheless—Christ is waiting for you.
Go to Christ in prayer. Speak to Christ in your own words. Speak out loud, naturally,
courageously. Be yourself, not someone else. Christ is your friend. Christ is your God.
Talk to Christ as you would talk to your own father, or mother, or your brother, or
your sister, or your friend.
The speaker during the talk on Growth Through Study mentioned several books
and magazines that would be helpful for us in understanding, with our human minds,
the truth of God’s message. The book table is along the window in this room. Feel free
to browse at the book table during our breaks.
You may now begin your discussion, summary and posters of the last talk,
“Growth Through Study.” END LD
ALD #2 [Allow 12 –15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time and write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for the summary, and then hand out poster board. ALD #3 can assist.]
You can now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or
a song instead of a poster.
|The Agape Team should have the chapel set up for Dying Moments Communion—including the basket for |
|the Pilgrims to place their broken pieces of bread. Lay director could choose to have on the patio or at the amphitheater. |
|ALDs should pass out 3 x 5 cards to the table leaders during this time—the cards will be given to the Pilgrims in case they have |
|any questions for the spiritual director concerning this talk. |
9:25 A.M. - Prepare for next talk
9:30 A.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back
of the conference room before 9:35 A.M.
ALD #2 You have this much time [indicate 5 minutes with fingers] for a quick break. Please
return to your tables when you hear the bell.
9:30 A.M. - [Ring the bell for all to return to their tables. Take a head count.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS [Lead singing—you will have time for only one or two songs before the speaker’s song.]
END MUSICIANS
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready. [Normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out |
|of sight of the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the speaker has selected to be sung before their talk. After that song |
|is sung, the ALD will announce speaker and musician will ask the |
|group to rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
|Talk ATM should put after talk agape on altar in chapel. |
9:40 A.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #2 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a clergy person. [Light candle.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
9:45 A.M. - Talk # 7—Means of Grace
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. (It is taped on the podium for speaker.) Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. This talk is long and will have a break in the middle of it. |
|During the talk, the Spiritual Director will explain that the 3 x 5 cards are to be used to record any questions the pilgrims might |
|have on this talk. These will be collected and given to the Spiritual Director during lunch for review. |
|Immediately following the talk, everyone will go to the chapel (or chosen location) for Dying Moments. The speaker should leave the |
|cross on the podium and go on to the chapel. If the Spiritual Director is wearing a suit, he/she may want to take off his/her jacket |
|(and put on a sweater if needed) so you will be a bit more comfortable—but hurry. |
|Because of the length of the talk and dying moments, please instruct the pilgrims to use the team restrooms (both sides) on the way to |
|Dying Moments. |
|After Dying Moments, everyone will go to lunch. The question and answer session will be held after lunch. |
|After the question and answer period, the Spiritual Director will explain the prayer room visits. The Lay |
|Director and Spiritual Director must decide in advance if the prayer room visits are to happen all at the same time or at a time chosen|
|by the individual tables. Remember that some of the community will be arriving at the camp around 2 p.m. to set up for the evening |
|meal. It is advisable to have the prayer time in the pilgrims’ sleeping rooms and the chapel in Mohegan Lodge. |
10:55 A.M. - To chapel (in silence) for Communion—Dying Moments
SD
[“Dying Moments” refer to specific sins, wounds, disappointments, burdens or brokenness that we experience
as points of living death in our lives. The Dying Moments Communion Service flows naturally out of the Means of Grace talk.
The Dying Moments Communion Service immediately follows the Means of Grace talk. Those participating
would include the pilgrims and the conference room team. A separate and simultaneous service is held for
the Agape and Kitchen teams and led by an Assistant Spiritual Director.
The walk Spiritual Director explains and personally illustrates dying moments in a communion meditation and invites the pilgrims to get in touch with a part of their life that needs to die or be released in order to
make space for God’s “new thing”. The SD may use the formal Great Thanksgiving or a modification of
it. The SD invites the table of concern and then the pilgrims to participate table by table. They are invited
to come to the altar one by one to break off a piece of the bread and name aloud their dying moment. The pilgrim needs to understand that they are not partaking in communion at that time. After the bread is broken and the dying moment is named, the piece of bread is placed in the basket. The Spiritual Director and the Lay Director go first followed by the table of concern and then each of the conference room tables.
After everyone has participated, the Spiritual Director holds the basket of bread so all can see the results of the named dying moments. An explanation is made about Jesus taking our sin as he died upon the cross. His
blood covers our sin, grants forgiveness and redeems us to new life. With that said, the Spiritual Director takes the cup of wine and pours it over the bread in the basket. This illustrates the covering of our sin with the blood of Christ. Not only is our sin forgiven with the blood of Jesus, it is also taken away from us. The basket of bread covered with the wine is then taken from the chapel out of the sight of the pilgrims to be later retrieved by the Agape team. The Spiritual Director returns to affirm the new life we have received in Christ with the celebration of Holy Communion using the other half of the consecrated bread and a new cup of wine. In receiving the bread and cup of Christ’s love, we receive the healing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we accept responsibility to bring this love and new life of Christ to others. Again starting with the table of concern and then each of the tables of pilgrims, communion is offered by intinction. For further information, see the instruction in the Spiritual Director’s manual.] Approved by Emmaus Board July 12, 2003
[Narrative:]
In the midst of the liturgy of the Great Thanksgiving come these words: On
the night, in which he gave himself for us, the Lord Jesus took bread, after giving thanks,
he broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat: This is my body which
is given for you.”
You are now invited to come and share in the breaking of the bread. Come row
by row, taking the bread and breaking off a piece. As you break the bread, name aloud
your dying moment—the thing that needs to die in your life and receive the resurrection
power of Jesus Christ. In naming your dying moments, you can use symbolic words like
fear, hate or loss. Or you may want to be as specific as “the argument with my spouse.”
After you have broken the bread and named your dying moment, place it in the basket.
[Pause for the Pilgrims to reflect on their dying moment.]
[Spiritual Director: You should go fist, naming your dying moment loud and clear for all to hear and setting the example—followed by the Lay Director. The Table of Concern (TOC) members go next to model the way dying moments is done.. The TOC members should speak clearly and briefly name the dying moment. The modeling of
the dying moment experience is key to setting the tone and the pace. Then, invite the first table to come and break
the bread and name their dying moments. After everyone has shared in the breaking of the bread, pour the wine over
the pieces of bread representing the “dying moments” and explain how the blood of Christ covers our sins and
removes them. Remove the basket out of site. Take the second cup of wine and the other half of the loaf and invite
the pilgrims to come forward a second time to receive the consecrated elements, saying something similar to:]
[Narrative:]
“This is the body of Christ, represented in the needs of this community of
faith. By the power of the Holy Spirit, it has been changed into the resurrected
body of Christ. Draw near in faith and receive this Holy Communion.”
[After Communion is over:]
Let’s go to the dining room now for lunch. END SD
[The Kitchen ALD should notify the chapel ATM when the communion is within a few minutes
of completion. The ATM should go away from the chapel and call the Kitchen on the 2-way radio to let
them know the approximate time to expect the Pilgrims and Team for lunch.]
11:55 A.M. - Go to the dining room for lunch
Musicians [Lead the Pilgrims in the singing of De Colores on the way to lunch. After you are in the dining
Room, the ALD will announce the singing of grace before and after the meal. You will lead the singing.]
END MUSICIANS
12:05 P.M. - Grace before the meal
ALD #1 Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal.
[Musicians will lead the singing.} Please be seated. [Any instructions from the Kitchen?]
[This is the time for the Lay Director to evaluate the schedule. The time for dying moments varies greatly from
from Walk to Walk. If the dying moments took longer than scheduled, the Lay Director may decide to skip doing
posters on talk # 8 to allow time for a short break or a longer break. (Posters are not done on the Means of
Grace talk.) The Lay Director needs to assess the Pilgrims after lunch. Many times they are very tired and need a
break much more than they need to do posters for talk # 8 and/or talk # 9. The schedule should be adjusted
according to their needs. You could stretch the break longer or have two short breaks. Watch for signs of tiredness
in the pilgrims during the afternoon. Remember this is a very emotional and LONG day for the pilgrims. They need
to be ready for this evening—not exhausted.]
12:25 P.M. - Joke time and/or skit
12:40 P.M. - Grace after the meal.
Please stand for the singing of the grace after the meal.
[Musicians will lead the singing.]
12:45 P.M. You will now have a very short time [indicate 5 minutes with your fingers] for a
quick bathroom break. Please use the facilities here. Those who would like a ride should leave
now and use the facilities in the conference room. [You may want to send a couple of tables, TL, ATL and
ALD on ahead also.] Please return to the conference room when you hear the bell. [Ring
the bell to send them to the conference room and again in the conference room to go to their tables.] END ALD #1
ALD #3
12:50 P.M. You will now have a short time for discussion and summary. I will collect
the 3 X 5 cards during this time. [ALD pick up the 3 X 5 cards and give the wooden prayer crosses
to the Table Leaders.] END ALD #3
SD 1:00 P.M. Question and answer time
|The question and answer period should be no longer than 15 minutes. The emphasis on the Means of Grace |
|talk and discussion should be on what we hold in common, not our areas of disagreements. |
1:15 P.M. Spiritual director explains prayer room visits
|Prayer visits by tables begin for self-reflection, prayer and sharing with new brothers/sisters in Christ. The sleeping rooms should |
|be made available for a time of prayer for the tables at the same time. The assistant lay director directs tables to the prayer rooms.|
|If the LD and SD wish tables to have prayer room visits by |
|individual tables at different times, then the schedule needs to adapted to accommodate the varied times. |
[Spiritual director: Following the period of questions on the Means of Grace talk, introduce prayer room visits
by tables. The intent of the prayer room visits is to provide the table communities that have been developing
over the past day and a half, an opportunity to share in meaningful prayer experiences. Some participants may
have never prayed aloud in a group. This experience should be meaningful for persons at a variety of levels in
spiritual growth. The tone should always be one of sensitivity and inclusiveness.]
[Narrative:]
SD We have been talking about the means by which we receive and celebrate God’s
grace. Prayer is a very important way we receive grace and a means by which God
communicates love to us. The Lay Director this morning encouraged you to begin
serious conversation with God. Prayer, however, is not only private; it is also
corporate. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there.”
We can experience Christ’s presence among us through prayer.
You have been developing Christian communities in miniature at your tables and
prayer is a very important ingredient of our life together in Christ. We want to give you
the opportunity now, as table communities, to pray together.
The Assistant Lay Director will direct you to the room you will use for this time.
When you get to your prayer room, either stand or sit together. Each table will have a
cross [show a wooden cross] to use during prayer time. The Table Leader will take the cross
and begin with prayer. When the table leader is finished, he/she will pass the cross on
to the next person. If you do not feel like praying aloud, simply pray silently and then
pass the cross on. Keep in mind that some may have never prayed aloud in a group.
As a group, be gentle and encouraging. This experience should not be rushed, but we
also hope that the prayer room visits will be no longer than this [indicate 15 minutes with
your fingers] so the schedule will flow smoothly for us. If you are still praying when the
bell rings, please finish quickly and return to the conference room. END SD
ALD #3 1:35 P.M. [Ring bell to call Pilgrims back to the conference room.]
1:40 P.M. Ladies/gentlemen, we will now have a break about this long [indicate 30 minutes
with your fingers]. There are some special instructions. You are free to go outside from the
front door of the conference room toward the cabins. But, please do not go back the other
direction. You are free to go to your cabin to rest or refresh, visit here in the conference
room, take a walk in the direction of your cabins, or just enjoy the outdoors [if the weather is
decent]. We will ring the bell when it is time to return to the conference room. Please
return promptly when you hear the bell. END ALD #3
2:10 P.M. [ALDs ring bell on the way to and from the cabins to call pilgrims back to the conference room.]
MUSICIANS 2:15 P.M. Singing [Musicians lead singing.] END MUSICIANS
2:15 P.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel as soon as the pilgrims have returned to the
conference room and be in the kitchen at the back of the conference room before 2:20 P.M.
|Talk ATM should put after talk agape on altar in chapel prior to leaving for the conference room. |
| ALD #3 needs to verify that all Pilgrims are back in the conference room before the talk. |
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of|
|sight of the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the |
|speaker has selected. After that song is sung, the ALD will announce speaker and the musician will ask group |
|to rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
2:25 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #2 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
Sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
2:30 P.M. - Talk # 8 Christian Action
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. Talk should be 20-25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the |
|speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference |
|room and return to the chapel. |
ALD #2 [As soon as the speaker exits the conference room, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent mediation. [Blow out the
candle. After one to two minutes has passed:]
You may begin your discussion of the talk.
|Clergy for Talk #9 should now leave to dress and then report to the prayer chapel by 3:30 for prayer. You have approximately 45 |
|minutes. Talk #9 is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. |
[Remove transparencies, posters and props. Allow 12 to 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time and write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board.]
You should now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or
a song instead of a poster.
3:35 P.M. Please take a short break [indicate 5 minutes with your fingers.] END ALD #2
ALD #3 [Ring bell. Do a head count of Pilgrims.] END ALD #3
|Talk agape team member should put after talk agape on altar in chapel prior to leaving for the conference room. |
Musicians
3:40 P.M. Singing [Musicians lead singing.] END MUSICIANS
3:45 P.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel and be in the kitchen at the back of
the conference room before 3:50 P.M.
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of|
|sight of the Pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the speaker has selected. After that song is sung, the ALD will announce |
|speaker and musician will ask group to rise to sing |
|the song that is sung before each talk. |
3:55 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #2 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
Sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a clergy person. [Light candle.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
4:00 P.M. - Talk # 9 Obstacles to Grace
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. Talk should be 20-25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the |
|speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference |
|room and return to the chapel. |
|Note to lay director: Be sure to prepare report of walk for the community. The note is sent with the musicians to candlelight. |
ALD #2 [As soon as the speaker exits the conference room, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent mediation. [Blow out the
candle. After one to two minutes has passed:]
You may begin your discussion of the talk.
[Remove transparencies, posters and props. Allow 12 to 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time and write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board.]
You should now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or
a song instead of a poster. END ALD #2
5:00 P.M. - Contact kitchen
5:15 P.M. - Dining room for dinner.
ALD #2 It is now time for us to go to dinner. Please sit with your tables, sitting across
from each other, for dinner this evening. You will find your table name on a table
where your table will be seated. Please bring your purple worship books with you.
Please turn to page 36 as we sing De Colores on the way to dinner. END ALD
5:20 p.m. - Grace before the meal
ALD #3 Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal.
[Musicians will lead the singing.] Please be seated.
|Community will serve the meal – men serving women and women serving men. After the meal, there |
|may be some type of entertainment given by those serving. They will not stay long. |
5:50 p.m. - Entertainment--ALD #3 to introduce the entertainment
6:10 p.m. - Grace after the meal.
Please stand for the singing of the grace after the meal. [Musicians will lead the singings.]
|NOTE TO MUSICIANS: Have your coats, guitar cases, and all articles needed for candlelight taken to the |
|Kitchen to allow for a quiet exit after you lead the singing before talk # 10, Discipleship. |
|Talk agape team member should put after talk agape on altar in chapel prior to leaving for the conference room. |
6:15 P.M. - Short Break
Take a short break about this long [indicate 5 minutes with your fingers] and return to
your tables in the conference room when you hear the bell. Those who would like a ride
should leave now and use the facilities in the conference room. [You may want to send a couple of
tables, TL, ATL and an ALD on ahead also.]
6:17 P.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel as soon as the pilgrims have returned to
the conference room and be in the kitchen at the back of the conference room
before 6:20 P.M.
6:20 P.M. - Return to conference room
[Ring bell for all to return to the conference room. Ring the bell again in the conference room. ] END ALD #3
Musicians [Lead singing. There is likely time for only one song prior to the speaker’s song.]
6:25 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #2
Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
Sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
|MUSICIANS: Leave the conference room to prepare to go to candlelight. Be sure to take the Lay Director’s report to the clergy in |
|charge of Candlelight. The Musicians and Lay Director should have selected a song |
|that the Pilgrims seem to have really enjoyed singing as the response song for Candlelight. If you think it is needed, you may want to|
|have the agape team type out the words to the song and make copies to give to the Pilgrims as they reach the front of the sanctuary. |
|This will help them with the words since they will be excited and might not recall the words well. |
6:30 P.M. - Talk # 10 Discipleship
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer (it is taped on the podium for speaker). Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. Talk should be 20-25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the |
|speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference |
|room and return to the chapel. |
ALD #2 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent mediation. [Blow out the
candle. After one to two minutes has passed:]
You may begin your discussion of the talk.
[Remove transparencies, posters and props. Allow 12 to 15 minutes for discussion, then say:]
You should now take a short time and write a summary of your discussion.
[Allow 5 minutes for summary, and then hand out poster board.]
You should now begin working on your posters. Remember, you can do a skit or
a song instead of a poster. END ALD #2
|Lay Director: You will have to review your time schedule after the talk and discussion to determine if there is time to do a poster for |
|talk #10. There is usually time. |
ALD #3 [Ring bell to return to conference room—room count] END ALD #3
7:30 P.M. - Poster party
ALD #2 Ladies/Gentlemen, please prepare for your poster party. Tonight, we want you
to present your very best poster, song or skit. Each table will present a one-minute
summary of the talk, then someone should present your poster/skit and tell us how it
portrays your summary. Please remember to keep your summaries and explanations brief.
What table would like to go first? [Call on tables, as they are ready to give their presentations.] END ALD #2
|The ALDS have prepared in advance for the type of humorous “awards” to be given for the tables. Sometimes there are paper plate awards |
|or “round of applause” awards. [Be sure that every table is recognized.] |
|The kitchen and agape team members sometimes join as part of the audience for the poster time—according to |
|the desires of the lay director and the time available to the teams. They will leave early for the candlelight. The kitchen, agape team|
|and board representative join the community at candlelight. They do not go through the |
|Candlelight with the pilgrims. Instead, they position themselves at the very beginning of the community |
|receiving line so the pilgrims are first greeted by familiar faces. |
|Keep very close tabs on the time. It is imperative that the buses are loaded and ready to leave on time. |
|The team has an obligation to the community to be on time. It is also important that you do not arrive too |
|early—or the community will not be ready and you will have to keep the pilgrims on the bus or waiting |
|outside. |
|Depending on time and the weather, you may want to send two or more tables to Quapaw to use the restrooms there. An ALD needs to go with |
|them and make sure everyone returns to the conference room—let the LD know when everyone is present. |
|An ALD should evaluate the Pilgrims’ physical conditions to consider who might need to ride in a van due to difficulty climbing the steps|
|to the bus. If possible, put one table with a Pilgrim with limitations in a van together. |
|If you have more than Pilgrims at different tables who require transportation in the van, you may have to mix |
|Pilgrims from different tables in the van. They can join their table when you line up at the church before Candlelight. |
8:05 P.M. - Break
ALD #2 Please take a quick break and return to the conference room as quickly as possible.
[Ring bell about 8:12 to call all back to the conference room. DO A HEAD COUNT and let the LD
know when all are present.]
END ALD #2
8:15 P.M. - Instructions
LD I have a few instructions for you. In the morning, after you are awakened we
would like you to pack up all your personal belongings and leave them on your bed.
There will be plastic garbage bags for your wet items and labels available to put on
your suitcases and bedding. Please put a label on each of your items for easy
identification. Don’t pack any medicine or items you will need during the day tomorrow.
We are going to go away from Camp Lakeview now for our evening chapel. You
will need to take your coats, purple books and umbrellas [if appropriate] with you. We will
not be returning to this conference room this evening. We will be traveling by bus
and vans and ask that each table travel as a group. Please leave by table through the
front door and load the bus or van as you are directed.
8:20 P.M. - Load the bus and van to leave for candlelight
|It will take a few minutes to load the bus and van. One of the ALDs should follow the bus and van while going |
|to candlelight. The ALD will call to let the community know when the bus leaves camp, when the bus reaches |
|the bridge going into Columbus, and again when the bus reaches North High School. The ALDs who went |
|ahead will be outside at the church to let the LD know if the community is ready. |
9:00 P.M. - Candlelight with community
|The LD and SD will lead the group as the tables follow with the table leader first, pilgrims next and the assistant table leader—this is |
|repeated for each table and the ALDs follow at the end with the lantern. |
9:15 P.M. - Spiritual Director explains Candlelight
SD [The Spiritual Director should lead the chapel session following the Candlelight, using some form of examination
of conscience, such as on pages 14-15 in the worship booklet, or something of his/her own choosing. The “Come
Holy Spirit” prayer on page 48 of the worship booklet is an appropriate closing, or a meditative solo.
The talks during this second day have focused on Jesus Christ as the key to living a life in grace. The intent of the
Candlelight is to move the participants closer to the love of God. The time following the Candlelight should give the participants a specific chance to renew their commitment to Jesus Christ.
After participants have completed the walk through the aisles and are assembled at the front of the sanctuary, give
this simple explanation.]
[Narrative:]
While we have been sharing our posters and summaries, these people—members of
the Emmaus community—have gathered here out of their love for Christ and their love for
you. They have celebrated Holy Communion together and have prayed for each of you by
name as an act of agape. Some have traveled very far to be here just for this. [Read the
cities/states and total mileage given to you by a member of the community.] They will be departing in a
few minutes to return home. They have come here just for this moment to show their
support and to move you closer to the realization of God’s love. Can you imagine
that? Men and women who may not even know you, wanting you to realize how God loves
you! Can there be anything greater than the body of Christ loving us on behalf of Christ?
In response to this love, let’s sing a song to the community to show our appreciation.
[The Musicians and Lay Director will have already selected which song for the Pilgrims to sing and should let the
Spiritual Director know what song they will sing. The Musicians will start the song.]
[Singing of the song by the Pilgrims and Team.]
Now as the community leaves, let us sing “Let Your Light Shine.” [The musicians will lead
the singing.]
[When the Emmaus community has departed and only the Pilgrims, Team and Spiritual Directors are left in the
dimly lit sanctuary, the Spiritual Director should make this explanation. Be specific about the Pilgrims’ options
during this time of prayer and recommitment.]
[Narrative:]
We are now going to make an examination of conscience as we did last night, but
in a very personal way. In a few minutes, I will ask you to take a place in the pews.
Spread out and give yourself plenty of room. In the silence, we want to give you an
opportunity to recommit your life to Jesus Christ. For some of you, it may be a first-time
commitment. All the agape acts over these three days have been for this purpose—to
move you closer to Christ.
The theme of this day has been Jesus Christ and our response to His grace.
This time of prayer will be an opportunity for all of us to personally examine our
response to Christ and to respond as we feel called with new commitment. You may
want to pray privately in the sanctuary. Or, you may choose to come to the altar and
make your commitment. You may either come alone or bring a friend. You may prefer
to remain in prayer where you sit, either alone or with one another. If you are making a
first-time commitment, or just feel a need to talk with a Spiritual Director, come to the
front of the sanctuary and one of the Spiritual Directors will be there to talk with you.
[Point out where the spiritual directors will be sitting.]
You may stay in the sanctuary for as long as you need—there will be no bell to
call you away. When you have finished your prayer time, please leave the sanctuary
silently. Please exit by this door at the front of the sanctuary. A Team member will
be in the hall to direct you to a room where there will be some refreshments for you.
Please find a seat in the sanctuary—spread out so you will have ample space to
think and pray.
[At this point the Pilgrims will leave the stage and find seats in the sanctuary. After they are seated, the
Lay Director may choose to have reflective music. It may be an instrumental or someone singing. This is
the Lay Director’s decision. He/she may decide not to have any music at all. If there is music, the
Musicians and/or singer should be at the back or side of the sanctuary out of view. This is not a
performance but music to transition to the self-examination.]
|The Columbus community allows Pilgrims to leave the sanctuary as they are finished with the time |
|of self-examination. They are directed to the room where refreshments are served. The Lay Director |
|decides who will serve the refreshments. The serving can be done by members of the kitchen team, |
|by members of the Emmaus community (perhaps a reunion group). |
|After all have finished, load up the buses and return to Camp Lakeview. If all Pilgrims are finished about |
|the same time, a head count is taken and the bus and vans can be loaded and leave together. If most of |
|the Pilgrims are done—but a few remain in the sanctuary, the Lay Director may decide to load the bus |
|to go back to camp. The van driver and ALDs designated to stay late can use their vehicles to transport the last of the |
|Pilgrims and Spiritual Directors. An accounting of all the pilgrims must be done whether they leave together or at different |
|times to be sure everyone is accounted for. |
|After arriving back at Lakeview, Pilgrims and Team should get to bed as quickly as possible. This was |
|a long day. The Lay Director may or may not choose to have a brief team meeting—depending on the need for the meeting and the |
|time everyone gets back to camp. The team members should be reminded that they need to have their crosses either in a pocket |
|or worn inside their clothes (out of sight) for the Commissioning Service for Sunday. |
SUNDAY
5:45 A.M. - Assistant Lay Directors, Lay Director, Board Rep, Kitchen and Agape
Team Members get up.
ALD #1, #2
6:00 A.M. - Make sure rest of team is awake
6:30 A.M. - LD, ALDs and Table Leaders go to pilgrims’ cabins
|The LD, ALDs and TL go to the cabins to wake the pilgrims with singing. Men and women take juice to Pilgrims while they are in bed. |
|Women also take flowers to give to each Pilgrim. |
6:35 A.M. - Team members wake pilgrims with juice, coffee and flowers (women only).
- Team members return to lodge to finish showering, dressing and packing.
7:00 A.M. - Board rep to chapel
7:20 A.M. - Team leaves for chapel.
|ALDs ring the bell and make sure that the team is on the way to the chapel. Ring the bell by the pilgrim cabins to call them to the |
|chapel. |
7:30 A.M. - Morning prayers in chapel (Lay Director)
LD Good morning, children of God. Please turn to page 6, and let us read Psalm 100.
[Page 6 is printed below—all read. Allow time for the pilgrims to turn the pages.]
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into God’s presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, who made us, is God.
We are the Lord’s;
we are the people of God,
the sheep of God’s pasture.
Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving,
and God’s courts with praise!
Give thanks and bless God’s name!
For the Lord is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever;
God’s faithfulness to all generations.
Join me in reading Psalm 23 on page 17. [Page 17 is printed below—all read. Allow time
for turning pages.]
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures,
leads me beside still waters, restores my life,
leads me in right paths for the sake of the Lord’s name.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
We will now have a meditation led by our Spiritual Director entitled “The Humanity
of Jesus.” END LD
SD [Spiritual director;
This meditation begins the third and last day of the Walk to Emmaus. It highlights the human qualities
of Jesus and shows how God used them in a ministry of love. The connection needs to be made between Jesus’
human qualities and our human qualities. It is our human qualities through which we will minister in the world.
All the talks during this third day emphasize changing the world with God’s grace. This meditation
should set the stage for this ministry. It should allow us to see that God expects to work through human qualities
in the ministry of God’s grace.
Please keep in mind that breakfast is at 8:00 a.m.—the long pauses should be about 45 seconds to a minute long. Any longer and sometimes pilgrims, team & clergy tend to nod off during the pause. Be aware of the need for a time of meditation but also be aware of the time factor. If breakfast starts late, it is very difficult to catch up today,
causing a rush through some of the important times—explaining reunion cards, packets, agape letter reading,
commissioning service, etc.]
[Narrative:]
Jesus experienced disappointment
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you
still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you
say, ‘Show us the Father’? [John 14:9 NRSV]
Usually we think of Thomas as the doubter, but this time it is Philip. Philip
says, “If you would only show us the Father, then we could believe.” “Have I been
with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not believe?” asks Jesus. One can
imagine the heartache and disappointment Jesus experienced. But Jesus went on
and answered Philip’s need. How does God use our disappointment? [Long pause --
45—60 seconds.]
Jesus experienced tiredness.
So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of
ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there,
and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was
about noon. [John 4:5-6 NRSV]
Jesus and his disciples had been traveling all day. As they drew near to the
town of Sychar, Jesus decided to sit by Jacob’s well while the disciples went on into
town to purchase food. While resting there, Jesus had a conversation with the
Samaritan woman. Even though Jesus experienced human tiredness, he was able
to witness to the woman and offer her living water. How does God use our human
tiredness? [Long pause -- 45—60 seconds]
Jesus experienced anger.
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and
doves and the moneychangers seated at their tables. Making a whip
of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the
cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and
overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves,
“Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a
marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal
for your house will consume me.” [John 2:13-17 NRSV]
Think of it, what would you feel if the sanctuary you worship in was turned
Into a produce or livestock market? Or, if the parking lot was turned into a flea-market
selling religious trinkets and junk? What if the IRS set up a collection station in the
narthex of your church? Do you think you would experience anger? How would God
use that anger? [Long pause -- 45—60 seconds]
Jesus experienced suffering.
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his
disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter and James
and John and began to be distressed and agitated. And said to them,
“I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed
that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba.
Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet,
not what I want, but what you want.” He came and found them sleeping;
and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake
one hour?” [Mark 14:32-37 NRSV]
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus suffered and agonized over facing his own
death. As he prayed, great drops of blood colored the ground. Suffering is a universal
human experience. But the question is this—is our suffering on our own behalf or on the
behalf of someone else? How is God using your suffering? [Long pause – 45—60 seconds]
Jesus experienced love.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them
said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept
this man from dying?” [John 11:36-37 NRSV]
Jesus’ relationship with this whole family—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—must
have been a very deep and meaningful one. When Jesus realized that Lazarus had been
dead for four days, he wept! However, Jesus went beyond his grief to call Lazarus forth
from the grave and back to life. Does our love call people from death and renew their
exuberance for life? [Long pause – 45—60 seconds]
Jesus experienced empathy.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the
mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited
to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is
that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to
the servants “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six
stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty
or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And
they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out,
and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward
tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it
came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the
steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the
good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become
drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the
first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his
disciples believed in him. [John 2:1-11 NRSV]
It seems unusual that Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding feast, and even
more so that the first miracle was changing water into wine. We would think the
first miracle might have been healing, feeding a great crowd, stilling a storm, or some
other great feat. But what greater feat is there in the human experience than empathy—
evaluating the situation and providing just what is needed—neither over-doing it or
meeting the need halfway. When have we been called by God to show empathy?
[Long pause – 45—60 seconds]
Jesus experienced and initiated human understanding.
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been
caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to
him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing
adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women.
Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might
have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote
with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he
straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is
without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he
bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went
away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone
with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to
her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She
said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go
your way, and from now on do not sin again.” [John 8:3-11 NRSV]
When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees with the adulteress, he could
have easily given an opinion as to what to do with the woman, and more than
likely it would have shown understanding on his part. But Jesus wanted to go a
step further. Jesus wanted those charging the adulteress to have and use
understanding. “You who are without sin, cast the first stone.” Those charging the
woman had to reason whether or not their actions were appropriate. What is God
asking us to understand? [Long pause—45-60 seconds]
Jesus was firm.
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus
and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do
you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate
replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests
have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered,
“My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this
world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed
over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate
asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am
a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify
to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out
to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have
a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me
to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this
man, but Barabbas?” Now Barabbas was a bandit. [John 18: 33-40 NRSV]
When brought before Pilate, Jesus was asked, “Are you the King of the
Jews?” It would have been so easy to say, “No, not me.” What is your answer when
you are asked, “Are you a child of the King?” Does it depend on the situation? In the
sanctuary or church building it is easy to answer “Yes.” But how about at work, home,
at the airport or at play? In all places, can you stand firm in the faith?
[Long pause – 45—60 seconds]
Jesus knew when to ask for support.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he
said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took
with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved
and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death;
remain here, and stay awake with me.” [Matthew 26: 36-38 NRSV]
In the final moments of Jesus’ life, he knew his death was imminent. What did he
do? He asked for support. He asked Peter and the sons of Zebedee to pray with
him. And he prayed to God from whence came his help. Do you know when to ask
for the support you need, either of friends or God? [Long pause – 45—60 seconds]
[The following question is an introduction to a point that SD will need to develop to conclude this meditation.]
How does God expect to use our humanness to share grace?
[Spiritual director: Develop this point being sensitive to the Pilgrims, their needs and capabilities, as well as
being sensitive to examples you can use from previous talks. The message of this third day is: “Go into
all the world and make disciples.”]
[Spiritual director can be seated.] END SD
LD [Following the meditation:]
Please turn to page 5, and join with me in praying the prayer of St. Francis.
[Page 5 is printed below—all pray together.]
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is dying that we are born to eternal life. [Pause]
We are now going to breakfast. Let’s sing “De Colores” on the way to the
dining room. END LD
8:00 A.M. - Dining room for breakfast.
MUSICIANS
[Lead Pilgrims into the dining room with “De Colores.” After you are all in the dining room, the ALD will
announce the singing of the grace before the meal. You will lead the singing of grace before and after the meal.]
END MUSICIANS
|ALD should talk to the speaker for talk # 11—Changing Our World—either Saturday evening or early Sunday morning. The speaker can |
|choose not to go to chapel and have a light breakfast and get dressed. |
|Or, the speaker may choose to go to chapel and slip out of line on the way to breakfast to get dressed. The speaker should report to |
|the prayer chapel between 8:15 and 8:20. Talk # 11 is scheduled to start at 8:50 A.M. |
|The Talk ATM should have “before talk” agape for speaker on altar in the chapel. |
ALD #2
Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal.
[Musicians will lead the singing.] Please be seated. [Any instructions from the Kitchen?]
8:20 A.M. - Joke Time
8:25 A.M. - Announcements
The book table will be closing after lunch. You will have 3 or 4 breaks this morning
to browse the table and make selections.
8:28 A.M. - Grace after the meal.
Please stand for the singing of the grace after the meal. [Musicians will lead the singing.]
8:30 A.M. - Break
Take a break about this long to use the facilities here [indicate 5 minutes with your fingers]
and return to your tables in the conference room when you hear the bell.
END ALD # 2
8:35 A.M. - Return to conference room
ALD #1 [Ring bell for all to return to their tables.] END ALD #1
8:35 A.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel as soon as the pilgrims have returned to
the conference room and be in the kitchen at the back of the conference room
before 8:40 A.M.
MUSICIANS Lead singing
|When you receive the signal from the ALD that the speaker is ready [normally the speaker and the ALD are standing in the kitchen—out of |
|sight of the pilgrims], ask the group to sing the song that the |
|speaker has selected to be sung before their talk. After that song is sung, the ALD will announce speaker and musician will ask group to|
|rise to sing the song that is sung before each talk. |
END MUSICIANS
8:45 A.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #3
Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary—the person
sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow a short time for seat changing if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #3
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
8:50 A.M. - Talk #11 - Changing Our World
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. Talk should be 20-25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the |
|speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference |
|room and return to the chapel. |
|The Talk ATM should put “before talk” agape for speaker # 12 on the altar in the chapel. |
ALD #3 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent mediation. [Blow out the
candle. After one to two minutes has passed:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, we will not be doing posters today! [Wait until the applause and
cheering dies down.] Please begin your discussion and write your summary after each talk.
When you are finished with the summary, please take a short restroom break and
return to the conference room. END ALD #3
9:45 A.M. - Return to the conference room
9:45 A.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel as soon as the pilgrims have returned
to the conference room and be in the kitchen at the back of the conference
room before 9:50 A.M.
ALD #1 [Ring bell for all to return to the conference room.] END ALD #1
MUSICIAN [lead singing. There is likely time for only one song prior to the speaker’s song.] END MUSICIANS
9:55 A.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
-
ALD #2 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a clergy person. [Light candle.] END ALD #3
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
10:00 A.M. - Talk #12 – Sanctifying Grace
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. Talk should be 20-25 minutes in length. When the talk is finished, the |
|speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference |
|room and return to the chapel. |
|The Talk ATM should put “before talk” agape for speaker # 13 on the altar in the chapel. |
ALD #3 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent mediation. [Blow out the
candle. After one to two minutes has passed:]
Please begin your discussion and write your summary statement.
When you are finished with the summary, please take a short restroom break and
return to the conference room.
10:45 A.M. - Ring bell to return to tables
10:45 A.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel as soon as the pilgrims have returned
to the conference room and be in the kitchen at the back of the conference
room before 10:50 A.M.
ALD #1 [Ring bell and do a room count.] END ALD #1
MUSICIANS [Lead very short time of singing.] END MUSICIANS
10:55 a.m. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #2 Have you taken a new seat? You should appoint a new secretary – the person
sitting across from the Table Leader. [Allow time for seat changing—if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
11:00 A.M. - Talk #13 – Body of Christ
|Speaker walks in while group is singing, goes to the podium and waits until song is finished. Then speaker |
|asks the group, “Will you join me in the Prayer to the Holy Spirit found on page 48 of your worship books.” |
|All will pray prayer. It is taped on the podium for speaker. Then, the speaker asks everyone to be seated. |
|The talk script should be on the podium, overheads on the table and any props under the podium. If using an overhead projector, |
|transparencies will be on the table next to the projector. Talk should be 20-25 minutes |
|in length. When the talk is finished, the speaker should take the hand cross with him/her, exit the conference room and return to |
|the chapel. |
|The Talk ATM should put “before talk” agape for speaker # 14 on the altar in the chapel. |
ALD #3 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation. [Blow out the
candle. After one to two minutes has passed:]
11:30 A.M. Please begin your discussion and write your summary statement. Please
take a quick restroom break after you have completed the summary statement.
[Allow 25 minutes for discussion, summary statement and break.]
11:45 A.M. - Check with kitchen
|ALD #2 check with Kitchen to confirm lunch will be ready. |
11:55 A.M. - Dining room for lunch
It is now time for us to go to lunch. Please sit with your tables. Please bring your
Worship books with you as we turn to page 36 and sing De Colores on the way to lunch.
END ALD #3
MUSICIANS [Lead the pilgrims in the singing of De Colores on the way to lunch. After you are in the dining
Room, ALD will announce the singing of grace before and after the meal. You will lead the singing.]
END MUSICIANS
ALD #1 Please stand [if they are sitting] for the singing of the grace before the meal.
[Musicians will lead the singing.} Please be seated. [Any instructions from the kitchen?]
|12:15 It is time for anyone needing to change clothes or prepare for a skit to do so. The orchestra skit is |
|often done at this time. |
12:15 P.M. - Joke time
12:30 P.M. - Skit
12:40 P.M. - Grace after the meal
ALD #3
You will now have time for a short break [indicate about 5 minutes with your fingers.]
Please visit the rest rooms and return promptly to the conference room when you
hear the bell. [You may choose to send some ahead with an ALD to use the conference room restrooms.] END ALD #3
12:48 P.M. - Return to the conference room
ALD #1 [Ring the bell to call the pilgrims back to their tables.] END ALD #1
12:50 P.M. - Prepare for the next talk
12:50 P.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel as soon as the pilgrims have returned
to the conference room and be in the kitchen at the back of the conference
room before 12:55 P.M.
MUSICIANS [Lead the singing for a short time.] END MUSICIANS
1:00 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
-
ALD #3 Have you taken a new seat and appointed a new secretary? [Allow time
for tables to change seats if necessary.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #3
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
1:05 P.M. - Talks # 14 – Perseverance
[The Lay Director may include a mock reunion group by Team members during her/his talk or following
the talk. Another option is having mock reunion groups lead by the Table Leader at each table.]
ALD #3 Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[Blow out the candle. After one to two minutes has passed.]
1:30 P.M. Please begin your discussion and write your summary statement.
[Allow 15 minutes for discussion and summary.]
1:45 P.M. Everyone please be sure to print your name of the front of your service
sheet and give it to your table leader. Please take a very short break [indicate
5 minutes with your fingers] and return to the conference room when you hear the bell.
END ALD #3
1:45 P.M. Speaker should leave prayer chapel to go to the conference room and be
in the kitchen at the back of the conference room before 1:50 P.M.
1:50 P.M. - Return to conference room
ALD #2 [Ring bell for all to return to tables.] END ALD #2
MUSICIANS [Lead singing. There will be time for no more than 1 song prior to the speaker’s
song.] END MUSICIANS
1:55 P.M. - Song (selected by speaker)
- Appoint new secretary
- Introduction of speaker following singing
ALD #3 Have you taken a new seat and appointed a new secretary? [Allow time
for changing seats—if needed.]
Ladies/Gentlemen, with a clean sheet of paper, high idealism, the spirit of
cooperation and charity, pen in hand, prepare for the next talk, which will be given
by a layperson. [Light candle.] END ALD #3
MUSICIANS Please stand and sing [Song selected by Lay Director] . END MUSICIANS
2:00 P.M. - Talk #15 – Fourth Day
|NOTE: The packets should be ready to distribute to everyone following this talk. The Spiritual Director should have been given a |
|packet just like the one given to pilgrims earlier in the day (for review of contents). The packets should not be handed out until |
|the Spiritual Director announces the time for distribution. The |
|Agape Team has the responsibility for stuffing the packets. Each person participating (Pilgrims and Team) |
|will receive a packet. |
ALD #3 [As soon as the speaker exits, say the following:]
Ladies/Gentlemen, please take a short time for silent meditation.
[Blow out the candle.] END ALD #3
[After 1-2 minutes has passed:]
2:30 p.m. - Packet review / points to remember
SD Will the agape team please deliver the manila packets to the Table Leaders at
this time. Please do not open your packets until everyone has received their packet.
I want to guide you through the contents.
[Wait a short time until the ATMs have delivered the packets to the table and the Table Leaders have passed
them out. The spiritual director will briefly go through the items in the packet and take time to verify that the
names and addresses are correct.]
Take out the listing of names and addresses. Please find your name and make sure it
is correct. Are there any corrections? [Pause to hear and list any corrections—everyone will correct
his/her own sheets.]
Now take out the sheet entitled “Points to Remember”.
[Spiritual Director: Go through these points with the Pilgrims. Elaborate as you deem necessary.
Explain any other contents as time permits. There are volunteer sheets inside that you should point out.]
|Assigned ALD should check to be sure service sheets and crosses are ready for commissioning. |
|ALD assigned to work with the Head Agape person should verify that the agape letter bags are ready to |
|pass out. The bags are not to be taken out into the conference room until the Spiritual Director asks for |
|them to be distributed. |
2:50 P.M. - Introduction of individual agape letters by Spiritual Director
[Narrative:]
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he says: “To Timothy, my loyal child in the
faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[1 Tim. 1:2] Letters of agape, like Paul’s letter to Timothy, have always been part of
the Christian tradition. This weekend you have heard again and again about agape—
God’s love—and have received many agape letters which tell of the prayers and
sacrifices of other people on your behalf, many of these people you will never know.
These agape letters have been for all of you.
At the same time, we have told you that the world out there has not changed
and you will be returning to essentially the same situation you left on Thursday
evening. So it is important that you know there are Christian friends who love you
and stand ready to help you live in grace and bring change to your environment.
It is also important that you know you are loved and appreciated not only
by us, but also by people who have known you a long time. So we want to give you
some personal agape letters, just in case you didn’t get the message of God’s love in
the general agape letters. Will the assistants please distribute the personal agape
letters? [This is the time for the Agape Team or ALDs to hand out the agape letter bags. Each table
should be together and given to the Table Leaders to distribute.]
[Let them know where they can go to read their letters. If the commissioning is set up outside,
perhaps you don’t want them to leave the conference room. Some will appreciate having some space and
privacy. The Spiritual Director should give clear instructions that make sure the Pilgrims stay close enough
to the conference room to hear the bell and away from places that would allow them to view the cross set up for
the commissioning.]
ALD #3 3:15 P.M. - Ring bell to call the Pilgrims back to the conference room. Do a count to be sure
all pilgrims are back—then make the following announcement:
We will now be leaving the conference room for the last time. Please gather up
all of your letters and belongings. We are now going to Quapaw and Mohegan lodges.
Please put your things in the room on your bed with your other belongings, take a
quick potty break and meet in the chapel. Table leaders, please take your rooster
with you and place them by one of the rows of chairs in the chapel. Each table should
sit together in the row by their table’s rooster.
END ALD #3
|The Table Leaders and assistant table leaders should help get their tables seated together in the chapel. |
|The Team Members will be seated around the room surrounding the pilgrims. The agape manual has |
|the diagram for the set up. The LD and Head Agape need to determine if the wooden cross with the necklaces will be already in |
|the chapel or hidden in the prayer chapel or in a closet in Mohegan when the pilgrims arrive. It depends on who is available |
|to carry the cross into the chapel—and when they are available. The wooden cross can be carried out after the pilgrims are |
|seated or can already be in place. |
3:30 P.M. - Commissioning Service
LD The LD addresses the Pilgrims and Team Members display their crosses
|The Lay Director usually makes brief comments to the Pilgrims about the past 3 days. The Lay Director also asks all Team |
|members to display their crosses as he/she does the same. Then, the Lay Director |
|tells them the Spiritual Director will explain more about the crosses. |
[You may want to insert a page with your prepared comments after this page. Remember to remove it after
the Walk.] END LD
SD
There is a tradition in the Emmaus movement to give each of you a cross.
On this cross is the simple inscription, “Christ is Counting on You.” Christ needs
your hands and hearts to share all the love that God has in store for the world.
I need to tell you a bit more about this large cross and the crosses hanging
here. On Thursday night while you were meeting your “new friend”, your sponsors
and members of the Columbus Emmaus community gathered together for prayer and
holy communion on your behalf. As each of your names was called, your sponsor or
an appointed member of the community came forward, took one of these crosses and
prayed for you and your Walk. They then placed that cross on this larger cross under
your name. This large cross with all your individual crosses has been in the prayer
chapel all weekend where people have gathered to pray before, during and after each
of those 15 talks. During that prayer time they prayed again for each of you by name.
This cross does not set you apart from other Christians. You have not joined
a special club or society, but simply accepted your responsibility in the ministry of
love in the name of Jesus Christ.
I will call your name and as you come forward, the Lay Director will place the
cross around your neck and say, “Christ is counting on you.” Your response will
be “And I am counting on Christ.” [The Spiritual Director should give clear instructions as to how
the Pilgrims are to come forward—depending on the site for the commissioning—and where they are to stand.]
|The Spiritual Director will announce the table to come forward. Then, he/she will call each Pilgrim’s name from the service sheets |
|(put together by table). The Lay Director will take the cross for each pilgrim |
|from the large wooden cross as his/her name is called. The Pilgrim will take the service sheet and walk to |
|the Lay Director, who will put the cross around the Pilgrim’s neck while saying “Christ is counting on you.” The Pilgrim will |
|respond with “And I am counting on Christ”. The Pilgrims then return to their seats as each |
|table is completed. |
|The SD and LD need to talk before the commissioning service. If there is enough time, you may want to |
|“pass the peace” as explained below or after all Pilgrims have received their crosses. If there is not enough time, the SD and LD |
|may just have the Pilgrims return to their seats after the presentation of the crosses is complete. |
[Possible narrative:]
We ask the team members to come forward and form a line here at the right of
the cross. After you receive your cross, please go down the line “passing the
peace” of Christ. This is a time to share with the Team Members your appreciation for
the weekend. The Christian embrace was an early expression of Christian fellowship
and is a common way to show your love for each other.
[Demonstrate the Christian embrace with the Lay Director.]
A handshake is also appropriate. When you get to the end of the line of team
members, join the line and greet your fellow travelers on this Walk to Emmaus.
If the team members will come forward and form the line, we will begin
the presentation of the crosses.
[Spiritual Director: Call the first name from the service sheets and present to each Pilgrim, while the Lay
Director gets their cross. Continue until all crosses have been presented.]
Let us all encircle the cross and join hands. [Wait until all Team and Pilgrims are in the
circle.] Let us pray. [Spiritual Director prays. After the prayer—while still holding hands.] Would the
musicians please lead in singing the first stanza of “They Will Know We are Christians
By Our Love”. [The SD and LD may choose another song that was meaningful for the pilgrims on the
Walk if they choose. It should be something short that they know well. The Musicians need to leave for the
dining room immediately after the singing of this song to prepare for closing.]
END SD
3:55 P.M. Lay Director instructions
LD I have a few things to tell you. In a little while you will be asked those two
questions I told you about on Thursday night.
“WHAT HAS THIS WALK TO EMMAUS MEANT TO ME?”
“WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?’
So be thinking once again about your answers to those two questions. If there is anyone who
needs to take a quick bathroom break, please do so now. [Wait a few minutes to be sure everyone who
needs to take a break had the opportunity.] Please line up in your table groups.
4:00 P.M. - Please follow me as we go to the dining room. Please walk and sit
together as table groups. You do not need to take anything with you.
END LD
|The community needs to arrive prior to 3:45 P.M. The Pilgrims should arrive about 4:00 P.M. in the dining room. The sponsors |
|should plan to pick up the pilgrim’s luggage at the cabins after the closing. |
THE CLOSING
3:45 P.M. - Community members arrive at Lakeview and park cars by the
dining hall.
4:00 P.M. - Pilgrims and team arrive at dining room for the closing.
|The LD and SD lead Pilgrims and Team into the dining room. The Pilgrims come in by table group. The table leader is in front and |
|the assistant table leader follows the pilgrims from their table. As the group comes into the dining room, the community stands, |
|turns to face the incoming pilgrims and team and applauds. The community applauds until all team members and pilgrims are at |
|his/her seat. The pilgrims and team members are seated in the front rows of chairs by tables. The Lay Director should instruct the|
|agape team and kitchen team as to if they are to sit together behind the pilgrims or sit with the community. LD, ALDs and clergy |
|sit on the very front rows. There is a podium with the two questions, microphone and Kleenex set up for the pilgrims. The |
|communion elements will be prepared and in place. Kleenex will be distributed in the pews for pilgrims and team. |
LD [Step to the podium to speak.}
Pilgrims would you please remain standing and turn to face the community?
Columbus IN Area Emmaus community, I would like to introduce to you the newest
members of your community. [The community will applaud vigorously.]
Pilgrims, I would like to introduce to you your Columbus IN Area Emmaus community.
[The pilgrims will likely applaud.] Please be seated.
Pilgrims, as you might imagine, there is a lot of servant-hood love and behind the scenes
work that goes into a weekend such as you have just experienced. Please take a look
at your new community. I would like to take just a moment to thank those people for
their help during this Walk to Emmaus. Please hold your applause until I have finished.
Would those who worked at registration and attended sponsor’s hour please stand.
Would those who participated in the 72-hour prayer vigil please stand.
Would those who attended the Candlelight last night please stand.
Would anyone else who helped in any way please stand.
Let’s show our appreciation to all those who have worked for us this weekend.
[By this time nearly everyone in the room should be standing and one round of applause can be given for all.]
|Thanks to the team. Please insert a page into the book with the list of the team members and their support persons. The team member |
|and their support person or group should stand as their names are called. Say |
|something appropriate to each group in appreciation for their contribution to the weekend. It is easiest if you prepare your remarks |
|and print them on the pages you insert. |
|For Example: |
|Kitchen team |
|Your comments written out………………… |
|Team member’s name Support person or group |
|Team member’s name Support person or group |
Please feel free to use your own words. Following are some examples:
I want to thank those people who were up before the roosters and any of us to prepare
those wonderful meals. As I call your name, please stand. Please hold all applause until
all members of the group have been called.
Kitchen
[Head kitchen (state the person’s name) and his/her support person (or persons) state
name/names. If you know the relationship of the person, it is OK to state the relationship—i.e.
husband/wife/daughter/son/reunion group, etc. Then, allow time for applause.]
Agape Team
[Feel free to use your own words.]
For those people who spent many hours making sure everything was in its place right
when it was needed. They also performed many tasks you have no idea had to be done!
We are very grateful for all their acts of agape. Please stand as your name is called.
[Please follow the same format as before—name the Team Member and their support person.]
Representative from the Board
[Please follow the same format as before—name the Team Member and their support person.]
Musicians
Assistant Table Leaders
Table Leaders
Assistant Lay Directors
Clergy Team Members
[Introduce the Assistant Spiritual Directors and their support persons.]
Spiritual Director
[Remember to introduce his/her support person. You may also want to express your
personal gratitude for the spiritual guidance given you, the team and pilgrims by the
spiritual director.]
Lay Director’s Spouse (or support person/group)
[This is your opportunity to express your gratitude—keep it brief. It is probably better
for you to introduce your spouse. If you do not do it, the Spiritual Director should do
that later.]
[Insert your introduction information after this page. When you have completed
the introductions, go to the next page in this book.]
Pilgrims, all these people have given to you and prayed for you. This is your
opportunity to respond by answering the two questions I told you about on Thursday
night and again just a little while ago. Those two questions? “What have these three
days, this Walk to Emmaus, meant to me?” and “What do I intend to do about it?”
In order to model how this may be done, we have asked two Team Members to
share their response to these two questions. (Call up the two speakers who have been
asked to share in order to demonstrate responses to the two questions without saying
“Thank you” to others. The team members should also model it as a brief statement—
remember to instruct the team members on the expectations—they set the example.)
Note: The Columbus IN Area Emmaus Board (and the National Emmaus office) has
requested that the pilgrims be allowed to come on their own—as they are led.
[After the two have finished, the LD returns to the microphone.]
Pilgrims, you are now welcome to come to the podium to answer those two
questions. You may come as you are led. No one will be forced to come forward
if you are uncomfortable in doing so. We have plenty of time for each pilgrim to
come forward if you would like. We would like for you to come to the microphone,
give your name, table, home town and church. (The questions are written here to
remind you.) The cross that has been prayed over and held by the people giving
talks this weekend is here to hold in your hand if you wish. Remember, this is not
the time to say thanks to people—there will be plenty of time for that later.
This is your opportunity to respond to the two questions.
[As the pilgrims share, please be aware of the needs of the Emmaus community. If you feel the
speakers are not being heard, adjust the angle of the microphone, or request they speak louder. This
ordinarily does not bother the speaker and is of great value to the audience.]
[There must be no manipulation of the Pilgrims. However, ample time is to be given to all who
wish to share. When it seems as though almost everyone has spoken who wishes to, approach the microphone
and state that there is plenty of time if there are others who want to share. Again, no one has to speak but
we want to give them the opportunity. Then, say that you will wait a short time to provide that opportunity.
After a short time with no one else coming forward, then proceed with the next part of closing. The LD
introduces the community Lay Director.]
I would like to introduce to you the Community Lay Director for the Columbus
IN Area Emmaus Community (state his/her name). [The Lay Director sits down.]
[The Community Lay Director will make general comments to the community as a whole about the
three days. The Community Lay Director should include the following:
Announce the next gathering—explaining to the pilgrims and community that it
is a pitch-in dinner and their families are invited to attend with them.
Announce future Walk to Emmaus events, including dates, place and time.
Announce Lay Directors for the next set of Walks.
Introduce the Community Spiritual Director.
Introduce the Spiritual Director for this Walk.
It is my pleasure to introduce to you the Spiritual Director of this walk:
(state his/her name). [The Community Lay Director sits down.]
SD [At this point you will introduce the Lay Director of this walk (and spouse or support person/group if they
haven’t done so already). The hand cross that has been prayed over and held during the talks will be
presented to the Lay Director. The SD is free to make his/her own comments. It should be something like:
It is a tradition of the Emmaus community to present to the Lay Director of
the Walk the cross that has been prayed over and held during the talks and by each
of the pilgrims who have been to the podium this evening. It is with great pleasure
that I present this cross to you and with it my gratitude for all the prayers and work
you have put into this weekend.
[The Spiritual Director of the Walk should make any general comments and introduce the communion
liturgy and give any needed instructions at this time.]
[The worship service and communion time should be kept brief. Keep in mind the length of the service
and the fatigue of the participants. The Spiritual Director should keep his/her meditation brief.]
[There can be special music, if there is time and you so desire. There should be instructions given about
meeting the pilgrims at the end of the service and taking them to the cabins to pick up their belongings.]
[At the end of the service, the community normally sings a closing song while the Lay Director
and Spiritual Director lead the Pilgrims and Team to the open area outside the dining hall.
This makes it easier for family and friends to greet them and allows the Pilgrims to get out more quickly.]
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