What is Emmaus?

The Walk to Emmaus® is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The Walk to Emmaus® experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion. The "Emmaus® community," made up of those who have attended an Emmaus® weekend, support the 72-hour experience with a prayer vigil, by preparing and serving meals, and other acts of love and self-giving. The Emmaus® Walk usually begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening. Men and women attend separate weekends.

During and after the three days, Emmaus® leaders encourage participants to meet regularly in small groups. The members of the small groups challenge and support one another in faithful living. Participants seek to Christianize their environments of family, job, and community through the ministry of their congregations.

The Upper Room® of The United Methodist Church sponsors the Walk to Emmaus® and offers it through local Emmaus® groups around the world. The three-day Emmaus® experience and the follow-up groups strengthen and renew Christian people as disciples of Jesus Christ and as active members of the body of Christ in mission to the world.

Many church leaders acclaim Emmaus® as much more than a program. It is a powerful movement of spiritual renewal that is making a difference for countless individuals and many congregations. Between 1978 and 1995, nearly half a million persons participated in Emmaus®. During this same period, the Emmaus® movement has taken hold in 300 sites around the world, including the U.S.A., Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Germany, and India.

Emmaus® is an experience in which growing Christians of all sorts come together in common affirmation of the essentials of the Christian faith. Bishop Adriel de Souza Maia of Brazil worked to take Emmaus® to his homeland because, as he put it, "We need a church renewal movement which brings together the two sides of the Christian life: prayer and action, personal spiritual growth and social concern. Emmaus® holds together these two sides of the coin."

From What Is Emmaus® by Stephen D. Bryant.
Copyright © 1995 by The Upper Room®.

A Sumatanga Checklist

1. Sleeping quarters have single bunk beds. You will need to take your own linens, (sheets and a blanket or quilt) and your own pillow. Some people take sleeping bags instead of linens. Choose what is most comfortable for you. There is usually one other person in your room, and sometimes there may be three of you.

2. You will need to take all your own toiletries. There are two "community" bathrooms on each hall. You will need to also take your own towels and wash cloths. There is a lavatory and mirror in each room, so you can brush your teeth and wash your face there if you choose.

3. Dress casually and comfortably, even on Sunday. This includes jeans, sweats, sneakers, and shorts, depending on the weather.

4. There will be a book table available, and there will be an opportunity to purchase Camp Sumatanga shirts. These would be the only reasons you would need to have money with you.

5. If you forget any of the personal items mentioned above, simply let one of the people in charge (they will be pointed out to you) know what you need, and they will provide it.

6. Leave watches and clocks at home.

7. Smoking is not allowed in the buildings at Camp. However, if you smoke, there are designated areas.

8. If your family needs to reach you, it's best to have them call your sponsor. Your sponsor will likely know who answers the phone, and can get through quickly. However, you can leave these numbers with your family: (256) 538-9828.

9. Your transportation to camp and back home again will be provided by your sponsor. You will be notified of a time of departure, and an approximate time of return.

1. Did you know that sponsoring a pilgrim is a partnership with a Holy Spirit? He chooses and woos the pilgrims, and then uses you to carry out the details. It's an awesome responsibility!

2. Pray about and for the sponsorship of the pilgrim(s) God has laid on your heart.

3. If your prospective pilgrim has a spouse, make every effort to present Emmaus to the couple together - and get both applications at the same time, if you can.

4. Explain the weekend and follow-up, answering all questions truthfully. It's almost impossible to ruin a Walk by being truthful.

5. No one can tell another person how their heart will respond to acts of agape and the presence of the Lord. Don't try. This is where all the neat surprises are, anyway. Let these happen.

6. Be diligent to collect letters for your pilgrim(s), being sensitive to those people in their lives who mean the most to them. Make sure the letters reach you on time, and that you get them to camp on time.

7. Explain where the camp is, what the facility is like, what to wear, what to bring, provide times of departure and return, and give the camp phone number for emergencies.

8. Assure your pilgrim's family of your support and help during the weekend, and find a way to show your agape.

9. Take your pilgrim(s) to camp, get them registered, find their room, make their bed, help them find and meet their roommate(s), and otherwise make them feel comfortable and at home. Assure them of the arrangements for returning home on Sunday.

10. Go to Candlelight.

11. Go to closing.

12. Take your pilgrim to Follow-up.

13. Help your pilgrim find and join a reunion group.

14. Teach your pilgrim how to be a good sponsor, and help them with their first try. Whatever you do will be imitated and repeated.

Dear _________________________

My name is (your name) and I have the honor of sponsoring (pilgram's name) on the “WALK TO EMMAUS" to be held at Camp Sumatanga nearGallant, Alabama, on (dates of walk).

 The "Walk to Emmaus" is a weekend of spiritual renewal with many beautiful gifts and surprises.  One such surprise is the mail that persons attending receive from their friends and loved ones.

 As sponsors, we are responsible for contacting family and close friends, and asking them to send a note, card or letter so that it will be received during this special weekend.  Since the letters are intended to be a total surprise, we sometimes have to do a little detective work in order to get names and addresses of persons from whom we need help.  Perhaps you would like to pass this along to relatives or someone that you know would like to share in this opportunity.

 This letter is an opportunity for you to express your appreciation and what your relationship has meant and means.  You might want to recall some humorous events or some happening that has been special to the two of you.  This is a letter of love and will be read only by the person to whom you write.

 Would you help make this "Walk to Emmaus" special by doing the following?

 1.         Write a letter, note or card and sign it.

2.         Put the letter, note or card in an envelope and seal it.

3.                   Write (pilgram's name) name on the front of the envelope. Don’t mail to (pilgram's name).

4.                   Put the envelope in a larger envelope and mail it or give it to myself before *(date)*, so we can get it to the proper place on time.

                 (Please put your name and return address on the larger envelope)

5.         Mail to:

                        Sponsors Name and Address                          

This should be a complete surprise, so please help make it special by not talking about the letters until the Emmaus weekend is over.

I hope you will help by getting a letter to me.  It will be greatly appreciated!

Prayer Vigil

Begin by asking God to clear your mind of all outside distractions.  Place all of your thoughts and your spirit with the people and the event you have come to Him to bless.

Be silent for a few seconds and begin to feel His presence with you.  Pray as if you are talking to your best friend...you are!  Ask Him to bless with His spirit the buildings, grounds and all things used to bring those present to an awareness of Him.

Pray for the lay director, if not by name, by duty.    He/she must walk in His spirit for anything that they may be called upon to solve.

Pray for the assistant lay director(s) in much the same way.

Pray for the spiritual director that he/she may truly be an instrument of His spirit.

Pray for the assistant spiritual directors in much the same way.

Pray for the board representative that he/she may have the courage to keep the purity of the event and to not let personalities keep them from doing what they promised God they would do.

Pray for the speakers.  Pray that they remember Whom they represent, that they lay down self and glorify God.

Pray for the talks, the message each is to give, for the giver and for each person who hears, that they may hear according to their need.

Pray for:

Pray for the musicians, that their music may bring God's message, and soothe troubled souls.

Pray for the pilgrims:

    The ones who cannot leave their thoughts behind.
    The ones uneasy in the setting.
    The ones who cannot sleep.
    The ones forced to come.
    The ones looking for magic, not miracles.
    The ones who are open and receiving.
    For all the conditions known to God.

Pray for the cooks and all who minister in unrecognized ways.

Pray for the fun and fellowship that will warm hearts and keep the focus on God.

Pray for the team assistants that they do not tire. Pray for their renewed strength.

Pray for all of the agape gifts, for the hands that made them, and the blessing they bring.

Pray for the special times such as: chapel, agape feasts, closing, etc.

And lastly, give it all to our Lord and Friend, Who sees and knows, asking for His blessing and presence with everyone connected - not only those mentioned, but families, and the change for the church and community.

End by praising and thanking God for the opportunity He has given you to talk to Him on behalf of His children.

AMEN

Adopted from "Praying the Prayer Vigil" by John McKinney (Walk #2)

Walk To Emmaus Pilgrim Application

The Application to attend the Walk to Emmaus is now available online! The application is in the Acrobat Reader format (PDF).  You will need Acrobat Reader to view the application and print it out.

If you already have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, just CLICK HERE to view and print the application.

If not: It is simple. It is FREE. It actually works. You will not be able to edit the document, but you can print it out. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader  for free by clicking here.