Lowcountry Emmaus Community

B O A R D O F DIRECTORS: Lowcountry Emmaus Community

Volume 29 Number 3 March 2020 Lay Director: Dan Hare [email protected] (843)729-5650 And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him ~ Luke 24:31

Asst. Lay Director: Tom Thurman [email protected] (843)-697-4429 Walks 86 &87 Spiritual Director: David Lupo [email protected] March 19-22 (Men’s Walk 86) (843)200-3758 Asst. Spiritual Director: Send off @ 7pm (Please arrive between 6-6:30) Thursday Paul Lawton March 19 [email protected] om Jericho UMC 11 Houcks Gin Road Cameron, SC (843)296-7252 Secretary/Treasurer: Sue Runnerstrum Candlelight @ 8pm Saturday, March 21 [email protected] 843-870- 2254 Providence UMC 4833 Old State Rd, Holly Hill, SC Music/Entertainment: Dominica Harrell [email protected] Closing @ 4:30pm Sunday, March 22 (817)308-1987 Jericho UMC 11 Houcks Gin Road, Cameron, SC Kitchen: David Beal [email protected] (843) 209-5242 Jerico UMC directions: Sendoff and Closing Fourth Day: John Lyons [email protected] Take I-26 to 1-95N; take exit 90 to US 176 (Holly Hill/Cameron); (843)708-9837 take left onto US 176; travel approx. 14 miles; take right onto Luggage/Transportation: Cliff Simpson Houcks Gin Rd. Church is approx.. 1.5 miles on right. Note: you [email protected] will pass Providence UMC on US 176, see below. (843)830-6079 Agape: Peggy Lawton [email protected] Providence UMC directions: Candlelight (843)813-6160 Take 1-26 to 1-95N; take exit 90 to US 176 (Holly Hill/Cameron) Facilities: Ed Hickey [email protected] take left onto US 176; Church is less than 2 miles on right. 843-864- 6723 Gatherings: Gary Fellers [email protected] March 26-29 (Women’s Walk 87) (843)670-2639

Newsletter: Becky Stacey Send off @7pm (Please arrive between 6-6:30) Thursday, [email protected] March 26 om (843) 697-0156

Registrar: Karen Ayers Jericho UMC 11 Houcks Gin Road Cameron, SC [email protected] (843) 812-8644 Records: Helen Cash Candlelight @ 8pm Saturday, March 28 [email protected] St. Andrews UMC 1980 Columbia Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (843) 696-9853 Literature/Supplies: Marlene Harter Closing @ 4:30pm Sunday, March 29 [email protected] 843-452-8175 Jericho UMC 11 Houcks Gin Road, Cameron, SC Send off/Candlelight: Carla Utsey [email protected] (843)560-3860

***Please make sure that you go to St. Andrews UMC in Orangeburg for the Women’s Candlelight and not to Providence. ***

From the Community Lay Director: Dan Hare

To the Lowcountry Emmaus Community

It is time for the Walks again and we continue to need prayers for the Pilgrims and the Teams. I want to thank the Community for stepping up to get pilgrims and helping behind the scenes with clean-ups and set-up for the Preview weekend. The Board is working hard to have these walks for the Pilgrims and they need your support in whatever capacity you can give.

We had a wonderful Gathering at St. George UMC and there was plenty of food. Most of the list to help were filled in, but there is still room on the Prayer Vigil at those Prime times at 1:00-3:00 AM. Please keep in mind we are looking for People to serve on the Emmaus Board, so prayerfully consider you or someone you know who would be willing to serve. There are 6 people rotating off so we need more that to put on the ballot.

I was listening to my pastor’s sermon Sunday and he was talking about Jesus going out to find Disciples and he used the scripture about Peter and some of the disciples who were out fishing all night and caught nothing, then Jesus told them to go out into the water and let down their nets. Peter said “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But you say so, I will let down the nets.” I listened to that message and realized Peter stepped out on Faith when he thought it was impossible. We too at our January Board Meeting stepped out on faith and now we have over 31 women and almost 20 men. At that time we had only about 13 women and 9 men. Let us not give up on this tool we call The Walk to Emmaus because God has a plan for us to use it.

Please keep in prayer your decision to serve on the Emmaus Board and let Tom Thurman know or any Board Member. I have loved my time on the board but it is time for new blood.

Decolores,

Dan Hare

Low Country Emmaus Lay Director From Agape - So Many Beautiful Reasons: Peggy Lawton

We are now in the final weeks of our preparations for the upcoming Walks. It is difficult not to think of our own walks during this time and to remember all of the love that was given to us. Now it is time to return that love back to others by giving them what we were so freely given on our own walk. There are so many beautiful reasons to serve during the walk to Emmaus. One of the most well-known ways to help are the many acts of agape love that we show our pilgrims. You can make table agape and pillow agape. You can write letters to pilgrims declaring your love for them and encouraging them on their journey. You can also serve in the kitchen in many ways by washing dishes, helping with meals, pouring a glass of tea or with set-up or clean-up. You can offer to help with luggage and transportation, or offer your services during Send-off, Candlelight, and Closing. Simply collecting the music books and returning them to a Board Member is a great help. You can sign up for the prayer vigil and snack list. If you are a musician or you love to sing, you can offer to help with the next set of walks. Many Low country Emmaus members are needed to contribute to the success of the walks. You can pray for each team member and each pilgrim on these walks. You can pray for the Lay Directors of both the men's and women's walks. You can pray for those giving talks. Your prayer may be just the one needed to help someone through an often grueling and exhausting 72 hours. Your presence at Candlelight will be a blessing to someone who is struggling. Show up. You can sing, loud and proud, as a member of the Low country Emmaus Community, thereby encouraging new pilgrims to do the same. You can enthusiastically welcome the new pilgrims to our community of Christian love by joining us at the closing ceremony on Sunday and at the gathering in April, which will be a covered dish in their honor. We invite you to come and be an active, vibrant member of our community.

Table, bed, and letter agape can be brought to Send-off and Candlelight. Bins will be place around the room when the pilgrims are not present. The prayer vigil will be passed around after the pilgrims leave Thursday night if we still have a need for people to sign-up. Please put the pilgrim's first and last name on the envelope and add and "F" (for family) in the upper left hand corner for letters from family members. And last, but certainly not least, you can begin to pray about our next set of walks and the pilgrims that God will send our way.

I have probably left out something, but just know that if you feel called to give back in any way, just ask someone what you can do because.... . There are so many beautiful reasons to serve.

Peggy Lawton

Board Member for Agape Send-off, Candlelight and Closing – Carla Utsey

Send-off and Closing for both the men’s and women’s walks will be held at Jericho UMC as usual. Please make sure you have your pilgrims at Send-off no later than 6:30pm to complete the registration process. Candlelight for the men will also be in its usual location at Providence UMC; community members and sponsors should arrive by 8pm. This year the women’s candlelight will be at St. Andrews UMC in Orangeburg; again please plan to get to church by 8pm. The Closing service will begin at 4:30pm on Sunday; if you are a sponsor please plan to arrive in time to pick up your pilgrim’s luggage before the service.

Addresses for the churches are:

Jericho UMC 11 Houcks Gin Rd (at the intersection of Houcks Gin and Jericho Rd, off Hwy 176), Cameron, SC 29030

Providence UMC 4833 Old State Rd (Hwy 176 & 210, approximately 1 mile from I-95) Holly Hill, SC 29059

St Andrews UMC 1980 Columbia Rd NE (lots of parking behind the sanctuary, part as far as possible from the door) Orangeburg, S 29115

If anyone is willing to help with passing out and/or collecting candles on Saturday evening, please contact me by text at 843-560-3860 or email at [email protected] Thank you in advance for your assistance in making these services memorable for our pilgrims!

DeColores

From Facilities: Ed Hickey Men/Women key walk dates for camp preps… Wednesday, March 18, 2020 @ 9am for the Men’s walk setup. Lots of willing servants needed. March 22, 2020 @ 9am is the Men’s walk take down and Women’s walk setup with may include March 23 @ 9am (if necessary). That decision will be made on the 22nd. March 29, 2020 @ 1pm will be the take down and storage for next time. Directions to Camp Summers & Magnet:

Take I-26 to exit 149 (hwy 33) toward Cameron, SC. Go 2 miles, take left on Shulmer Rd. Go 2 ½ miles to stop sign; take right on Church Camp Rd. Go approx. 1 mile and camp is on left.

Alternate HWY 176 route: US 176 N. Approximately 3 miles past hwy 33, take left on Belleville Rd; Go approx. 2-3 miles, then left on Church Camp Rd; go approx. 2 miles and camp on left.

US 176 S, approximately 8 miles from Hwy 601 take Right on Belleville Rd; Go approx.. 2-3 miles and left on Church Camp Rd; Go approx. 2 miles and camp on left.

From the Registrar: Karen Ayers

I am so excited to announce that we have a full Women’s Walk – any applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list for our next walk. Our pilgrims for Walk # 87 include 5 women from the Midlands Community, and 4 young women under the age of 25! And also our Men’s Walk # 86 has 19 pilgrims, more than double what we had 6 weeks ago! Great job to all of you who have sponsored and encouraged your friends, relatives and neighbors to experience this amazing weekend. Please check with your pilgrims to make sure they have all the information they need about what to bring, and what NOT to bring. And remember that it is your responsibility to care for their family’s needs while they are away. The emergency number for the camp was in the e-mail you should have received from me, but you may also contact me as I will be staying in the area for both weekends (843-812-8644).

Registration for both weekends begins at 6 pm on Thursday afternoons at Jericho UMC, and especially for the Women’s Walk I would ask you to plan to be there as early as possible (and no later than 6:30) so we can get everyone checked in, luggage taken care of and in the church for Send-Off by 7. In case of emergency, or last minute cancellations, please call or text my cell phone by the 6:30 deadline so we are not holding up the service. For any other questions, or to volunteer to assist at the registration table, please call, text or e-mail ([email protected]).

De Colores!

From the Kitchen: David Beals

I would like to take a second to thank everyone that volunteered to help in the kitchen for the upcoming Men’s and Women’s Walks. This community is truly amazing.

I have been working out of town a great deal over the past 3-4 months. I was so concerned about how I was going to get my sign-up sheets filled in before the Walks with all of this travel. Yet again, I should have just given it to God and skipped all of that silly worrying. Within days of Becky sending out the email blast, almost all of the time slots were overflowing with willing servants. I truely love all of you so much and can’t wait to get back in the kitchen with every single one of you.

Thank you again for being who you are. I’ll see you soon.

David

Board Member Spotlight:

Meet Ed Hickey

Ed Hickey attended Lowcountry Emmaus Walk #46 and sat at the table of Peter. Ed married his childhood sweetheart, Sandy, on July 31 1969, which means that as of July 31, 2020, they will have been married 51 years! Ed and Sandy worship at Bethany UMC in Summerville where they are members of the New Wine Reunion group. He and Sandy have three sons, three granddaughters, three grandsons and one great grandson. Ed retired from the SC Department of Disabilities/Special Needs after 45 years on the job. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in Accounting from USC in 1971. Ed has twice served as our Board Member in charge of Facilities. The Walk to Emmaus has strongly affected both Ed and Sandy by helping them to grow closer to their Lord and Saviour in many ways, most especially by sponsoring new pilgrims and getting to know them personally as friends. They are also impacted by being witness to the power of the Holy Spirit, by reunion group activities and by working behind the scenes with friends as they set up and take down camp, serve in the kitchen on walks and serve in the conference room. Ed has also been a part of the Kairos Prison Ministry at Lieber Correctional Facility and served as weekend Leader on Kairos Lieber #46. The next time you see Ed and Sandy, please thank them for their faithful service to Lowcountry Emmaus.

Community Walk Etiquette:

Gentle reminders for the community:

 Crosses are worn ONLY at Closing on Sunday  There is no nursery at any weekend event: please make other arrangements for your children.  Park at Providence in such a way that your headlights do not shine into the church windows as you leave.  Please do not reach out to touch your pilgrims at Candlelight (I know, it’s hard!)  Pray, Pray, Pray all weekend.

Sponsor Reminders:

 Make sure your pilgrim eats before coming on Thursday; there is no food served Thursday evening.  Please stress the importance of putting away watches, cell phones, etc. The weekend is about getting away from the day to day so that we can get closer to Jesus.

The next board meeting will be held March 10th, 2020 at The Cabinet Shop 9475 US- 78, Ladson, SC 29456 at 7:00pm