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INFORMATION ON THE WALK TO EMMAUS
The Walk to Emmaus weekend is based on a story in the gospel of Luke (24:13-35). This passage relates the story of the risen Christ appearing to two disciples who are walking along the road from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus on the day of Resurrection. When the trio arrives in the village of Emmaus, the disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. They remember how their hearts had burned within them as they walked with him on the road (v32-They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?")
The Walk to Emmaus is an uplifting three-day experience of New Testament Christianity. The Emmaus Walk typically begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening with men and women attending separate weekends. It is designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christians, and have them return to their home congregation recharged as a leader in the church. Their faith is rekindled and they serve as a shining example of God’s love and grace to their families, their congregations, and the world in which they live.
The Emmaus Walk is comprised of fifteen talks by lay persons (10 talks) and clergy (5 talks) on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church (the Body of Christ). There are breaks between the talks to allow attendees time for fellowship with other Christians. The structure of the talks exemplifies the partnership between laity and clergy within the church, and toward the renewal of the church in the world.
The Emmaus Walk is wrapped in prayer, has time for reflection and discussion of the talks, special times of worship, and daily celebration of Holy Communion. During the three days, the participants are organized into small groups. After the three days, Emmaus participants are encouraged to meet regularly in small groups. The members of the small groups challenge and support one another and keep them accountable to faithful living. Emmaus participants are encouraged to share Christ with families, job, and community. They are encouraged to share Christ in their communities through the ministry of their congregations. The three-day Emmaus Walk experience and follow-up groups strengthen and renew Christians as disciples of Jesus Christ and as active members of the body of Christ through their home church in mission to the local community and world.
