Walking to Emmaus.....

[Redheadedstepchild]

http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/whatis/default.asp

Anyone ever done this? Considered doing it? Would you reccomend it?

Our church sends people every year, and from all accounts it's a very meaningful spiritual experience. However, I don't know much about it because apparently the participants are vowed to secrecy (which only makes me want to know more). I do know you have to be sponsored in order to go.

[cristianna]

Can the participants state anything about their experience?

[Redheadedstepchild]

I'm not really sure........

I think there are limits to what they can say.

[cristianna]

You know Red you may want to consider New Wine that Pete and Erica go to. It's location may be ideal for you. I checked into it and it looked amazing. But I do not know specifics.

[GraceSeeker]

My wife just got back from a Walk To Emmaus over Palm Sunday weekend. I've never been, but I already had a good idea what her experience would be like even before she went. What they "keep secret" isn't really a secret in the way of say a "secret society" like the Masons. It is just that they do a few special things in the way of trying to bless people for which they don't want the surprise to be ruined by people coming with a certain set of expectations. In other words, even though I haven't myself gone, I could still tell you, and I wouldn't have to kill you.

As far as what you would get out of the experience, it is simply an intensely focused time of learning about one's faith. This is NOT the place to send someone who is not already a believer in the hopes that they will become one. This IS for people who are committed to the Lord, but looking for either some more foundational information or to experience the joy of living in Christian community.

The information is communicated in the form of many different talks over the course of a weekend. The talks are on various points of Christian theology and the practice of Christian faith. The vast majority of them are given not by clergy but other lay people. In fact, clergy largely stay out of the process except to assist with communion and to serve on steering committees in planning the weekends. (I don't mean that clergy couldn't be involved, but that it is largely a lay led ministry in most places.)

The experience of Christian community comes from the form of the weekend itself. You are asked not to wear a watch during the weekend, and because one session is stacked on top of another (almost to the point of exhaustion) it is possible for people to completely loose track of time. This is actually something that is desired, because the leaders want your total focus to be on spiritually growing in grace. And for that reason you are asked to not bring cell phones either.

But it is not a cult type of experience where you are physically deprived of food and sleep, nor are you kept from having contact with family if you really need to. As I said, I have never taken a Walk, but I have been invited to participate in several and have seen what they do th1ere first hand.

I've had several parishoners, of all ages, attend and they have been richly blessed. My wife would report the same, though perhaps not as ecstatically as some of the others have who had never been on any type of spiritual growth weekend before. But my daughter got virtually nothing out of it because, quite honestly, she put virtually nothing into it. But she wasn't forced to go, and she did enjoy making a few friends. It just wasn't her cup of tea because she simply was looking more for a weekend of entertainment than of study and the practice of spiritual disciplines. Even then, she was both glad she went and glad it was over.

[AquilaGT]

I HIGHLY recommend the Walk to Emmaus. It was one of the most significant spiritual experiences of my life.

There is nothing strange about it. You are on a spiritual retreat out of your regular routines so you can concentrate on God. There are some talks on topics relating to the Christian faith (some by clergy, some by laity) that help focus your thoughts.

There are some surprises, but they are very nice, nothing to worry about. Talking about them beforehand would be like telling somebody about their upcoming surprise birthday party - it ruins the surprise! No one is sworn to secrecy (!), they just don't want to ruin the surprise.

The website gives you the basic info and outline. After that, pray about it. If God wants you to do WTE, it will come together for you in God's time.

[Redheadedstepchild]

Well, that all makes perfect sense in the context of some of the things that I have heard from people who have gone. I knew about the watch thing.

I do want to go someday. Not sure that I am ready for it yet. I also wonder if there might be a feeling of let down when it's over and the walkers are acclimated back into life as usual....actually that may be a good topic for a thread....hmmmmmmmmmm

[Redheadedstepchild]

Cristianna, I will have to look into New Wine...

I am planning to go to a Pentecostal Camp Meeting this summer. Not quite the same thing I know, but I'm looking forward to it.

[contriteheart]

Both my parents have been. Everything I've ever heard about the walks has been extremely positive. And as far as the "afterwards," the groups seem to have continuing reunion meetings.

[GraceSeeker]

Both my parents have been. Everything I've ever heard about the walks has been extremely positive. And as far as the "afterwards," the groups seem to have continuing reunion meetings. And walkers are often choose to remain involved as presenters, sponors, and otherwise contributing to future walks.

[sinner/SAVED]

I have attended and worked at Walk to Emmaus. There are no secrets at all. I could give you a play-by-play of the entire weekend, but that would spoil all your fun. The best description for the WTE is a "short course in Christianity". That is exactly what it is, but it is not your normal "short course". The learning comes from the experience more than the teaching.

[Mary of Bethany]

When I was an Anglican, I attended a Walk to Emmaus in the Dallas area, and then spent several years working on different teams, and even was privileged to be the Lay Director for a woman's walk.

I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to renew their commitment to Christ. But even if nothing else, you'll make new friends with sisters in Christ, and have wonderful memories. :)

Mary