PSWTE President’s Letter

Greetings, Over the last several years our local Puget Sound Walk to Emmaus has seen a dwindling of sorts. There is little doubt the PSWTE ministry is struggling: the number of pilgrims have diminished; there are fewer sponsors; reliance on the same pastors to fill clergy roles; fewer churches are willing to host; a lack of participation at Closura, Fourth Day events and Ultreyas; an unwillingness to lead or act on the Board and its committees, or serve as lay directors and core team members; and so on. Recently, an Emmaus brother mentioned to me, "Everything has a season, and maybe PSWTE needs a break or maybe scale back. Maybe the weekend’s effectiveness is over..." I find it hard to believe. At each Closura, many of us see the impact and difference an Emmaus weekend make in the lives of others. Men and women will stand before our community of active members, and speak of how their journey with Christ was enriched and how they experienced the Love of Jesus in 3+ days. Change is however inevitable, and our community is certainly experiencing changes. Some of us would like to continue with PSWTE “as-is;” while others seek more dramatic changes. We have long had a debate over what it may mean to be part of the National Emmaus movement, or to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Moving to the National Model, or making other changes to the “what and how” of the weekend, will not solve the challenges our community faces. We (everyone in the PSWTE community) must band together as the "Body of Christ" in order to turn our ministry into a vibrant and exciting community, and build our “Fourth Day” connections. So what do we do, or where do we go next?? To start, the format of our PSWTE Board meetings will be altered and limited in time (3-4 hours). Board and committee reports will be made available prior to each meeting, and we will work to get these posted. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend our board meetings. Please note, anyone seeking to address the board about a specific matter will be asked to provide information prior to the meeting. This will allow us all to arrive prepared and remain focused, enriching our conversations. President-Emeritus Ida Richards will be working with a Visioning Committee, and I urge all of you to engage and be part of this visioning exercise. This committee will be reviewing the simplicity of National Emmaus model in context of our seemingly busy and complex local PSWTE model. There will be time for the community to offer suggestions and comments to this committee and the Board in hopes of strengthening the Emmaus movement and its ministries in the Puget Sound. President-Elect Rocky Dowrey will be looking for nominees to fill the many vacancies on the Board and its various committees. Please think about your service, and the service of others. Perhaps you might consider volunteering to serve on one of our vacant committees, or may have someone in mind to nominate. Most of our committees consist of a single person. Increasing participation and working together will go a long way to develop long-lasting relationships with the Lord and other Emmaus brothers and sisters. We are after all the hands and feet of Christ.

(Continued on page 5)

Volume 34, Number 1 updated February 15 February 17, 19, 23, 29, March 3, March 9 March 2016

The Rainbow Junction Gazette

2

From the Men’s Lay Director

Receiving the call to be a lay director was a little shocking. Who am I to lead God’s Walk? I have sung the song: Here I am Lord most times not expecting Him to take me up on it:

“Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord, I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.”

Now God is taking me up on what I sang. I know God has been gently nudging me on, with Grace, Love, Hope and His Word. As a Shepherd for the last 40 years I am still learning how to care for my flock. At a PSWTE weekend Palanca devotion time we read /discussed King David’s Psalms 23. When my brother read the second verse: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,” I thought wow! that is hard, to make a sheep (me) do that. One has to be totally content, fed, safe, unbothered and trusting to lay down. We, his sheep, are always testing the waters, especially the small quiet pot-holes of water that contain all sorts of nasty stuff that others have walked in before and left behind. God has worked hard to prepare the green pastures and living water for us. God has led my family through times that we were not totally content, fed, safe, unbothered and trusting to lay down. Through God’s Grace he leads me. The theme for the weekend is He leads me. God has helped me choose the second verse to lead the PSWTE 228 men’s weekend at Birchwood Presbyterian Church in Bellingham. The theme song chosen is All the Way My Savior Leads ME, by Frances Jane (Fanny) Crosby and Robert Lowry, 1875. Please pray for the pilgrims and team. May God fill you with his love and Grace! Your brother in Christ Rocky Long

Thoughts from the Women's’ Lay Director

When I started thinking about the theme, I had way too many scriptures on my list. I couldn’t decide, so I picked Col 3:16-17, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,” because that means I choose all my favorite scriptures.

Listening to Thrive by Casting Crowns, I immediately started thinking, life in piety, call to discipleship, grace talks. My favorite line is, “my one desire, to know him and to make him known.” How does that happen? By accepting the invitation to “Let the Word of Christ Dwell in you Richly.”Then, as the song says, we will no longer live ordinary lives, we will thrive.

I am thankful to Aubrey James for designing the logo. The acacia tree, represents us. Acacia wood was used to build the ark of the covenant. Like the ark we are filled with God’s presence. I love that, there are many doves implying a continuous feeding and nurturing of the tree by the Holy Spirit. The living water cascading from the Bible is a rich reminder that we never will run dry. Aubrey drew this with her finger on an electronic device, look closely and you see the finger swirls in the world, reminding us of God the creator. In the song there is a line “in this worn and weary world...we are like the tree”. The artist has the world suspended in the dark universe but it is clear that the tree is in the light, God’s light.

As a lay director, I have been amazed by His work. Though the team is working from the notebooks, I am constantly seeing God working in ways beyond the notebooks. And, I thought I chose the theme to inspire others, yet it has inspired me. Thanks be to God.

Thank you for praying for and supporting Walk #229, may we experience His kingdom as we “Let the

Word of Christ Dwell in us Richly.”

Ginger Opdyke

3

Pilgrim Lists

Men’s Walk #228 March 3 - 6, 2016

Women’s Walk #229 March 10 - 13, 2016

Men’s Theme, Song, Verse

Theme: He Leads Me Song: All the Way My Savior Leads

ME, by Frances Jane (Fanny) Crosby and Robert Lowry

Verse: Psalm 23:2 “He makes me

lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters”

Walk #228 Walk #229 Church Sponsor(s)

Updated February 15 February 17, February 29

Jenny Andrews Aldersgate UMC Robert/Lisa Brawn

Bob Amos Eastside Four Square Sandy Amos

Marilyn Blunk Living Word Debb Leach

Joy Brent Oak Harbor UMC Linda Jury

Dave Cecka Nikki Cecka Oak Harbor UMC Woessner/Tighe & Zacharias

Paul Coalwell Mt. Vernon Presbyterian R. I. Johnson

Pamela Cushing Birchwood Presbyterian Richard Emerson

John Faley Faith Community Church Paul Shaw

Alex Fleege Canyon Hills Community Duane Johnson

Dale Hoppe Oak Harbor UMC Ron & AnneTarrant

Margaret Katz First Christian Linda Moffitt

Sherrie Lambert Grace by the Sea Anglican Christine Aburto

Betty Leitch St Augustine’s Catholic Harriet Dailey

Jeannie Martin First Christian Carolyn Muir

Carolyn Milat St Augustine’s Catholic Anne Tarrant

Roger Parkins First Christian Church Dave Moffitt

Frank Phillips Vicki Phillips Birchwood Presbyterian Gary & Nina Buma

Deshae Scipio Deborah Woody

Bob Seifert Rose Hill Presbyterian Christine Seifert

Dan Stanfield Triss Stanfield Gather Church Darrin/Tracy Canfield

Erin Tombaugh Oak Harbor FUMC Judy Norton

Michele Wedemeyer North Shore Christian Marti Russell

Eric Whitehead Leslie Whitehead Patrick/Jennefer Gudmundson

Women’s Theme, Song, Verse

Theme: “Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly” Song: Thrive by Casting Crowns Verse: Col 3: 16-17 MSG“Let the Word of

Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”

4

Walks 228 & 229 Team Lists

Updated February 15, February 19, February 23,

February 29, March 3, March 9

Jesus Christ Director Jesus Christ Rocky Long Lay Director Ginger Opdyke Rick Snyder Asst. Lay Director Barbara Luehr Stephanie Hankey Spiritual Director Joy Martin Mark Johnson, Steve Schumacher, Spiritual Team Brad Beeman, Jerry Collell Bill Warner Karen Davison

Don Kohlenberger Worship Team Lead Kristi Roy Paul Arms, Robert Brawn, Worship Team Rocky Dowrey, Helen Miller, Jeff Dowrey, Steve King, Bob Short Daryl Storey, Sharon Wisenburg Dana O’Blenes Head Cha Erin McBrien, Lyndi Reed, Marcel Eisma, Dean Faris, Cha Chas Jen Gudmundson, Jenny Herrick, David Gilmore, Gary Swalling Anne Tarrant Loren Dahl, Rick Dowrey Chef, Assistant Ev Kooistra, Candy Jones Bobby Berndt, Carl Gay, Kitchen Team Chris Aburto, Tracy Canfield, Tim Gustafson, Doug Olson Jeanne Harshbarger, Carol Jonas, Keith Padgett Ann Oldham, Colleen Raynor, Marti Russell, Janann Roodzant Terry VW Karen Thomas, Kathi Van Pelt, Debra Woody

Lou Kooistra, David Richards Palanca Boss, Assistant Diana Sumner-Fedele, Joanna Seppa Greg Flatmo, Bob Jones, Palanca Team Lisa Agard, Carol Decker, Patty Gallagher, John Laskey, Terry Shockey, Pam Jamieson, Bette Kohlenberger, Don Summers, Len Vander Woude Debb Leach, Judy Norton, Chris Seifert Terry Vander Woude Chrissie Dunlap Talk Room

Speaker Backup Speaker Backup Duane Johnson Dean Faris* Priorities Anne Tarrant* Carol Decker* Howie Schwend Gary Swalling* Priesthood Mary Fran Wendling Bette Kohlenberger* John Hart Greg Flatmo* Life in Piety Jenny Herrick* Judy Norton* Bob Harshbarger Ken Ackerman Growth/Study Linda Jury Irene Wilkerson Terry Turner David Crane John Laskey* Christian Action Joyce Atkinson Ann Oldham* Steve King* Don Kohlenberger* Discipleship Joy Wendling Erin Neeley

David Frieboes Darrin Canfield Changing Our World Beth Zier Helen Miller* Dana O’Blenes* Bob Short* Body of Christ Sandy Reed Sharon Wisenburg* * indicates also serving in another position Scott Coffinger Love Team Chair Anny Coffinger

Ida Richards Agape Boss Ken Opdyke Send Palanca to: Lou Kooistra Diana Sumner-Fedele 701 SE Bayshore Drive

*Palanca * — A friendly reminder about palanca:

1. Ensure the first *and* last name is on all palanca. Often there are several team and/or pilgrims with the same first name. If there is a nickname (other than that used to register the pilgrim) put it in parenthesis.

2. Use Faith, Love, Hope (for the 3 days). Do not use Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

3. Items must be able to fit in a lunch sack with all the other items the pilgrim or team member will receive. Larger items/gifts should be saved for after the walk and given as 4th Day palanca.

4. When sending pillow palanca, please send enough for everyone. If the item is only meant for pilgrims, please specify such--and send enough for all pilgrims.

5

Happy New Year...or spring? I hope this finds everyone already anticipating all that God has for you and your families in 2016! On behalf of the Board and Nominations Committee, I would like to invite you, as a PSWTE member to pray about how you can serve our Lord in the PSWTE community! We have several immediate opportunities to do just that! If you feel like you would like to help, or know of anyone in the community who has leadership tendencies and a heart for missions, there is a place to serve! Individuals must first and foremost love the Lord our God with all your heart, soul, and mind; have an understanding and willingness to learn about the position, and a strong desire to serve the com-munity! It is our desire to get these committees filled so we can all work together to best serve to bene-fit the Walk to Emmaus experience! We do not want or expect any one person to carry the load! Many hands and hearts make the load a lot lighter! We welcome and value your input! Please pray about this. If you or someone you know comes to mind, please submit your or their name, current contact infor-mation and position to me, Rocky Dowrey. (See below) You may also go to PSWTE.org; click on 4th Day; password: decolores; click on Forms to find Nominations forms and fill in as directed!

Current open or coming open positions include: Facilities Chair and Elect: working with our active Ultreyas, this person finds churches to house our Emmaus Walk weekends, as well as other possible Emmaus activities Team Selection Committee helpers Music Committee helpers Fourth Day Action: Chair , assistant and helpers Notebook helpers (to help the Chairperson keep notebooks updated) Search Committee helpers Kitchen: Chair, Elect and helpers Gazette Editor assembles and edits the Gazette newsletter If you feel God nudging you or would like a complete job description and Terms of Office (some may be one year; some two), or you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Thank you for your prayerful consideration! Rocky Dowrey – President Elect 360 Chehalis Pl La Conner, WA 98257 rickandrock_30@msn.com

As we contemplate our future, I urge each to us find time to listen and reflect on Jesus' quiet call, or respond to the Holy Spirit’s power, in our lives. We might focus on those 15 talks offered during the weekends. These talks frame our Christian journey as individuals and as a community. I submit these talks are what the Walk to Emmaus is about. Each talk represents 1/15th of the talk that Jesus is having with us. He is calling on us to act... He needs us! More importantly, He needs YOU! Consider ways that you might pay-forward your pilgrim weekend. Could you fill a board or community vacancy? Is it time for you to get know someone new, and offer to sponsor them? Maybe it’s time to talk with your local church about hosting a walk? How long has it been since you last attended a Closura or your local Ultreya? It’s time to re-connect with one another in loving support, and build up the Fourth Day! With greater participation and a vibrant Forth Day in place, imagine the places we will go as a community and the people who will be touched by this ministry. We must not wait until our numbers are too low; we must act now. I urge each of us to find ways to engage and re-energize this movement! We are counting on Christ… and most importantly, Christ is counting on US! Many blessings… Kevin Dragon 2016 PSWTE President

(Continued from page 1)

6

Walks #228 & 229 Birchwood Presbyterian 400 Meadowbrook Ct

Bellingham, WA

Please visit www.mapquest.com or your favorite map site for directions!

2016 PSWTE Board Members

President Kevin Dragon kmdragon@comcast.net President-Emeritus Ida Richards idabelle52@gmail.com President-Elect Rocky Dowrey rickandrock_30@msn.com Secretary Jackie Linington jackienlew@hotmail.com Treasurer Ann Oldham akoldham@comcast.net Spiritual Directors Gail Irving gailirving@comcast.net Karen Davison buttrfly49@msn.com Women’s Walk Coord. Bette Kohlenberger bettek@whidbey.net Men’s Walk Coord. Greg Flatmo feedmysheep164@gmail.com

Ultreyas

Ultreyas meet monthly in the following locations. If you are in our area, please drop in and share the spirit with us. These Ultreyas are open to all who wish to follow Jesus!

East King County Third Sunday at 2:30 St. Peter’s United Methodist, Bellevue Bob Jones (c)206 832-7883 or (w)425 861-2685

Kitsap First Friday at 7:00 p.m. Silverdale UMC Jessica Berg jessiepaulie2@yahoo.com

Oak Harbor Third Friday at 7:00 p.m. Oak Harbor FUMC Ginger Opdyke ken-gingeropdyke@comcast.net 360-679-9071

South Sound Third Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Christ Lutheran, Lakewood Kristi Roy kristiroy.lmp@gmail.com 253 431-3062

Whatcom Third Friday at 7:30 p.m. Gail Sullivan dgkitten@juno.com

2016 Committee Chairs

Facilities Vacant Fourth Day Vacant Gazette Editor Joyce Atkinson gazette@pswte.org (to be filled) Historian Lisa Oppenhuizen ljo7272@yahoo.com Kitchen Vacant Music Chair Don Kohlenberger donk@whidbey.net National/Int’l Palanca Georgia Gwyn bggwyn@hotmail.com Notebooks Jessica Berg jessiepaulie2@yahoo.com Pre-Walk Joan Pierce jpierce622@frontier.com Supplies Darrin Canfield Team Selection Ida Richards idabelle52@gmail.com Web Site Darrin Canfield darrinc@q.com

IMPORTANT NOTE!

To help protect the privacy and security of all persons, the PSWTE Board has opted to password-protect the 4th Day information on the web site.

When you click on 4th Day, you will be prompted to enter a password. That password is decolores. Note: no spaces, no caps.

7

The Rainbow Junction Gazette Puget Sound Walk To Emmaus PO Box 77314 Seattle, WA 98133 Address Service Requested

Non-Profit ORG U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 484 Bellevue, WA

Men's /Women’s Walks #228—229 Birchwood Presbyterian, Bellingham Men’s: #228 March 3 - 6, 2016 LD RockyLong Women’s #229 March 10 - 13, 2016 LD Ginger Opdyke Fourth Day April 2, 2016 (for Walks , 227, Birchwood Presbyterian 228, 229) Bellingham Women’s Walk #231 Rose Hill Presbyterian, Redmond Women’s #231 July 21—24 LD Erin Neeley Fourth Day TBA Men's /Women’s Walks #232—233 Church TBA Men’s: #232 LD Ken Ackerman Women’s #233 LD Lisa Oppenhuizen Fourth Day

Upcoming Walks & Activities

Request to Serve on a Puget Sound Walk to Emmaus

Requests to Serve on a Walk to Emmaus weekend can be found on the PSWTE website at www.pswte.org. Click on the “4th Day” link. Be sure to read the Statement of Leadership Com-mitment at the bottom of the form.

To All AV techs and Music Leaders:

Please remember that whenever we copy mu-sic, which includes projecting the words on a screen by whatever method, we have to in-clude the proper Christian Copyright License information. If you don’t know what that is or where to find it, you can contact me. Thanks for your help. Don Kohlenberger, Music Committee Chairman