WELCOME TO GARDEN STATE
WALK TO EMMAUS!
JOIN US ON A JOURNEY OF RENEWAL AND DISCIPLESHIP
Walk to Emmaus is a three-day retreat based on the biblical story of Jesus appearing to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. It is a program to strengthen and renew Christian discipleship and community, led by laity and clergy.
The Gospel of St. Luke relates the story of the risen Christ appearing to two who were going along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Two friends were walking together, sharing their hearts’ deepest concerns. The risen Christ joined them and explained the scriptures as they walked, how it was ordained that Christ should suffer and so enter his glory. This experience on the road was a heart-warming experience as the risen Christ walked and talked with them. The illuminating climax of the experience was when Christ took bread and said the blessing, then broke it and gave it to them. The two had their eyes opened and they recognized him as the risen Christ and they rushed back to Jerusalem to tell others. (Luke 24:13-35)
“Find renewed faith, purpose in Walk to Emmaus”
By The Rev. Gina Yeske* | Deepen Faith, GNJ News
In life there are moments when hope fades and uncertainty looms. This is the place we find two weary travelers journeying to a village called Emmaus, feeling discouraged and perplexed after Jesus’ crucifixion. As they trudged along the road to Emmaus, these travelers carried the weight of lost dreams and shattered expectations. The road to Emmaus is the place between fear and hope, the road between the place where all is lost and the place of resurrection.
Two thousand years later the road to discipleship can still be long and challenging. This has definitely been the case for many of our church leaders over the past few years. These faithful servants went above and beyond during the pandemic to ensure that while our church doors might have been closed our hearts and minds remained open and committed to doing the work of Jesus Christ.
Then when we reopened our buildings, we discovered that we had moved into a new era for the church. The road back has been long and challenging, often leaving our leaders and volunteers burned out and worried about what the future might hold. The work is hard, and in many cases, there are few persons available to help. Our dedicated volunteers are weary.
But just as Jesus came beside the weary travelers in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus comes alongside the servants of the church today to offer fresh hope and renewal. Some of us are longing for something that will illumine our hearts to remember who we are and why we follow Jesus. One of these opportunities for renewal is the Walk to Emmaus.
The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual retreat and renewal program that originated from The Upper Room, a ministry of The United Methodist Church. Participants embark on a three-day immersive experience designed to inspire and strengthen the faith of participants. It happens through a combination of worship, small-group discussions and reflections on a series of talks, guided by a team of both clergy and laity volunteers who have previously completed the Walk.
The Walk to Emmaus is not an exclusive club. Instead, it seeks to create a supportive community of believers who can support and encourage one another on their spiritual journeys. However, the primary mission of the Walk is to strengthen the local church.
“One of the purposes of the Walk is not only to help you become a better disciple,” shared Jack Scharf from Morristown UMC, “but also to reinvigorate and renew the church.”
Equipped for grace-filled service and leadership
After a weekend filled with Christian love in action, the attendees are equipped for new levels of grace-filled service and leadership. Both the Rev. Brian Roberts, who leads the Greater New Jersey Conference Stewardship Foundation, and the Rev. Sang Won Doh, Dean of the Cabinet, have said the Walk impacted their congregations when they were pastors.
Emmaus Walks help mature Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ, to strengthen their personal holiness and activate their faith commitment. They encapsulate the United Methodist core values and Wesleyan principles of grace. It’s a weekend filled with laughter, love and a deep renewal of one’s spirit.
Tracy Allen, of Covenant UMC in Plainfield, shared how her church grew, not just in numbers but by inspiring “a whole different change of atmosphere in the church.” She points out that she can sense the change that has recently taken place since some members attended a Walk last fall.
The Walk begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening. During the retreat participants are encouraged to set this time apart from the world to fully immerse themselves in this experience. The Rev. Dawn Maffetone, of Rockaway UMC, shared that she has many good memories of her Walk. “I laughed, I cried, and I learned to live again.”
Members of that Emmaus community are eager to present the ministry to churches through in-person visits or Zoom.
Contact Stephen Yeske, stephenyeske@comcast.net for a presentation.
In the gospel, the downhearted disciples’ encounter with Jesus held the key to a profound revelation that would renew their hope, challenge their faith and reshape their understanding of the world. The Emmaus Walks offer a reset opportunity for weary followers of Jesus to restore and energize their faith through an encounter with the resurrected Christ.
These Walks will deeply impact your journey with Christ and remind you of why you started walking with Jesus in the first place.