WELCOME

Winter 2008

Dear friend,

Thank you so much for being here this morning. At Emmaus, we are committed to live out and teach God's truth in very practical ways. We want every person and family in the Clarke County area to have the opportunity to see and hear God's plan in action.

Emmaus is not interested in being religious but Christ-like. Jesus was honest and compassionate - a man of His word. His goal was to give all He was to better His fellow man. He expressed this as He fed and healed the crowds following Him. He expressed this as He forgave sins. His ultimate expression, though, was His death and resurrection; He died as our sacrifice and rose to demonstrate of the reality of everything He had said!

Jesus' life and truth are the center and source of our lifestyle. Jesus, being God's Son, knew exactly how God intended man to live and relate to others in a community. His life example enables us to clearly see how life is meant to be lived. Emmaus wants all people to enjoy that type of life.

It is clear God teaches that a church is the family of God. So a church should be a "family" in the community. Just as individual families affect a community for its betterment, so Emmaus strives to strengthen the community. Just as people do not isolate themselves from their community, Emmaus does not merely exist within four walls. We work actively to make a good community even better.

Blessings,

Pastor Mike Dean

SMALL GROUPS Winter 2008

Looking for some way to be more involved? Want to study your Bible, pray and hang out with people who also love Jesus? Check out some of the meetings that happen during the week:

Bible Studies and Prayer Groups

Bishop's Home Bible Study. Second and fourth Thursdays each month at 7:00pm at the Bishop's. We are a "seniors" group (all on Social Security) but anyone is welcome to lower the average age. Contact Ted & Nancy Bishop at 540-955-9121.

Eyre's Home Group. Meets the second and fourth Tuesdays each month at 7pm at the Eyre's home. Pastor Mike Dean leads this group. Contact Chris & Marlisa Eyre at 540-722-8641.

Prayer Group. Wednesdays at 1:30 at the Veilleux house. 540-955-4068.

Family Group. For anyone 13 or older, we meet at the Walraven's home every other Wednesday and walk through a book of the Bible. Come join us! Child care is not provided. Contact Kip & Samantha Walvraven at 540-955-1330.

Women

Women of Emmaus. Are you or someone you love struggling with an addiction? If food, alcohol, or some other stronghold is robbing you of true freedom in Christ, a Bible study/prayer/support group is forming with your needs in mind. Our group will be a Bible-centered study and total confidentiality will be respected. Please e-mail myjoy_99@yahoo.com or call 540-533-8643 for more information. This group is open to believers/nonbelievers seeking truth-based freedom.

Women's Video Study. Join other Christian women and teen girls on Saturday nights at 7pm at Taryn Bell's home. Current study is by Beth Moore. There is a study book that needs to be purchased, and homework during the week. Contact Taryn at 540-955-2090 or bell.taryn@gmail.com.

Homeschool Mom's Fellowship. Meets the first Thursday of the month at 7pm at Samantha Walraven's home. Bring a snack to share if you can! Samantha lives at 411 Dunlap Drive and can be contacted at 540-955-1330 or at walraven@verizon.net.

Craft Group. If you are interested in getting together with other women for a time of crafting, contact Angela Pelleman at 540-955-0502 or angelaslittleattic@yahoo.com.

Men

Men's Bible Discussion Group. This group meets on Tuesday nights at 7:30pm at Benton Miller's home. They have discussed the Beatitudes and Encouraging Others. For more info contact Benton at 540-869-5020. He lives at 122 First Manassas Place in Stephens City.

Saturday Morning Prayer & Fellowship. Meets the second and fourth Saturday each month at 8:00am at the Church office. There will be a short devotional followed by discussion and prayer ending no later than 9:30. Contact Ted Bishop, tedbishop@verizon.net or 540-955-9121.

Young Adults

Crosslink is a ministry for young adults (college age) in the Winchester area. They meet monthly for prayer, worship and teaching. They meet at Fellowship Bible at 7pm on the first Saturday of the month.

Teens

Sunday Nights. from 6-8pm in Berryville for grades 9th-12th. Games, worship, and discussion.

Teen Girls. Tuesday afternoons 3:45 – 5pm at the Daily Grind in Berryville.

For more information on small groups for teens contact Briana Nei at 540-955-1877 or Mary Veilleux at 540-955-4068.

Middle School Youth Group. 1st Fridays from 3:30 until 6pm in Berryville for Middle School Youth. Within walking distance of Johnson Williams Middle School. Games, pizza, and awesome Bible study! For more information call Leslie Williams at 540-955-2431 or Sharon Rogers at 540-955-0585.

If you have a small group to add to this list contact Caleb Nei at calebnei@yahoo.com or Diane Gum at dianegum@visuallink.com or 540-837-2038.

TEENS Winter 2008

Extreme Reality Youth Ministry

Sunday Nights - Wild and crazy fun!

Guy stuff-Come on Sundays, retreats and other events to experience paintball, capture the flag, underground Christian, marshmallow guns, exploding Mountain Dew bottles, assassin, mafia game, campfires, county-wide scavenger hunts, movie night, concerts and more!

Girls stuff- Okay, okay, some of you like the guy games, too. But for those of you with a gentler side, try our Girls Daily Grind time, shopping trips, sleep-overs, long conversations, make-overs, concerts and more.

Sunday nights are so much fun you don't want to miss out! Come worship God with our live Extreme Reality Worship band. We're always developing new musicians, so let us know if you are interested in getting training for the band. Next, let's unlock the secrets of the Bible as we work verse by verse through Romans. We're all about putting the sword of God in your hand and heart! Don't worry about getting lost in the crowd. WE LOVE NEW PEOPLE! We have special small group time to hash out those questions that are burning inside of you. Also, do you have issues you are struggling with? We love to see God's power unleashed in someone's life through prayer. There are peers available at your request to pray with you and encourage you. Finally, top it all off with wild and crazy games and you have an Extreme Reality Sunday night!

True ministry and growth

We believe in equipping teens to do the work of God. Paul told Timothy, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." Our purpose is to train teens to be confident in their faith and for it to shine in their lives. Believers have opportunities to study the Bible, learn to pray, share their faith and grow in their faith.

Through the grace of God, Extreme Reality is growing steadily as teens share their faith with friends. It is exciting to see so many new teens being affected for the kingdom of God. Teens who were failing in school are getting good grades; teens are coming off of depression medication and surrendering unhealthy habits to Jesus. Teens are committing to purity, fighting temptation, and bringing their families to Christ. If you want to experience God's love and to grow in an exciting environment, then come be a part of Extreme Reality ministries. How do you measure ministry? Measure it in changed lives!

Get involved

• For information on Sunday nights and other youth group happenings call 540-955-4068 and ask for Mary or 540-550-7534 and ask for Briana.

• Beauty for Ashes Girls Group. Call Briana at 540-550-7534 .

• Extreme Reality Worship Team. Call Erin Gum at 540-837-2038.

• Creation Music Festival.

• Missions trip opportunities.

• Outreach.

• Discipleship groups.

Children Winter 2008

At the heart of our Children's Ministry is a love for kids. When you love someone you want the best for them. We believe that Jesus is the best. As a matter of fact, we love Jesus. Combine our love for Jesus with our love for kids and you get teachers with open hearts and fervor to inspire children to discover God's plan for them.

We believe that children can know more than Bible stories and memory verses. Children can know with their heart how to be Christ to the world. They can make the right choices because of their love for God.

They can tell others about Jesus because of how real He is to them. Children want to meet Jesus because they feel all the love He has for them. Therefore, it is our loving desire to introduce children to Jesus and life as it was meant to be.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." ~ Matthew 19:14

Schedule

Emmaus Children's Church meets for the second half of the service on Sunday mornings for children ages 3 to 6th grade. A nursery is available for the youngest children.

Questions about our Children's Ministry? Contact Jeanne Dean at 540-662-5770 or jdean@emmausofclarke.com.

A note from Miss Jeanne

In elementary school my parents never took me to church. Thankfully, a friend invited me to her church. Once they gave me a little card that had a glow-in-the-dark picture of Jesus and a Bible verse on it. I hung it beside my bed. I knew the "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer. I remember praying the prayer and reading the verse before I went to bed. It went like this,

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Let the words of my mouth
And the meditations of my heart
Be acceptable in thy sight
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:14

When I was in the fourth grade the church gave me my very own Bible. The summer before I went into the fifth grade we moved. Sill, my parents did not take me to church, but God gave me another friend who did. Her grandfather had been a minister. She told me Jesus would forgive my sin if I asked, so I asked Him.

Today, these events from my life have given me a heart for young children. I want to introduce them to the very Jesus who called me as a child and has brought my young prayer to pass. I want to be the one who hands a child the card with a picture of Jesus and a Bible verse on it. I want to be the one to give a child their very own Bible. I want to be the one who encourages children to bring their friends to church when their parents do not, so they can meet Jesus. I want to be the one.

~Miss Jeanne

Missions Winter 2008

When Jesus walked the earth He was moved with compassion toward both the physical and spiritual needs of the people around Him. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and forgave sins.

At Emmaus we seek to continue the mission of Christ. We support our friends who travel the world to spread the gospel; we support native missionaries in India, we send medicine to Africa, we visit the prisoners at the local prison. 14% of all the money Emmaus receives goes to the poor and needy here and abroad.

Some scripture for thought

...Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. -Deuteronomy 15:7

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. – Proverbs 21:13

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. - Matthew 28:19 - 20 (NIV)

Recently we have...

• sent Tsunami and earthquake relief to Asia

• sent hurricane relief to Louisiana

• taken packets with hygiene items and Bibles to local prisoners

• sent bicycles to pastors in India

• sent money to India to rebuild huts destroyed by cyclones

• drilled fresh-water wells at Indian leper colonies

• sent Emmaus young adults on short-term missions trips

• paid for short-term temporary housing for a local homeless family

• participated in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse

• worked at the first Habitat for Humanity house in Clarke County

Get involved

"Missions" is not the responsibility of the "Missions Department." It's the job of each of us as we see the needs that God brings across our paths. (Read Jesus' story of The Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.)

Sometimes, though, we may see a neighbor who has a need that is greater than one of us can handle.

When this happens please talk to the Missions coordinators Victor and Donna Hess at 540-955-9730 or missions@emmausofclarke.com. Also check out www.hopeandhelps.org.