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We know that every year is a gift from God, but 2020 will
nodoubt be one that remains in our memories for a long timeto come.
In addition to all else that we have had to forego,The Southern
Maryland Emmaus Community needed tocease in-person gatherings. But
that didn't mean we had to give up the spirit of our community.
Thanks to the hardwork of our Spiritual Director, Phil Logan, Cef
Epps, andothers, we held our first ever ZOOM video gathering
onSaturday, May 16. Many of our brothers and sisters fromacross the
community joined from their phones, tablets,computers and other
devices.
We couldn't hug, of course, but we were able to enjoyworship
with music provided by Jim Risley and his lovelyassistant, Alexa.
Community Lay Director,Cef Epps,welcomed everyone, and a wonderful
message fromPastor Phil Logan capped the meeting which included
asort of shared "meal" of whatever each person had onhand. Watch
your email for information about joining ournext video gathering.
Meanwhile, stay safe.
Video Gatherings
Take the Path in 2020Next Gathering
All in-person Gatherings have been cancelled until
furthernotice. Watch your email
for news about future|ZOOM gatherings.
In This Issue
Emmaus Shorts - 2
Upcoming Walks - 2
Community Events - 3
Accountability Groups - 4
Singing and Emmaus - 5
What? - 5
Connie's Book Corner - 6
A Refrigerator Dies - 6
A Fourth Day Witness - 7
On the Right Path
Southern Maryland Emmaus 2nd Quarter 2020 Walk In the Light
Volume 20 Issue 2
2020 -The Year We Gathered with ZOOM
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2020 Upcoming Walks
Men's Walk # 61 Postponed due to Quarantine
Women's Walk # 62 Postponed due to Quarantine
Make Plans to attend the communityevents for each walk
Thursday - Sponsor's Hour - 7:00 pmSaturday - Candlelight - 8:00
pm
Sunday - Closing - 4:00 pm
2
Emmaus Shorts by Dan Brennan
Who was that Masked Man?
It seemed as if at the end of each episode of "The Lone
Ranger",someone in the dusty western town would always ask the
question: "Who was that Masked Man?" I can't even begin
toimagine what the townsfolk would do todaygiven the current
requirement that we allwear masks.
My wife Pat and I are collectors of manythings: antique sewing
tools; antiquecorkscrews; clowns, and yes, an entirebathroom filled
with the beloved Betty Boop. In case you haven't figured it out
yet, that'sme behind the mask made for me by my seamstress wife.
I'm nottrying to hide (although audiences have often suggested I do
justthat when my jokes fell flat.)
Until recently, it was considered poor taste or a sign of
nefariousintentions to wear a mask. Today it's considered good
behavior. We wear masks to protect others and to partner in trying
to bringthe Covid 19 pandemic to an end. Mask wearing by the public
has no doubt made it tough for hold-up artists, who now need to
findmore creative ways to differentiate themselves from the
goodguys.
We know that Jesus never wore a mask, but he did sometimesshield
his identify from those he met. Of course, we know he didthis when
he encountered the two men on the road to Emmaus.
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” (Luke
24:16)
We know also that he didn't do this to deceive, but to insure
thatthose men understood the scriptures and believed. They
hadworries, concerns. They were confused and unsure, but oncethey
accepted the scriptures, he revealed himself to them. Myfriends,
can you see anything in today's environment that mightbe
comparable?
We are unsure, we are confused and a bit frightened by the
wayevents are unfolding, but if we can accept that the Son of God
iswith us and will fulfill his promises to us, then we can see
thefuture, and perhaps see the hand of Jesus in our lives
today.
We're on the road to Emmaus with Jesus. Let's be glad of
that.With Christ by our side we have nothing to fear.
Links to prayer vigil coming
Deadline for next issue is August 1, 2020.
The preferred method of submission is as
an MSWord document file or a WordPerfect
file (.rtf file also acceptable) sent via-e-mail
to: [email protected].
Very short articles or notes may be sent in
the body of the e-mail message. Please
send your comments as well to the editor,
Dan Brennan, at the e-mail address above.
"On the Right Path" is published by theSouthern Maryland Emmaus
Community.
On the Right Path
continued on Page 3
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La Plata UMC to offer Live Stream Services
Like many of our churches, La PlataUMC is offering Live
Streaming of ourservice at 11:00 am each Sunday. Just visit the La
Plata UMC facebookpage and worship with us.
Dramatic Production Postponed Watch for new date.
3
Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18: For I consider that the
sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the
glory that isto be revealed to us.
And in John 16:33 we hear: I have said these things to you, that
in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
As we wear our masks for the safety of others, we do so not
tohide our faith and confidence in the Lord to see us through
thisunusual time. We will pray for those in need, and for our
countryand its leaders, and we will be blessed by our prayers.
So "Who was that Masked Man?", today it was me, a man of
faith,and perhaps each of you as well.
So, be safe, and perhaps, check YouTube for an old Betty
Boopcartoon to put a smile on your face (behind the mask).
The Community EventsColumn is intended formember churches to
shareevents which are open tothe community.
Please submit yourinformation
[email protected] prior to thedeadline for
the next issueMay 1, 2020.
continued from Page 2
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Continue Your Walk - Join a Reunion/Accountability Group
Bethel UMC, Up per Marlboro Co-ed - monthly fourth Tuesday -
6:00 p.m.
Bowie UMC - Old Town Bowie Co-ed - 1st, 3rd, 4th Tuesday at 7:00
p.m.
Calvary UMC, Wal dorf Men Tues day - 7:00 p.m. Women Wednesday -
5:30 p.m. at Panera Bread in summer; at Calvary during the school
year
First UMC, Lau rel Men Saturday - 7:00 a.m. Women Sat ur day -
8:30 a.m.
First Saints Community Church, Leonardtown Women Monday 6:00
p.m. Home contact Sheila Hanson or Connie Wells
Good Shep herd UMC, Wal dorf Co-Ed Mon day 6:00 p.m. at
restaurants call Linda Ford 301-645-6408 Men Wednesday 6:30 p.m.
Women Monday 7:30 p.m. Women Tuesday 7:30 p.m. (not at church call
301-645-5370 for directions) Women Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Women
Tuesday 8:45 a.m. (not at church call 301-645-5370 for directions)
Women Thursday 6:00 p.m.
La Plata UMC, La Plata Women Thursday 5:30 p.m. at Panera Bread
Men Tuesday 6:00 p.m. at the church
Lexington Park UMC, Lexington Park Co-ed Tues day 7:30 a.m. Bob
Evans Restaurant Co-ed Thurs day 11:30 a.m. (home setting)
Linthicum Heights UMC, Linthicum Heights Co-Ed Saturday 8:30
a.m.
Liv ing Springs Chris tian Fel low ship, Bowie Co-ed Tues day
6:00 p.m.
Na val Air Sta tion, Patuxent River Men Wednes days 11:30
a.m.
Nichols-Bethel UMC, Odenton Co-Ed Wednesday 6:30 p.m.
Olivet UMC, Lusby Co-Ed Monthly on first S unday 12:15 p.m. at
Olivet UMC Good News Center
Pisgah UMC, La Plata Women Wednesday 6:30 p.m. for information
contact Patti Flesher 301-743-2271
St. Paul UMC, Lusby Women Monday 7:00 p.m. Old Fellowship Hall
Men Monday 7:00 p.m. Old Fellowship Hall Mixed Monday 7 or 8 p.m.
contact Rich & Mary UIrey 410-326-6446 or Everett Baker
410-326-6234
Shiloh UMC, Bryans Road Co-ed Tues days 6:30 p.m.
Wa ters Me mo rial UMC, St. Leon ard Pastor's House Tuesday 1:00
p.m.
Southern Maryland Emmaus Community Reunion & Accountability
Groups
The Reunion Group Coordinator, Terraine Duberry
([email protected]), wouldlike to hear about any active
Groups in Southern Maryland. If you are having difficultyfinding a
Reunion Group, contact Terraine. Experience the Fourth Day
feeling.
4
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Some of What You Will Find On Our New
Websitewww.southernmarylandemmaus.com
5
Singing and Emmaus
OK, so you’ve been on an Emmaus walk. What’s theone thing you
could always count on happening
several times each day? Of course, singing. Music andsinging the
praises of the Lord are as much a part of anEmmaus week end as the
talks and the food.
So what’s your favorite praise song sung during a walkor a
gathering? How about sharing your thoughts withthe rest of us. Vote
for your favorite, and tell us why it’sso special to you, and we’ll
share it with the rest of thecommunity.
Simply send your vote and your story to the editor
[email protected].
What did this weekend mean to you? What are you going to do
about it?
Do you remember how you answered these twoquestions at the end
of your walk? If you were
like many pilgrims, your mind and your emotionsmay have been
going a bit crazy at the moment youstepped up to the podium. Have
you ever wishedthat you could have a second chance to refine
youranswers?
On the Right Path would like to give you theop por tu nity to do
just that. Let us know how youwould anser those ques tions if you
had it to do allover again. Or, let us know how you are meet ingthe
chal lenges you may have set for your self whenyou an swered them
at clos ing.
We're all taking this walk together, and what betterway to help
each other than by sharing ourexperiences, triumphs, challenges,
and, yes, eventhose things that have not gone as planned. Sendyour
stories to [email protected]. You canremain anonymous if you
wish.
What?
What would you like to see in YOUR newsletter? Wewant to make
this publication as relevant to you as
we can. Let us know what features or news you'd like us to
include. Better yet, submit your stories, tales andexperiences to
share with your Emmaus brothers andsisters. Send them to
[email protected].
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My name is Connie Wells; Iattend First Saints
Community Church, CaliforniaCampus. I walked on SME #28and sat
at the table of Naomi
(clap). I’m back and have a great book to share withyou! Most of
you are probably familiar with the songBlessings as I was, but I
didn’t know the song writer,Laura Story. When GOD Doesn’t Fix It:
Lessons YouNever Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Withoutis
her story about how life took an unexpected turnwhen her husband,
Martin, was diagnosed with a braintumor shortly after they were
married. Their lives wouldnever be the same.
The devastating news was that no cure existed torestore Martin’s
short term memory, eyesight, and other complications. The fairy
tale life Laura had dreamed ofwas no longer possible. And yet in
struggling with Godabout how to live with broken dreams, Laura
found joyand a deeper intimacy with Jesus.
One of my biggest takeaways from the book wasinstead of asking
“God, why?” ask “God how?” How will you work this out? How will
this situation strengthen my walk with You? How will You use this
to bring glory toYour name? Laura shares some great truths
fromscripture as well as offering different perspectives.
This book does an excellent job of bringing home thereality that
our lives are not our own. This universe isnot about me. It is
about bringing glory to God. Jesusdoesn’t care about anything as
MUCH as He caresabout our spiritual relationship with HIM! That’s
HISprimary concern! THAT’S the only thing that’s gonnalast forever.
If you have ever experienced somethingGod hasn’t fixed……this book
gives hopeful tools for
right thinking. This book gives a great perspective onkeeping
our eyes on Jesus and not losing our joy whenlife gives us
difficult situations that God doesn’t fix.
During this time of ‘stay at home and stay safe’, mayyou find
joy and comfort in reading! Decolores!
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Connie'sBook Corner
My Refrigerator Died . . . The Perils of Ignoring Signs
One day you’re dispensing ice, the next you’remopping up the
floor. I believe that’s called “life”.
Still, there must be a larger message in theresomewhere.
I use a lot of ice. If I had lived during the time of blockice,
the Ice Man would have been delivering severaltimes a day. As it
is, I rely on the ice maker in myrefrigerator to keep my needs
supplied. So I shouldhave noticed that over the past several weeks
thedispenser was operating a lot slower, and seemedalmost to be
portioning the amount of ice it would give me at any one time. I
should have opened the doorand looked, but I did not. And so it was
only when theice cream began to melt that I realized my
refrigerator was trying to tell me something. It was dying.
By the time I got the message, it was too late. Therepairman
gave me an estimate that was larger thanmost new refrigerators
would cost.
Our relationship with God can be a little like that attimes, I
think. We ignore the signs he is sending us,we’re too busy to
listen to his advice, we never openthe “door” to look inside of the
opportunities that hesends our way. As a result, we may often miss
theanswers to our prayers that he is providing.
But the good news is that, unlike my fridge, hedoesn’t give up
on us. No matter how hard we try toignore him, he will continue to
send us signs until wefinally notice the ice cream melting, and get
themessage.
Avoid the surprises - check your fridge, and your faith at
regular intervals. You’ll be glad you did.
- Dan Brennan
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EMMAUS FOURTH-DAY WITNESS Bob Evans, (Apr 18, 2015/Revised May
16, 2020)
My name is Bob Evans, I worship at Olivet UMC in the Olivet
neighborhood of Lusby, Maryland. I walked onSouthern Maryland
Emmaus Walk #19 and I sat at the Table of Mark (sometimes I have
referred to that as
“Mark’s Brothers”).
One of the things I have learned from Evangelist & Teacher
Oswald Chambers is this:“I am not saved by believing— I simply
realize I am saved by believing.
As Pastor Chambers points out . . .
“I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus.” (1)
More about that later.
Life before the Walk to Emmaus:
I was born near Chicago and grew-up in down-state Illinois. I
had good parents, good schools and attendedChurch & Sunday
School. I wanted to see the World. I never wanted to be normal.
I attended Bradley University and finished a BA in Anthropology
at the University of Illinois, then an MA and PhD in Anthropology
at the University of California at Los Angeles. In 1964 I was part
of an archaeological field school atFlagstaff Arizona and
archaeology became my career. I worked on several projects in the
U.S. and two projectsin Greece (material from about 7000 BC to
about 1000 BC). I was employed in teaching, museum work,
andpublications.
Along the way I walked away from God. I was self /
self-centered: A few years ago, I read: “Self is the soul
withoutGod.” Another expression of being self-centered is: “I may
not be much, but I’m all I think about.” Or, this from Mae West: "I
don't like myself, I'm crazy about myself". During those years I
did not partake of the Good News of achurch congregation or any
spiritual tradition.
The Good News became meaningful for me following 36 years of an
addiction. Beginning in high school Ibecame fond of alcoholic
beverages, an addiction that developed over the course of those 36
years. Most of thetime it wasn’t a problem but, by about 1980, it
began to be a real problem. By the winter of 1994 I was
seriouslyaddicted. From one year of sobriety in A.A. about three
years earlier, I was aware of the potentials – jail,institutions,
or death.
Those three were staring me in the face by late March of 1994,
but another option was to reach out for help. I wasable to call a
friend to ask for help. We had been dating for a couple of years
and, through the grace of God, shechose to help this helpless
addict at that time. As I came out of the fog of addictive behavior
and severeloneliness, I came to understand that I had been saved,
by the grace of God, from the other three possibilities.
For me, that is when the Good News came to be something I could
accept and use in my life. It became a life withmy friend Linda,
then we were married on September 2, 1995, and we together
continued to grow in theunderstanding of Good News, community, and
service. From 1994 to 2009 we followed life in our faith together.
Then the rare cancer took her life in December of 2009. But that
was one of the most inspirational points in my life,but, no, NO, it
was THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL POINT in my life.
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8
As Linda passed into the realm of the next life we (Pastor Faith
Lewis, Hospice Nurse Susan Hood, and I) had atremendous sense of
calm, of peace - incredible peace, that everything is going to be
all right. That is when it allbegan to come together – community,
service, proclamation – the Good News is better than I ever
expected.
Linda had walked on Southern Maryland #18 in the Fall of 2005.
When I asked her how it was she said,“Wonderful, and you’re going
next.” And, of course, I did on #19 in the Spring of 2006 (during
three days of rain atthe Melwood Camp).
Life after my Walk to Emmaus:
Since Walk #19 I have been active in various committees and
activities of Olivet UMC, served in @Body Text =several aspects of
the Southern Maryland Emmaus Community, and been active in meetings
and committees ofthe Three-County Alcoholics Anonymous Community.
For the last four years I have written a monthly column
onspirituality and recovery for the Olivet UMC Olive Branch
newsletter. I am grateful for the spiritual relationships ofthose
three communities.
We belong in grace-filled communities filled with the Holy
Spirit. The church’s mission is not only to tell the goodnews but
to be that good news, to be a Christian community, a “family” of
God, where people discover grace as away of life. In fact, the New
Testament term for “community” has a more basic meaning of
“fellowship In thetriangle for church”. We also have The Good News
and service.
In our fellowship we need to make the church open to those who
are suffering in various ways. People need the church to bethe
place for healing and for seeking, and finding, wholeness in their
lives.
The A.A. book of Daily Reflections discusses the fellowship in
various of the daily readings. For January 10 thetitle was - UNITED
WE STAND - and this is part of that message:
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women united
against a common, fatal disease. Eachone of our lives is linked to
every other, much like the survivors on a life raft at sea. If we
all work together,we can get safely to shore.
The church’s mission is to serve the world by sharing the love
that God gives to the world, where the door isalways open. As we
serve, we become the hands and feet of Jesus in our world. Service
may involve:
• to offer hospitality to the lonely and the stranger• to offer
healing to the sick in body, mind, spirit, and relationship• to
reach out to those who fear they have no hope• “to the least of
these”• to be the conscience of society
“Find a need and meet it” is a good motto for any church. And,
any church may offer real care and help to meetreal needs.
The Recovery Bible has a worthwhile meditation related to
Matthew 28:20. It mentions that, in our addiction, webelieved the
lie from the bottle that it “would be with us always. But:
Far better is it for us that we have Christ’s promise to be with
us all the way. For this is the assurance that reallylasts and
grows, once we have accepted the promise and have come to believe
it. There is no end to the presence of Christ, who is our power for
new life, new hope and new joy. “Always with us” Recovery Bible
(1993) p. 1077
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And, to return to Oswald Chambers, as I mentioned above:
“I’m not saved because I believe, I simply realize I’m saved
because I believe.” I did not do the saving. Jesus is our
Savior.
I modify that statement to apply to my sobriety: I’m not sober
because I quit drinking. I’m soberbecause of the gift I received, a
gift from a Higher Power, a gift from the God of myunderstanding. I
did not cause my sobriety.
The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) has numerous “promises.” The
best known are the 9th Step Promises. One of those is:
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could
not do for ourselves.
There is also a related statement which expresses the
opposite:
We will suddenly realize that God would never have done to us
what we were doing to ourselves
De Colores, Bob Evans
______________________________________________________________________________
1) My Utmost for His Highest
https://utmost.org/justification-by-faith/ October 28
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village
named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they
were talking with each other about all
these things which had taken place. While they were talking
anddiscussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling
with them.
https://utmost.org/justification-by-faith/
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Pil grim and Team Ap pli ca tions and this news let ter may be
down loaded from thewebsite at www.southernmarylandemmaus.comCLICK
on “Doc u ments, Lists and News let ters”
Mailing Address for Southern Maryland EmmausP.O. Box 343
White Plains, MD 20695
“Walk in the Light” - Southern Maryland Emmaus
Community Lay Director
Cef Epps
Asst. Community Lay Dir.
Terraine Duberry
Past Community Lay Dir.
PJ Pitonyak
Community Spiritual Director
Pastor Phil Logan
Treasurer
Chris Williams
Secretary/Historian
Dwaine Waltrip
Agape Coordinator
Len Lent
Open
Asst. Agape Coordinator
Team Selection
Sheila Hanson
Registrar/Pilgrim Selection
Rick Pitonyak
Events/Fourth Day Coord.
Dave Chizmadia
Asst. Registrar
Open
Communications
PJ Pitonyak
Sponsorship/Reunion Group
Terraine Duberry
Music Director
Jim Risley
Southern Maryland Emmaus Board of Directors
Deadline for next issue is August 1, 2020. The preferred method
ofsubmission is as an MSWord document file or a WordPerfect
filesent via e-mail to the following address:
[email protected]. Very short articles or notes may be sent in
the body of the e-mailmessage. Please send your comments and
recommendations aswell to the editor, Dan Brennan, at the e-mail
address above.
Facilities
Terraine Duberry
