All ages are invited into a synod-wide faith formation experience: Our Journey to Emmaus. Participants will engage the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24) in seven movements over seven Sundays beginning on May 2. Each weekly email will have a portion of the story, reflections for all ages, and movement activities for all types of bodies. You can sign up for weekly emails here. You may participate with your congregation or ministry or on your own. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick (bayerderrick@vasynod.org).
Share your journey with the hashtag #vasynodtoemmaus
You are welcome to join this journey midway through or embark on it after the initial journey as well.
The audio recording of the building verses and reflection can be downloaded here.
*Please note: Each audio portion begins at the beginning of the story to help you remember what has happened so far.*
They can also be streamed from the toggles below.
One option for spiritual transformation on this journey will be the practice of finger labyrinths. You can learn more about them and download labyrinths and directions for creating your own below.
Resources from: Australian Labyrinth Network Inc.
A Short Introduction to Labyrinths
- Download Our Journey to Emmaus WeOur Journey to Emmaus Week 1 (1)ek 1
- Luke 24: 13-14 Now on that same day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
- Reflection It really happened – Jesus had been crucified and was dead!! The centurion saw what happened – the crowds standing by saw what happened and went home shocked and sad – Jesus’s followers, not least the women, they saw what had happened – then the burial – the women saw how the body was laid out in the tomb – evidence, eyewitnesses. The women, eager as they were to anoint Jesus’ body didn’t have time to do it on the Friday night because the sabbath began at sunset and they were rightly going to observe it. It would be Sunday morning before they could return. So very early on that Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb carrying the spices they had prepared (Jewish burial customs varied considerably but in Jesus’ case, the burial was to be in two stages – lay the body out on a ledge in the cave and then later, wrap the body up with spices and ointments. This was the first time this tomb was used – it would be used again, perhaps several times – other bodies would be placed on other ledges.). When the women got to the tomb, they found the stone rolled away and when they entered the tomb, the body of Jesus wasn’t there! Where was their friend, their rabbi, their teacher? They were at a loss what to make of it all when suddenly, two men in shining clothes asked them why they were looking for the living with the dead – Jesus isn’t here, He’s been raised! The women went back away from the tomb and told all of this to the eleven disciples and all the others. THAT VERY DAY, that very day – “the first day of the week, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which lay about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were discussing with each other all the various things that had taken place.” (Luke 24:13-14)
-Submitted by Janet Gomez – Apostles, Gloucester
- Stroll, Roll, Run
Who are you going with?
- Just me and Jesus
- With family or friend – in person or digitally
- With pet
How are you going to move?
- Walk
- Pushing stroller
- Hike
- Run
- Swim
- Bike
- Other?
What is your movement goal?
- Aim to move 1 mile approximately 3 times this week
- Move a total of 1 mile cumulatively throughout the week
- 20 minutes of movement
- Other?
Engage
| Read or listen to the verses above before beginning.
Listen to the audio file on the way. Reflect
If you are moving more than once a week, engage the same passage / story each time you journey and notice how your reflections differ from day to day. Jot down how your reflections change throughout the week and how you are transformed. You may utilize the Emmaus Playlist on Spotify some jams for the journey. |
- Finger Labyrinth The creation and experience of labyrinths are ancient spiritual traditions that span both time and religious practice. Many Christians find the practice of walking a labyrinth to be a powerful prayer discipline and a way of intentionally connected oneself to God for reflection. However, many circumstances may prevent a person from going to a labyrinth. The development of finger labyrinths allows the labyrinth to come to you. You are invited to either print or create a finger labyrinth for use during this journey. Depending on how you wish you engage in this spiritual practice you may want one to use for the whole time or you may choose you to use a different labyrinth each week. You may repeat the same type of practice each week or try a different way each week. There is no right or wrong way.
The Practice:
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- Artistic
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- Corrected Our Journey to Emmaus Week 2 (1)
- Luke 24: 15-17: While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.
- Reflection: Is seeing believing or is believing seeing?The past week for the disciples has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. They have witnessed Jesus’s triumphant ride into Jerusalem, his crucifixion, and now they have heard rumors of his resurrection. Is it any wonder the two disciples do not recognize Jesus when he joins them? Deep in discussion and their own heads trying to make sense of it all. When asked what they are discussing they stop, stand still, and look sad. They are still suspended in grief. We all know grief. Grief can be both blinding and illuminating. It blinds us to our present surroundings while opening our eyes to the infinite unknowns and that fear that goes along with all that is unknown. For us entering Jerusalem for Holy Week is reflective and even somber as we approach Good Friday. However, we already know even in the darkest hour of Good Friday that resurrection is coming. Resurrection has in fact already come and it is still happening. As we continue our journey this week let’s try and set aside all that we know and join the disciples in their uncertainty on that dirt road to Emmaus.-Submitted by Joy Edmonds, St. Paul, Rural Retreat Lutheran Parish, Rural Retreat
- Stroll, Roll, RunWho are you going with?
- Just me and Jesus
- With family or friend – in person or digitally
- With pet
How are you going to move?
- Walk
- Pushing stroller
- Hike
- Run
- Swim
- Bike
- Other?
What is your movement goal for the week?
- Aim to move 2 miles approximately 3 times this week
- Move a total of 2 miles cumulatively throughout the week
- 20 minutes of movement
- Other?
Reflect
- Why were their “eyes kept from recognizing him”?
- What does this say about our faith and/or relationship with Christ?
- What do you think your reaction would be if Christ joined you while you were traveling?
If you are moving more than once a week, engage the same passage / story each time you journey and notice how your reflections differ from day to day. Jot down how your reflections change throughout the week and how you are transformed.
- Finger Labyrinth
The Practice:
-
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- Visual Art This week’s first piece of art is an illusion art piece by Octavio Ocampo. It is a striking and intense portrayal of Jesus. If sharing with children, you may want to preview it first. Jesus Christ, Octavio OcampoIcons invite us into the writer’s contemplation of God. (Yes, you read that correctly. Icons are written, not drawn or painted.) Traditional icons usually focus on just one or two saints. This modern icon by Ivanka Demchuk pushes the genre with both movement and scenery. Road to Emmaus, Ivanka DemchukAs you view these pieces of art, what are your initial thoughts, reactions, and feelings?
- What do you think the artist is trying to represent?
- What elements of this piece are most poignant to you?
- What is different about this piece than the image of “The Road to Emmaus” story that you had in your mind?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this piece?
- How does this piece differ from other artworks you have seen depicting the Emmaus story?
- How does this piece inspire you spiritually?
Now that you have reflected on this art, ask why three times.
- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful?
- Written ArtOpen your heart and mind to the experience of Susan Palo Cherwien’s We Do Not Always See.We do not always see what we see.We look upon things and see an outward form, a sketch, an outline.We do not actually look at trees and see the leaves, the serrations, the veining, much less the chlorophyll, the light processors, the oxygen escaping to merge with our breath.We do not look upon the faces of people and see the genetics, the hurts, the common source,that binds us to them.We see an outward form – male, female, Asian, white, adult, child;oak maple, cottonwood, birch.We do not always see what we see.We do not always see the essence of tings.We do not always see the divinein the ordinary of life.We do not see God in the night sky as the psalmist did.
(Now we see through a mirror darkly.)
But here is a reminder:
Here is a sign:
This is my body
This is by body –
That we may see.
“We Do Not Always See” – Crossings, Meditations for Worship by Susan Palo Cherwien
- Journey to Emmaus Week 3
- Luke 24:18-24: Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”
- Reflection: se is talking about something this person has clearly never heard of. Late to the party? Everyone else is talking about something this person has clearly never heard of.
Man, that’s what these disciples must have thought about this “stranger”. Where have you been hiding?! Under a rock?!We know, of course, that the “stranger” was Jesus, concealing his true self from these men. The narrator is kind enough to clue us in on this from the beginning of the story. But imagine being these disciples! Who IS this guy who hasn’t heard about the prophet, Jesus of Nazareth?!They compose themselves, though, and start to tell the tale of Jesus’s prophecies, his betrayal, his death and now his resurrection. They were incredulous at first at this guy’s lack of knowledge, but I think the point here is that they do, in fact, recover themselves, and start to tell the all important tale.And to me, that’s a really powerful lesson, right? I have never been blamed for keeping my reaction in check, let’s just say that. I can be reactionary and not make the best of starts, sometimes. The best of impressions. BUTThat doesn’t mean I can’t still be faithful, and fulfill God’s work, in the end.These men are faithful. They are followers of Christ. And boy can’t they wait to spread this good news!It’s important to note here that they’re not just spreading gossip, like you or I might. Ok, maybe just like I might. Because that conversation would have gone a bit like this: “Yeah man – we’re going to see what all this craziness is about because people are saying that this guy who called himself a “prophet” and got himself killed is mysteriously not in his tomb anymore.. Can you believe that bologna?!”But that’s not what they say – they tell the faithful story of Jesus’ good works. His promise to redeem Israel and its people, about how he is a mighty prophet, of both word and deed, and about how he has risen and overcome death.It may have taken them a moment, but they got there in the end.Now just imagine that you’ve passionately and faithfully told the story of Jesus’ life and death … to Jesus himself.-Submitted by Kayley Greenday of Christ, Richmond
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Stroll, Roll, Run: Who are you going with? Same as last week or someone new?How are you going to move? Same as last week of a different way?What is your movement goal? A different path? Longer? Shorter? Same?If you’re running or walking consider:
- Aiming for 3 miles approximately 3 times this week
- Going for a total of 3 miles cumulatively throughout the week
- Reflect:
- Why do you think that Jesus chooses to reveal himself to the women at the tomb, but not the disciples on their journey?
- How might Jesus have felt while hearing the explanation of his own crucifixion and resurrection story from these men?
- What does the text “we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” mean to these men and/or say about their faith in Jesus’ resurrection?
- If you were journeying to Emmaus with a stranger, how might you portray the events of Christ’s crucifixion to someone hearing it for the first time?
- What are things that you “had hoped” for you in your own life?
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Finger Labyrinth
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- Visual Art: This week’s piece Carl Deaville contrasts Good Friday and Easter Sunday. As you view this piece of art, what are your initial thoughts, reactions, and feelings?
- What do you think the artist is trying to represent?
- What elements of this piece are most poignant to you?
- What is different about this piece than the image of “The Road to Emmaus” story that you had in your mind?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this piece?
- How does this piece differ from other artworks you have seen depicting the Emmaus story?
- How does this piece inspire you spiritually?
Now that you have reflected on this art, ask why three times.- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful?
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Written ArtOpen your heart and mind to the experience of the words of James Weldon Johnson.On Calvary, on Calvary,They crucified my Jesus.They nailed him to the cruel tree,And the hammer!The hammer!Rang through Jerusalem’s streets.The hammer!The hammer!The hammer!Rang through Jerusalem’s streets.Oh, I tremble, yes, I tremble,It causes me to tremble, tremble,When I think how Jesus died;Died on the steeps of Calvary,How Jesus died for sinners,Sinners like you and me.Excerpts from The Crucifixion from God’s Trombones, Seven Negro Sermons in Verse by James Weldon Johnson
- Share your photos and stories with #vasyondtoemmaus
- PDF of Week 4 Materials
- Luke 24: 25-27- Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
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Reflection: Have you ever been “called out” by someone? Maybe they said you were foolish or not real smart. Oh yes – we all have at one time or another. And you know, it never feels good – especially if it is done by a stranger. But there was something different about being called out on this road. It wasn’t alienating – or the travelers wouldn’t have invited the stranger to stay with them.Actually, somehow, they knew the stranger was on to something – that the words he spoke were very important for some reason. Foolish … slow to believe … hmm!Why were they so slow to believe? Why was it so hard for the road travelers to make the connection between what the prophets had said and how those words related to Jesus?The question for us today is too often the same. How often do we not make the connection? Even though we have so much knowledge and history of the risen Lord?Sometimes – getting called out by a stranger, a family member or a friend just might be the best thing that ever happened to us.-Submitted by Mark Warner, Muhlenburg, Harrisonburg
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Stroll, Run, Roll: Who are you going with? Same as last week or someone new?How are you going to move? Same as last week of a different way?What is your movement goal? A different path? Longer? Shorter? Same?If you’re running or walking consider:
- Aiming for 4 miles approximately 3 times this week
- Going for a total of 4 miles cumulatively throughout the week.
- Reflect:
- What would you want Jesus to explain to you about the bible?
- When was a time that you were called out and it helped you grow in love?
- When was a time that you had to call someone to share a hard truth?
If you are moving more than once a week, engage the same passage / story each time you journey and notice how your reflections differ from day to day. Jot down how your reflections change throughout the week and how you are transformed.-
If you are moving more than once a week, engage the same passage / story each time you journey and notice how your reflections differ from day to day. Jot down how your reflections change throughout the week and how you are transformed
- Finger Labyrinth
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- What bible stories do you recognize in Janknegt’s, The Road to Emmaus? This mosaic is found in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.As you view this piece of art, what are your initial thoughts, reactions, and feelings?
- What do you think the artist is trying to represent?
- What elements of this piece are most poignant to you?
- What is different about this piece than the image of “The Road to Emmaus” story that you had in your mind?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this piece?
- How does this piece differ from other artworks you have seen depicting the Emmaus story?
- How does this piece inspire you spiritually?
Now that you have reflected on this art, ask why three times.
- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful?
- Written ArtWhen the two disciples meet a stranger on the road to Emmaus, they share that they had hoped Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. I once heard a sermon where the pastor said that they had hoped were 3 of the saddest words in scripture. After Jesus’ death, their hope had turned to hopelessness. In Ashley Spires’ children’s book, The Most Magnificent Thing, a girl has a great hope that she can create the most magnificent thing. After multiple failed attempts, her hope has turned to hopelessness. After a long walk, the disciples and the girl experience moments of deep clarity that turn their stories around and renew their hope. Think about a time when you have experienced renewed hope in the face of moments that seemed hopeless
- Journey to Emmaus Week 5
- Luke 24:28-29 – As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
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Reflection: Hiking is one of my family’s hobbies. My husband, dog, and I love exploring the mountains of Virginia. On a few occasions, we have gone seven miles (or more!). I often think that the hardest part of the hike is getting out of the car once we have returned home. Our bodies are tired, we are hungry, and while warm food, cool drinks, and clean clothes are close, we aren’t quite there yet.Now Jesus and the disciples have reached the end of their seven mile journey. I imagine that their feet were tired, they were ready for warm food and cool drinks too. They were at a difficult moment of their walk too. While the disciples knew where they were going, Jesus did not yet. However, the disciples extend gracious hospitality to Jesus and invite him in with them.Their example is an encouragement to us to show grace even when we are tired. Even when we are ready to be done for the day. Even when we are at a hard part of the journey. Many are transitioning into new normals as more adults and children over 12 have been vaccinated against COVID-19. This may be a hard process for any number of reasons. However, this is true: Jesus has been with us from the beginning and through the long months past. Jesus will remain with us through the summer. Thanks be to God!–Submitted by Pastor Colleen Montgomery, All Places Together & Director for Digital Ministries, Virginia Synod
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Stroll, Roll, Run: Who are you going with? Same as last week or someone new?How are you going to move? Same as last week of a different way?What is your movement goal? A different path? Longer? Shorter? Same?If you’re running or walking consider:
- Aiming for 5 miles approximately 3 times this week
- Going for a total of 5 miles cumulatively throughout the week
- Reflect:
- What does this passage say about hospitality in the Jewish culture?
- Why might Jesus have walked ahead as if to go on, and what does it mean that he stayed with the disciples at their request?
- Would you “strongly urge” a stranger with whom you journey to “stay with us”? Why or why not?
- What do you think would have happened if they reached their destination when it was still day?
- Finger Labyrinth:
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- Visual Art: This week’s art contrast interpretations of Emmaus from the 1300s and the present day. Scroll to the fourth image to see Motes’ modern interpretation of Jesus and the disciples in Emmaus. “Supper at Yummaus” by Barry Motes and Road to Emmaus, Duccio di Buoninsegn
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As you view these pieces of art, what are your initial thoughts, reactions, and feelings?
- What do you think the artist is trying to represent?
- What elements of this piece are most poignant to you?
- What is different about this piece than the image of “The Road to Emmaus” story that you had in your mind?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this piece?
- How does this piece differ from other artworks you have seen depicting the Emmaus story?
- How does this piece inspire you spiritually?
Now that you have reflected on this art, ask why three times.- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful?
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Written Art: Open your heart and mind to the experience of the words of Susan Palo Cherwien.Day of ArisingDay of arising,Christ on the roadway,unknown companion walks with his own.When they invite him,as fades the first day,and bread is broken, Christ is made known.When we are walking,doubtful and dreading,blinded by sadness, slowness of heart,yet Christ walks with us,ever awaitingour invitation: Stay, do not part.Lo, I am with you,Jesus has spoken.This is Christ’s promise, this is Christ’s sign:when the church gathers,when bread is broken,there Christ is with us in bread and wine.Christ, our companion,hope for the journey,bread of compassion, open our eyes.Grant us your vision,set all hearts burningthat all creation with you may rise.Text: Susan Palo Cherwien, b. 1953Text © 1996 Susan Palo Cherwien, admin. Augsburg Fortress.“Behold, Unveiled the Vesper Skies”Behold, unveiled the vesper skies:The evening has begun,And prayer and praise like incense riseAs sets the golden sun.How blest are you, all-loving God,Who weaves both day and night,A starry mantel for our road,The shadow and the light.Let evening lamps enkindled flame;The table Christ has spread,And beckons every one by nameTo breaking of the bread.Stay with us, Christ, our rest prepareAs labor ebbs with night,And holy dreams enwreathe with prayerTill dawns the splendid light.from Come, Beloved of the Maker by Susan Palo Cherwien
- Full Materials: Journey to Emmaus Week 6
- Luke 24: 30-32: When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
- Reflection: Were not our hearts burning within us? I love this question from the disciples! I hear so many emotions and reactions in that question: hope, joy, amazement, fear, wonder, doubt, lament, and hope. So much hope. Could it really be true? Could this really be Jesus? The one everyone has been talking about. The one who will redeem us? The one in whom there is hope – real, true, hope! How did we not see it?!And yet, how often do we also not see Jesus present with us every day? So many times I have been like these disciples, engaging in something so regular – like eating a meal together – and just not noticing that Jesus is present. Sometimes I think we search for Jesus in major moments, in huge lightning bolt moments, in mountaintop experiences. But in this journey to Emmaus, Jesus is present in the everyday moments of life – whether we recognize him or not. Jesus is walking along with us, eating meals with us, talking about life and the scriptures with us, just hanging out with us, always present with us. I’ve been in Atlanta this week with my family. We visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. At the site is the MLK Jr International World Peace Rose Garden, which includes inspirational quotations from 30 young students from around the world, each reflecting on King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. One young person wrote: “Martin Luther King, the King of kindness. The deeds he has done should be done every day. The words he has spoken should be spoken every day….”
Everyday acts and words of kindness – made me think of Jesus being present with these disciples just walking along together and sharing an everyday meal of bread, an everyday gift of presence and peace, and the everyday love of God. It’s so simple and yet so profound! Setting our hearts on fire! Were not our hearts burning within us?
-Submitted by Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick, Assistant to the Bishop, Virginia Synod
- What is your movement goal?
- Aim to move 6 miles approximately 3 times this week
- Move a total of 6 miles cumulatively throughout the week
- 20 minutes of movement
- Other?
- Reflect:
- Why might Jesus have waited to reveal himself to the disciples?
- What significance is there in revealing himself through the bread?
- What do you think is meant by “hearts burning”?
- Have you ever had the experience of your heart burning? What happened?
If you are moving more than once a week, engage the same passage / story each time you journey and notice how your reflections differ from day to day. Jot down how your reflections change throughout the week and how you are transformed. - Finger Labyrinth – The Practice:
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- Visual Art These pieces show Jesus eating supper with the disciples at Emmaus. Summer at Emmaus, He QiJesus Appears at Emmaus, JESUS MAFA
As you view this piece of art, what are your initial thoughts, reactions, and feelings?
- What do you think the artist is trying to represent?
- What elements of this piece are most poignant to you?
- What is different about this piece than the image of “The Road to Emmaus” story that you had in your mind?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this piece?
- How does this piece differ from other artworks you have seen depicting the Emmaus story?
- How does this piece inspire you spiritually?
Now that you have reflected on this art, ask why three times.
- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful?
- Written ArtThis is the eternal dayin which we live:a day in which
our hearts burn within us
in understanding,
a day in which
we realize that
the risen Christ walks with us,
a day in which
Christ breaks bread
and we know him
in our hearts
To Orthodox Christians
the heart is where
the whole person
comes together:
body
mind
spirit.
The heart is
where the ego
cannot distract
and dissuade us.
The heart knows
Christ
as companion
com-panis
the one who breaks bread
with us
and we are
sent out to
break bread with the world.
The heart burns with the remembering
The heart sings with wonder.
And joins with all creation in thousand voices.
The risen Christ is made known
in the heart –
the heart
that sees
what the eyes and the mind
cannot.
“Our Hearts Burn” from From Glory into Glory, Reflections for Worship, by Susan Palo Cherwien
- Full Week 7 Materials
- Luke 24: 33-35: That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
- Reflection – First, allow me to say how exciting and a bit daunting it is to follow all the wonderful reflections already presented by Janet, Joy, Kayley, Mark, Colleen and Kelly. What a great way to study and reflect on holy scripture and grow in our faith as church together across our beloved Synod and beyond. The first thing that catches my attention is this: That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem… (vs 33). Now, let’s be clear… it was a seven mile hike… in the dark… after an exhausting, emotional day! They just had to go find someone with whom to share their experience!
They found the eleven – who said, The Lord has risen indeed, and… has appeared to Simon! (Vs.34) Does that first part sound familiar? Sure… It’s our Easter antiphonal response. Christ has risen! Christ has risen indeed! But, don’t overlook that second part… and [Jesus] has appeared to Simon!
Years ago Scottish biblical scholar William Barclay commented, “…surely it is a lovely thing that Jesus should make one of his first appearances to the [one] who had denied him. It is the glory of Jesus that can give the penitent sinner back [their] self-respect.” (The Gospel of Luke, Revised edition, ©1975, p.296 [my edits])
Isn’t that what we all need? Every day Martin Luther remembered God’s gifts and promises given in baptism because it restored dignity, worthiness and “freedom from sin, death and the devil!”
The road to Emmaus is the road on which we are ALL journeying. Jesus walks with us, whether we recognize that or not and every so often we catch a glorious glimpse of the risen one – who greets us while we are still sinners, restores our soul and gathers us with other forgiven sinners to share stories, love God and love our neighbor.
Because God is FAITHFUL + BOLD + SERVING, we are called to be and do the same! May it be so, dear Synod. May it be so… Let’s Go! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
-Submitted by Bishop Bob Humphrey, Virginia Synod
- Stroll, Roll, Run: What is your movement goal?
- Aim to move 7 miles approximately 3 times this week
- Move a total of 7 miles cumulatively throughout the week
- 20 minutes of movement
- Other?
- Reflect
- Who do you want to GO tell about this experience?
- Who do you want to GO tell about Jesus?
- How have you been transformed through this journey?
- How else has Jesus shown himself to you?
- Where do you hope to see Jesus again soon?
If you are moving more than once a week, engage the same passage / story each time you journey and notice how your reflections differ from day to day. Jot down how your reflections change throughout the week and how you are transformed.
- Finger Labyrinth Practice
- Print a labyrinth out from the main website.
- Breath Prayer: Inhale: God is with me. Exhale: as I journey. Repeat.
- Engage the story. If you read, read the passage at least twice before entering the labyrinth. If you listen, you may listen either before or during the time in the labyrinth. If you write, you may write along the path of the labyrinth, on a different part of the paper, or on an entirely different piece of paper.
- Trace the path of the labyrinth with your finger, pencil, coloring tool, or stylus. You may meditate on a particular phrase that stood out to you from the passage, you may listen to music, you may pray either spontaneous or memorized prayers.
- Ending Breath Prayer: Inhale: God has been with me. Exhale: God goes with me now. Repeat three times. Amen.
- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful? Visual Art One abstract and one literal, these final pieces show transformation that comes with Christ’s love and presence. You Turn My Mourning Into Dancing, Mark Moyers
Christ at Emmaus, Bernardo Strozzi
As you view this piece of art, what are your initial thoughts, reactions, and feelings?
- What do you think the artist is trying to represent?
- What elements of this piece are most poignant to you?
- What is different about this piece than the image of “The Road to Emmaus” story that you had in your mind?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this piece?
- How does this piece differ from other artworks you have seen depicting the Emmaus story?
- How does this piece inspire you spiritually?
Now that you have reflected on this art, ask why three times.
- Why is this reflection important or meaningful to me?
- Why is my answer to the question important or meaningful?
- Why is that insight important or meaningful?
- Written ArtThis is the eternal day
in which we live:
a day in which
our hearts burn within us
in understanding,
a day in which
we realize that
the risen Christ walks with us,
a day in which
Christ breaks bread
and we know him
in our hearts
To Orthodox Christians
the heart is where
the whole person
comes together:
body
mind
spirit.
The heart is
where the ego
cannot distract
and dissuade us.
The heart knows
Christ
as companion
com-panis
the one who breaks bread
with us
and we are
sent out to
break bread with the world.
The heart burns with the remembering
The heart sings with wonder.
And joins with all creation in thousand voices.
The risen Christ is made known
in the heart –
the heart
that sees
what the eyes and the mind
cannot.
“Our Hearts Burn” from From Glory into Glory, Reflections for Worship, by Susan Palo Cherwien
