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Edgerton United Methodist: New Emmaus Road Service Begins January 10th

Posted by Avis Solie GardnerEDGE

Posted on Dec. 25th, 2009

John Babcock and friends perform at Breakfast with Santa (gardneredge photo)

Edgerton United Methodist is adding a new service to their Sabbath schedule. As of January 10, 2010, they will be hosting the 'Emmaus Road Worship Celebration' at 5:30 pm each Sunday.

What is Emmaus Road? In this context, it's a contemporary worship service. This new service will feature contemporary Christian music. The teaching will be relevant and life-changing. It will buoy up the young and the young-at-heart. Dress will be casual. Kids (ages 3-8) will enjoy their own faith-based 'Emmaus Kids Club' with games, crafts, stories and a snack. A nursery will be provided for infants through age 3. Nursery and Children's Ministry staff will all be certified for 'Safe and Sacred Spaces' through the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church. Reverend Gayla Rapp explained that "Through the Emmaus Road worship celebration we want to create a community of people who experience the hope that comes when we share life and faith, walking together with the risen Christ in our midst."

John Babcock will play an important part in Emmaus Road. John graduated from KU in May with majors in Music & Religious Studies. He's currently teaching 6th grade math in Ervin Middle School in the Hickman Mills School District. John met EUMC Pastor Gayla Rapp while at still at KU, and is already performing regularly at Church activities. Babcock is "excited by the possibilites to strengthen and serve the community."

Reverend Gayla expressed her hopes for Emmaus Road in response to a question from GardnerEDGE. She said, "I’m so interested that you asked me about “my hope” for Emmaus Road, because so much of what EUMC has talked about as we’ve planned and prepared for this new service is “hope.” The Emmaus Road story in Luke 24 is about the despair and discouragement that Jesus’ disciples felt after Jesus was crucified and before they knew he had been raised to new life. They were walking together on the road to Emmaus and the risen Christ came and walked with them. They didn’t recognize Jesus but when he revealed the Scriptures to them and when he broke bread with them, their eyes and hearts are opened and they saw the risen Christ in their midst."

EUMC has held two events to highlight the coming of Emmaus Road. A Chocolate Extravaganza was held in November. Sean Moore won the pie eating constest, everyone enjoyed a variety of chocolate treats and there were many winners of a turkey from Price Chopper. Last Saturday, the community was welcomed to the church for a Chris-Cakes pancake breakfast. At both of these events, John Babcock entertained and shared the music that will be central to the Emmaus Road service.

Luke 24:13-32 (KJV)
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?