Wednesday, June 30, 2010

emmaus walk bulletin: 30 Jun

Dear all Walkers,

Hope you've been having a good week so far! June has seen many developments in our community and as the month concludes, it is appropriate for us to take a look at what has gone by, so as to know where we are going ahead:

1) EW Retreat (11-13 Jun)
This was the first-ever retreat held for our community since EW started out 1.5 years ago. Our retreast master was Bro Alphonsus and it was a semi-silent retreat, with several periods for silent reflection. Quite unlike all the other retreats most of us have been used to, but many of us testified to its effectiveness. Our lives are full of noise and we hardly give time for silence and quiet reflection. How can we hear God's voice when we clutter our lives with noise?

Our reflections centred around the following: a) experiencing God's love; b) discernment and spiritual growth; c) love and forgiveness; d) prayer as life's communication; and e) navigating life's experiences with analogies to a river's flow and lifespan.

Most of us emerged refreshed and energised to continue this walk of life that we all are taking.

2) Nativity Youth Camp (15-18 Jun)
Organised by the Youth Council (YC), this camp brought together the Secondary Three students preparing for confirmation and other youths of our parish. Many EW members were part of this camp and observed that there is a general renewed buzz among our youths and they have become a more prayerful lot. This is indeed great news and let's continue to pray for our youths, that they keep up a prayer life that enables them to actively understand and live out teir faith!

3) EW Exco Day of Recollection (27 Jun)

Refreshed by the EW retreat, the Exco went into recollection with Bro Alphonsus to reflect and discuss their roles in EW. It was a period of deep reflection and sharing, supported by a team of prayer warriors led by Clare. We emerged with a renewed sense of direction and, with God's grace, we can grow the community in the direction God has laid out for us.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers at one point or another, please continue to keep praying for the Exco!

4) Last Sunday in CG

Bro Alphonsus and Clare gave us many questions to reflect on, as we all pondered on our involvement in EW, what kept us coming, what we wished to see for EW, and other pertinent questions. Having just come out from a retreat, we should then look at the concrete steps we can take to act on our reflections and what God has revealed to us.

In all, it has been a month of exploration, renewal and growth for the EW community, in our various ways, be it collectively or individually. As we commence the second half of the year, let us continue to grow what has been started (for some of us; for others - let us start to consider how we can grow in our faith and in our relationship with God, through being part of this community or otherwise). May we, in our own walks of life, seek and recognise the burning in our hearts, just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced!

Announcements
1) Social Gathering: Farewell to Brother Alphonsus and Brother Joseph

Our SG this week has 2 purposes: to chill and to bid farewell to our two beloved seminarians, as they resume their studies and are posted to other parishes. Bro Alphonsus has been God's instrument and has done so much for this community in the past two months that we really must praise and thank God for sending him along. Bro Joseph has been supporting him in his plans and ideas, has prayed very hard for this community and always provided a smiling face with reassuring words to everyone he encounters.

So we bid farewell to them, and what better way than to gather at Timbre@Arts House today (30 June)! It's a really fine excuse to gather and drink beer and listen to good music, but don't take my word for it, show up for SG and tell our two Brothers your love!

If you are coming, do inform Sebby beforehand, and he will save some seats (and beer) for you!

2) This Sunday in CG

Our theme for July is "Christian Service" and this is very appropriate for us at this point in time after all that we have done for June. Do come and join us for the CG! As with most of the time, 7:30pm at A-Wing 3, see you there!

Ok that is all from me, i thank you for having read thus far. May God bless your week ahead!

In His Love,
barry

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