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Calvary United Methodist Church of San Jose

The Emmaus Experience

The Emmaus Experience

Jesus has promised to be with his followers until the end of the age. Where can we experience his presence in life? God's love is universal for everyone. How can we encounter God's presence in life? That's what we are going to share thru the gospel of Luke 24:13-35

Locations & Times

250 California St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060

729 Morse St, San Jose, CA 95126, USA

Sunday 10:00 AM

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+ 4 Parts of movement: 1) Two travels are met on the road 2) Scripture opened 3) Share in a meal that reveals the identity and presence of Christ 4) they are sent to share and live the good news
- Its resemblance of worship: Gathering - Word - Meal - Sending forth
- Emmaus in our lives today: Though we understand God is with us always in our head or even in our hearts, we don’t always experience God’s presence in times of need
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+Carl Frederick Buechner, a pastor & theologian, interprets Emmausas the place we go to in order to escape - like a bar or a movie theater, wherever it is we throw up our hands and say, “Let the whole damned thing go hang. It makes no difference anyway.” Well, Emmaus may be buying a new clothing, or a new car, or getting a haircut, or smoking more or drinking more. Emmaus may be going to church on Sunday. Emmaus may be whatever we do, or wherever we go to make ourselves to forget that the world holds nothing sacred; that even the wisest and bravest and loveliest decay and die; that even the noblest ideas that men have had - ideas about love and justice and freedom - have always in time been twisted out of shape by selfish people for selfish ends.
+That’s our life story and GN is the risen Christ meet us on the road to our own Emmaus, in ordinary places and experiences of our lives. It means it may be unwanted places and wrong place.
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A NT scholar, Dr. Eugene Wehrli points out the Emmaus story is the counterpart to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. B/c in that parable, the rich man enjoys party everyday but never notice the beggar at his gate. He never shares a bread with the beggar Lazarus. From Hades now he is begging Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers, but here is what Abraham says in Luke 16:31
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+We know church is not a building but people. Then can we be a place that welcomes broken hearts? Can we be a place that welcomes one another - which means to accept another person who might have a different view/look/smell/accent? Can we be a place that welcomes ALL regardless of their race, accent, political view, sexual orientation, economic status - not labeling them/ judging them/ excluding them…but just accepting them as J welcome and accept all?
+ A Judicial Council of United Methodist Church was not one mind
+This must be a painful moment in our church history. But remember, no matter how dark cloud overshadows us, there will be a moment that the darkness shall turn to dawning, and that dawning like to noonday bright! And recall Jesus himself is the bread that was broken for you and me. He had no brokenness in him, no sins to call his own. But he was broken for our sin/ for our fallen hearts and the world.
+This is the painful reality. But here is the Good News! Just as before there is resurrectionthere is cross. Before we share the bread,the bread must be lifted up and broke. So shall we make some extra room for the brokenhearted? Trusting the Holy Spirit who is working among us?