CHRISTMAS EVE 7PM @ NEW HORIZONS

Last year we cancelled our Christmas Eve service in the midst of SNOWSTORMAGEDDON, but Christmas Eve 2009 looks good. Let us join together to celebrate the people and moments leading up to the Nativity of our Lord in Bethlehem! There will be carols, candles, and costumes!

BABY SIMONE RUITER HAS ARRIVED!

Give thanks with Dan, Reba, and Gabriel Ruiter, as they celebrate the arrival of Simone Marion Irene, born 8:25PM Wednesday, December 2, 2009. She weighs 4lbs 11oz and measures 18 inches long. Both Reba and Simone are healthy and well.

CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009, DECEMBER 11

Celebrate Christmas with us!

Friday, December 11, 7PM

Likkel House

206-380-5674 for directions

GROUNDWORKS SUNDAY UPDATE

Well done, Emmaus Road!!

You sorted a mountain of donations, 

scrubbed & organized the kitchen,

and painted the chapel of New Horizons;

you cleaned the entire floor of a women’s shelter, 

and served nine neighbors @ Jefferson Terrace Apartments!

Next GROUNDWORKS SUNDAY: January 31

GROUNDWORKS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

The Holidays approach, along with the typical dread that weighs you down this time of year. While the ache of loneliness is constant, pangs of anxiety lurk around each corner. Looming over it all, the very real threat of eviction casts a gloomy shadow: unless the filth and clutter of your apartment - manifestations of your confusion and despair - unless all this is thoroughly cleaned for inspection, you and all your possessions will be thrown out. You will be sent back to those cold, wet streets, by Thanksgiving weekend. Cleaning one's apartment does not sound too daunting. But the depression and darkness are crushing; it feels impossible to get out from under the burden. You are overwhelmed and frozen with inertia. But when the kindness of strangers appears, offering a few hours of help, cleaning and conversing, you are given a much needed glimmer of hope, at the edge of an otherwise gloomy horizon.

Join Emmaus Road this Sunday, 10:30AM, to help out some neighbors in need. Come in work clothes with any cleaning supplies you can spare, and give a few hours of your time at the beginning of this Holiday season. We will gather at New Horizons and go out in groups, some to Noel House, others to Jefferson Terrace; some can help sort, clean, and paint @ New Horizons.

CONCERT FOR STREET BEAN, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21

Fundraising concert

for Street Bean Espresso,
THIS SATURDAY, November 21, 5-7PM.
Join together with musicians

from Emmaus Road and another supporting church,

to worship and rock.

WELCOME BRYNN ELIZABETH ENGEL

Born to Ryan and Kristin Engel, November 13
CONGRATULATIONS!
We thank God along with you for the blessing of a healthy baby.

GROUNDWORKS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

SISTER CHURCH HIT HARD IN GREENWOOD

I was awakened around 4AM this morning by multiple sirens near our home in Greenwood. The smell of smoke was so pungent, Alicia and I thought something might be burning in our house. We soon realized it was smoke from outside. Turning on the TV, we were shocked to see live footage of flames engulfing the Green Bean Coffee House and three other businesses. Within a few hours, three family owned restaurants and a valued community gathering spot, the entire Eleanor Roosevelt Building on N. 85th Street, had burned to the ground.



A big fire always presents dramatic loss; thankfully, no fatalities or serious injuries were involved in this one. For many of us, though, the sadness brought on by this fire is close and personal. The Green Bean Coffee House has been a familiar ministry meeting place for many, including several Emmaus Road people. David Anema and Eric Likkel met there the day before, planning community development steps and discussing ministry issues. The Green Bean had become a thriving non-profit outreach, launched and nurtured by our sister Christian Reformed congregation in Greenwood, Sanctuary Church. People we know and love have poured their lives into this neighborhood through the hospitality and generosity shared there.

The Taproot Theater building, where the congregation worships next door to the Greenbean, was also severely damaged, causing Sanctuary to become temporarily "homeless." But according to Dr. Randy Rowland, CEO of the Green Bean Coffee House and pastor of Sanctuary, “A church and a community development organization are about people, not about buildings. The people are unharmed and we remain resolute in our vision and mission in Greenwood. We are here to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. None of that will change. We will carry on beginning today.”

Pray for all involved, including the families who lost their businesses and livelihoods along with the Green Bean.

Websites will be updated regularly with relevant information.
www.sanctuarycrc.org
www.greenbeancoffee.org

CHURCH CAMP PIX

Church Camp was great! All of us who were able to make it out to South Whidbey Island State Park found this group camp site to be scenic, nicely sequestered from the rest of the campground, and well equipped for us to enjoy ourselves. Even though we had to contend with a lot of rain, along with hoards of slugs, we made the most of our time. Plans are underway for July 2010, same location. To see all the pictures, go here....

CRWRC RESPONDS TO PHILIPPINES TYPHOON

The Christian Reformed Relief Committee (CRWRC) is working with local churches and disaster response teams in metro Manila to distribute emergency supplies to survivors of Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines. Read more here...

CONGRATULATIONS NEWLYWEDS

Joshua and Kara Gillanders * August 9, 2009

Aaron and Kristen Vander Linden * September 12, 2009

SEATTLE SWEEP, SATURDAY OCTOBER 17

Imagine Christians across a city, cooperating in service one day a year. This happened in Portland; their Season of Service, an unlikely partnership between churches and city, made headlines in USA Today and Reader's Digest. This has also happened in Santa Rosa; one church began Spring Clean with fifty youth and expanded to involve over forty congregations. Could this happen in our city? This year, God is empowering several leaders to begin gathering Jesus' people in Seattle to do the same. It will begin small at first, but the hope is to persist each year, expanding the witness of the Church across our city as we serve our neighbors. Saturday, October 17 is the day. Emmaus Road has been invited to serve at Union Gospel Mission Men's Shelter, painting the third floor. Other church groups will be outside, cleaning up some of the city's neglected parks. Everyone and anyone is welcome to join the Church that day! Contact Pastor Eric Likkel for more details.

JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE

Erin Fullner works with students at Seattle University School of Law, helping them identify and develop tools for career success, and would be happy to do the same for job seekers at Emmaus Road. She is available to help with resumes, cover letters, applications, and advice on interviewing, informational interviewing, and networking. If you would like to meet with Erin to discuss your job search, please email her at erinfullner@yahoo.com.

GREAT GROUNDWORK on AUGUST 30

Emmaus Road showed up in decent numbers and made a big impact this past Groundworks Sunday! New Horizons is cleaner and more donations have been sorted. New relationships are forming with Belltown neighbors at the Noel House and the Simons Senior Apartments, as we pursued new pathways of service. Here are some pix from our time at Noel House:


























Note on Noel House door: at first we went to the wrong location; glad we finally found the right place; they were expecting us!

Moving mattresses, getting ready to vacuum

Finished with one side, ready for the other.

Getting to know each other during a break.

NEXT GROUNDWORKS SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 29
In the meantime, "Seattle Sweep" day is Saturday, October 17

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

No, not for the wrong reasons: Dave Steffens and J.P. Benoit have both been featured in the local news recently. Here are their stories...

MARATHON TIPS - Dave Steffens on Q13FOX NEWS

BREAKING THE PAYDAY-LENDER CYCLE - J.P. Benoit in the Seattle Times

EMMAUS ROAD PARENT PARTY, SATURDAY, 5PM

5PM, Saturday, May 23rd

Likkels' backyard

Map here...

MAUNDY THURSDAY APRIL 9, 7PM

As we did last year, Emmaus Road will observe Maundy Thursday, April 9, at 7PM. We will meet at the Ellington Room, at Andrew & Chandra's building (on 1st between Clay and Broad).

What is Maundy Thursday and why should you care?

First, Maundy Thursday has become established as one of the "Holy Days" in much of the Christian world throughout the ages. "Maundy" is an old word signifying "commandment," and "Thursday".... you know, that's the fifth day of the week. So, "commandment Thursday"? Yes. According to the Scriptures, it was around the table of the Passover Feast, the Thursday before the day of resurrection, that Jesus washed his disciples' feet and gave them this prime directive: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34

Second, you should care because the brightness of Easter morning is more clearly seen set against the dark backdrop of betrayal and suffering Jesus first endured. The joy of an empty tomb and risen Lord is more intense after the contemplation of death and loss. Like a Lenten fast and disciplined denial, Maundy Thursday offers an occasion to glimpse the depth of sacrificial love we believe the Lord reveals in his willing descent. We also remember the love he has called us to demonstrate, as his disciples.

GROUNDWORK SUNDAY: SIGN UP!

In case you haven't heard, Emmaus Road is practicing CHURCH BEYOND THE BUILDING this Sunday, March 29 (read more on the Road Crew page).  Many of you signed up this past Sunday morning, but for those who haven't chosen one of the three projects, please comment below or email Pastor Eric eric@emmausroad.net.  By signing up ahead of time, the GROUNDWORK SUNDAY "committee" (Pastor Likkel and member J. Henry - the cheerleader with pompoms this past Sunday), can coordinate the crews.  

10:15AM arrive at New Horizons, enjoy some coffee, food, 

10:30AM briefing; prayer

10:45AM hit the streets 

If you're late, don't worry.  All three projects are within blocks of New Horizons; it will not be difficult to find us.  

Questions?  Feel feel free to call or email Pastor Likkel.

PROJECT DETAILS:

Project 1: Greening and Cleaning on 2nd Ave
Neighbor contact: B. Davis
• Trimming
• Planting (donated plants)

Supplies
• Sturdy work gloves
• Clippers
• Rakes
• Garbage Bags

Project 2: Belltown P Patch
Neighbor contact: G. MacGilvra
• Pulling weeds
• Cottage Cleaning
• Painting of trim on Garden Cottage
• Massive drainage problem
• Removing trash

Supplies:
• Sturdy work gloves

Project 3: New Horizons Kitchen Cleaning
Neighbor contact: S. Hartell
• Deep, thorough cleaning

Supplies:
• Scrubbing brushes
• Scouring Pads
• Cleaning Gloves

ANNUAL SPRING RETREAT APRIL 18

Saturday, April 18th @ 10am
Mars Hill Graduate School@ Elliott and Wall in Belltown, down the hill and a few blocks south of New Horizons near the water. Contact: chandra@emmausroad.net and/or reserve a spot online.

This year, the food, fellowship, and childcare will be just as great as last year, but the parking situation will be WAY BETTER! Having learned what we need (a couple valet volunteers on hand), and knowing the best parking lots nearby, we'll be ready. Like last year, our event will include time/space for going outside, walking and talking, at the P Patch across the street and the Olympic Sculpture Park down the road.

Theme: still being developed, but something having to do with this question: who do you see joining Emmaus Road?  The Road Crew spent a lot of time and energy rewording and rethinking Emmaus Road's mission and purpose last year; this will be a time to look more closely at the personal implications of what we have declared as a community. Abstractly, this is about growth/evangelism, connecting/loving/serving friends/neighbors through the lens of the Gospel.  God has this big plan to send out "fishers of men," and there's a huge "net" he continues to weave.  Every congregation and every Christian around the world exist to be a part of that great net.  Is Emmaus Road part of that net in Seattle?  Are you participating in this process, are you part of this "net"?  What are the consequences of dropping the net, neglecting the net, taking up a different net, etc.?  How does this question, (and the answers of course), address dreams and fears about Emmaus Road's size, future, integrity, purpose?  Thoughts, suggestions?