CHRISTMAS EVE GATHERING

Join us as at the Seattle School, 7PM,
as we celebrate the Nativity of Jesus,
with candles, carols, and costumes.

Our next gathering for worship is January 4th, 2015!

WORSHIP DECEMBER 21st

Is there a connection between John 1,
revealing the "word made flesh",
and the "Christmas Spirit" that is raised in  Elf?




Join us as at the Seattle School,
10:30AM,
as we learn from Isaiah 9:1-3a,
Psalm 18:16-19,27-28,
Titus 3:3-7,
and John 1:9-18.

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY DECEMBER 7th

Is there a connection between Matthew's nativity,
introducing the ancient promise of "Immanuel",
and Rankin and Bass' Frosty the Snowman?

Yes!

Sure, there may be an allegorical concoction brewing here, but there are some important truths which emerge as we compare and contrast Frosty with Immanuel.

Join us as at the Seattle School,
10:30AM,
as we learn from Matthew 1:18-25,
Job 32:8-10; 33:4-6,
Psalm 122,
and 1 Corinthians 3:9;16.

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30th

Luke's Nativity and Dickens' Christmas Carol, side by side - what do they say? Along with Isaiah 9:6-7 and 1 John 3:1-3; 18, we begin moving through Advent this Sunday, looking forward to Christmas! Join us at the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, corner of Elliott/Wall, where Belltown meets the waterfront, 10:30AM this Sunday!

THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23rd

We gather at the Likkel house for a CONGREGATION CONVERSATION. 10:30AM as per usual. Following our time in conversation, we are all invited to attend the baptism of one of our junior members at Golden Gardens. Big, exciting day for Emmaus Road!

Our conversation will be about where Emmaus Road is in the process toward renewing our Vision, Mission, and Identity. More specifically, it is about realigning our ministry together toward being disciples and multiplying disciples. If you have become a regular part of our congregation and want to join the conversation, but do not know of our location this Sunday, call Pastor Eric.

"DISCIPLESHIP" - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

For Emmaus Road, this season
is a time of self reflection and healthy evaluation of why we do what we do as a church. One of the themes emerging from discussions is the theme and term "discipleship". Recently, a helpful blog post came to my attention. I like the way blogger John Eigege (church planter/campus minister in Houston, TX), draws attention to four elements of discipleship, and succinctly unpacks a loaded word. Check out John's post, What Do You Mean by Discipleship. Other helpful sources on discipleship include the classic The Master Plan of Evangelism or a more recent book, Building a Discipling Culture.

THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16th

10:30AM Worship event
@ Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

Likkel's Lections:
Gospel: Luke 24:33-53
Old Testament: Proverbs 28:13-14
Psalter: Psalm 95:1-7
Epistle: Hebrews 10:23-25

Theme: Paths converge in Jerusalem; Stories shared in fellowship; Hope restored
We love the story of Jesus walking alongside a pair of confused disciples. We celebrate the presence of the Lord, even when we do not see him, and we receive the call to walk alongside others. 
There is more to this story, though, if we follow Cleopas and his companion back to Jerusalem. As their paths converge with Peter, Mary, and other men and women in Jesus' fledgling following, their testimony raised hope and expectations. How did the Lord use their gathering and mutual witness? What does this say to us as we look at the relationship between our individual experiences of discipleship through life beyond Sundays, beyond worship gatherings, and the important role of those gathering events in our lives?

THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9th

10:30AM Worship event
@ Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

Likkel's Lections:
Gospel: Luke 24:13-32
Old Testament: Isaiah 53
Psalter: Psalm 139:1-16
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:10-14

Theme: What happens on the road to Emmaus?

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

FRONT DOOR FIELD

"Evangelism is missions. The mission field is not out there somewhere in the jungles or backwoods of some foreign nation. The mission field is at our front door. As soon as a believer, a disciple of Jesus leaves their front door, they are in the mission field."

"If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to be a missionary. The Great Commission does not say to go and throw money at the issue. It does not say to sit back and pay someone else to do it. The emphasis isn’t on 'go' it is on 'make.' We are to make disciples here, where you’re at."

 Read more on spiritual musclehead.

CHURCH @ LINDA'S ON ALKI THIS SUNDAY, 9/28

Remember BODY APPRECIATION SUNDAY 2013?

Maybe you had too much fun. Tomorrow, we are fortunate to all be invited to Linda Bishop's new place on Alki, right on the beach. Do not go to the Seattle School! Find Linda's place on the beach (see eWeekly or contact Pastor Likkel, 206-380-5674 for directions)!

10:30AM = coffee, light refreshments, AND fellowship, in light of Romans 12:5-12:

 ...so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

EMMAUS ROAD @ SEATTLE SCHOOL THIS SUNDAY (AUG.31st)

Emmaus Road returns to the Seattle School of Theology/Psychology this week, August 31st. We had a fun "tour" the last couple Sundays, but are eager to resume worship in our new space.

WHERE IS THE NEW SPACE?
The Seattle School is at the corner of Elliott & Wall, near the waterfront, Edgewater Hotel, Belltown P Patch, etc.  Address: 2501 Elliott Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

WHERE DO I PARK?
Street parking is free on Sundays, just as it is at New Horizons. Elliott is one way south, Western (one block up the hill) is one way north. Side streets of Wall, Vine, Cedar, etc., are all fair game. If street parking is hard to find, there is a very convenient small gravel pay lot across the street from the entrance to the school which is only $3 on Sundays, for the whole day!! 

WHAT DO I EXPECT WHEN I WALK IN THE DOOR?
Our worship space is immediately inside the main entrance, in the School's lounge area. You will not miss us as you walk in the door. Restrooms are located to the right. 

WILL MY KIDS BE OK?
Yes! The School is clean, open, spacious, and our kids' activities (nursery, Godly Play, and Big Kid's Bible Workshop),  happen upstairs in class rooms and spaces close to the elevator/stairwell, which are safely, securely closed. After being escorted upstairs with a parent, kids are accompanied/supervised by adult volunteers. Kids are also welcome to remain with parents throughout worship.

EMMAUS ROAD AT THE BEACH, SUNDAY AUGUST 23rd

• August 23rd, 10:30AM, meeting for fellowship outside @ Olympic Sculpture Park/Myrtle Edwards beach
• Resuming regular worship at Seattle School, Sunday August 30th, 10:30AM

Beach at Myrtle Edwards/Olympic Sculpture Park

EMMAUS ROAD AUGUST TOUR

• This Sunday, August 17th, 10:30AM, meeting for fellowship @ Arauctos' new place
• Next Sunday, August 24th, 10:30AM, meeting for fellowship outside @ Olympic Sculpture Park/Myrtle Edwards beach w/Sax'a'Bone Circus
• Resuming regular worship at Seattle School, Sunday August 31st, 10:30AM

Beach at Myrtle Edwards/Olympic Sculpture Park

INAUGURAL WORSHIP @ SEATTLE SCHOOL AUGUST 3rd

It has been a busy few weeks in Belltown, moving sound equipment, Godly Play materials, and Emmaus Road odds and ends out of New Horizons Ministries after 14 years! They are moving into an exciting period of remodeling and ministry expansion, and we are moving into an exciting new space at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology on Sunday mornings at 10:30AM. How long will we be there? We do not know. We are certainly thankful, though, for the School's vision and hospitality, as they allow us to be in their home for several months as a worshiping congregation. We are certainly thankful, too, for New Horizons' generosity, trust, and for all the ways the staff and youth shaped our vision and heart for the people of this city over many years.

WHERE IS THE NEW SPACE?
The Seattle School is at the corner of Elliott & Wall, near the waterfront, Edgewater Hotel, Belltown P Patch, etc.  Address: 2501 Elliott Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

WHERE DO I PARK?
Street parking is free on Sundays, just as it is at New Horizons. Elliott is one way south, Western (one block up the hill) is one way north. Side streets of Wall, Vine, Cedar, etc., are all fair game. If street parking is hard to find, there is a very convenient small gravel pay lot across the street from the entrance to the school which is only $3 on Sundays, for the whole day!! 

WHAT DO I EXPECT WHEN I WALK IN THE DOOR?
Our worship space is immediately inside the main entrance, in the School's lounge area. You will not miss us as you walk in the door. Restrooms are located to the right. 

WILL MY KIDS BE OK?
Yes! This first Sunday, though, is an ALL AGES SUNDAY; we will have a brief worship celebration all together, followed by a group tour of the areas our church will be using. Next Sunday, August 10th, we will try out the spaces for kids' activities.  The School is clean, open, spacious, and our kids' activities (nursery, Godly Play, and Big Kid's Bible Workshop), will all happen upstairs in class rooms and spaces close to the elevator/stairwell, which are safely, securely closed. Kids will be accompanied/supervised by adult volunteers, just as they have been at New Horizons.

EMMAUS ROAD MOVING TO SEATTLE SCHOOL

Just four more worship events at New Horizons Ministries center at Third/Cedar before major remodeling gets underway!

Emmaus Road will be moving to another spot in the Belltown neighborhood, taking up worship at the Seattle School every Sunday morning, 10:30AM, at Wall/Elliott.

Our inaugural worship event happens Sunday, August 3rd.  Join us!

ROOTS, BRANCHES, SHADE - FRUIT OF IT'S OWN

Be lovingly present and emotionally available.
Be spiritually supportive.
Sometimes, that is all you can offer,
and sometimes, that is all that is needed.

This is both easy and hard.

As a pastor feeling pressure to grow the church, reach out, solve problems, mobilize people, and produce results, there is an easy trap to fall into. You look only for the fruit born of your own industry.  It requires hard and fast planting, cultivating, and harvesting, as if spiritual growth has been infused with the values of Big AgriBusiness.

Every once in a while, though, the Spirit humbles me, and reminds us as a congregation, that being rooted somewhere, having branches to rest upon, and shade to offer, is a kind of fruit all it's own.

There was a woman who worshiped with Emmaus Road for about a year, who has recently moved out of state. While she was with us, she drove considerable distance on Sundays because she enjoyed the vibe at our worship gatherings, and had been personally introduced to us by a mutual friend.  She had not recently been with another church, and was happy to have discovered this one.

She had also been thrown into an unexpected crises during this year, a crises which stretched out over several months and is only now partially resolved. During this time, I occasionally listened to her as she related what was going on, often through tears. I stayed in touch via text messages, and the church prayed for her as she shared requests with the larger group. We invited her to gatherings and events beyond Sunday, which she could attend once in a while. But other than that, there was not a great deal of connecting, and no tangible assistance was shared.

On her last Sunday with us, though, she shared how important our presence had been to her over this year. Our prayers and our consistency, celebrating the hope of Christ and the power, strength, and comfort of the Spirit, and making room to be there at a personal level, to listen and spiritually support - that is what we could offer, and that is what she needed.

Being rooted somewhere, to be found available, to provide some shade and structure of hope - this is a sign of the Kingdom. This is a little of what Jesus was saying in Matthew 13:32.

GOOD FRIDAY * EASTER

Tomorrow is traditionally known as "Good Friday". Emmaus Road is invited to join Sanctuary (Greenwood) at Harbor Church (Crown Hill), for a Tenebrae Service, or Service of Shadows. Pastor Likkel will be participating in music and readings.
7pm at Harbor Church
9204 11th Ave. (view map).

Resurrection Sunday! All are welcome to rediscover the Lord on the road to Emmaus and join our annual Easter Feast. Ham, pancakes, and potluck surprises for all! If you would like to participate in the potluck or simply RSVP, use the online option to sign up via evite.

NEW HORIZONS OPEN HOUSE APRIL 5th

Saturday April 5th, 9am-3pm, New Horizons Ministries is hosting an open house and garage sale. Volunteers are needed and can sign up to help here. Because there will be no annual walk-a-thon this year, Emmaus Road's musicians have been invited to help provide atmosphere and energy for this event. 

If you have been around Emmaus Road these last several months, you may have heard us mention the need to temporarily relocate our Sunday morning worship event. This is because New Horizons Ministries will soon be making big changes. As explained on their website, "Over the last several years, it has become clear that if we are to have significant impact on these young people leaving street life permanently, we need to provide additional opportunities, beyond our current programs, to equip them."  New Horizons Ministries is embarking upon an ambitious fund raising and facilities renovation plan. Read about the history, the need, and the plan, to go further in providing a Hope and a Future.

STREET BEAN FEATURED ON KING5

Check out this short piece from KING5. More praise for some of our favorite ministry partners in Belltown. Kudos to Street Bean Espresso and New Horizons. Faith, love, caffeine - the Holy Spirit uses all kinds of gifts and ingredients to bless all kinds of people.

MOST POPULATED BLOCK - ON OUR STREET

When we began Sunday morning worship at New Horizons Ministries, fourteen years ago, "our corner" of Belltown was pretty quiet. There was an empty office building across the street and a few businesses closed on Sundays. How things have changed at Third & Cedar! The block directly south of us will soon become Seattle's most densely populated block, with the completion and population of another high rise, Dimension by Alta, slated to open this spring.

Read more on myBelltown.

HOT CHOCOLATE RUN THIS SUNDAY - USE I-5

It sure is wonderful that people raise money for Ronald McDonald House charities. At a slight inconvenience to Emmaus Road, though, they are running through Belltown this Sunday morning for the annual Hot Chocolate Race. The viaduct is already scheduled to close through the weekend for road work and construction, but Aurora Ave will be shut down Sunday morning all the way up to Woodland Park Zoo for the race.

Coming from the north, I plan to try I-5 south, take exit 166,
follow Stewart a couple blocks to Denny,
turn left onto Bell Street,
turn right onto Third Ave,
head north to New Horizons.

From West Seattle or the south,
take I-5 north and…. I'm not sure (I never take I-5 north to downtown),
but if you have suggestions, share!

Hot Chocolate Race course route here
WSDOT details about Route 99 closures here

LECTIONARY: OUT OF TOUCH OR VALUABLE GUIDE?

If you belong to Emmaus Road, you know that on most Sundays, and even in a few small groups beyond Sunday, we follow the Revised Common Lectionary. I like to view it as a valuable guide for the church, and for myself as pastor and preacher. It disciplines us to move through much of the Bible over its three-year cycle. Many lections include passages which I would overlook, yet they are passages with much to say. If you read this post - Something Other Than the Lectionary - along with ensuing comments, you hear good questions about the Lectionary's role, and how it can be used well or poorly. To some, it can seem a rigid, out of touch structure. It can be blamed for keeping preachers familiar with obscure Bible texts, yet estranged from people. On the other hand, people can seem to be in touch with their personal needs, yet out of touch with what the Word says to them.  The entire topic raises the importance of healthy communication channels between us, God, and each other, and between preachers and congregations. We are reminded that a core belief of the Church is that God continues to speak to us through the Law, Prophets, Psalms, Epistles, in light of the Gospels. How well do we listen? How well do we share?

CURB CUTS AND CHURCH SOCIAL SKILLS

Whether you are pushing a stroller, riding a bicycle, or moving yourself along in a wheel chair, curb cuts benefit you.  You may be unfamiliar with the technical term, but a "curb cut" is a familiar and favored feature of the modern sidewalk.  People of all mobility levels appreciate curb cuts. They are a good example of universal design, or inclusive design.

Here is a question: would Emmaus Road benefit from social skill curb cuts? Could there be such a thing as relational ramps in our church's social design structure, to empower individuals with varying degrees of social skills to interact and find the spiritual encouragement and accountability we all need within the body of Christ?

For more on this topic, check out the post RETHINKING THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL PRACTICES.

MOM & POP VERSUS BIG BOX CHURCH

Who and what is the church for? Are we a service organization or a missional family? Read this thoughtful post on the denominational blog CRCNA.org, by Daniel Zylstra.

#1 COFFEEHOUSE in SEATTLE COFFEE SCENE MAGAZINE….

It is in Belltown. Yes, our very own beloved Street Bean Espresso. According to Seattle Coffee Scene Magazine, "...Street Bean Espresso makes Seattle a better city."  Read more, including reviews of the top 49 picks behind Street Bean.

2013 ENDS WITH MINISTRY AND WORSHIP

Hey Emmaus Road, when you look back over the last few months of 2013, we rounded out the year with some meaningful moments of ministry and worship:

• first Prayer Party in a long time at David and Jessie's in October
• launched Book Brunch in October
• first ever Missional Pub event in November
• first ever Holiday Blues and Bingo Event in Belltown in December
• first ever Urban Christmas Carols in December
• great Christmas Eve worship and story gathering

More photos on Emmaus Road's Facebook page

Urban Carolers at 2nd/Bell

Christmas Eve Pageantry