March 2021

Hope springs eternal as the weather begins to tease us with the change of warmer days and brighter sunshine.

The hope of the Resurrection is becoming clearer as we travel our Lenten journeys. It seems like we have been living through Lent for a year now as the start of pandemic restrictions began in the midst of our 2020 Spring Men’s Walk. We pushed pause on our 2020 Spring activities with the hopes of resuming soon. “Soon” did not materialize but returning is not forgotten. Many of you are wondering what has been going on in the Emmaus Community since Spring of 2020.

During this time of pause, your Nashville Emmaus Board has continued to meet regularly to assess next steps and when to begin in person gatherings. 

- We had three virtual gatherings in the Fall when it was determined that Fall Walks could not occur. 

- Due to not being able to gather in person, the concern that everyone in the community might not have access to voting electronically and the Emmaus Board’s inability to follow the prescribed by-laws for Board elections due to restrictions, like many churches, we decided to kept the same leadership for 2021 as we had in 2020. We did send out through the newsletter and email, the ability to volunteer your interest in being on the Board. 

- We were planning an in person Gathering for December of 2020 when COVID numbers began to spike and gathering became impossible and irresponsible.

There is some good news to look forward to. We are in the process of planning an outdoor Gathering as soon as the weather breaks and plans can be finalized. There will still be a few restrictions based on locale and circumstances but meeting outdoors opens up more possibilities. Watch the website and your email for details as they become finalized.

We are tentatively shooting to resume Walks in the Fall of 2021. However, like many churches, Hermitage UMC  has not opened its facilities to outside groups and only recently have begun to have in person worship if at all. (Last time we checked they had not.) We are entertaining and exploring other possibilities but these opportunities are in the infant stages. The Board continues to meet and address logistics and details to facilitate the Fall walks if possible. Those individuals who were serving on the Spring 2020 walks as well as Pilgrims on these walk will be the first persons contacted once plans are finalized. Like everything else, as we move slowly into the post pandemic world, we will have to adapt and be open to change. Change can be exciting if we approach it with a positive attitude and open perspective.

Looking forward to what the Holy Spirit has in store for the Nashville Emmaus Community.

DeColores,

Rev. Regina Hall

Community Spiritual Director