The Road to Emmaus“...he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. The! their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” Luke "#:$%-$&a

Emmaus was “a village about seven miles from Jerusalem,” but its exact site is uncertain. The friends leaving town were disciples, but not among the twelve. Luke tells us only the name of Cleopas. The un-named disciple reminds us that there were many disciples whom we have not known by name and who were devas-tated by Jesus’ execution.

Picture the two disciples in animated debate as they travel. Realize the depth of their despair: these two have just seen all their fresh new hope for the arrival of God’s kingdom utterly dashed and their own lives put at risk.“Jesus himself came near and went with them.” The fact that Jesus walked with them when all the followers had tried to stand at a dis-tance from the events of the crucifixion (Luke 23:49) indicates for-giveness. We may abandon the Christ; Christ does not abandon us. How can we explain their failure to recognize Jesus? Perhaps we must assume that he was sim-ply the last possible person they expected to see. And we have to wonder at his own incredible re-straint. Who among us would not have been tempted to jump out of the bushes and cry, “Hey fellas, look? It’s me. I’m alive.” But Jesus, consummate teacher, patiently waits for his students to make this ultimate discovery on their own. About this Story... Continued on Page "

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At a GlanceLuke 24:13-35

The Emmaus story takes place on the same day as Jesus’ tomb is discovered to be empty. People are heading home following the Passover. The disciples are upset, confused, and scared. Jesus, had been crucified and now his tomb is empty!

A stranger (Jesus) joins Cleopas, and incredibly, “knows” nothing about the recent events. The stranger patiently teaches the disciples from scripture as they walk along and then as the stranger breaks bread, and they recognize him, Jesus disappears.

The disciples rush back to Jerusalem to tell the others. When our hearts burn within us, we must go and tell also; we can do no other!

How o'en do we no( recognize Jesus on our own road?

A resource to support parents as they help their children grow in faith. Volume &, Issue "

Learning TogetherAbout this Resource:Learning Together is a new resource from the Sunday School Design Team, containing background information for parents and details on how to help children in grades 1-6 get the most out of Sunday School. “The Road to Emmaus” Rotation begins April 23, 2006.Sunday School is from 10:00 - 10:55 a.m. All children are welcome! More information about Children’s Ministries at Gloria Dei may be found on our website: www.gloriadeikids.org.

Fellowship (“communion” with others)The pair was sharing together supporting one another in their grief and it was in welcoming another into the fellowship that the great good news was revealed. The meal and the talking together point us to seeking the fellowship of God's people when we are mourning, in doubt and seeking after God and God's answers.

Word and SacramentIn hearing the Scriptures the two felt "our hearts burning within us." In the breaking of the bread their eyes were open. Making the connection between the acts of the Lord's Supper and the word proclaimed in worship dramatically illustrates who we are as a worshiping people.

Earlier the disciples had told him that the hour was too late to continue his journey past Emmaus, but now they make an even more dangerous journey of their own – reversing their steps to return the entire seven miles to Jerusalem in the dark. They are unable to contain their awe and excitement, so eager are they to tell “what hap-pened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

EvangelismTraveling the Emmaus Road with Jesus cannot be just a personal journey. The disciples must share the Good News with others. Our knowledge, experience, and relationship with God are not just ends to themselves but impel us to share the Good News. The season of Eastertide is a great time of year to heighten the children's awareness that we have Good News to share with the world.

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About this Story... Continued )om Page &

The stranger asks what they were discussing, and Cleopas replies with apparent sarcasm, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place in these days?” (Em-phasis added.) Such irony!

Thomas Groome then notes that the stranger urges the disciples to speak from their own experiences and disappointments. This is Jesus the Teacher leading his students to explore and articulate their un-derstanding of what has happened. Sometimes we do not know what we know until we put it into words.

They had known Jesus as a prophet mighty in word and deed. They recount how the leaders handed him over to be crucified. They speak of their confusion over reports of the women seeing an empty tomb and visions of angels. The stranger claims that the crucifixion was not a failure, but a necessity if the Messiah were to enter into glory. Imagine the disciples transfixed by Jesus’ interpretation of all the things about himself throughout the Hebrew scriptures. When the two arrive at their lodging (possibly a home or an inn), the stranger appears to plan to travel farther. They plead with him to ac-cept their hospitality, to be their guest. (Remember the importance of hospitality in this culture.) The stranger then becomes the host. Boldly he “took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them” -- and in that act they recognized the Christ.Just as soon as they recognized the risen Lord, he was gone. His work with them was complete. Per-haps his immediate disappearance is a clue that he will not be "with" them in the same way he was with them before his crucifixion.

Connecting this Story at Home...• Have/help your child(ren) look up this story in the Bible. They should be

able to identify that this story is from the New Testament, and takes place in one of the four gospels: Luke 24.

• Read through the story together and ask your child(ren) to retell this story in their own words.

• Help them recite the memory verse and reference (See Below).• Help your child make the connection between Jesus revealing himself in

the breaking of the bread in this story and how he continues to be revealed to us in the sacrament of communion today.

• Talk with your family about ways in which we might recognize Jesus today in everyone we encounter.

• Explore the idea of welcoming strangers: How do we greet and share our story with them?

• Evangelism is a big word. How do we respond to it? When we get all fired up about what we’ve been learning - when our hearts burn within us - we must tell others! Your child(ren) will be bringing home a story telling kit from their scavenger hunt. Let them tell you and someone else the story.

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Memory Verse:“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” Luke 30-31a

Bible Bucks are Coming Your Way!!!Colin Tobin, Aaron Callender, Jennifer Tomlin, and Rick Beireis are working up the details of this exciting new program!! Come to Sunday school - get a Bible Buck; Bring your Bible - get a Bible Buck; Bring a friend - get a Bible Buck; Memorize the Bible verse - You guessed it! Get your parents to volunteer - get more Bible Bucks! You get the idea!! There will be a store that opens up to let you use those Bucks. We are looking for more parents to get involved in making this motivational program a success! Please contact Jennifer at 360-482-4183 for more info and to help out. Kids - bug Colin and Aaron for the details!!

O.T.Party: May 21Fifth and Sixth graders are plan-ning the Old Testament party for May 21. Kids! Your “ticket” in is to know the books of the Old Testament. We are working on the minor prophets at Sunday school closing time. The song is also on our website! www.gloriadeikids.org. Pastor Kurt will be back for a visit - he’d better make sure he knows those books, and along with great food, there will be fun games! Study up!! Please contact any fifth or sixth grade student, or Susan Callender for more information.

Second Graders Get Bibles!!

More and more each year, sec-ond graders are asking for their Bibles in second grade so they don’t have to wait until third grade..... We’re giving out a lot of Bibles on the ‘sly’ here - sooo! We are officially going to give out Bibles to second graders instead of waiting until third grade. This means some catch up is in order. Sunday, May 21, 2006, we will be officially giving Bibles to all of this year’s second graders at the 11:00 service. Next fall, we will give Bibles the new set of second graders. How exciting! We will schedule Pizza and Bibles for second graders as well.

Fourth Grade Communion EducationSaturday, May 6, 2006, fourth graders will meet with Pastor Phil at the Longnecker’s home and plant wheat at 10:00 a.m.. They will begin communion edu-cation then, and meet back at the Longnecker’s in August to harvest the wheat, make com-munion bread, and continue their education. Please RSVP to Dennis Longnecker at 491-7603 to request directions.

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VBS: July 10-14 and 16, 2006

We are so excited to have VBS in our new space! Reg-istration forms will be out next month for children three years old through those going into sixth grade. Fifth and Sixth graders will once again cover VBS as part of the elite Press Pool. We are in the process of staff VBS, so if you would like to help out, please contact the church office, or Beth Tobin at 866-4962. We need around 80 volunteers and people to help set up and decorate. Take a ride on God’s Celebration Train!

“We will celebrate and praise you, Lord! You are good to us, and your love never fails.” Psalm 106:1

CalendarApril 23: Emmaus Begins

May 6: Fourth Grade Wheat Planting

May 21: Second Grade Bibles

May 21: O.T. Party!!

May 21: Good Samaritan Begins

May 28: No Sunday School

June 4: SS Volunteer BBQ

June 11: Final Jeopardy!

July 10-14, 16: VBS @ GDLC

THE LAST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL IS JUNE 11...

Final Jeopardy: June 11It’s time to review! Back by popular demand, the last Sunday of Sunday school will once again host Final Jeopardy to recap the year from 10:00 - 10:55 in Luther Hall. Bring your family and fans to help cheer your team on! Grades 1-6 will be competing against each other and there is a ru-mor that a brave adult team might enter! (You can do it parents!) Bring cookies or bars to share!

What to study:• 2005-2006 Bible Stories:

- The Parable of the Vine and the Branches: John 15

- Jesus Feeds the 5,000: John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17

- The Coming of the Messiah: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-4, John 8:12

- The Call of Moses - the Burning Bush: Exodus 1-4

- The Woman at the Well: John 4:4-30, 39-42

- Creation - God’s Work in Progress: Genesis 1-2:3

- Jesus the Healer: Matthew 8:5-13, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 17, John 9:1-12

- The Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35

- The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37

• Memorize the books of the Old Testament

• What are the four Gospels? ‘Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John’

• What does Gospel mean? ‘Good News’

• What are the Gospels about ? ‘The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.’

• Memory Verses: Know the verse and where it is found in the Bible. Be able to look it up! All verses are from the NRSV version. (See below.)

SUNDAY SCHOOL BIBLE MEMORY VERSES FROM 2005-2006

1) I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I am them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

2) I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

3) Jesus answered, “Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” John 4:13-14

4) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

5) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one

another, so that you may by healed. James 5:16a

6) When he was a the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Luke 24:30-31a

7) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

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