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PRAYER AND PIETY
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 The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The program's approach seriously considers the model of Christ's servanthood and encourages Christ's disciples to act in ways appropriate to being "a servant of all."
The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion. The "Emmaus community," made up of those who have attended an Emmaus weekend, support the 72-hour experience with a prayer vigil, by preparing and serving meals, and other acts of love and self-giving. The Emmaus Walk typically begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening. Men and women attend separate weekends.
During and after the three days, Emmaus leaders encourage participants to meet regularly in small groups. The members of the small groups challenge and support one another in faithful living. Participants seek to Christianize their environments of family, job, and community through the ministry of their congregations. The three-day Emmaus experience and follow-up groups strengthen and renew Christian people as disciples of Jesus Christ and as active members of the body of Christ in mission to the world. For more information, contact Leonard Barrow.
Prayer Partners pray daily for 2-3 families per week. Each week, they are mailed a list of families for that week and also mailed a postcard to those respective families, advising them they were prayed for. Over the course of a year, each family in the congregation is specifically lifted up in prayer.
Devotionals are distributed during the Advent and Lenten seasons that are written by church members on assigned Scriptures appropriate for the season. Typically there is a devotion for each day during Advent and Lent with a special devotion just for Christmas Eve/Day and Easter Sunday.
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Our Mission
The mission of St. Stephen United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We welcome guests into our church, share with them the good news of Jesus Christ, prepare people for ministry, and send forth persons into mission in the world.
©2001 St. Stephen UMC, Charlotte, NC
This page is maintained by Kelly Keesling.
Last updated Friday, August 08, 2003
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