Peninsula Rainbow Emmaus

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In the beginning was the Steering Committee. When a group wants to form a new Emmaus Community after receiving Upper Room approval, they form a Steering Committee. Here's our Steering Committee that was formed in 1995: Lisa Beshaw; Jeff Carty; Eric Grayson (Secretary); Arline Germain; Peg and Dave Hopewell (Team Selection); Clyde Johnson (Music Director); Colleen Meiser (Children's Programs); Cindy Newsome (Lay Director) and Rev. Ken Newsome (Spiritual Director); Jim Peterson (Devotions and Fourth Day Speakers); Rev. Penny Pugh; Jerry and Sharon Schwartzlow; and Woody Wilson (Treasurer). The Steering Committee transitioned to a Board of Directors after the initial Walks were conducted in 1996. The initial Gatherings and meetings were held at Wesley UMC in Hampton. Most folks brought pretzels for snacks--so much so that the early Community became overwhelmed with them. Consequently, you don't find many pretzels as snacks in the Community any more.

Why Rainbow? The Sonshine Community (Richmond) held several Walks at Holy Family Retreat Center while this Community was being formed in 1995. Thunderstorms occurred during these Sonshine Walks, and after each storm the Team and Pilgrims observed a rainbow over Mill Creek (the body of water behind the Center). When our Community was formed, the Steering Committee used this symbol of God's promise in our name: the Peninsula Rainbow Emmaus Community.

The First Walks. The first Walks were held on Mother's Day and Father's Day weekends in 1996. The teams were made up of folks from the Tidewater and Sonshine (Richmond) Communities. The cadre for the Men's Walk (9-12 May 1996), Streams of Living Water, was: Page Cockrell (LD from Tidewater); Rev Ken Newsome, Dan Spaugh, and Tony Forstall (SDs); Jerry Schwartzlow, Dave Hopewell, and Ken Hudson (ALDs); Woody Wilson (Community Support); and Jim Harrison (MD). The cadre for the Women's Walk (6-9 June 1996), Worship His Majesty, was: Joan Stewart (LD from Sonshine); Rev Jim Grimmer, Beth-Marie Barnett, and Penny Pugh (MDs); Sara Price, Peg Hopewell, and Janine Grayson (ALDs); Colleen Meiser and Cindy Newsome (Community Support); and Valerie Bookwalter (MD).

Holy Family Retreat Center. We have held all but two of our Walks at the Holy Family Retreat Center. We could not use the Center for the 1998 Spring Walks because of scheduling conflicts. We were able to contract with Christopher Newport College to use their dormitories, dining facility, and the former Ferguson High School for PR9 (May 28-31, 1998) and PR10 (June 25-28, 1998). Since the dormitory and its adjacent cafeteria were separated from the Ferguson High building, the Team and Pilgrims walked about a half mile between these two facilities. Some very special bonding occurred during these morning, midday, and evening walks, and PR9 and 10 can be remembered as being unique because of them.