They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and open the Scriptures to us?"
- Luke 24:32 (NIV)

The Walk to Emmaus

The Walk to Emmaus is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a three-day short course in Christianity.  It is based upon the story told in the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35.  To learn more about the Walk to Emmaus presented by the Heart of Ohio Emmaus Community, click the button below.

The Chrysalis Flight

A Chrysalis weekend is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a three-day short course in Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed to you through other believers.  To learn more about a Chrysalis Flight as presented by the Heart of Ohio Chrysalis Community, click the button below.

The Face to Face Encounter

An adaptation of The Walk to Emmaus, Face to Face is specifically crafted to meet the needs and life-stages of older adults. The program seeks to invite men and women, ages 60 and older, to experience Jesus through an 4-session journey, covering subjects such as discipleship, mission, grief, and end-of-life issues.  To learn more about a Face to Face Encounter as presented by the Heart of Ohio Emmaus Community, click the button below.

What Does "De Colores" Mean?

If we could get the light to shine through a crystal, with its many facets, a rainbow would be made.  Those rainbow colors represent the many facets of God’s grace and love to us.  Back in the early days of the Cursillo movement in Spain, from which the Walk to Emmaus is based, several participants were on their way home after hearing all of the talks about God’s grace and love.  Everyone was on fire with the love of God.  Suddenly, their bus broke down.  As they looked out the windows, they noticed that they broke down in front of a barnyard.  As they filed off the bus they saw flowers and trees, chickens and roosters, horses and cows, and all sorts of other farm animals.  They were so impressed by this incredible display that they sat down to write a song called "De Colores" – which means "of the colors".  They had a long wait before they were rescued, so there are many verses to this song; tradition has it that the song has 99 verses!  The Emmaus Community often uses "De Colores" as a greeting and the symbol of the rainbow is frequently visible at Emmaus events.  Several verses of the song, "De Colores", are traditionally sung during the Walk to Emmaus weekend, the Chrysalis Flight, and the Face to Face Encounter.

Welcome to the Heart of Ohio Emmaus and Chrysalis Community

The Heart of Ohio Emmaus Community was founded in 1989 by a group of Christians eager to bring the love of Jesus Christ to the north-central Ohio community.  Since our initial Men's Walk in 1991, over 3,500 people have attended a Heart of Ohio Walk to Emmaus.

Our Chrysalis community began in 1996 with the intent of extending the love of Christ through these wonderful Christian weekends to the youth of our community.  Heart of Ohio Chrysalis Flights are held annually over the Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day weekends, touching lives of young teens eager to deepen their faith and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Heart of Ohio Emmaus Community was the first Emmaus community in the state of Ohio to offer the Face to Face Encounter.  Face to Face is similar to the Walk to Emmaus but is geared towards persons 60 years or older.  Instead of involving overnight stays at a camp or church, persons attending a Heart of Ohio Face to Face Encounter meet during 4 day-long sessions at a selected church in our community; the selected church will vary year-to-year based upon local demands for an Encounter.  Our first Encounter was held in Sunbury and hosted 25 pilgrims who experienced the love of Christ in ways they had never done before.  It was so well received that we have had several churches within the community asking that we bring the Encounter to their city.  The Heart of Ohio Face to Face community is in its infancy, but we anticipate a growing program over the next several years.

2024 Emmaus Walk/Face to Face Encounter Schedule

Men’s Emmaus Walk - March 14 - 17, 2024
Women’s Emmaus Walk - April 25 - 28, 2024
Face to Face encounter - July 9th, 11th, 16th, 18th, 2024 at Faith Global Methodist Church in Ashland, Ohio
Men’s Emmaus Walk - September 19 - 22, 2024
Women’s Emmaus Walk - October 17 - 20, 2024

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Monthly Gatherings meet at Ontario United Methodist Church in Ontario

Fellowship begins at 7:00 PM Worship begins at 7:00 PM

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Emmaus Walks and Chrysalis Flights Are Held At Camp Otyokwah Near Butler

Emmaus send-offs begin at 7:00 PM on Thursday evening of the weekend.  Sponsors are encouraged to bring their pilgrims to the camp between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM to check-in at the Hopewell Dining hall, receive a bed tag and a name tag, and select a bunk in the Delaware lodge. Please bring a covered dish, a dessert, bagged salty snacks, bagged candy, or a couple of two-liter bottles of pop to share.

Chrysalis send-offs begin at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning of the weekend.  Sponsors are encouraged to bring their caterpillars to the camp between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM to check-in at the Delaware Lodge, receive a bed tag and a name tag, and select a bunk. Please bring bagged salty snacks, bagged candy, or a couple of two-liter bottles of pop for the teens to share through the weekend.

Face to Face encounters are not held at Camp Otyokwah; Encounters are held at churches throughout the community.  Check the Face to Face page for information about the upcoming Encounter, when it will be held, and where the meetings will take place.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.  Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created.  And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Oh, God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may may truly wise and ever enjoy Your consolations.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Emmaus Board Positions

Intrested in being on the Emmaus board?

Check out the job discriptions here.

Emmaus University

Strengthen your knowledge and understanding of the various dimensions of Emmaus by taking the free online classes at Emmaus Ministries University. The classes can be completed at your pace and schedule.

Monthly Gatherings are held the 1st Thursday of every month

Ontario UMC
3540 Park Ave. W.
Ontario, OH 44906

               Worship begins at 07:00 PM

Emmaus Clergy Application

Complete and contact Tom Matus for instructions.

Members of the Heart of Ohio Emmaus/Chrysalis Community Live In or Near...

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