Bonne année 2008
New Year in the church here in France is pretty similar to what we used to do in Deeside, really.
In Deeside we used to hold a Noson Lawen. People would play musical instruments or sing, there'd be sketches and jokes (some guys in particular were very natural comedians - one chap would appear in his flat cap and we would start roaring with laughter, another played his trombone and I laughed till I cried), there'd be reflective readings, pomes, and then at midnight we'd sing and pray and sometimes there'd be a sort message from the Bible.
Here you add food and a film. Last night we had few entrées, so we put the quiche and salad out with the rice and the sauces ( a daube - which turns out to be boiled beef and carrots, a boeuf bourguignon, a chicken stew and sweet and sour pork ). Cheeses: a camembert, some roquefort and something hard. Desserts were Pat's trifle, a cake with yogurt, lemon and a chocolate topping, a chocolate mousse and so on... Coffee. I took some bars of chocolate because a square of chocolate after a meal just rounds it off nicely.
Pat was the compère of the evening. Joseph played some jazz classics on his trumpet. A family did some short sketches with a light Bible theme. Ben Griffin and Gwilym juggled. Carol F shared some howlers from letters written to her when she worked for a radio Bible school (my favourite was when someone asked if you can be baptised by correspondence).
Then we watched a Disney film together before beginning New Year with a brief observation, prayer, the rest of the film then cleaning up the room we'd hired.
One of the tremendous things is that we know that 2008 will be a good year, even if it is an "annus horribilis" (Thank you ma'am). Even the bad times are good. Here's a couple of theme verses :
Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Philippians 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
Romains 8:28 Nous savons, du reste, que toutes choses concourent au bien de ceux qui aiment Dieu, de ceux qui sont appelés selon son dessein. 29 Car ceux qu’il a connus d’avance, il les a aussi prédestinés à être semblables à l’image de son Fils, afin que son Fils soit le premier–né de plusieurs frères. 30 Et ceux qu’il a prédestinés, il les a aussi appelés ; et ceux qu’il a appelés, il les a aussi justifiés ; et ceux qu’il a justifiés, il les a aussi glorifiés.
Philippians 1:27 Seulement, conduisez–vous d’une manière digne de l’Evangile de Christ, afin que, soit que je vienne vous voir, soit que je reste absent, j’entende dire de vous que vous demeurez fermes dans un même esprit, combattant d’une même âme pour la foi de l’Evangile,
Rhufeiniaid 8:28 Gwyddom fod Duw, ym mhob peth, yn gweithio er daioni gyda'r rhai sy'n ei garu, y rhai sydd wedi eu galw yn ôl ei fwriad. 29 Oherwydd, cyn eu bod hwy, fe'u hadnabu, a'u rhagordeinio i fod yn unffurf ac unwedd â'i Fab, fel mai cyntafanedig fyddai ef ymhlith pobl lawer. 30 A'r rhai a ragordeiniodd, fe'u galwodd hefyd; a'r rhai a alwodd, fe'u cyfiawnhaodd hefyd; a'r rhai a gyfiawnhaodd, fe'u gogoneddodd hefyd.
Philipiaid 1:27 Yn anad dim, bydded eich buchedd yn deilwng o Efengyl Crist, er mwyn imi weld, os dof atoch, neu glywed amdanoch, os byddaf yn absennol, eich bod yn sefyll yn gadarn, yn un o ran ysbryd, gan gydymdrechu yn unfryd dros ffydd yr Efengyl,
And resolutions ? I am less patient than I used to be. You know these "angry young men" that I think behave so badly ? I am turning into one. A bit late ! I'd like to know why things have changed. More important is to find a way to keep the greater honesty while also keeping my cool !
A motto verse for me :
2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothée 4:5 Mais toi, sois sobre en toutes choses, supporte les souffrances, fais l’oeuvre d’un évangéliste, remplis bien ton ministère.
2 Timotheus 4:5 Ond yn hyn oll cadw di ddisgyblaeth arnat dy hun: goddef galedi; gwna waith efengylwr; cyflawna holl ofynion dy weinidogaeth.
In Deeside we used to hold a Noson Lawen. People would play musical instruments or sing, there'd be sketches and jokes (some guys in particular were very natural comedians - one chap would appear in his flat cap and we would start roaring with laughter, another played his trombone and I laughed till I cried), there'd be reflective readings, pomes, and then at midnight we'd sing and pray and sometimes there'd be a sort message from the Bible.
Here you add food and a film. Last night we had few entrées, so we put the quiche and salad out with the rice and the sauces ( a daube - which turns out to be boiled beef and carrots, a boeuf bourguignon, a chicken stew and sweet and sour pork ). Cheeses: a camembert, some roquefort and something hard. Desserts were Pat's trifle, a cake with yogurt, lemon and a chocolate topping, a chocolate mousse and so on... Coffee. I took some bars of chocolate because a square of chocolate after a meal just rounds it off nicely.
Pat was the compère of the evening. Joseph played some jazz classics on his trumpet. A family did some short sketches with a light Bible theme. Ben Griffin and Gwilym juggled. Carol F shared some howlers from letters written to her when she worked for a radio Bible school (my favourite was when someone asked if you can be baptised by correspondence).
Then we watched a Disney film together before beginning New Year with a brief observation, prayer, the rest of the film then cleaning up the room we'd hired.
One of the tremendous things is that we know that 2008 will be a good year, even if it is an "annus horribilis" (Thank you ma'am). Even the bad times are good. Here's a couple of theme verses :
Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Philippians 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
Romains 8:28 Nous savons, du reste, que toutes choses concourent au bien de ceux qui aiment Dieu, de ceux qui sont appelés selon son dessein. 29 Car ceux qu’il a connus d’avance, il les a aussi prédestinés à être semblables à l’image de son Fils, afin que son Fils soit le premier–né de plusieurs frères. 30 Et ceux qu’il a prédestinés, il les a aussi appelés ; et ceux qu’il a appelés, il les a aussi justifiés ; et ceux qu’il a justifiés, il les a aussi glorifiés.
Philippians 1:27 Seulement, conduisez–vous d’une manière digne de l’Evangile de Christ, afin que, soit que je vienne vous voir, soit que je reste absent, j’entende dire de vous que vous demeurez fermes dans un même esprit, combattant d’une même âme pour la foi de l’Evangile,
Rhufeiniaid 8:28 Gwyddom fod Duw, ym mhob peth, yn gweithio er daioni gyda'r rhai sy'n ei garu, y rhai sydd wedi eu galw yn ôl ei fwriad. 29 Oherwydd, cyn eu bod hwy, fe'u hadnabu, a'u rhagordeinio i fod yn unffurf ac unwedd â'i Fab, fel mai cyntafanedig fyddai ef ymhlith pobl lawer. 30 A'r rhai a ragordeiniodd, fe'u galwodd hefyd; a'r rhai a alwodd, fe'u cyfiawnhaodd hefyd; a'r rhai a gyfiawnhaodd, fe'u gogoneddodd hefyd.
Philipiaid 1:27 Yn anad dim, bydded eich buchedd yn deilwng o Efengyl Crist, er mwyn imi weld, os dof atoch, neu glywed amdanoch, os byddaf yn absennol, eich bod yn sefyll yn gadarn, yn un o ran ysbryd, gan gydymdrechu yn unfryd dros ffydd yr Efengyl,
And resolutions ? I am less patient than I used to be. You know these "angry young men" that I think behave so badly ? I am turning into one. A bit late ! I'd like to know why things have changed. More important is to find a way to keep the greater honesty while also keeping my cool !
A motto verse for me :
2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothée 4:5 Mais toi, sois sobre en toutes choses, supporte les souffrances, fais l’oeuvre d’un évangéliste, remplis bien ton ministère.
2 Timotheus 4:5 Ond yn hyn oll cadw di ddisgyblaeth arnat dy hun: goddef galedi; gwna waith efengylwr; cyflawna holl ofynion dy weinidogaeth.
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