CNEF Pastorale was great

I was sat next to a friend who's a pastor in Bordeaux and is currently on medication for burn-out. He's gone back to work part-time but we shared notes and it's the same animal. He has a mild anti-depressant and a mild anti-anxiety pill. It was good to pray with him.

We're trying to plan an Easter Monday united service under the auspices of the CNEF in Bordeaux, but the town hall doesn't have any meeting place big enough for us to use. All the biggest halls are privately run and cost thousands to hire per day. (That explains why concerts are so unreasonably expensive here) There is a hall in Pessac that would do. People are looking into it.

Here's the passage that was shared for reflection :

Isaiah 61:1-3

The year of the Lord’s favour

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion –
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendour.