Happy lively Sunday
began early with the preparation of the Powerpoint file - we project our hymns and songs so that we can draw from several books.
Off to church for 10 to set up.
Bully - no, encourage someone to read David's prayer from 2 Sam 7 during the service, leaving me with just the offering and some other things to lead.
Afterwards church lunch ( hoorah ! ) Pat's chilli (with no chilli powder in it) and trifle went down well and there was LOADS to eat this time.
Then brief church meeting followed by film on persecuted church. I set up the film but had to leave before the crucial bit of the church meeting to go and preach in Blaye.
Well, I say "brief church meeting" but Samy does have a habit of stringing things out. When it was obvious that I was going to have to leave half-way through the meeting I joined in his game, feeding him distractions and discussing irrelevancies while people did their nuts (i.e. chanting le nom, le nom, le nom...) wanting to get to the nub of the matter - i.e. what progress has been made in inviting a new pastor to Bordeaux.
Blaye was great. It is hard to explain what it is like to preach to a good turnout of 8 people who represent the only protestant gathering in an area of some 50,000 people * , all of whom listen keenly and follow and encourage as you preach. It's a privilege. Blaye needs a worker. It can't be us but it does need someone who will do the legwork and spadework.
Then back to church to get the family, lock up church and take family home.
Update blog !
* The Canton de Blaye numbers some 13,000 folk, the arrondissement de Blaye (sous-préfecture) has about 54,000. We are not aware of any other protestant churches in the arondissement.
Off to church for 10 to set up.
Bully - no, encourage someone to read David's prayer from 2 Sam 7 during the service, leaving me with just the offering and some other things to lead.
Afterwards church lunch ( hoorah ! ) Pat's chilli (with no chilli powder in it) and trifle went down well and there was LOADS to eat this time.
Then brief church meeting followed by film on persecuted church. I set up the film but had to leave before the crucial bit of the church meeting to go and preach in Blaye.
Well, I say "brief church meeting" but Samy does have a habit of stringing things out. When it was obvious that I was going to have to leave half-way through the meeting I joined in his game, feeding him distractions and discussing irrelevancies while people did their nuts (i.e. chanting le nom, le nom, le nom...) wanting to get to the nub of the matter - i.e. what progress has been made in inviting a new pastor to Bordeaux.
Blaye was great. It is hard to explain what it is like to preach to a good turnout of 8 people who represent the only protestant gathering in an area of some 50,000 people * , all of whom listen keenly and follow and encourage as you preach. It's a privilege. Blaye needs a worker. It can't be us but it does need someone who will do the legwork and spadework.
Then back to church to get the family, lock up church and take family home.
Update blog !
* The Canton de Blaye numbers some 13,000 folk, the arrondissement de Blaye (sous-préfecture) has about 54,000. We are not aware of any other protestant churches in the arondissement.
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