Getting started
We are a week into our time in Versailles, taking care of
St Mark’s International Church. This is a shorter locum period than usual –
just five weeks, as we have been quite busy already this year. So we are
particularly aware of our status as ‘sojourners’ – just passing through. Though
for the time we are here we shall be engaged with the worshipping community and
its needs, as well as enjoying being part of that community for a short time.
I suppose that is a kind of parable of our life as
Christians. As the writer to Hebrews puts it, “Here we do not have an enduring
city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Heb 13:14) We are
always something of a stranger in a foreign land, for “our citizenship is in
heaven” (Phil 3:20). Which is not to say that we are to be otherworldly. Christians
have to be firmly rooted in the world, concerned to affirm signs of God’s
presence and to point to signs of his kingdom – and at the same time, not to
allow ourselves to be absorbed by the (often distorted) values of this world.
Anyway, we are looking to enjoying our sojourn here in
various ways. It is always good to be back in France, which is very much our
second home. The clergy house here is large and airy (wonderful on a sunny
day!) with an equally large garden. The downside is the presence of a busy
railway line on one side and the N12/A89, and a principal route into Versailles
on the other!
The weather is a bit ‘English’ at the moment (a contrast
with our visit in 2015, when it was hot most of the time.) And we’ve been quite
busy, so there’s not much of a holiday at the moment! We had a good crossing
last Tuesday/Wednesday – and then spent a couple of hours in Le Havre. It was
well worthwhile. There was some very imaginative rebuilding after the
devastation of the Second World War, under the guidance of a gifted architect –
Auguste Perret. We particularly liked his very visible church of St Joseph,
with a splendid, tall, central tower, and some good coloured glass throughout.
We also visited the Musee Malraux which has a remarkably large collection of
Impressionist paintings, as well as hosting some high profile temporary
exhibitions. Not bad for a provincial city!
One of the strange features of being in France during
August, is that so many restaurants and cafes are closed – which limits one’s
choices for eating out. Bakers also are liable to close down for a month, to
make the task of walking to buy one’s daily bread more demanding. There is
obviously a different attitude to work; the healthy side being a concern for
taking family holidays and rest; the more negative side is the lower priority
given to providing a service for others.
Our first Sunday worship seemed to go well. It was a
great gift to be able to preach on the Transfiguration – such a wonderfully
rich theme. We’ve also attended a couple of home groups which meet in the
church, and seem to want to carry on through August. We’ve been to two meals
with church members, which has given a good opportunity to discover a bit more
about the state of things here. (St Mark’s didn’t expect to have to endure
another vacancy so soon after the last. The chaplain who has appointed after
our last visit only stayed for 12 months!)
So, there is some work to do – but also some
opportunities to explore this area, as well as re-visiting Paris. We are
expecting a couple of visitors – Nathanael (who arrived yesterday) and our
oldest grandson, Samuel.
Please pray for:
our ministry here at St Mark's, that we may be open to any particular needs
safety for us and our visitors (there has
just been another terrorist incident in Paris.)
Some better weather would be welcome too!
Thanks you Michael for keeping us up to date. Lizzie is on holiday in France, taking a much needed and really deserved break from All Saints and St. Mary's, and stayed a couple of nights with her family "glamping" near Versailles. They are currently in the Aveyron. As for Helen and I, we currently have what I call "The Ministry of August" at All Saints. Off to the Costa Brava with Matt and Katy in early September...so deferred gratification. Best wishes to Jo and blessings to both of you over the next few weeks. Chris.
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