MandJ French sojourn

Time is passing quickly, and we only have two more Sundays here in Grenoble. It’s been a valuable and interesting five weeks so far. The Church here is good, but there is need for a permanent chaplain as soon as possible. Finances are difficult, with many of the congregation earning very little; so the church suffers from uncertainty about the future, and but we feel there are opportunities as well as problems. Last Sunday was the farewell service to Pierre and Lilia Ledent. He is a Protestant chaplain in the French Army, and they are moving to Clermont Ferrand, where he is now based. (Always interesting to remember how ‘secular’ France continues to provide Christian ministry for those who might be denied it: soldiers, prisoners and the sick.) Lilia has been very active in St Marc’s, and she will be missed; as is often the case, too much is done by too few. The service was complicated by the fact that two Nigerian families brought their babies to be dedicated –   whic...

Since our first report, we have experienced even higher temperatures (up to 43C according to the sign outside the Pharmacie) as most of southern France has baked in the ongoing canicule. After the experience of 2003, when thousands of people died, the country is very aware of the dangers and there have been regular reminders of the need to take precautions. The authorities are also aware of the dangers of pollution, and take action which we never see in the UK. In some areas, speed limits have been reduced, and the driving of older diesel cars banned; free public transport throughout Grenoble was offered to discourage the use of private cars. The church was so hot on Sunday that I ended Communion soaked with sweat (none of the windows open, and there are neither fans nor air conditioning.) I was relieved that they don’t have a tradition of clergy robing! But there were still a good number of people, many of whom fanned themselves throughout. The planned post-church picnic was aban...