MandJ French sojourn

 A bit of a delay since my first post; life has been quite busy, and we have had the pleasure of Nathanael's presence for four days in the week. Since I last wrote, we've experienced another Sunday - with two morning services, a (BCP) Communion and a Service of the Word; respectable numbers at each. We also joined in an online Prayer Meeting one morning. There must have been more than twelve participants, which is encouraging: more than many churches could muster. On our rest days, we've continued some exploring of the immediate area. We walked beside the Etangs de Commelle, a series of large ponds in a conservation area. We saw a range of fauna - water birds like coots, moorhens, swans, and gulls, some butterflies, and - surprise - a couple of coypus asleep on a nest on the water. Another encounter with nature came when we walked through the Forest of Ermenonville, along part of the 'Sentier des Ecrivains' (Writers' Footpath), so called because Rousseau often s...

 Well, we're back in France again, for our six-week locum ministry at St Peter's, Chantilly. It's our third visit here, and it is good to be back in action - even though we probably needed a little longer for our turn-round from Izmir! Our journey here was uneventful; drive from Axminster to Portsmouth, ferry to Ouistreham, and more driving across to Chantilly - mostly using D roads, which are slower, but much more interesting that autoroutes. We were met at the church by a couple we knew from previous visits, who9 kindly took us to lunch before we got on with unpacking. I had been warned that we would hit the road running, as there was a funeral in the church on the morning after we arrived - and they wanted it all in French. A friend of the deceased had been booked to take most of the service, but I presided, and spoke the opening sentences and introduction, as well as giving the blessing. With Jo's help, we worked out the 'script', and it appears my French wa...