Help, I'm drowning!! But it's all for a good cause!

Too many things going on ; too many threads to unravel ; too many things to organise.

You are now reading the blog of the new Vice-President of the Femmes 2000 South-East group and we have an event to plan in October at Avignonfor around 150 women, and another big event planned for June 2012 at Montélimar for 500-700 women.

The World Day of Prayer is beginning March and we have a team organising a range of activities for that. A Catholic lady and I rewrote the celebration to allow the children and teens to participate and in order to prepare their contribution we are holding an afternoon of activities on the preceding Wednesday. It's an exciting time to be working as 3 churches. The aim for the last 2 years has been to reach younger age groups in order to assure the continuity of the event. We are thrilled to see the traditional denominational barriers melting away as we get to know each other and respect the other person's way of serving God.

Look out for the World Day of Prayer near you. Friday 4th March. Celebration written by the women from Chili.

God's Spirit is visibly working and we are really encouraged at the moment. George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilisation, wrote these words in 1972, and it sums up wonderfully what Pascal and I hope to lead our churches towards:

"There are many ways to witness, and though some ways may be better than others, the teaching of Scripture is that we primarily witness through life and through word. Far more than a crusade, a special project, or outreach program, true witnessing is a spontaneous outflowing of the indwelling Christ.

Let's stop clutching our weaknesses, shyness, lack of training, fear, or any other excuse and start believing the God of the impossible who specializes in using weak vessels. There is not a single Christian who cannot become an effective, revolutionary witness for Jesus Christ if he really wants to." pp. 95, 96 Hunger for Reality.

He urges us to take 6 steps to Revolution (ch 8): a revolution in our prayer life; in our Bible study (by actually putting into practice what we read!); a revolution in discipline (not a popular word today!); a revolution of love; of honesty (many Christians are used to self-deception, wearing masks, acting in their own strength); a revolution of witness.

There's nothing new under the sun. But isn't a shame that for each generation we have to repeat the same message!

However, encouraging signs are appearing. Several people remarked recently how much of the teaching in our different groups, and in our church services is on the same theme and reinforcing their understanding. They are putting into practice what they have understood. 

Prayers are being answered and situations improving. People are growing spiritually and sharing what they have learned. People are praying more together. Some have started praying aloud. Family life is more peaceful and people are making better choices. The Gospel is being shared and non-Christians and Christians alike are being challenged to see things differently. Their understanding of God and Jesus is opening up and real grace is discovered.

And yet with all this positive side, more shadowy, evil things are being revealed. Corruption, power-mongering, wrong sexual practices, disdainfulness, incest, suicide, drug-taking, alcohol abuse, isolation and insulation, are all things we have been confronted with in the last 2 weeks, as well as waking up in the middle of the night sensing a malevolent presence.

It's got me riled and we are going to stand up to this. Fighting spirit is fired up!

We know God. We are one in Christ. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. No excuses - we must bring light into this darkness.

Speaking of races ...

It's a bit crazy, but I've decided to ride in a bike race which has 30 odd routes around our region of Ardèche. The race is called the Ardèchoise and is held in mid-June. There have been up to 15,000 participants over 3 days and all the villages on the routes get decked out in colours, decorations, themes, costumes ...

Why am I doing this ? Because I'm turning 50 this June and I need to have a challenge. I figured that a physical challenge would improve my long term health, set me up for the next 10 years, and in the short term help me to work better and to de-stress. (See previous posting!)

Unfortunately for me the shortest circuit that will be available this year is 80 km long and in Ardèche it's not flat!!! However, friends from our church are regular participants in this event and have assured me of their support. They said they would ride with me - but they will have to drop their standards to stay with me! I'm already feeling very inadequate and embarassed but if I want to achieve my goal (of finishing!!!) I have to swallow all pride, drum up extra self-discipline, and get training. "No pain, no gain" as my ballet teachers used to say. Pastor Charles Lazaro, who baptised me in Hamilton, used to say it also, probably talking on spiritual growth at the time.

My dear husband found a second-hand home fitness bike for my Christmas present.

Luc trying out my training equipment

 I have been working up my speed and number of kms per hour, trying for around 4 times/week.

 I cannot do this alone, inspite of it being a personal effort. I need your support and prayers; I need constant encouragement and the company of friends; I need a long-term training programme to be ready in time; I need personal discipline and perseverance; I need the right basic equipment - a suitable bike and comfortable clothing (it's really hard on one's backside!!)

So what better image could I find for "running the good race and finishing in order to win the prize that God has prepared for each of us." This is what Pascal and I have been called to do in our Christian service context. Not only have we benefitted from others' ministries, we are aware of how we can accompany and encourage others to develop their spiritual muscles.

It's all about perseverance, and self-discipline, and courage, and conviction, and understanding the value of this race, and the joy of participating, of finishing,

The sun is shining ...

finally! We have had a lot of grey and fog and no snow since November. I had hoped it would help me get motivated, but I'm still waiting for the adrenalin buzz !!!

How are you all ?

I'm supposed to be finishing the text for the young people's version of the World Day of Prayer (Chili, this year), organising the afternoon activities programme in preparation for the Day ; translating my prayer points into French; ordering some books; reading minutes from our committee meetings in readiness for our AGM on Wednesday; contacting another lady who needs spiritual encouragement ...

Am listening to the sound track of the Chilian ladies singing for the WDP.

Need a coffee ...

Floor needs a vacuum; phoned my son who wanted to come home for the day from his High School since he has no more classes for the day - suggested he go and find out about driving lessons so we can get started on him learning to drive with us ...We can't afford the time to go and get him then take him back to school tomorrow. (He boards during the week).

There is a teachers' strike on Thursday - so have at least one child home then.

Still have to sort out my Christmas decorations to put them away properly - but have left our cards and letters up on the wall because I think of you.

In short, I have a number of things to attend to and no real will to get them done. Yet I know I will be stressed and hard-pressed very shortly if I don't get going !! The fruits of the Spirit I have always struggled most with are self-discipline and patience!

I had a number of studies and articles to prepare in the last 2 weeks; a fair bit of driving; a couple of counselling sessions with people; and I received the good news that our Church Union has recognised my ministry through the local church and in the general French scene. I now am an Associated Christian worker with them. Sometimes after working towards something that really motivates you, you have a slump when you reach your goal. So it's not surprising I feel tired...

Reminds me of : "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy  set before him endured the cross ..." The Bible - book of Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 and 2

There, I feel better already having written to you and being reminded to fix my eyes on Jesus.

A French prayer to see us through 2011

Seigneur,

tu m'offres cette année nouvelle

comme un vitrail à rassembler

avec les trois cent soixante-cinq

morceaux de toutes les couleurs

qui représentent les jours de ma vie.

J'y mettrai le rouge de mon amour

et de mon enthousiasme,

le mauve de mes peines et de mes deuils.

Le vert de mes espoirs et le rose de mes rêves,

le bleu ou le gris de mes engagements ou de mes luttes,

le jaune et l'or de mes moissons....

Je réserverai le blanc pour les jours ordinaires..

et le noir pour ceux où tu me sembleras absent !

Je cimenterai tout par la prière de ma foi

et par ma confiance sereine en toi.

Seigneur, je te demande simplement

d'illuminer de l'intérieur ce vitrail de ma vie,

par la lumière de ta présence

et par le feu de ton Esprit de Vie.

Ainsi, par la transparence,

ceux que je rencontrerai cette année,

y découvriront peut-être

le visage de ton fils bien-aimé

JESUS-CHRIST, NOTRE SEIGNEUR.

Amen.

(G.Lecleir
trouvé dans : Expressions de la foi de l'Église universelle,édité par le DEFAP)

Confidently stepping out into 2011

IN STEP (used without the permission of the author, but I don't think she'd mind !)
One step at a time
not peering ahead
thinking: "How will I cope with it?
Where will I tread?"

Not looking behind me
unless it's to learn
from things that have happened
then from them to turn.

One step at a time
Only then will I know
His joy and assurance
as with Him I go.

And facing the coming days
peace can be mine
in simple dependence -
one step at a time.

Elspeth Slater 1991
SIM missionary until 2008
Book of poems called "In the Potter's Hands" (contact SIM for info.) 

 

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

AUSTRALIANS ALL LET US REJOICE, FOR WE ARE YOUNG AND FREE .....

As you can see, we ate pavlova and sang the National Anthem, with the help of a lovely book filled with Australian paintings. Luc knows it well having watched so much sport!

I guess you are wondering if Australia is still the lucky country with all the natural disasters happening. But it is a wide brown land of floods and sweeping plains. Even if modern life seems so complicated and living together not so easy, Australians have a friendly, cooperative spirit, a generous spirit and a courageous perseverance. We miss being there. We miss you.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY - make the most of your lucky country.

Christmas greetings

We do wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May this be a time where you realise how much the Christ has fulfilled all that was needed in order to reconcile us with our Father God and to open the way for us to be fully what God intended us to be.

 It's not usual for Evangelical churches to hold a service on Christmas Day. Churches here are so small and the members join their often non-Christian families for the Christmas Eve meal. So it's not worth it to organise a service. It's always seemed very strange to me brought up as I was on Christmas Day services followed by drinks and presents while waiting for the final touches to the turkey dinner.
Thank God, the French Reformed Church has kept it's tradition of Christmas Day service. Pascal and I attended it here in Lamastre. We were nearly the youngest there!
The Catholic Church holds a midnight mass, usually at around 9 pm! And families eat their Christmas Eve festive meal around it. The priest told us that in fact Catholics are usually supposed to have Holy Communion while fasting, so don't eat before the service. After Mass, they go home to feast and to open presents.
Anyway, I got my Christmas morning service and was very thankful for it. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON: and amongst all the preparation and the excitement of having family to share Christmas with us, it was a very necessary part of my day.

Overseas guests

Forgot to mention that my parents arrived safely inbetween snow falls. All our snow melted just before their arrival so we didn't have a White Christmas after all.

Here they are catching up with Marc, our second son, whom they had not seen when we were in Australia in July and August.

Ambiance Noël

"A table!" is the French expression to call everyone to the table

 Claire is our interior decorator now. A very artistic young lady at 10 and 3/4 years old.

 Here is our Christmas tree (we didn't cut it ourselves this year, but we could have - it's all very special for an Aussie to be able to do these things.)

Antilope casserole for Christmas!

A typical French "bûche de Noël" - Christmas cake in the form of a log representing the warmth of the fire at the Winter solstice. Traditionally, a huge log was placed in the fire place and was supposed to burn for 12 hours. The head of the family said prayers over it and the tradition was mixed with superstitions and predictions. Since in the 20th Century, most households lost their open fire places, the tradition was transformed into an edible one, but it is still decorated with an axe, a saw and little gnome woodcutters.

 Another tradition, the Christmas tree, was taken on by Christians to represent the wooden cross that the baby Jesus was destined to die upon. Decorated by real candles even today, the tree represents the light of Christ come into the world.

We kept to the Anglo-Saxon tradition the next day and had home-made Christmas pudding. Thanks to mixed fruits bought in England in February! and to the Australian Women's Weekly recipe books! And to some Napoleon Brandy we flamed to pour over it:

Making music

Cold outside and a remnant of snow.

Philippe, Claire's flute teacher, decided to add to the Christmas spirit by having "his girls" play in the cafés of Lamastre! As a practising buddhist, he is not into Christmas Carols (!), but he did teach them to sing an Ardéchois blessing on the owners of the cafés.

Since there were not that many clients in the cafés, Philippe decided to knock at other doors! So here we are in the local chemist : 

Reminds me of a story I heard about there being no room in a hotel for a special couple of which the young woman was pregnant ...

Christmas plays

So you must all be into them now. We just had our first one and it was a resounding success! Full church, good sketches, smooth technical operations and very competent kids!

Our kids are rather wonderful actually! Here's a glimpse of the Sunday School group and of the girls after one of their dances (they make them up themselves!)

Claire and friend discuss the real meaning of Christmas with the tree!

Zacharia receives word from Gabriel!

The shepherds are confronted by angelic presence!

The girls after the dance.

The answer to the enigma

Tell me if you got it right!

The photo a couple of posts ago is of a stove-top chestnut oven. If you don't have a fireplace where you roast your chestnuts in a holey frying pan, then you can put them into this portable oven and cook the chestnuts slowly over an electric or gas stove. A lovely winter's activity at the end of a cold day!

Bon appetit!

A window into the Christian faith ...

Last week 3 churches from Lamastre joined together to run a book stall - a Christian book stall !!! This is a noteworthy event in secular France.

We set up in a vacant shop (Catholic owners)and visitors could see an oecumenical display of books about Christmas, the environment and ecology from a Christian point of view, calendars and cards, Bibles, Children's books ... 

Well, that was the week that snowed, so we didn't get crowds in but parishioners from the 3 churches took turns to man the stalls and each evening at 5 pm after the children get out of school, there was story telling based on the Bible (by a Reformed church minister - a dynamic lady who could imitate a wonderful Cameroon accent!)

When I returned the unsold books to the depot in Montélimar (I had to go there for a Femmes 2000 meeting), Heidi was impressed that we sold €1000 worth of goods!

So thank God that people still read, that our churches appreciate working together, that Christian literature is developping here in France, although still quite expensive to buy given the much smaller market. And pray that all that was bought will stimulate people's faith in the living God. May this Christmas be the one where people finally understand that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. And pray that all the churches will be faithful to the Gospel message.

GUESS WHAT THIS IS !

So, all you Aussies out there ... what do you think this item is ?  The card on top indicates that it is an early Christmas present for Pascal. He got it early because of the time of year. And that's all the clues you are going to get!!!

Our first snow! December 1st.

View of our balcony from Claire's bedroom

Claire and I built a snowman in our garden

It's now 13th December and none of this is left. A reminder of how ephemeral life can be. A reminder to make the most of each day and to be child-like in our appreciation of life.

Le Centre Evangélique

Sunday 21st November, Pascal and I played "chassé-croisé" (the French version of "passing each other like ships in the night!) along the Rhône Valley! He was returning from Lyon where he had spent 4 days with the other church he pastors, and I was taking the train from Valence to go to Paris for the Centre Evangélique. I left the car in the car park and SMSed him as I sped away in theTGV (the Very Fast Train!)

The kids are old enough to cope for a couple of hours, but it is reassuring to have mobile phones to keep in touch. 

So what is the Centre Evangélique??

3 days of conferences, round table discussions, AGMs for different clubs including our Former Students Association from our Bible Institute. It's bumping into people with whom you studied, worshipped or worked; names you have heard of; people you have admired. It's walking down aisles of stands representing editors, all sorts of Missions, Christian organisations and ministries, Free trade merchandise ... In short, it allows a global view of what's happening in Evangelical circles in France and French-speaking countries.

This year the theme was "Missions - what priorities ?"

My aim was to find answers to 3 questions :
 * Do the French churches still need input from foreign missionaries (as you will no doubt understand, this is a vital question for me!)?
*  Where are the French churches at in terms of their own understanding of mission?
*  What happens if Christian churches from other countries want to send missionaries into France?

In answer to the first : yes, because there are still not enough Christians being trained to work in full-time ministry or in lay ministries. But it is vital that those coming to France to work, come along side French local churches to build them up and to train them to evolve missionally. Ideas from the Emerging Church movement, the incarnational church, are filtering through. Many French Christians see the need to be more outward looking and to review their church life in order to be accessible to the Post-Modern world, and they realise that people aren't going to just walk into their church searching for God, so they have to be out there being salt and light. However, they lack experience and, perhaps, confidence to make the necessary changes. Plus, let's be fair, France is a very hard country when it comes to being open about your Christian beliefs.


As for the second question :
For most traditional evangelical churches, mission means going overseas evangelising the natives!! Although in the last 15 years, this has translated into non-governmental organisations helping the Two-Thirds World countries and organising humanitarian projects. So two main ideas came through in the presentations : Christians involved in humanitarian projects need to remember that the sharing the Gospel is our priority, and, that France is as much in need of the Gospel as any other country. In fact many immigrants are bringing the Gospel to France and there is a big increase in the number of ethnic Christian groups in France, which is changing the face of Evangelicalism here!

And for the third question : There was no direct answer to this because it wasn't discussed as such, however, I spoke with a number of people and we hope that with the advent of a new federative body (CNEF - Conseil National des Evangéliques de France - the National Council for French Evangelicals) mission organisations will contact this Council and be directed into areas which need missionary input. It's too early to say if the CNEF will produce a national strategy, but it can already present an up-to-date picture of the Christian situation here.


I must admit that I was taken aback at the lack of mission vision apparent in our churches here! My overall reaction was "There is still an enormous amount of work to be done" and, of course, I was comparing France with our Anglo-Saxon culture. 


One highlight : hearing Ivory Coast and Haitian Christians talking about recent events in their countries and humbly accepting responsibility for certain errors committed on a national level! They explained how God's refining fire is renewing and maturing the Christian witness in their countries. God bless them and help us to pray for them and to help them as God directs.

Advent Calendars

Advent calendars are more of a German and Anglo-Saxon tradition, but because so many missionaries have worked in France, the tradition has been created here. It's also a good way of encouraging families to have daily readings, and another means to witnessing about our faith to non-believers. The Catholics put out a number of calendars or manger scenes to construct each day with the Nativity story to read. 

Our church ladies combined with the Reformed Church ladies to sew 27 of these calendars for our families. It helps wait for Christmas ! "Mum, when is Christmas going to be here???"

It was a lot of work - not quite up to Patchwork standard - but needed a concentrated effort. Our ladies were wonderfully industrious and it was a great way to get our two communities together in a different way.

What is inside? Almost every day there is a part of a story with pictures to colour in. The theme is "LIGHT". All I have read so far is about a little shepherd boy who loses a lamb and has to go to look for it. So far he has met a giant man - a thief- to whom he gave one of his candles, and a wolf with a damaged paw which he cleaned and wrapped up.

Each Sunday a small candle appears to make up a miniature advent wreath.

So we are waiting to celebrate the arrival of the Light of the God; the end of the shadows is nigh!

Exhilarating!!

Monday morning I took Luc to his Senior High School 'down in the Valley'. It was raining and dark. Then I headed out to visit one of our church members. We are studying Neil Anderson's "Freedom in Christ" course. It's a privilege to get to know someone better and to grow in our understanding of our identity in Christ as expressed in Galatians 5:1:

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

When I left I had to hightail it up to Lamastre again because we had an older couple coming for lunch. However, it was raining really hard and I was tired. Solution: put Amici in the CD player and speed through the rain hoping that snow tyres are good for road grip in heavy rain!

Actually, it was exhilarating! What a sense of freedom!

This is the feeling when we are set free in Christ.

(But I thank God for His protection in all our travelling. Pascal has as much as me to do.)

I've been everywhere, man!!!

Tight schedule!

Our retreat ended after breakfast Saturday morning and I had to get up to Le Riou by lunchtime in order to join our Teens group. Our leaders had organised a combined youth group day up in snow country with 2 other churches of our Union.

Four hours it took me! When I was young and living in Australia, it was nothing!!

Thank God for the French motorways. Perhaps not very environmentally conscious, but they are great for getting you from A to B.

And it was worth it because instead of snow, we had the most glorious autumn day with a view right to the French Alpes. The 23 kids didn't get to ride on dog sleds, but they were hooked up to the dogs and learned to control them and especially how to run behind them!

Luc is learning to put the harness on himself, then on the dog. He had the leader of the pack, because we figured that being a rugbyman, he'd control the situation!

He did a lot of running!! But to be honest, he controlled the dog well.

Should we make the parallel between being yoked up to Jesus?

I couldn't help thinking about parenting being a little like this exercise!

But what I particularly believe in is mentoring, accompanying and discipling. And for that you walk with a person and are linked to them for part of your and their journey. You learn to work with them, how to anticipate their needs, how to transmit your understanding.

Or it's like letting the Holy Spirit lead you...

Sometimes you are waiting,

Sometimes you run.

What a view!

Overlooking Tain l'Hermitage (on the left of the river) and
Tournon (on the right). Great wine country!

This was my view as I left our eldest son at a friend's house on my way to the Women's Retreat. What a spectacular country, yet look at how everything is ordered.

What strikes an Aussie, is how controlled nature is in Europe and in France in particular. The French love to control their surroundings and if they have to cope with too many trees in their yard, they cut them down. And to keep it all clean they tile over their front garden. Where does the rain go? Flooding incidents are on the increase as roads and concrete and tiling create order!

Makes us realise how close we are to Adam and Eve! We want to control everything and to know everything. And by 'taming' our surroundings we are under the impression that we do control everything. We just forgot that God asked us to manage His Creation.

Then again, our population is growing so much and our level of materialism is so high now that we are asking an awful lot of this Creation.

How to find the happy medium ? How to respect what God has provided for us ?