Rentrée could not come soon enough!
It is a long time since our last service held before the lock down started in March. We hope that everyone remained safe and received support from others when needed and have been a support to others.
The Christian community showing the love of Christ in action cannot be shut down.
We had our first service, a Communion Service, on Sunday 12th July which took place in the garden of the presbytery house in Floirac. With the altar table set on the lawn, Tony led the Service and with an excellent sermon which included the question – ‘Are we the seed planted in the soil or are we the soil into which the seed is planted?’. Nellie guided us through the prayers of intercession.
Understandably the wine could not be shared but everyone received the bread.
Although we were all very used to fellowship via Zoom, it is not the same. Everyone was overjoyed at long last to at least reduce the social distance to only one metre and be physically together again.
Thanks to Zoom it was almost like we had never been apart but sharing the peace was certainly extremely vibrant!
We continued and held our second Communion Service led by Rev’d Tony Lomas on Sunday 26th July in Floirac and under the same conditions.
Services in August
Unfortunately we cannot yet return to our home at the Chapelle of the Grand Bon Pasteur because the associated Maison de Retraite is part of the same building as the Chapelle.
We will continue in August with live Sunday Zoom prayer worship services plus two open air services which will be a Morning Worship on Sunday 9th August and a Communion Service on Sunday 23rd August at 15:30, both in the garden at Floirac.
We are still finalizing start times and details for some of these services but the latest up to date information is always on the Bordeaux website here: www.anglicanbordeaux.org
Bible Study
Our Bible Study fellowship continued in July with the theme of the Fruit of the Spirit from a series by Holy Trinity Brompton. One ‘fruit in the month’ was Goodness.
Later in the July we considered Faithfulness, followed up by Joyce Meyer’s sermon on the subject. Joyce’s teaching was very much appreciated and big thanks again for YouTube and Zoom.
Readers in Training
Heather Gardner and Nellie Salvie are training to become Readers and they have both participated in supporting and leading our Bordeaux worship services before the lockdown.
In July during the lockdown, Nellie recorded her first YouTube service for Bordeaux and the Chaplaincy. Nellie was ably supported by Tony with his technical and video skills as well as guiding Nellie in putting together the content of the service.
The result was spiritually uplifting and a credit to Nellie for her calmness during her first time in front of the camera.
Well done and thank you Nellie!
Green Fingers
We do not often talk about gardening in our news and maybe we never have! A big thank you to Christine, Ian, Jerome, Lindsay, Nellie, Pamela and Richard for their hard work in the garden at the presbytery house in Floirac in preparation for our first open air service.
Many hands make light work but work is never ‘light’ in the Bordeaux sun. The vines may blossom and the grapes ripen but our gardeners always push on regardless! Thank you to all involved.
To keep the ball rolling we are looking for more volunteers to join the team. Each person would adopt a small part of the garden to suit their ‘green fingers’ and enjoyment. If you enjoy some aspects of gardening then please volunteer.
There is something for everyone. It is very sociable even in these socially distanced times and keeps the presbytery house and garden in good shape for our services and to welcome our next resident priest.
Call for donations to our local charities
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside-down. One of the results has been a huge increase in the needy and yes, right in our own neighbourhood.
The Bordeaux Church has been supporting two local charities, both based in the city. So here’s how you can help, either by sharing your time or by sharing your wealth.
For more information, contact Lindsay at lmegraud@gmail.com (tel. 05 56 96 44 17). Also the Maison de Marie website: www.lamaisondemarie.net
We accept anything that you can give us: food, clothing, furniture, bicycles, school supplies, cleaning products, surplus, sewing material, candle wax, your time to help us, and any ingenious ideas!
In a rich country like ours, we think that it’s possible to run a house for the needy with the surplus of our own homes. The easiest way to proceed is to send us an SMS at 06 37 47 48 60 including photos of what you would like to propose. Donations of money are possible too, with a tax write-off.
Foyer Fraternel Gouffrand
Help us to welcome and help people in great difficulty who have been coming to receive food parcels in greater numbers since mid-March. Numbers have risen from 60 to over 120 families who are in need each week of either a food parcel or a hygiene kit.
A system has been put on line for monetary donations to pay for the food parcels – please take a look and be generous if you are able! Please click here: www.helloasso.com/associations/foyer%20fraternel%20centre%20social/collectes/a
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Donations to the Chaplaincy’s charity association, CHAP-AID
As fundraising is difficult at the moment, the Chap-Aid Treasurer will be happy to receive cheque donations or even better, a direct monthly transfer.
As is the case with regular giving to the Chaplaincy (so easy, even during times of pandemic!), you may consider giving a sum, even small, to Chap-Aid (for example, 5€ each month would equal 60€ giving for the year).
Please contact Lindsay for more information ( lmegraud@gmail.com tel. 05 56 96 44 17 )