The Spire the Beacon on the Seine
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The Spire The Beacon on the Seine February 2012 The American Church in Paris www.acparis.org 65, Quai d’Orsay, 75007 Paris, France Thoughts From Rev. Dr. Scott Herr Senior Pastor Dear Members and Friends, Lent for me stirs ambiguous feelings. I am that others might simply live. One of Stott’s inclined toward a guilty conscience, so research assistants was Mark Labberton, loading on more religious “duties” is generally who spoke at the ACP last year. As the not inspiring or uplifting to me. On the other Director of the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute hand, I love the original meaning of Lent for Preaching at Fuller Seminary, he is which is simply “Spring.” Lent is the church’s starting what he calls “Micah Groups” to Holy Spring, a time when we prepare for a encourage preachers to think about how and season of spiritual renewal and growth. It is what we are communicating. Mark invited our preparation time for the promised new pastors from South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, the life paradoxically embedded in the mystery of Netherlands and England and made it clear the Crucifixion and Resurrection. My that Micah Groups are about embodying the understanding of the gospel is that the ethic of Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord Church’s season of renewal and growth is require of you, but to do justice, love mercy better measured not as much in how we are and walk humbly with your God.” The doing as a congregation, but how our question is not about how to get a “Wow!” congregation is doing in impacting Paris and response to Sunday worship, but rather the world. In other words, we are called to be where does worship help the people of God to “internally strong and externally focused!” “land” during the rest of the week in their homes, schools, neighborhoods and places of I attended the memorial service for John livelihood? Is what we do in worship helping Stott (“Uncle John”) at Saint Paul’s Cathedral the people of God to be salt and light in the in London. One eulogizer shared the story of world, to be part of God’s transforming when Stott invited the inimitable journalist kingdom work in the world? Malcolm Muggeridge to reflect on advertising agencies. Muggeridge concluded that “No Please plan to join us for the Ash Wednesday good can come of them.” But Stott replied service on February 22 at 7:00 p.m. to sharply, “You don’t blame the meat for prepare ourselves and our church for the rotting. You blame the salt for not doing its change process that will help us be more job!” What Uncle John meant, of course, was open to what God would have us be and do that Christians are supposed to impact the for Paris and the world! Join a small group to world wherever we are, whether it be in reflect more deeply on how we are called to media, academia, arts and sciences, politics, live the gospel. Pray for the new ways in business, law and labor, health and social which we may embody and communicate the services. The true metrics for a healthy grace and truth of Jesus Christ: ACP Today church is a more healthy society in which the Radio broadcasts beginning this month; church is serving! Friday Mission Lunch; Test of Faith classes; the Visiting Artist program we’re planning for Lent is not a spiritual retreat from the world. summer, and of course, the ways in which Did you know the original intention of you are thinking, speaking and acting in your “fasting”during Lent was so that you would life that bring the flavor and color of God’s have more food to share with the poor? At love to the world, least your own hunger would help keep you in solidarity with the hungry ones of this world. In Christ, This was one of the ways Uncle John deeply Scott impressed me. He ate and lived simply, so Thoughts from Dr. Rev. Glen Thorp Interim Associate Pastor longer days and signs of spring. Living again in the Northern hemisphere has resurrected those memories. I enjoy winter, but, imagine if there never was a spring or summer. Lent means “lengthening.” The word Jeannie and I have been warmly was chosen by Christians to describe the 40 welcomed by you and by Paris. You have days, not counting Sundays, between Ash made us feel right at home. It is difficult Wednesday, this year, February 22 and realizing we have been here less than one Easter, this year, April 8. Those days allowed month. Paris has warmly welcomed us as Christians to reflect on Jesus’ 40 days in the well with delightfully and surprising mild wilderness facing temptation before he winter so far. We are told this is an began his official ministry. Lent is a time of unusually warm winter. preparation, fasting, prayer, study and One thing we have noticed is how action in anticipation of the Good News: short the days are. It has given us a greater “Christ is Risen!” appreciation of why the anticipation of This Lent, you will have a variety of longer days of more daylight is so important. resources to guide you through the 40 days. Jeannie remembers, from school days, a There will be a Lenten Devotional Guide poem by the American poet: Robert Louis written by members of this church. Another Stevenson entitled: option will be a study of “The Hole in the Gospel.” Study materials will be available on “Bed in Summer” the Internet. It is our hope that we will meet In winter I get up at night in small groups to do the Bible study and And dress by yellow candle-light. discuss the implications for our lives. If you In summer, quite the other way, would be willing to lead a group, after some I have to go to bed by day. training, let us know at [email protected]. Read the I have to go to bed and see Sunday bulletins for specifics. Imagine if The birds still hopping on the tree, they were only the darkness of winter and no Or hear the grown-up people's feet hope of long Still going past me in the street. bright sunny days. That is And does it not seem hard to you, where some When all the sky is clear and blue, people live who And I should like so much to play, have not To have to go to bed by day? responded the One who came Having grown up in Latin America transforming where the sun rises and sets, all year at the darkness about the same time, give or take one hour, into light through his my mother began to prepare dinner when death and resurrection. May this Lent be one the sun set. One year, while my parents were of reflection and anticipation, not at the on furlough in Minnesota, USA, my mother return of longer days, but One who continued the same pattern. In winter we suffered, giving his life on the cross so that were eating at 16:00 hrs. and in summer as we might have life in abundance. late as 21:00 hrs. In Anticipation of the Glory, I told her she didn’t need to live by the sun. I remember, anxiously waiting for Glen Thorp the lives of people and our community. Thoughts People’s digital or “online” worlds are real From and significant and many spend the majority Rev. Dan of their time there. Therefore, it is important for us as a church community to be present Haugh in that world. Director for Youth Additionally, we believe we are called to and Young proclaim the gospel wherever we are. Social media will provide a daily platform to share Adult with the world the good news of Christ and Ministry what God is doing in and through the community here at ACP. We have three The Social Network at ACP specific aims in utilizing social media here at Did you know that if Facebook were a ACP: country, it would rank #3 among the world’s • To announce. We will update the population? Facebook added over 200 church community on events such as visiting million users in less than a year, and that pastor lectures, Thurber Thursday topics, over 500,000 people join Twitter every day, Christmas and Easter Sunday schedules, with a 140 million Tweets are being sent per concerts, fundraisers, bible studies, etc. day? We will be able to inform and provide links For those who may be unfamiliar with social when sermons go online and when tickets media, which includes Google, Facebook, can be purchased for various events. Youtube, Wikipedia, Yelp, and Twitter, it is • To discuss. Social medial the fastest growing platform for connectivity platforms such as Twitter and Facebook will and information in human history. When allow people to comment and respond to you have time and access, I encourage you to event announcements and topical discussion click on the website link below to watch a questions that are posted. video on the importance, growth, and • To share. Through the use of social influence of social media. media, the pastoral staff and ministry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SuNx0UrnEo leaders will share weekly Scripture passages, inspirational thoughts, prayer Beginning this winter, the ACP needs, church community updates and communications committee will be relevant city and world news. launching our new social media ministry, believing in the importance, influence, and To be connected with our Facebook page, potential of the social network.