Bible Sunday

I was out by nine driving on a quiet motorway in the rain over to Divonne, in good time for their Eucharist at ten. The small chapel used belongs to the local French Protestants. It is a simple homely building, which takes about fifty people comfortably.

It was built in the 1870s, to serve the curists - I had to think about how that translated into English when I saw it on a local heritage info plaque by the boundary wall. It's simply the name given to people who came to take the waters, to take a cure. The town's full title is still Divonne-le-Bains. I think the main hotel still has a spa, but this former tourist industry fare, which caused the town to flourish is no longer so evident as it once was. Nowadays Divonne is a suburban residential town for many working in Geneva's international organisations. It's less expensive, shall we say, than Geneva, though still not cheap. As so many English speaking people live in and around the town, it seemed a good place to plant a new church congregation. 

Thirty to forty people attend regular fortnightly services, and many more on special occasions. On this half term weekend, with many people away, there were still 30 in church counting adults and children. Many children are communicants before confirmation, and for me it was an unusual and special pleasure to minister to them in family groups. It was also a service at which anointing with oil and healing prayer were also on offer after communion. Children as well as adults received this, if they wished, nothing can be compulsory. The fact that it happens with dignity and reverence is a tribute to years of careful teaching and pastoral preparation.

After lunch with Philippe and Julia, I went to Gingins to celebrate and preach for a Family Eucharist. doubts were again expressed about families attending because it was half term but these were unfounded. There were 45 people present and a quarter of them were children. A ten year old called Ellie read both lessons because the boy assigned to the second lesson was away. Such confidence to read a passage, sight unseen on the spur of the moment! Many of the adults would have been far too reluctant. I was able to involve children and congregation members in relating popular first names with the bible and its many stories, in celebration of the day. Today is also United Nations Day. Considering how many of the adults present are employed by international organisations, I was surprised only one raised a hand to admit to knowing this.

I so enjoyed celebrating there again - the second time this year. It was always a special place to lead worship when I worked here, and it remains so for me.