<h2>Welcome!</h2><h3>From Sunday 1st November, the morning service is on Zoom at 10:30</h3>Following the latest government restrictions, Sunday morning worship will be online until further notice.<h3>Please join us for online morning prayer on<strong> weekdays, at 09:30, except on Wednesday (07:30) </strong></h3><h3><strong>What about communion? - "Bread-time stories"</strong></h3>Every couple of weeks, we meet on Zoom on a Wednesday evening for a brief all-age time of reading and prayer. There will be a Bible bedtime story, some simple prayers and a time of breaking and sharing bread.<h3><strong>Men's group at 12:30 on Thursdays</strong></h3><div><div><div><div><div><strong>One Zoom ID for all our meetings: 735-134-832 Password: john316 Quick link: https://zoom.us/j/735134832 </strong></div><div>Full details, including how to join by phone, are <strong>here</strong>, along with other pandemic-related information.</div></div></div></div></div>
WHERE IS THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN LYON?In the past, when people have asked me where the Anglican church is in Lyon, I have sometimes whispered with a twinkle in my eye………“everywhere”! It’s a light-hearted remark that carries some truths. Our community is geographically widespread around the city and beyond (especially as some of our members still consider us as church family despite the fact that they have moved to other countries). “Everywhere” also hints at the reality of our ‘ministry’. As we are relatively small, we engage and support existing ministries rather than creating and carrying our own. Therefore people meet our members engaging in all sorts of activities and enterprises around the city – we serve in multiple locations. The aspect of being ‘everywhere’ I like the most, however, is the suggestion that the Anglican church in Lyon is not a building, but a network, a people, a community.What Can I do?Pray for the council and wardens, for wisdom and good internal and external communicationPray for doors to open – literallyList and suggest possible locations to chaplain, wardens and councilOne of the crucial elements of the next few months will be consistent and targeted prayer. I am confident that this development is a significant moment in our development, mission and service to the city. Please back the team up with regular prayer and join in the process of knocking on doors, chasing leads and finding our next HQChurch in ProgressOver the course of the last few months, there have been two parallel developments. On one side we have been growing as a community and as such have encountered some of the demands of a growing community – the need for improved security exits, working disabled access to the building, baby changing facilities and, as 30% of our church is under 18 of age, increased and consistent space for our youth groups. The other development is that the Diocese of Lyon has been considering the future of the En Guedi building and asking if they are in a position to meet and host our needs. Their decision is that En Guedi will become more specifically a convent and play less of parish role. Consequently we have been asked to move to alternative premises when we have found somewhere suitable.TCL – SDF?The diocese of Lyon have offered their support and have started suggesting alternative locations. We are also exploring other ‘pistes’ with other churches and I am encouraged by the friendship and solidarity of a number of churches around the city. As you can see from the chart that Jean and Jean Guichot and Marian Plichon have recorded in their book “A Pilgrim Church – Lyon Anglican Church, recollections from the 60’s”, part of our church DNA is that we are a mobile community that can meet in a variety of different locations and can adapt and improvise to establish worship, community and mission wherever we find ourselves.Why Now?Whilst there are practical and logistical answers to the “why?” question, I can’t help feeling that this next stage of our church development is part of God’s initiative to confirm who we are, what we do, where and for whom. As Israel was led and shaped by their pilgrimage through the wilderness I am confident the the Lord will be leading us and shaping us for the next phase of our life together in Lyon.What Next?We are going to continue pursuing leads and engaging in conversations with the diocese and other locations to see what will fit us best, but in the meantime, please be on the lookout for potential city centre locations – schools, colleges, retirement homes, churches, religious institutions could all be possible leads, we would welcome any suggestions or contacts!I hope that this is a helpful explanation, feel free to be in contact if you have any questions but in the meantime, I thought the final page of Jean, Jean & Marian’s book was particularly encouraging as it records our past and speaks to our future. Ultimately however, the final word comes from scripture and propels us into our Saviour, Provider and Hope –Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glor y in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20Ben Harding, 16th February 2018
I just wanted to take the opportunity to send you a few lines at the start of the new year to pray God’s blessing on you and those whom you love and those who you are trying to love!I started to write a massive ‘newsletter article’ about travelling through life into the new year and the omnipresence of God…. With my apologies I had to stop, it all sounded a bit ‘vicary’.Instead, have a look at this picture and think about the nativity story for a couple of moments.Mary, Joseph and the new born Jesus, on the move again. Fleeing Herod’s breath of death, equipped with gifts from wise men in the East, alerted and directed by God stirring in the night. The Gospel, the package and person of salvation, the Saviour, is on the move again.As we set out into 2018, I am mindful of:those who have arrived in Lyon recently, displaced, fleeing.our own needs as a church as we adapt, grow and develop as a community (like Mary in the picture) carrying and delivering Jesus wherever we go.those who have challenging ‘unknowns’ ahead.When I think of these things, the nativity story and the provision and protection of the Lord start to grip on our lives’ realities. We don’t know what the next 12 months will contain, there will be challenges, displacements and adventures but one thing is for sure, we can leave the comforting, glowing, rejoicing of the Christmas cradle with confidence. The story is stepping out, the Gospel is on the move again and God is in the business of bringing his purposes to fruition.Every blessing in 2018, be bold, strong and of good courage, the Lord our God is with us.
