Bournagain

It was a big today today in the life of the St. Sébastien church – the annual Christmas festival. A number of churches we know take advantage of the fact that Christmas is one of the only times of the year that people give Jesus a second thought, and plan an event for inviting friends and neighbours.

What made it unusual for us that it will be our last. In the past we have always been involved at every level, but this time we were pretty much able to sit back and watch it all happen – well, I put together a choir at the last minute for one song, which probably sounds like a big deal, but it all came together without much input from me. The children were all involved of course, and really seemed to enjoy themselves.

It feels so weird knowing that we’re moving on – a bit like the elves leaving Middle Earth We feel like flies on the wall, just watching it all happen. There were several visitors there today, a number of new families who have been coming regularly for a while – don’t think we have ever had so many children for a special day like this before. The young people completely took care of getting the meal organised and serving it all (for “meal” read four-course, three-hour long extravaganza – in France when we eat together, we don’t do things by halves!) It was great seeing different ones put their gifts to good use.

My emotions are torn between being relieved and excited to be moving on to something new, and feeling rather sad that we’re going to miss out on an exciting new phase in the life of the church: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Maria with friends Louise and Camille, and her Mum Sarah.