Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Sunday July 17

Strolled along the river yesterday morning for the 11am service at our old church – the American Church in Paris – www.acparis.org. It’s 3 years since we worshipped there last and by the nature of such a church, there were only one or two familiar faces. All three of the ministers are new. We were chatting to a chap from Indiana over coffee who works part of the year in Paris – he says that when he comes here to church he always thinks that this is what heaven will be like – people from over 70 countries, from all sorts of Christian denominations worshipping together with no concern about colour or denomination.

In the evening we went to Notre Dame Cathedral – packed out with worshippers. Unfortunately my French limits my understanding of much of what is said but I can still appreciate the atmosphere of this beautiful place where God has been worshipped for over 800 years. The music on the organ was magnificent and the church was filled with the most delicate colours from the stained glass windows.

Another hot day so we ended it having a drink on one of the barges moored near Notre Dame watching the sun fade on its magnificent southern façade and then a Lebanese meal in what must be one of the smallest restaurants in Paris – just three tables with two places each, ours being on the very edge of the narrow road.