Paris Hillsongs

It's Sunday and we pop in to Paris again for the evening. Hillsongs church are hosting Brian Houston, their founder from Australia so we thought we would make the effort to come from Vitry.

Brian Houston

The traffic was ok and we arrived in good time. In August there is free parking in Paris so the only problem was to find a free space. All the main streets were full, but the side road that cuts through the huge cemetary in the area had several spaces. We strolled the few hundred meters back still in time to be too early to go in. So a strong French coffee in a nearby bar at Parisian prices was in order. 

Having been the week before, we were greeted by people who recognised us. The church is actively friendly and people will speak to you just because they don't know you. Coffee and a welcome is available before and after the services, always with a smile.

Hillsongs Paris

The pictures attached are not from the day, but official Hillsongs images. But the stage was just as you see it. This is a church in a theatre, and it feels like it. The worship was very joyful and Brian was exceedingly encouraging, explaining from Psalm 65 that God is for you - 'His anger lasts for a moment but his blessings for eternity'. He explained "Because people consider that they need to please God to get his favour, He becomes difficult to approach, but the reality is the opposite. He wants to bless and promises to do so".

The church is 80% full, even though this is the 3rd service this particular Sunday, and I read that the theatre holds 1000. You can read more on the news link by clicking below the photo above/link below, or more on the leader through the link under his picture/link below.

The service was expertly translated into French by 'Isobelle'. This poor lady was teased by Brian who, after complementing her talents, then said "as my father used to say 'is-a-bell essentail for a bycycle?'" which, of course, she could not translate. That apart, the young lady quickly and accurately converted Australian into French even when the sentences were very long and convoluted. Since I have tried to do this in the church at Vitry, I suppose I was particularly impressed.

It felt like a lot happend in the service, but in the end only a short time had elapsed, so we were able to pop into the Luxembourg gardens for a picnic tea before the drive home. Again we found a free parking space just by the park, only the toilets being closed spoilt the perfection (this is clearly a concern only of the English ). The park was full of joggers and much less hot than last weekend so that our stroll was far more pleasant, all be it short.

Links

Pic Hillsongs Paris: "France Sees Rise In Evangelical Churches"

Pic Brian Houston url http://myhillsong.com/senior-pastors-eldership 

Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

Today we visited the Hillsongs church in Paris, rising early to do so. By the time we came out, the temperatures were soaring.

A panorama of the Luxembourg Gardens

Now we had parked in a Vinci underground park, and I was surprised to see it so empty. At the church, a local told us that street parking is free in August in Paris. Wanting to be certain, I checked a ticket machine on the way back. Free Sundays, holidays, and in August, it said. So I recovered the car, and with only a little difficulty, we found a free space next to the Luxembourg Gardens. The panorama above was stitched together automatically by my phone camera - with an error as you can see. The flowers were a riot of colour but hard to see in the above shot. If you come to Paris, the Luxembourg gardens are some of the nicest there are, so be sure to see for yourself.

We set off through the park, and quickly sought the shade. It was blisteringly hot, even the wind, what little there was, was only a slight relief since it too was hot. We found a café with outrageous prices. I am afraid we walked out before ordering. A second some distance away was very busy. The waitress squeezed us in between 2 other couples on the street. You had to move the tables to get in and sit down. It too was reasonably pricy, and after salads and drinks the sun had moved to start heating up the back of my neck. 

So we paid up and walked slowly back to the car; which reported 41°C. It felt like it. Thank heaven for the air conditioning for the 2 hour drive back.

Hats against the sun in the Market
at Chalons en Champagne

Here also is a picture of us wearing our hats for the first time (on Saturday as it happens, on the way to market).

And here is a warning from the France 24 news on line. In 2003 thousands of (mostly elderly) people died in the France canicule.
france24.com weather heat-wave