Hymns: Just As I Am

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" - 1 John 4:10 How to adequately describe this hymn? It's a prayer of acknowledgement, a prayer for forgiveness, a prayer of hope. A prayer that encourages us to draw near to …

A Little Light Listening

So it's nearly Easter. And this has become one of those things I do in the run-up to Easter - listening to choral works which recount the story of Jesus' death for our redemption. Amongst those I often listen to is Bach's St John Passion. The first movement is perhaps one of my favourites. The …

Hymns: The Lord’s My Shepherd (Townend)

"Even though I walk     through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,     for you are with me; your rod and your staff,     they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4 Psalm 23 is probably among the best-known Bible passages. And it's easy to see why. It's beautiful, it's evocative, it's reassuring. I will admit, Year Abroad …

Forgotten Joys

"Sing praises to God, sing praises;     sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth;     sing to him a psalm of praise." - Psalm 47:6-7 The GBU weekend last weekend was hugely valuable to me. It encouraged me to be more disciplined. It taught and reminded me about the connection …

Looking Forward to the Weekend

I always look forward to the weekend. It's a time to relax, it's the time when all the Church activities happen... This weekend is a little different. It's the GBU weekend for the Mediterranean region, so it will be a time of intense French-speaking, and experiencing another French church. Which is in no way a …

Learning how to DAB

OK so maybe this title is slightly misleading. I haven't recently been learning the "dance move (bowing head into elbow) which represents confidence, accomplishment, and pride." (And now for something I never really thought I'd say: Thanks, Urban Dictionary) DAB stands for a Discussion Autour de la Bible, or a Discussion About the Bible. (I love acronyms that work …

Hymns: Venez, divin Messie!

One of the best things about being in France is learning a whole number of new hymns and worship songs - and being able to use those to learn more actual French as well! Venez, divin Messie (Come, divine Messiah) is a lovely French song which perfectly demonstrates how we wait in hope, especially during …

An Opportunity Taken, AKA That Time I Learned Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 in LSF

How does one sign Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 in French sign language? I don't often talk directly about my studies but this was something that I had the opportunity to do. I was a little nervous about it, but I'm so glad I took that opportunity. Despite everything in France that could have gone better, I've been …

Thanksgiving

"Now, our God, we give you thanks,     and praise your glorious name." - 1 Chronicles 29:13 I have never before paid much attention to Thanksgiving. What with it being an American holiday rather than a British one. Now I'm in France, though, I'm paying much more attention to it. The Church I've joined, whilst very …

Song: Faithful One

"Truly he is my rock and my salvation;     he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." - Psalm 62:2 Faithful one, so unchanging Ageless one, you're my rock of peace Lord of all I depend on you I call out to you, again and again I call out to you, again and again You are my …