Praise and boldness

Three years ago, with five members of the United Protestant parish of Nantes, we were called by the pastor to go for a few days on a “learning visit” to the Anglican parish of Saint-Barnabas in London (United Kingdom).

Could one or other of the initiatives of this innovative community inspire our own Church project? In fact, it was a spiritual upheaval.

The first evening, welcomed in a pub by the parish praise group, we immersed ourselves in a joyful, non-denominational musical sharing for the residents of the neighborhood. I recognize the words of the evangelist John in actions: “It is by the love that you have for one another that you will be known to be my disciples. » (Jn 13:35) At Saint-Barnabas, every activity begins with a prayer: meal preparation, meeting, cleaning the church, sending on a mission…

This priority given to the Lord deeply challenges me about commitment to the Church. In three days, we experience many exchanges, participate in a “prayer walk” in the neighborhood as well as in the four services of the parish. The most inventive, the cult Create – create, in English – concludes our day on Sunday evening: entering the temple, although tired by these days full of emotions, I am amazed. The austere building has been transformed into a warm and welcoming place. The chairs are arranged around small tables offering sweets, herbal teas and cakes, lit with candles. An extraordinary worship then begins, woven with praise and reading of the Word.

After the testimony of a Christian painter, everyone is invited to create an object (drawing, collage and text, etc.), then to discuss with another participant what touched them.

On the return Eurostar, ideas flow in all directions between the six of us. We return revitalized and enthusiastic. For two years, echoing the cult Create, our team leads the Résonance* service every first Sunday of the month, at 6:30 p.m. I like to serve the Lord with my friends, by inviting Christian artists for these evenings of creative prayer. “Praying without ceasing and giving thanks in all circumstances”, as Paul invites us to do (1 Thess 5:17-18), is a source of consolation and fills me with great joy.