ACP This Week - 19 March 2026

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ACP This Week

Hello ACP Family,

Please view this video message from Pastor Paul commenting on Forgiveness, our Lenten Sermon series theme, and how it can be weaponized. Sometimes people who are victims or in difficult situations feel the need to just forgive and forgive and forgive. While forgiveness is definitely something we all need to do -- Jesus says seventy times seven is how many times we need to forgive. Forgiveness and justice are two different things. You can forgive somebody, but justice still needs to be served. You can forgive somebody, but if you need to step away from a bad or unhealthy relationship, that's okay. We don't need to use forgiveness as a way to keep ourselves in harmful or violent situations or relationships.

He also reminds of

This Sunday's One Combined Worship Service: 22 March 11h (no 14h worship).
This Sunday's Annual Congregational Meeting: 22 March, following our one Combined Worship Service at 11h (no 14h worship, and no Zoom option available for meeting).
Lenten Morning Prayer: Wednesdays through 1 April, 7h-7h10 on Zoom.
Next Wednesday's Exploring Membership Meeting: 25 March 19h15-20h45 in the Senior Pastor’s office and on zoom.
Entering Silence: Centering Prayer Retreat: 24-26 April, Centre Spirituel Carmes d’Avon.
And our Holy Week schedule.

Details below.

This Sunday

Scripture readings:
- Matthew 18:15-17 & 21-22
- Romans 12:14-19

One Combined Worship Service: Sunday, 22 March 11h (no 14h worship).
Annual Congregational Meeting: Sunday 22 March, following our one Combined Worship Service at 11h (no Zoom option available for meeting, no 14h worship). The Council of the American Church in Paris requests the presence of all voting members – and welcomes all congregants. We will receive the 2025 Ministry Reports from the Council, Pastors and Staff (published here now: acparis.org/meeting-docs), present the 2025 preliminary financial results, and vote to approve the 2026 budget. Childcare will be provided for children ages 3 to 10, and Youth Group is scheduled as usual for youth in collège and lycée. Parents should plan to pack a lunch for their child/children. Please plan to attend this meeting, but if you cannot be present, make sure your vote counts by completing the electronic proxy at acparis.org/proxy. We kindly request that you submit your electronic proxy by this Saturday, 21 March in order to save time at the Meeting.

As our time together will be limited, and we have a lot of activity to report on (praise God!) please take a moment to review the Ministry Reports in advance of the meeting. If you have any thoughts or questions, we invite you to send them to councilexec@acparis.org. this week, so that we will be prepared to answer them to the best of our ability .
Sunday Adult Bible Study: 15h30-17h in the 2nd Floor Library or on Zoom. All are welcome, wherever you are on your faith journey. Drop by or sign up at acparis.org/groups.

Holy Week 2026:

Palm Sunday - 29 March 11h Traditional, 14h Contemporary (special music begins at 13h40)
Maundy Thursday Service - 2 April 20h
- Maundy Thursday Love Feast: We will feast! Come and join us for a special Maundy Thursday service where we will worship and share in a Holy meal together during worship. Bring a food item (such as meat, baguette, fruits, vegetables, etc.) to share at the table with others.
Good Friday Service - 3 April 20h
Holy Saturday Hourly Prayers - 4 April 8h-12h in the Sanctuary
Easter Services - 5 April 7h Sunrise, 9h & 11h Traditional, 14h Contemporary.

Save the Dates

Full list of weekly announcements here.

Lenten Morning Prayer: Wednesdays through 1 April, 7h-7h10 on Zoom. Start your Lenten mornings with 10 minutes of prayer and reflection. Join ACP staff member Jörg Kaldewey for a brief service of spoken prayer, attentive silence, and reflection, with an optional time afterward to share and listen in the spirit of holy stillness. Register here: acparis.org/lenten-prayer.

Exploring Membership Meeting: Wednesday, 25 March 19h15-20h45 in the Senior Pastor’s office and on zoom. Interested in learning more about ACP: who we are and what we believe? We would love for you to join our membership inquiry class! Sign up at acparis.org/exploring-membership.

2026 Easter Bouquet Order: We invite you to participate in our Easter celebrations by providing an Easter Bouquet to decorate the sanctuary chancel for Easter Sunday, and make a special dedication in honor or memory of a loved one in our Easter worship bulletins. The suggested donation is 27€ per bouquet. Order today at acparis.org/bouquets. Last day to order: 29 March.

Atelier Nouveau: 29 March 17h30 in the Sanctuary. Come enjoy a recital by soprano Caroline Drury and pianist James Rightmyer that will feature works by Poulenc, Mussorgsky, Tosti and Edith Piaf favorites. Free entry with free-will offering.

Teachers and Facilitators Class: Thursdays, 9-30 April 19h-20h30 on Zoom. Do you feel called to teach a class or facilitate a study/fellowship group at ACP? Join the Teachers and Facilitators Class which will be taught by our pastoral team. This class is open to new and existing teachers and facilitators. Signup at acparis.org/teachers.

Entering Silence: Centering Prayer Retreat: 24-26 April, Centre Spirituel Carmes d’Avon. Join Jörg Kaldewey and Niamh Brennan, Retreat Facilitator and Spiritual Director of Contemplative Outreach Ireland for a contemplative weekend retreat offering an introduction to the method of Centering Prayer, while also providing space to deepen and renew the practice for those with prior experience. The retreat includes 2 nights’ accommodation and full board. Cost: 160€ per person. Limited to 15 attendees. Register at acparis.org/centering. For more information contact Jörg at admin@acparis.org.

Are you being called?

Are you being called, or do you know people who could serve on Council at ACP? The ACP Council comprises leaders from our church family who work and pray together, in conjunction with the Pastors, to share information and make decisions on the direction and activities of the church. The ACP Nominating Committee would love to hear your suggestions concerning someone from our congregation who could be a great fit for the Council. Please send your suggestions to nominating@acparis.org or complete the forms found in your bulletins.

Please Support the ACP

Your ACP Council is here for you! For any questions or concerns about ACP, please feel free to reach out to councilmoderators@acparis.org, the Council would love to hear from you.

Previous Weeks' Sermons

In case you missed it, Sermon - 15 March 2026. Sermons are available at acparis.org/sermons. Other previous worship livestreams are available on YouTube.

ACP's services are available with subtitles in English and other languages, beginning on Tuesdays, on ACP’s YouTube channel youtube.com/c/TheAmericanChurchinParis. Click the CC button on the video to enable closed-captioning and translations.

Announcements & Opportunities to Serve

Full list of weekly announcements here.

In need of prayer? If you are in need of prayer, a lay caregiver is available in the chapel on Sundays to pray with you. If you would like members of the lay care ministry team, members of the prayer chain, and the pastoral team to uphold you in prayer, you may contact us at acparis.org/prayers.

Sandwich Ministry: Thursdays promptly at 17h. Our ACP sandwich ministry meets weekly to make sandwiches to help feed over 100 unhoused persons a week. All materials are provided. Join our listserv at acparis.org/sandwich.

Food Box: To serve our neighbors who seek help from our church, you are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the box (located in reception). The food box is open to anyone in need of food and additional supplies go to Serve the City-Paris.

The ACP Library Team welcomes you to drop by the Library (in the basement) on Sundays, between the two worship services to browse through the many wonderful resources ranging from children’s books to theology, Church history and as well as non-fiction. Annual membership at 5€ per person.

Christian Education volunteers: Do you enjoy coming to the various learning opportunities such as Bible studies and Thurber Conversations? Interested in helping with set-up, attendance, technical assistance, etc.? Please contact christianeducation@acparis.org.

Nursery volunteers: We need many new volunteers to welcome children (ages 0-2) in our nursery at both the 11h and 14h services! Without volunteers, we don’t have a nursery. If you would like to serve, contact Grace Archer at nursery@acparis.org.

Ushers and Greeters needed: It takes a team of volunteers to welcome our Sunday attendees with love, and help them feel connected and ready to worship together. Contact: welcoming@acparis.org.

Docent Team volunteers: Would you like to learn about the rich heritage of ACP and share it with our members, neighbors, and the wider Paris community? Docents give tours after the 11h service on the second Sunday of every month and make open-door visits of the sanctuary possible on most Thursday mornings. If you are interested, please contact docents@acparis.org.

Audio Visual Ministry volunteers: If you’d like to be a part of our worship tech and A/V team for both Sunday services, we welcome your help. Contact: avm@acparis.org.