ACP This Week - 6 July 2025

View this email in your browser

ACP This Week

Hello ACP Family,

Please view this video message from Pastor Elizabeth introducing our summer sermon series -- Teach Us to Pray: Exploring The Lord’s Prayer. She will be giving an overview of the Lord's Prayer in her sermon this week. And in the coming weeks, pastors will be exploring the prayer line by line.

Throughout the summer, Sunday worship will continue as usual at 11h and 14h, and will livestreamed.

There will be no Children's Worship during July and August.

In July, the 11h children can particpate in activities in the gym/G7; the 14h children will remain in the sanctuary with their parents (activity bags and coloring packets will be available).
In August, the children at both services may use the children's chapel during the worship services, but remain under the responsibility of their parents.

While many studies, fellowships, mission activities, and other things that typically go on at ACP are on summer break/sabbath, we will continue to post information about how to become more involved in the life of ACP in the autumn, You can check out ACP’s website acparis.org (or see QR code) and subscribe to this ACP This Week e-blast newsletter (acparis.org/eblast) for information,

The eblast newsletter will take a short break, and resume in mid-August.

This Sunday

Scripture Readings
- Matthew 6:5-14
- Matthew 6:5-14 The Message Version
Note: There will be no Children's Worship this week (see above).

Get Involved, Save these Dates!

Sing the Korean hymn: “Grace” with us on 10 August in the 11h service! Joo-Hee Joo will teach all singers interested in learning and singing this hymn for the offertory. Rehearsal will be on 27 July immediately following the 11h service (12h15 to 13h15). If you’re interested please contact Pastor Steve Moon at visitingpastor@acparis.org.

ACP is seeking to hire a part-time Nursery Director! Do you – or does someone you know – love working with babies and toddlers? ACP is searching for a caring, qualified individual to oversee our nursery ministry, which provides childcare to children ages two and under during our Sunday services. Serious candidates must be available to work on Sundays and have valid French working papers. Anyone interested should send their CV to Allison Wheeler at childrensworship@acparis.org.

Join Us in Welcoming Guests This Summer: From June through August, we invite you to serve as an usher for one or two Sundays. This is a one-time opportunity (or more if you wish!) — a chance to serve, share a smile, and demonstrate God’s love. It’s a small gesture that can create a significant impact — and we need your help! No prior experience is required — just bring a friendly smile! If you’re interested, please sign up using the registration form at the welcome table or reach out to welcoming@acparis.org.

Senior Pastor Study Leave: In July and August, Rev. Dr. Paul Rock (in consultation with AFCU & ACP’s HR), will be taking his annual study leave - which hasn’t been possible the last couple of years. Due to that two week leave, plus vacation, you may not see him in worship this summer, but know he is learning, enjoying time with family and excited about being back into the swing of things in late August. The rest of ACP’s pastors and worship leaders will provide excellent guidance, and will lead us through a summer sermon series on The Lord’s Prayer.

Please Support the ACP

Summer Concerts
Wednesday 16 July: 19h30 at Eglise de La Madeleine, 75008
Thursday 17 July: 18h at N.D. des Blanc-Manteaux, 75004
Please come and join us for great free concerts! Chichester Psalms and other great works conducted by Victoria Gau and Stan Engebretson.

Finding Peace and Rest at the Fall Adult Retreat: 19 to 21 September at Abbaye Fleury. Registrations begin on 24 August. For more information, please see acparis.org/adult-retreat.

ACP is seeking a Director of Music Ministries! The DMM will combine theologically-grounded leadership, high-quality musicianship, and an enthusiasm for an array of musical genres to uphold ACP’s mission and vision as we communicate Christ’s love through music. More information at acparis.org/dmm. As we consider our Music Ministry and the skills and profiles of our Director, we want to hear from you, our congregation! Please take a moment to fill out our survey at acparis.org/dmm-survey.

ACP’s Church House is being renovated! You may have seen the scaffolding around the building and wondered what is going on. Thanks to the generosity of donors from the American and Foreign Christian Union (AFCU), we are able to have some much needed work done on our church house roof over the next few months. We are grateful to be able to extend the life of our beloved church building!

Get Involved, Save these Autumn Dates!

ACP’s Choirs: The adult and bell choirs are on break for the summer, but practices will resume the first week of September.
Children's Worship: resumes Sunday 7 September.
Eternal Youth Group: On break for the summer, resumes Tuesday 9 September.
Young Adults: On break for the summer, resumes Tuesday 9 September.
Youth Group for collège or lycée (middle and high school) students: On break for the summer, resumes Sunday 14 September.
Au Pair Bible Study: On break for the summer, resumes Thursday 18 September.
Young Professionals: On break for the summer, opening mixer: Thursday 18 September; first discussion: Thursday 2 October.
Finding Peace and Rest at the Fall Adult Retreat: 19 to 21 September at Abbaye Fleury. Registrations begin on 24 August. For more information, please see acparis.org/adult-retreat.
Get Plugged In Sunday: 21 September, in the Theater following worship services.
Artists’ Collective: First Sunday Conversation: Sunday 21 September (chapter 9); First Creative Date: 4 October.
Mission Engagement Sunday: 28 September, in the Theater following the worship services.

Previous Weeks' Sermons

In case you missed it, Sermon - 06 July 2025 - Bless the Lord, O my Soul. 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

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.

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

Sandwich Ministry: Usually, 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. The ministry will break for the month of August and resume 4 September, but please continue to join us through the end of July!

Sandwich Ministry Coordinator: The ministry provides nourishment and care to those experiencing homelessness or food insecurity in Paris. Our wonderful Coordinator, Esther Moring, will soon be moving to the United States. We are looking for one or a few people to coordinate the mission's activities with our volunteers, ACP staff, and Serve the City Paris in September. If interested, please email Elizabeth Murray at youthpastor@acparis.org.

Call for CE 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 Oshi Peiris 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. Join the team at acparis.org/welcome-ushering.

Call for 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.

Join the Adult Choir! All voices are welcome as we lead music every Sunday at 11h with traditional anthems, spirituals, gospel, world music, and more! Regular rehearsals are on Wednesdays 19h30-20h45h in the Theater and Sundays 9h45-10h30. Contact Natalie McConnell at cmusic@acparis.org.

Join the Bell Choir! Rehearsals are on Thursdays 19h-20h30 in the Theater. Director: Mathilde Duriez; Contact Natalie McConnell at cmusic@acparis.org.

Audio Visual Ministry: 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: cmusic@acparis.org.