“For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:7)
Welcome to the ACP — A Beacon on the Seine since 1857
The American Church in Paris (ACP) welcomes you to worship each Sunday. The 11h service is a traditional service with special music from one of our guest soloists or various choirs; the 14h service is a contemporary service.
Our congregation is an interdenominational and international Christian community whose mission is to bear witness by word and deed to the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, to provide a place of English language worship in the American Protestant tradition, and to engage in ministries and services that enrich the lives of residents and visitors in Paris.
The ACP is the first American church established outside of the United States. Begun in 1814, its official charter and first sanctuary were established in 1857. We have been located on the quai d’Orsay since 1931.
Many Colors, Creeds, Cultures...and Conversations!
After this, I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9
Throughout the winter season at the ACP, we're inviting you to join us in nurturing and growing our love for one another as a diverse, multi-ethnic, cultural, and creedal community of faith.
We believe the God of our worship has an instinct for celebrating and loving people of diversity- people who begin to discover their unity in relation to Jesus. Yet, we also know that unity in Christ doesn't magically occur. It takes deliberate Spirit guided work to speak and to listen to one another's stories.
It takes the desire:
To Take the Next Best Steps.
To Be the Bridge.
To be A Subversive Witness: (people willing to sacrifice privilege for the sake of another),
To (verbally) Fight for Respect.
To Be Whole and Reconciled.
God has given us one another to serve as an example to our kids, our community, and our world...showing them that Christ's Kingdom vision for living will make all the difference in experiencing life as God longs for us to know it.
We'll do our best to sort through some of the challenging questions. Questions like:
What can we do to be more representative of our diversity in worship, education, and in leadership?
What can we do to break through and break down barriers of misunderstandings?
What can we do to envision together a church that is on the way (but not quite there) to being a clear reflection of that which God is inviting us to live and experience?
All of this will take committed conversation...conversation you're invited to be a part of. So please join us (primarily on-line) this winter!
18 January: Thurber Conversation with Grace Imathiu: Taking Our Next Best Steps Toward Being a Welcoming and Inclusive Community of Faith. .
26 January: Launch of Book Study: Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation. .
1 February: Thurber Conversation with Dominique Gilliard: Subversive Witness: Scripture's Call to Leverage Privilege. .
12 February: Film Night at ACP viewing Fighting for Respect: WWI African-Americans who fought for liberty in France and Equality at home. .
13 March: Thurber Conversation with Al Tizon: Whole and Reconciled: Gospel, Church, and Mission in a Fractured World. .
Please join us for these opportunities to learn and grow throughout the winter season at ACP.
ACP Book Discussion – Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison.
Wednesdays: 26 January, 9 February, 26 February, and 9 March 19h30-21h via Zoom.
to receive Zoom link.
A congregational conversation on race, healing, and communication. Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation, by Latasha Morrison.
Please join us as we engage in an honest discussion of the historical complexities and realities of racism. We will meet every other week on Zoom (potentially meeting together/hybrid meetings for the final March 9 discussion). The book provides a way for ACP's congregation to engage each other honestly, and give voice to unspoken hurts while we step into the gap of silence built on the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. More information about visiting speakers will be announced in January.
Thurber Conversation - 1 February 2022 - Subversive Witness: Scripture's Call to Leverage Privilege
Featuring Dominique DuBois Gilliard, Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church. Tuesday 1 February 19h30 via Zoom and also in-person in the Thurber Room
to attend this Thurber conversation via Zoom.
Ever wonder what it means to have privilege? Feel confused about how to use one's privilege for the betterment rather than the detriment of the body of Christ? Dominique Gilliard has done some groundbreaking work helping churches and other organizations recognize where privilege exists and rather than deny it, work toward using it in a way that honors God. You won't want to miss this compelling and challenging evening as we continue to wrestle with what it means to be a church that cares deeply about being a reconciling community.
Fighting For Respect film and discussion - 12 February 2022
Saturday 12 February 19h-21h in the Sanctuary
to attend this Thurber conversation via Zoom.
All are invited to a special screening of the highly acclaimed film Fighting for Respect – a 1 hour documentary on the compelling, yet neglected story of 200,000 African American soldiers fighting for democracy in WWI while being denied civil rights at home – followed by a discussion with the film's writer and director Joanne Burke.
Deepening Our Faith – Wednesday Evening Adult Learning at ACP
Wednesdays: 12 January, 19 January, 2 February, 16 February, 2 March, 16 March, and 23 March 19h30-21h via Zoom.
to receive Zoom link.
Whether you're new to Christianity or wanting to refresh your faith, our Wednesday Evening Adult Learning program is offering you the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what we believe as a Christian community.
Each week we meet, you'll be helped in gaining a better understanding of the storyline of the Bible, some of our core doctrinal beliefs, and how we seek to apply them to our lives today.
Please register for this series and note the dates (The weekly rythmn is varied). You don't have to attend all of the sessions. Feel free to join when you are able. This study will meet on Zoom, and will not conflict with the Wednesday evening book study on Being the Bridge.
In-person Children's Worship on pause until further notice
In light of the staggering rise in Covid cases, we've decided to temporarily "press pause" on gathering in-person for Children's Worship beginning this Sunday until further notice. Online services available here begiining Sunday 9h and online archives are here.
God is at work at ACP and within each of us! As we build his post-pandemic church, we must continue to support and invest in those areas that accomplish God’s work through ACP – through our worship services, our missions and outreach, and our gorgeous facilities which support our community. These ministries and those of you engaged in each of them are touching the lives of so many in our community!
We are immensely grateful for the great deal of staff and volunteer time and talent that runs these ministries. But as we all know, operating ACP also requires funding and strong stewardship of these funds. This is the focus of our Generosity Campaign 2021-22, Renovating and Rebuilding the Church.
Estimated giving in 2022. To lay the foundation for the post-pandemic church, we will focus in the next year on how giving is a blessing – we give through the church, not to the church. Stewardship is part of our recognition of God’s work in our lives and helps us achieve his mission through us. Please let us know here what you plan to give in 2022 here: , so that ACP can budget accordingly. Your Council members are already in the process of submitting their estimated giving commitments.
The amounts of any estimated and actual giving is kept strictly confidential, accessible only to ACP's Senior Pastor and finance/accounting team for processing donations and issuing tax receipts. Contact information is maintained in accordance with the ACP data privacy rules.
ACP is dependent on your continued giving – so if you stop giving then we will be unable to continue operating at our current level.
During the month of November, we reflected on how our ministries serve our Paris congregation and community but also what new things they have planned for 2022. We ask each of you to pray and reflect on how you can further God’s work through ACP. Any level of support is a blessing to the church and it is by all participating as each of us is able that we will surmount our challenges and rebuild our church in this post-pandemic world.
In case you missed any of the weekly Moment for Ministry during the service or would like to watch one of the presentations again just click the links below,
For surely, I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Learn about ACP's 2021 worship services, Bible studies, small group studies and prayer, educational events, music ministries, family sharing groups and resources, youth and young adults, and fellowship initiatives below.
Click the slides or links below for more information.
Worship+2 is our formula for spiritual health! Whether you are in Paris or traveling, you can join God's people for corporate worship every week on Sunday.
During the week, make sure you are feeding your heart, mind, and soul with life-giving encouragement and inspiration through a small group, prayer, or Bible study group. The plus 1!
Then, make sure that you are exercising your gifts with life-giving service, for example, by singing in the choir, playing in the band, teaching a class, helping out with Children's Worship, serving as an usher or welcome host, scripture reader, or communion server on Sundays, preparing food for Thurber Lectures or the Friday Mission Lunch, or taking food out to people experiencing homelessness. The plus 2!
Tune in to the ACP Today, Faith Talk from Paris radio show. Broadcast the first and third Mondays of each month at 20h45 at 100.7 FM or frequenceprotestante.com/ecouter-en-direct.
In this casual/interactive Zoom meeting with your pastors, you'll learn about the history, the vision, beliefs, values, and governance of ACP. You'll get to know your pastors and some of the members of our lay care ministry team. You'll surely get to know some of the people who share your interest in joining the church, and together we'll explore opportunities for involvement that will enable you to serve, connect, and grow at ACP.
100 Nights of Welcome (100NOW)
ACP's 100 Nights of Welcome (100NOW) mission is a winter homeless shelter for refugees in Paris. Click here to learn about the program. Signup here to be an overnight volunteer, ensuring the safety and well-being of our guests. And donate here to help supply clothing, refreshments, and program supplies.
Position Available - Nursery and Toddler Rooms Coordinator
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