Practicing Ubuntu - How to Be Family in Our Fiercely Divided World

Now that we understand a little better God’s call for us to both celebrate our differences and love each other - how exactly do we go about doing that in a world that seems to be growing more fiercely divided? Join us on Sundays to be a part of our corporate unpacking of scripture, discerning God’s wisdom and possible ways we can practice Ubuntu.

The Rev. Dr. Reggie L. Williams is planning a couple of exciting opportunities to take our studies to the city streets. One focuses on the history of Black Paris, the other on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident.

Bonhoeffer lectures Register here 
Thursdays 23 June, 30 June, 7 July: 19h30-21h Zoom lectures 

Sunday 10 July
Guest choirs at 11h worship service,

We will welcome the choirs of Spring Valley United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church of Texas, USA. Directed by Bert K. Johnson & Laura Bateman.

Worship Livestream

Alternate viewing channels, ACP Facebook page, YouTube livestreams, YouTube videos.

 Please DONATE NOW

You can download the worship bulletin here and the announcements here.

Previous Worship Online Services are available here.

Rev. Dan Michalek is ACP's Visiting Pastor

Dan Michalek is a retired pastor, having served the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton, Michigan, for nineteen years. His wife, Francine, served as director of worship and music at the Brighton church, and together they have two grown children, Krista (married to Jordan) and David, and one grandchild, seven year old Emilia Jean.

A native of Flint, Michigan and a graduate of the University of Michigan Flint and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, he served two churches in Pennsylvania for a total of twenty years before returning to his home state.

Dan currently serves on the Board of Directors of LACASA, Livingston County’s nonprofit organization that ‘protects, advocates for and empowers victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault,' and is also president of the board of directors of the House of Healing Foundation, the agency that oversees a comprehensive mission in Guatemala. He has made numerous mission trips to Guatemala and participated in the United Nations' annual Consultation on the Status of Women, having participated in three presentations there.

Fran recently retired from her position as Worship and Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Brighton where she served for 14 years. She directed the adult traditional choir in works that included Rutter's "Requiem" and Vivaldi's "Gloria," and led the adult handbell choir as well. She also helped develop a new contemporary service and band in 2005. She worked with teen and children's choirs in the performance of a personally composed musical along with others such as "Godspell." She led children's music camps, developed creative worship services and supervised the direction of children's chimes and teen handbells.

Prior to her church work Fran taught vocal music in a public middle school and served as music director and choreographer for high school musicals. She has performed in musical theater herself but her greatest joy is preparing and directing others.

Fran has served on the House of Healing Foundation Board, volunteered in Guatemala, designed and led women's retreats and directed two choir tours to Scotland. Her most recent work has been at a hobby store selling seed, binoculars and feeders for wild birds. She is an avid "birder" and is looking forward to watching the unique bird species in France.

Spark Studios: Creativity from the Creator

Place: American Church in Paris
Dates:  Monday-Thursday 22-25 August 2022
Times: 9h-12h
Who: Children ages 3-10

Register your child here

Using crafts, storytelling, active games, music, and more, children will explore the theme "Spark Studios: Creativity from the Creator."

Get those creative juices flowing at Spark Studios where imagination is ignited and creativity is awakened where kids will learn, like King David, to use their talents to bring glory to God. They will discover that their creativity is a gift from the infinitely creative Creator who designed them for His glory. All children ages 3-10 welcome.

We need many, many adult volunteers to join us in leading this fantastic, fun, four-day program, contact Allison Wheeler, Children’s Ministry Director if you'd like to join the team!

Register your child here

Atelier Concert — 6 February 2022

After studying both piano and violin, Blandine Waldmann decided to favor the keys and trained alongside Désiré N’Kaoua, before entering the French Royal Conservatory in Brussels to study with Dominique Cornil. Having won first prizes for both piano and chamber music, she successfully gained entry to the Flemish Royal Conservatory in Brussels to take classes from Alexandre Madzar (piano), and Daniel Blumenthal and Viviane Spanoghe (chamber music). Awarded Masters in both disciplines, Blandine Waldmann further honed her skills at a variety of master classes in France, Great Britain, Belgium, and Italy, where she received enriching advice from famous musicians like Anne Queffélec, Jean-Michel Damase, Piet Kuijken, Dirk Vermeulen, Christopher Elton, Volker Banfield, Vincenzo Balzani, Eugen Indjic and Eugene Pridonoff.

This full and varied musical education led to her performing in a host of international contests from 2014-2017, where she won numerous first prizes: first prizes at the Erik Satie contest in Lecce, Paolo Barrasso, Le Note Sinfonie, Florestano Rossomandi, Eurorchestra da Camera « Nuovi Interpreti » in Bari, E-muse in Athens, IMKA, Lucia Iurleo, de Matera, and also American Protégé International Competition, Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in New York and even Grand Prize Virtuoso in Salzburg. The festival and concert halls of Europe and the United States threw open their doors for her: Carnegie Hall in New York, Cadogan Hall in London, The Royal Conservatory and Wolubilis concert halls in Brussels, Florence Theatre, Corato Theatre, Nicolaus de Bari Congress Hall, Vlaanderen International in Brussels, Festival della Valle dell’ Orfento in Caramanico Terme, Sarlat’s Nuit du Patrimoine and more.

Other concert archive recordings here.

We are a community that seeks to come alongside all displaced and vulnerable people who have been forced to flee their homes and even their countries. Today's urgent crisis is in Ukraine. We hold refugees in our prayers, individually and corporately, and as in the past, actively seek shelter, clothing, and food for those in need. If you are a refugee in Paris, we invite you to join us for worship, friendship, and community.

You are not alone. Jesus said, "...I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me." Matthew 25:35

Resources for supporting the people of Ukraine

Prayers

• Pray for the people of Ukraine - Tuesdays 19h30-20h via Zoom. Prayers led by Lisa Prevett and Tiana Ranaivoson. Register for Zoom link here.

Volunteer and Hosting

• Volunteer with our mission partner, Jesuit Refugee Service. Sign up at www.JRSFrance.org

  - Accompanist: approximately 2 hours/week to assist with cultural (not legal/administrative matters) adjustment. Two hour volunteer training required.

  - Housing: JRS seeks vacant apartments available for a minimum 3 month term to house refugee family units.

• ASAH (Association au Service de l'Aide Humanitaire) is a French NGO, founded on Christian values, organizing temporary housing. Please register here.

Financial Aid 

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.

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Worship

Worship in the Sanctuary at 11h and 14h.

The 11h service will be livestreamed on this website, our YouTube video channel and our Facebook page.

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Adult Ministries

Sunday Evening Adult Bible Study   Register here

African Fellowship Online   Register here

Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study

Women's Monthly Bible Study: Women in Parables  Join the Women's Monthly Bible Study

ACP Women's Fellowship   Join the ACP Women's Fellowship

Men's Ministry at ACP   Register to join the Men's Ministry

Silent Prayer Thursdays   Register for Silent Prayer Thursdays

All Church Fellowship Group   Join the All Church Fellowship Group

Renovating and Rebuilding the Church

 Estimated giving in 2022

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!

Explore the many Worship+2 opportunities here.