Dear friends, February 2, 2012 During Christmas vacation, we

During Christmas vacation, we had the privilege of being at the wedding of my ... visitor could also work some clay with his own hands or write comments on a ... The grand finale was Saturday evening, which we spent the afternoon setting up.
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Dear friends,

February 2, 2012

During Christmas vacation, we had the privilege of being at the wedding of my sister Kelly to Dan Robb, December 18. It was a great joy for the whole family. The kids were proud of their beautiful outfits and to have a rôle in the ceremony, Gabrielle as a flower girl and Zacharie as an usher. We appreciate your prayers these last months for our big event in Rennes, ''Handprint of the Potter'' Jan 18-21.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

Fourteen photos on the theme of the potter and the human body were artistically displayed in the annex of the Protestant Temple, where the parquet floors and white walls made a great backdrop for the photos. The expo was enriched with a few Bible quotes (in particular Jeremiah 18:1-6), vases in a variety of forms and colors, and a video showing a potter in the process of working on the wheel. Each visitor could also work some clay with his own hands or write comments on a tile square. Our CCC staff team and members from four different churches manned the exhibit each afternoon. Among the variety of visitors of all types- believers, art buffs, seekers or just the curious-there were also 45 second and third graders from a Catholic catechism class with their ten chaperones. They had been studying the prophet Jeremiah! In small groups, they admired the photos and filled out the quiz prepared for kids age 7-12. They also watched the videos, worked on the clay, dialogued with a protestant pastor who is a real potter, and discovered what a temple is! We also offered several workshops. Wednesday afternoon (when there is no school), Gabrielle took a school friend with her to join about a dozen kids for a pottery workshop. They also looked at the photos and did the quiz. Friday evening, a session was offered to adults to work the clay with the pastor who is a potter and explained the process of creating pottery. Saturday morning, our colleague Marie-Carmen led a time for women to discuss the relationship we can have with God the Potter and us as the clay, as they also worked with their hands. The grand finale was Saturday evening, which we spent the afternoon setting up. More than 120 people came – Christians from at least seven churches, as well as students, and friends and neighbors who were invited by the Christians. It was a huge team effort, with each one using his own gifts to contribute. As people entered the large beautiful room, they discovered little decorated tables surrounded by chairs, with the photo exhibit all around the room. They looked at the photos and had the chance to work on some clay. During the program they listened to two songs about the potter (one written and sung by a local pastor talking about Creation in a humorous tone, and the gorgeous Gospel song ''the Potter's House'' sung in 3-part harmony, with the translation projected on the screen), an explanation by the photographer (our colleague Didier Heslon), our new colleague David's testimony about how God works in a life, and the pastor potter's insights on the passage in Jeremiah. Then we had time to talk around our tables while enjoying a wonderful dessert buffet. At our table, we had a couple who had lodged a CCC student who talked a lot with them about God, and with whom we have stayed in touch. Christophe and Anne-Laure are really open and enjoyed the evening. Please pray for our continuing relations with them and that they would want to know God. We also rejoice for the participation of several churches in the preparation committee, as well as manning the exhibit, preparing desserts, setting up and cleaning the room. We were encouraged by the enthusiasm of the new Reformed pastor who said the exhibit and evening were done very professionally and were great for people outside the Church. Please pray for the impact of this event for the churches and for the non-Christians who came.

Yannick got his results from his January exams: 17/20 for the ethics class on ''human dignity'', and 14/20 for the dogmatics class on ''the Church, communion of believers.'' He also participated January 26-27 along with a lot of our colleagues in an historic event, the first conference of the CNEF (National Council of Evangelicals of France, founded June 15, 2010). It gathered more than 850 pastors, church leaders and members of evangelistic movements. CCC-France worked at three stands – Evangelism, Training, and Missions – to present different tools that we make available to churches. We were encouraged recently in Rennes by an article in the local newspaper on December 24 telling of CCC-France's offer of free DVDs of the Jesus film. A great number of people sent in the coupon, called or even came by the local office to get their copy! On a national level, 40,000 DVDs have already been requested by churches for distribution, and 20,000 more have been ordered. Other prayer requests: • •

Thursday, March 8: Yannick and I will give our seminar on dating and marriage to the student group on campus Saturday, March 24: I will lead the third session of follow-up Bible studies offered to women who came to the Christmas tea. Pray for these women to draw near to God.

Thank you for your faithfulness with us to help make Jesus known in France.

Laurie

Yannick et Laurie CHIRON * 11 rue du Clos Robert * 35520 LA CHAPELLE DES FOUGERETZ * FRANCE 011.33.299.13.10.91 * [email protected] Gifts can be sent to: Campus Crusade for Christ * P.O. Box 628222 * Orlando FL 32862-9841 (specify acct # 2728140) Questions about automatic transfers and donations? Contact toll free 1-888-278-7233, [email protected] or visit our webpage. http://ylchiron.free.fr/newsletters-for-partners.html