None of this is really about us. We, the Kennedy family, are included in but a few chapters of God's Great Story. We hope as you read the stories of our journey as disciples of Jesus, that you too are inspired to consider how God is writing your life into His Story.

 

October 2025

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus”. Thessalonians 5:16-18

La Fête des Voisins

This past summer some really cool things happened here…

In France there is a day on the calendar called “La Fête des Voisins”, literally translated “The Celebration of Neighbours”.  Apparently it was started in the 90’s by the mayor of the 17th Arrondissement in Paris.  Sparked by the tragic and lonely death of an elderly woman whose body wasn’t discovered until 4 months later, the mayor established an association called the Friends of Paris whose mandate was to fight against isolation and individualism, to ultimately bring people together in community.  The first “Fête des Voisins” was officially celebrated in Paris in 1999, and was then adopted throughout France in 2000.  Today, numerous other European countries and beyond have this day on their calendar too.  Pretty cool, really.

 

Despite this 25 year tradition, however, loneliness and isolation remain strongly prevalent in France.  In fact in our own survey of what the French say are the biggest issues for people today, they identified:  division, isolation and lack of community.  

Okay, back to the cool things that happened…

As the Fête des Voisins approached, we reached out to our neighbours and invited them to join us at 7pm in the courtyard for an evening together.  We set up a simply decorated table, strung up lights and brought out chairs.  At 7 o'clock all but one of our neighbours came… and it was nothing short of amazing!  That evening marked the very first time these neighbours had met together socially… yet we talked, laughed and told stories like old friends.  This remarkable night ended well past midnight, and we rejoiced at the beginnings of something really great coming alive around us.

As it turned out, the neighbours on the opposite side of our house were out of town that weekend, so when we talked about celebrating the Fête des Voisins together, she too wanted to plan something.  So a few weeks after our courtyard party, her and Joel handed out more than 30 invitations to others within our community.  When the evening arrived we were blown away as more than 40 people showed up to celebrate community.  Forty!  It was another incredible evening as we gathered together with so many new people, sharing life stories and creating new connections.  

The rest of the summer we bumped into these neighbours regularly and continue to have opportunities to meet for an evening apéro or just chat in the street.  All of this has been so, so sweet.  

 

Following these two “Fêtes des Voisins”, an awesome thing started to take place… our neighbours began to host gatherings in their back-yards.  We were soon invited to an afternoon backyard BBQ by one of our neighbour families, and a month later another family just across from us hosted an evening courtyard party too.  For a neighbourhood that historically never did anything social together, we are so quickly seeing others catch the vision for gathering to share life together.  

 

You know another cool detail of this story?  Way back when we were first looking at this house, I (Becky) remember standing in the courtyard with this vision in my mind:  families, neighbours & friends gathered around a table set up in the centre with lights strung up between the houses, sharing life over a meal together.  That vision came to life on our first Fête des Voisins, and it is already becoming contagious.  Wow, God, thank you.  

Canadian Thanksgiving

In the same spirit, this week our family is busy preparing to celebrate our first Canadian Thanksgiving with our neighbours. Please pray for us as we prepare not only a huge meal but our home to welcome the 14 guests we have invited so far!  These are our people.  These neighbours are who God has given us to love and serve.  What a better way than to welcome them into our home and celebrate how thankful we are for them, with them.

 

With that said, as we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, we also celebrate you!  We are deeply thankful for all of our friends and ministry partners around the world.  We wish you a joy-filled Thanksgiving day, and pray God would richly bless you and your family this season to come.

With joy, love & gratitude,

Looking for giving info?  Here’s how to donate.  

 

Any gift you give helps our family partner with God in order to fulfill the great commission in France.  Thank you for your prayers and gifts, they make a difference!

 

 

Our mailing address is:

76 bis Chemin Colonel Rollet

73100 Aix-les-Bains

France

 

 

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