God or Mammon at the Calvin 500th?

So here's the globe floating into place at the front of St Pierre's Cathedral in Geneva for the Calvin 500th anniversary service last night. We were treated to three choirs of different nationalities, fabulous organ music, great chamber music and pan pipes, and wonderful drumming - even accompanying the 16th Geneva Psalter version of Psalm 111. Not sure what either Claude Goudimel or John Calvin would have made of that but it was fun.

In the picture here Micheline Calmy-Rey who is the Swiss foreign minister can be seen addressing the congregation. Next to her in the red gown is the Geneva state official who even on hot days has to dress up and stand next to any elected politician speaking in public on official business - and that means even in church. It adds a bit of colour but it is a bit strange when you're not used to the local customs. It made me smile to have all of these politicians talking in church about how important the separation of church and state is!
We were also treated to a wonderful pithy 4 minute résumé of the Reformation in Geneva from Professor Michel Grandjean. But the real treat was the sermon which Laurence Mottier and Setri Nyomi prepared together. More about that in a later post but the text was Matthew 6.19-33 - Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth ... you cannot serve God and Mammon. More photos to come.