A warm welcome to all today Join us after the service for coffee and drinks in the side aisle. You are most welcome to stay around and talk. If you are new please make yourself known especially to the clergy; we would be grateful if you would fill in a yellow card at the Welcome Table.

Today we mark the start of the Church’s liturgical year. We have two special services. At 10.30 we are glad to welcome Peter Drummond-Smith (of Mission East) to share about children’s homes in Tajikistan and the work being done by Tear Fund. (Tear Fund work closely with Mission East). At this service the children will bring up the gifts that are going to the two local children’s homes that we support, Les Cailloux and Foyer Lilla Monod. At 19.00, there is a special service of readings and music by candlelight from the Taizé community in France. Those who enjoy a quiet meditative service will find this very meaningful.

Hip, Hip Hoorah! Nigel has had his right hip replaced in an operation that took place last Tuesday morning. Mary reports that everything went well for which we praise God. Nigel expects to be back home from hospital this week. The phone number in the hospital by his bed is 02 221 9768.

Next week we will welcome Bishop John Taylor to our Confirmation Service at 10.30. Please remember in your prayers the candidates this week: From Holy Trinity Xavier Bascho-George, Briony Cox, Anna Craig, Pernia Roy, Kate Rundell, Obinna Ubah, Daniel Mbinda, Ann Milton Jean Sebudoli, Eric Sibomana, Jessica Mutaharugamba, Josephine Peprah, Léve Gustave Ngabonziza, Fabrice Ndayishimiye: Leuven Jan Nobel, SHAPE (Mons) Analise Adams, Alison Small.

Renewal of Marriage Vows Those who would like to renew their Marriage Vows can do so on Monday 9 December at a special service in Holy Trinity at 20.00. Bishop John Taylor, Assistant Bishop in Europe, will preside.

The Alpha Course will start again in January, hosted by Filip Ameloot’s homegroup – more details coming soon.

Peter Walley

 

 

TODAY is Advent Sunday

At 10.30 there is an all-age Family Communion at which Peter Drummond-Smith (Mission East) and Peter Walley, Assistant Chaplain, will speak.

At 14.00 during Communion, Isaac Mensah, Assistant Chaplain, will speak.

At 19.00 there is a special candle-lit Advent Service with readings, music from Taizé and time for meditation. After the special Taizé service Bun Sunday will be selling Christmas cards and TEAR Craft food products (coffee, tea, etc.).

COMING SOON . . .

Prayer and fellowship on Wednesday afternoons.  Mary and Mary-Jo have restarted a prayer/fellowship meeting on Wednesday afternoons at 5 Av. du Derby, (parallel with Av Franklin Roosevelt, and on tram-route 93 and 94).  Ring doorbell labelled Nimmons.   We invite you to join us anytime, and especially during Advent, The meeting starts at 13.15 with soup and drinks (provided) and sandwiches (bring your own), and ends at 15.30.  Our aim is to pray for all the ministries of Holy Trinity, especially the youth and children's ministry.  During Advent we plan to take as a starting-point four visions of Christ from the Book of Revelation. Any questions ring 02/640 50 18.

Come and pray for Muslims on the last night of Ramadhan. This is an especially key time to be praying for the Muslim World, as well as for Muslims here in Europe. Join us at the YWAM Cafeteria (Ave des Celtes, 17 (Metro: Merode)) on Thursday 5 December from 20.00-21.30.

6 December is St Nicolas’ Day and on that day there will be a concert given here in aid of the Centenary Renovation Project. Benjamin Britten’s St Nicolas, performed by Choir, Tenor solo, Pickled Boys and Orchestra, is a most attractive work. Come at 20.00 and bring your friends.

Ecumenical Prayer for anniversary of the World Declaration of Human Rights, organized by Ecumenism and Peace with Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture – Sunday, 8 December in crypt of l’Eglise Royale Ste Marie, Place de la Reine (at end of Rue Royale) trams 92, 93 and 94. See notice in porch.

The Christian Work Seekers and Facilitators Group’s next Networking Meeting will be on Tuesday 10 December, 20.00 – 22.00 in Church House. Peter Hindle, Reader at HTB and Director at Proctor & Gamble, will speak on Discrimination, the Christian Response. His talk will deal with all forms of discrimination and their impact on the life of the work seeker and the employed. Visitors are welcome.

More information from Mary Sampson: 02/346 91 08 (mm_sampson@hotmail.com) or Jayne Hill (Jayne.Hill@consilium.eu.int)

The next Missions Prayer evening will be held on Wednesday 11 December from 20.00 to 21.30.  This time we will meet at the YWAM cafeteria, Avenue des Celtes 17, right by Metro Merode.  All welcome.

On 15 December after the 10.30 service we will be holding a festive Bun Sunday with mince pies and a selection of other Christmas goodies for sale. Please support us so we can help smaller charities. Any offers of baked goods gratefully accepted. Ann Freeman (02/252 39 80).

15 December at 19.30 is our traditional Carol Service. There will be candles in the church, but because of the flammable chairs please do not bring candles yourself. Please bring electric torches. Because the hall is closed there will be no mince pies and mulled wine this year.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Don't miss Sunday morning 15 December in Church House.  All sorts of partying and Christmassy stuff will be going on for all the groups. 

Sundays during Christmas holidays 22 December and 5 January. The normal teaching programme will be suspended, but different, slightly shorter activities will be provided.  Crèche as usual. On Sunday 29 December, normally a very quiet Sunday, the Crèche Room will be available for parents, and it is possible that a video may be shown there. 

INFORMATION

December Mission Focus is Alternatives, centre d'aide pour femmes enceintes (crisis pregnancy centre) situated by Merode Metro, Brussels.  The loose plate collections from the 9.00, 14.00 and 19.00 services on 8 December as well as the 10.30 service on 15 December will go to Alternatives.  (Alternatives is a ministry of Youth With A Mission, YWAM.)

A Rocha  Message from Annali: "Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me during my recent visit to Kenya.  It was a really exciting month and I enjoyed working with the A Rocha Kenya Team, in and around the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. We had some excellent meetings in Nairobi with organisations, embassies and businesses who are interested in supporting our work. God really seems to be opening the doors for us there."  In January there will be an A Rocha supporters get-together to meet, eat and enjoy a (bracing!) walk together - and there will be an opportunity to learn more about the 13 A Rocha projects around the world. For more information contact Annali: A.Bamber@arocha.org Annali Bamber Jones is the Development Officer with A Rocha International. A Rocha is a Christian conservation organisation and is one of the missions supported by HTB. For more information check out the website: www.arocha.org

Christmas Day celebrations Are you going to be alone on Christmas day and would you like to spend that day with some other people from the church fellowship?  Then please let us know.  Do you have room at your home for another or others on Christmas day? Could you please let us know and we will endeavour to link people up.
Please contact Helen Walley   Pastoral co-ordinator on 02/354 59 85. Also the 14.00 congregation will be planning a lunch on Christmas day, off the church premises this year. Please watch this space for more details.

If you know of anyone who would like Home Communion at Christmas please contact the Church Office.

Intercessors, lay assistants, readers etc please collect next quarter’s rota from your pigeon hole.

Toilets A toilet is now available outside in the courtyard by Church House. Other toilets are in Church House.

Please do not bring any more clothes, books, or other things for the Protestant Centre as we do not have anywhere to keep them. If you have such things please go directly to the Protestant Centre, or Les Petits Riens.

New daytime homegroup with crèche Would you like to make it to a homegroup
but can't, because the timing has not been right for you?  Well here is another option... From Tuesday 10 December we are starting a new morning group.  It is for anyone who finds this a good time, and we are offering a crèche (a small charge
will be made). There will be opportunity for study, prayer and fellowship. We plan to meet Tuesdays 9.30 -11.00 at the home of Ilka Tank, 439 Chaussée de la Hulpe, 1170 Watermael Boitfort. On that first day Helen Walley will lead an Advent meditation in music, word and prayer, in preparation for Christmas. We will then continue after the new year. If you are interested or want to ask any questions, then please contact Ilka Tank (02/675 52 10) or Helen Walley (02/354 59 85). We both have answer phones for you to leave a message, if necessary.  All are welcome.

Items for the Newsletter Please send these by 9.00 on Tuesdays by e-mail to David.Iliff@Pandora.be or to the Church Office.

 

 

Holy Trinity Brussels – Newsletter Supplement – 1 December 2002

CRP DEMOLITION COMPLETED

 

Thank you

Many grateful thanks to all of you who came and helped with the demolition work. You have donated a significant amount of cash value to the CRP. If you are unaware, in the past weeks we have: pulled down all the ceilings in the Hall, lobby and stage areas, completely emptied the bar, demolished the lower toilets and school ceilings, taken out the glass between the two halls into the school area, demolished the part wall in the two school rooms due to become the meeting room, and emptied the kitchen. The old ovens have been saved for potential use in the new kitchen. Do not come out next Saturday, you have earned a rest for a while.

Results

That represents a lot of work and it filled about 60 cubic metres of rubbish containers. Olivier, our structural engineer was able to see the actual building supporting structures, when he toured the building last week. Richard, our architect was able to gain critical insight into the labyrinthine geography to see an opportunity to build an additional door to give direct bar access to future supplies. In demolishing the toilets our plumber found that the wall-humidity problem has caused the pipes to rust in the walls. We understand that this means that within a few years we would have had a major burst water pipe problem! We will now wash and cover the Hall floor until we judge the right time for the main Hall floor repair and cleaning. We will probably also contract the church floor cleaning, while the heavy pews are still out of the church.

What’s Next?

Please look in the Arcade on the way through the gate and see the list of further chores required to complete the self-help work. Please consider how you might help and let someone know. As you will see, some of the painting should happen this year. We expect that we will have Royal approval by then and should be able to start actual construction at the end of January, or the beginning of February. Please note that both the Parish Hall and church side entries will be closed for construction purposes. Entry will then be made via the garden door and vestry into the church to open the church main doors. We will conduct a painting school next, we will make a Newsletter announcement with details.

Stained Glass Update

You may have noticed that the new stained glass window is going in very quickly. This may be because Etienne Triboulet, the artist who has designed and made the glass, has brought his wife here to help him. We are hopeful that his work will be recognised at the window’s dedication on 12^th January 2003 by Queen Fabiola. You may also note a reference to the window in the Brussels Bulletin, and in a further Belgian press article.

Peter Mackenzie, Churchwarden