This morning at 10.30 I shall be giving some thought to the threatening
situation in the Gulf. I shall seek to identify what is the true protection of any nation in time of war as expressed by Elisha when he witnessed Elijah being taken up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Alpha Some 18 people (including a number from our own congregation) will be on the Alpha weekend this weekend up in Gent. Peter Walley is leading and would value prayer.

                                                                        Nigel Walker

TODAY

At 10.30 during Communion, Nigel Walker, Chaplain, will speak on ‘The pre-eminence of Christ’. See the Chaplain’s Notes above.

At 14.00 during Communion, Isaac Mensah, Assistant Chaplain, will speak on ‘Elisha, the faithful companion’.

At 19.00 during Evening Praise, Nigel Walker, Chaplain, will speak on Luke 11.37 – 53: ‘ Jesus’ warnings to organized religion’.

COMING SOON . . .

Ash Wednesday is this week, 5 March. There will be a service at 20.00 in the church lead by Jean-Pierre Herman. Lent is a time of reflection and an opportunity to meditate. People often speak about ‘giving up something’. Why not? We live in a world of plenty yet were reminded recently by our Burmese (Karen) brother that there is a world out there in chronic need: starvation in Southern Africa, deprivation almost everywhere outside the West and some appalling black spots within our own cities. Let us identify with them. Bishop Geoffrey Rowell is commending a mission in Russia called ROOF. You are invited to give to that or to another mission agency whether it be here in Brussels or elsewhere.

Next Saturday Yet more fun working for the Centenary Renovation Project!! Come between 8.00 and 13.00 in warm, old clothes to sandpaper, paint or do any of 1001 other jobs. The air’s a bit chilly but the fellowship’s very warm.

Oasis - Counselling Training for Christians Certificate in Counselling (also known as Level 1). Oasis are running this course in conjunction with PhilippiTrust. It is recognised by the Association of Christian Counsellors.  It will run in two sections Thursday 6 (evening only) - Saturday 8 March, and Thursday 20 (evening only) - Saturday 22 March. The cost is €185 payable at the beginning of the course. This course is a great follow on for those who have done Acorn Christian Listeners or who would like to learn more about Christian counselling. For more details there are leaflets at the back of church today with all the contact addresses and details. Oasis Counselling Centre 02/502 32 72

Calling all bakers and buyers Next Sunday, 9 March, is Bun Sunday. Please support us so we can give money to smaller charities not supported by the Church's Mission Giving.

‘Here to help’ Because he cares, we care Friday 14 March at 18.30 in Church House Flat on the 2^nd floor. We would like to invite anybody who is interested in helping, on an ad hoc basis, with practical care at Holy Trinity, to a short meeting to look at how we as a church can offer practical care to those who need it. We know that there are many needs and we would like to look at ways to build a team to assist people as and when those needs come up. This team would back up the Chaplaincy team and work alongside the other areas of pastoral care in the life of the church, such as home groups, welcome, job seekers, prayer ministry and pastoral counselling etc. We are very aware that some of this happens anyway among members of the congregation, but it is to cover those for whom it does not happen. You can see a copy of the Pastoral care scheme on our website www.holytrinitybrussels.com If you would like to come please contact Helen Walley – Pastoral care co-ordinator

Helen.walley@belgacom.net or 02/354 59 85

'The Belgian Partnership – workers amongst Turks' is organising a training and information day on how to live and work with Turkish Muslims, what are the differences between our faiths and what attitudes should be adopted or avoided. The session will take place on Saturday 15 March from 9.30 to 16.00 at the Christen Gemeenschap, Lakenmakersstraat, Mechelen, both in English and in Dutch. Cost €4 per person including photocopies and food. To register, please e-mail lwborkes@pi.be.

Come to the Quiet is a presentation on Sunday 16 March at 19.00 featuring the collaborative work of Christian songwriters, musicians, authors, designers, visual artists and artisans. Each "Come to the Quiet" candlelit worship event includes music, original worship songs, visual symbols, dramatic scripture readings, responsive prayers, and culminates in a reverent time of Communion.

Created and developed by songwriters Kirk and Deby Dearman, "Come to the
Quiet" is a Christ-centered worship experience inviting people to leave the chaos and clamour of life and enter a reverential, safe place where senses are stirred and minds washed in God's presence through sacred beauty, imagery and symbol.  Kirk and Deby Dearman have partnered together in artistry and missions for the past 25 years. Their ministry began in the Dallas area, where they served as worship leaders in local churches and for several national ministries. More information on "Come to the Quiet" can be found under: www.cometothequiet.com

DITT (Dyslexia International – Tools and Technologies asbl) are pleased to invite you to hear and meet Lee Pascal and Susan van Alsenoy, experts on study skills, dyslexia and learning differently, who will be talking about helping children to succeed in school, overcoming the nightmare homework can be and offering teachers support. This will be from 16.00 – 18.00 on Wednesday 19 March at 1 rue Defacqz, B-1000 Brussels, from where tickets at €15 each can be purchased or places booked. Phone 02/537 70 66.

NW Europe Archdeaconry Retreats 2003 There are still some spaces on the Lenten Retreat to be held in the Netherlands on 11 - 13 April: Conductor: The Reverend Jonathan Goodall, Chaplain & Research Assistant to the Diocesan Bishop in Europe. More details at the back of church.

INFORMATION

Alpha courses in English, starting in March

Saint M&M’s Leuven’s course will take place from 5 March to 28 May, every Wednesday evening at 19.00, at the House of the ‘Witte Paters’, Frederik Lintstraat 150, 3000 Leuven. The weekend away will be from Friday 4 April to Sunday 6 April. For more information, please contact Marc De Baerdemaeker – marc.db@yucom.be / 016/29 98 04 – or Ngozi Njoku – gozy78@hotmail.com / 0498 40 55 30.

St Anthony’s Parish in Kraainem is organizing its Alpha course starting with a celebration dinner on Saturday 8 March. For more information, please consult www.alphawednesdays.info The courses will be held at St Anthony’s Parish, Outstrijderslaan 23-25, 1950 Kraainem, 02/720 19 70 every Wednesday from 19.00 to 22.00.

The Mission focus for March is Mission East. All loose change from the plate collections taken at the 4 services on 23 March will go towards their work.

During Lent this year we will attempt to examine three issues with tapes from the conference on the ‘Future of Anglicanism Conference’ at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford last July. The dates and three subjects chosen are:

·                                  Wednesday 12 March: The Interface with Islam. Dr Patrick Sookhdeo (Barnabas Fund). (Chair: Hugh Cox – Chaplain Tervuren).

·                                  Wednesday 26 March: Sexuality. Martin Hallett (True Freedom Trust) with special emphasis on same sex relationships. (Chair: David Fieldsend, CARE)

·                                  Tuesday 8 April Environmental Issues. Peter Harris (A Rocha). (Chair: Annali Bamber-Jones, A Rocha)

You will need to bring pen and paper to make notes. Each session will be followed by a period of discussion. All three are burning issues for which we need a Christian mind. Each session will be in the Conference Room at 20.00. Home Groups are invited to join us for these sessions.

Banner-making group We are looking for new people to join the small, friendly group of banner makers. We usually meet on Monday evenings at 20.00. No particular talents are required as we are learning as we go. If you would like to come along for a taster session, you are most welcome.  Please contact Helen Campbell on 02/649 62 35 for details.

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

Due to a shortage of volunteers, we can only offer a supervised crèche 3 Sundays a month. The room in Church House is of course still available but there will be no helpers there on 16 March. More volunteers would be highly appreciated. Please contact Gayl Russell on 02/649 11 30 or gaylr@skynet.be.

The church office regularly receives news and instructions from the U.S. Embassy. The information will be posted up on the 'Community news' notice board. If however you are an American citizen and would like to receive this personally, you should register at the embassy and be added to their mailing list.

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