The Lent Course this year begins on Wednesday at 20.00 in Church House when we will listen to a tape by Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, 'The interface with Islam'. This will be about a half hour in length. Please bring pen and paper with you. It will then be followed by discussion under the direction of Hugh Cox, the Chaplain of Tervuren.

The new Archbishop, Rowan Williams, will have to face many difficult issues three of which I have brought into our Lent Course. We too must face up to them and try and develop a Christian mindset on these difficult and controversial matters.

Islam presents us with a huge challenge. The church (let alone politicians) will need infinite wisdom in dealing with it knowing, as we do, that there is a small, but significant minority of fundamentalists, who are spoiling for a fight with Christianity. This is expressed at the moment mainly in the destruction of churches (notably Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria). We last looked at this subject when Colin Chapman came to Brussels in April 1999.     

Other meetings in this course: Wednesday 26 March Sexuality. Tape by Martin Hallett (True Freedom Trust) with special emphasis on same sex relationships. (Chair: David Fieldsend, CARE) Tuesday 8 April Environmental Issues. Tape by Peter Harris (A Rocha). (Chair: Annali Bamber-Jones, A Rocha)

Our next Church Prayer meeting will take place on 17 March and our AGM is one week later (24^th). The Prayer meeting will focus especially on the AGM that follows and the important themes that will be considered then.              Nigel Walker

TODAY

At 10.30 during Communion, Peter Walley will speak on 'The temptation of Christ'.

At 14.00 during a service of prayer, Isaac Mensah, will speak on 'The wilderness'.

At 19.00 during Communion, Helen Walley will speak on Luke 15.11 – 24: 'The heart of the Father'.

Today is also Bun Sunday. After the 10.30 service we will be holding a sale of baked goodies in the side aisle (quiches, sausage rolls, brownies, biscuits, etc.) - also marmalades - and TearCraft foodproducts (tea & coffee). The money raised goes to smaller charities and causes not supported ban the Mission Group. If you have any suggestions for the money raised in 2002 please let me know in writing (in pigeonhole in the porch or annbarleycorn@belgacom.net). Thanks Ann Freeman

Today you are all invited to join in prayer with the people of Burma and others around the world. The country of Burma has been engulfed in civil war for the past 53 years. You can stand with the people of Burma by praying for their physical and spiritual freedom, informing others about the situation, and asking God to lead you to do something more.  Thank you for all of your support and prayers for Burma.  Blessings.                                                     Christians Concerned for Burma

The Global Day of Prayer for Burma booklet is available on www.prayforburma.org

COMING SOON . . .

The Christian Work Seekers and Facilitators Group's Networking Meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 March 20.00 – 22.00 in Church House. David Adams, International Product and Marketing Manager of Cardone Industries Europe and a member of this congregation (19.00 service) will address the group on the importance of being distinct during the job search. If you are unemployed and job seeking or if you have a concern for the unemployed, we look forward to meeting you. The meeting will start at 20.00 sharp. Visitors are welcome. For further information please contact Mary Sampson 02/346 91 08 or marysampson@skynet.be

'Here to help' Because he cares, we care Friday 14 March at 18.30 in Church House Flat (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. We are aware that some of this happens anyway among members of the con-gregation, but it is to cover those for whom it does not happen. A copy of the Pastoral care scheme is on www.holytrinitybrussels.com Please contact Helen Walley – Pastoral care co-ordinator Helen.walley@belgacom.net or 02/354 59 85

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.

'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. This will be 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 on Sunday 16 March at 19.00 features the collaborative work of Christian songwriters, musicians, authors, designers, visual artists and artisans. The candlelit worship event includes music, original worship songs, visual symbols, dramatic readings, prayers, and culminates in a reverent time of Communion. Created and developed by songwriters Kirk and Deby Dearman, this is an experience inviting people to leave the chaos and clamour of life and enter a safe place where senses are stirred and minds washed in God's presence through sacred beauty, imagery and symbol.  More information is at www.cometothequiet.com

DITT (Dyslexia International – Tools and Technologies asbl) invite you to hear and meet Lee Pascal and Susan van Alsenoy, experts on study skills, dyslexia and learning differently. They will be talking about helping children to succeed in school, overcoming the nightmare homework can be and offering teachers support. This is 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.

German teenagers present 'Blood Brothers'. Scouse accents, humour and challenging issues are all brought together in a special production of the musical at Die Deutsche Schule in Wezembeek Oppem. The show is on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 March at 20.00. See poster on notice board in the church porch or ring Carolyn Walker on 0472 45 38 25 after tomorrow.

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

INFORMATION

Creative help wanted We have permission to write for the weekly Brussels Bulletin publication. Naturally there is a need for human-interest stories and topics of wider interest than just the church routine. If you have ever had journalistic, or creative writing experience we need your help please. Please consider volunteering for either authoring occasional articles up to 300 words (see the Bulletin for style), or for an editorial board to help select articles written for publication. Please respond to the Church Office, giving contact details and experience. We would also value an example of your writing, perhaps you might submit an article. (Please submit any articles as copies, preferably in software form. We will contact you when adequate numbers are found. The intention is to develop a regular appearance by Holy Trinity and to improve our profile.

New appeals chair Andrew Johnson has replaced Peter Mackenzie as manager of our fund raising. A new campaign to complete the building renovation will be announced soon. Andrew will manage both a local church campaign and a wider public campaign. Please give him your support.

Today is the last day before the Annual General Meeting for you to give us your updated information for the electoral roll. Forms are available at the back of the church and should be put into Kathy Johnson's pigeon hole.

Admin reminders 1 Please remember to book or confirm bookings of church and conference room with Vicki in the Church Office.          2 Any notice posted up under the porch without a date and name of contact (left for admin. notification, the name need not appear on the poster if you don't wish it to) will now be taken down.

'Alternatives', the pregnancy crisis centre in Brussels, would appreciate gifts of buggies / push-chairs, in good condition. Also bedding suitable for carry-cots, and 'kangaroo pouch style' carriers for young babies.  If you have anything suitable, please contact the Alternatives office on 02/737 91 32 or speak to Catherine Pennington (02/731 27 37).

Alpha courses in English, starting in March

Saint M&M's Leuven's course will take place from now till 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 An Alpha course will be held at St Anthony's Parish, Outstrijderslaan 23-25, 1950 Kraainem, 02/720 19 70 on Wednesdays from 19.00 to 22.00. For more information, please consult www.alphawednesdays.info

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.

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.

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.