Easter Travelling, a common feature of the Easter period can, if we are not careful, blur or blot out the message and significance of Easter itself. Our salvation was won on Good Friday. There is huge benefit in marking it by setting time aside and keeping in mind what Jesus did for us on the cross. To enter into something of the suffering of Jesus on Good Friday makes Easter Sunday a day of infinitely greater celebration. I shall be conducting the Good Friday meditations this year, details of which are at the back of the church.

Good Friday: The Three Hour Meditation, details of which are at the back of the church, will close at 15.00 with our normal procedure of the laying on of hands for those who would like it. After this we will serve tea/coffee in Church House and hot cross buns. Then, those who would like to do so, can go to the bluebell woods at Rouge Cloître. People can come by public transport, using the 44 tram (from Montgomery) or cars. We will meet at the car park at the junction of the Ave Tervuren and the Ch. de Tervuren (map p46 in derouck) at 4,30pm. Mary will lead people on a one hour walk seeing all the best of the bluebells in that area.

Easter Sunday: At 7.00am we gather at the Cinquantenaire for the annual 'Sonrise' Service. For me it has become the most meaningful service on Easter Sunday as we gather with our sisters and brothers from the different churches in Brussels. Organised by BESPA (Brussels English-speaking Pastors Association) the service will be conducted in three languages. Flyers are available at the back of the church.

Alan & Elina Chipasula. From time to time I am very happy to include a brief blessing on those who would like to have their marriage blessed (particularly when there is a significant milestone). During the 10.30am service today, and following the sermon, Alan & Elina have requested a blessing on their 30 years of marriage (14^th April 1973). We wish them every blessing for the coming years.

                        Nigel Walker

 

NEXT WEEK

Maundy Thursday at 20.00 Holy Communion

Good Friday from 12.00 to 15.00 3-hour Meditation. Come and go on the hour and the half-hour.

Easter Day at 07.00 Sonrise Service at Cinquantenaire

INFORMATION

If you would like to dedicate an Easter lily to the memory of a loved one would you please collect an envelope from the basket at the back of the church, write the name of the person on it, put €1.50 per lily in the envelope and give it to Sue Cox or Diane Oppenheim.

Ruth and Floris will be getting married at Holy Trinity on Saturday 26 April at 12.00 and they invite the church family to share this celebration with them. They are grateful for all the prayers and support over the past few weeks, and they look forward to seeing you at the wedding.

The coffee team would like to remind you to return the brown plastic holders to the coffee table when you have finished your coffee or tea. These holders are not disposable, and we do not want to spend money on buying new ones! Thank you for your co-operation.

Holy Trinity crosses may be purchased at the Welcome Desk.  Profits from the sale of the cross will go towards our Centenary Renovation Project.  The silver and the gold crosses are hand crafted.  The sterling silver crosses come with a chain are €50 each.  Gold crosses must be specially ordered and do not come with a chain.  The price for the gold cross is €175.  A €90 deposit is required.  More information from Pam Mackenzie at 02/717 97 03 or pamela.mackenzie@mail.dss.mil 

The Mission focus for this month is on the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and our freewill offerings today will go specifically to support our Mission partners, David and Evelyn Baines, who will be going out to work in Chad in the near future. They are currently living in Brussels, and Evelyn is working as a nurse, while David improves his French, to enable him to train local Chadians in computer skills. They will be with us at our evening service at 19.00 tonight, when they will speak briefly about their plans and share some prayer requests. There will also be the opportunity to spend time with David and Evelyn this afternoon, to hear about the work of Wycliffe in general, to see photos and a video of Chad, and to eat some typical Chadian food! Venue : 48 Rue Verte, 1950 Kraainem. Time: 15.00 – 18.00, food served at 17.00. Please let Catherine know immediately after the morning service if you would like to come or phone her on: 02/731 27 37 .

Many heartfelt thanks to everyone for the generous amount of money collected on the 19 February for the Karen people of Burma. €1643.75 was raised.  €500 was sent to the Karenni Bible College where the first batch of students have just celebrated their first graduation ceremony. They write, " This is the beautiful fruit of our toil. I would like to point out that without the help and support of Holy Trinity of Brussels and all our Christian friends we would not have managed it."

€900 was sent to found a WW2 Karen ex-servicemen's home. They write, "Thank you so much for all that you've done for us. I checked with the Bank and the money you sent has arrived. Now we can start doing the Good work that you initiated." The balance has gone to a project designed to record the elderly Karen's knowledge of the healing properties of jungle plants for research, and their personal stories. Thank you.

Centenary Renovation Project Those of you who attended the AGM on 24 March should have received a personal letter explaining progress on the project and requesting your support in what we hope will be the final stage of the appeal. If you have not yet received your letter please collect it following today's service. We plan a pledge Sunday at Pentecost (8 June). Your generosity to date has ensured that the bulk of the project can start in the next couple of weeks. We now ask every member of our congregation to consider carefully how much you can pledge to donate later this year (or spread over the next 12 months) to help us finalise the work. More pledge forms will be issued with the newsletter in May, and these (or the copies already included with your letter) can be brought to the Pentecost services, or placed in the pigeon hole of Andrew Johnson (in a sealed envelope please). With your continued support the work of God in Brussels can be further strengthened, through the realisation of this exciting project.

Help wanted The sacristan team needs two extra helpers; one to wash and iron the altar cloth from time to time, and another to help with very occasional typing. If you could do either of these jobs, please contact Barbara Rundell on 02/762 11 43.

Carols Unlimited are putting on an Easter concert, raising money for the United Fund for Belgium. Find out more on www.carolsunlimited.be.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Many thanks to those who are helping us to set up video-viewing in children's rooms.  We have discovered we need a UK video-recorder to go with our UK television.  Does anyone have one to donate. Please contact Mary on 02/770 77 15.

 

 

The Church Office will be closed from Monday 28 April to Friday 2 May. The duty clergyman for that week is Revd Kempton Baldridge from All Saints Waterloo, contactable on 02/384 35 56 during office hours.