The Mission Focus for March is Mission East.  See below under Information.

 

CHAPLAIN’S NOTES

AGM Thanks to all who came to our Annual General Meeting last Monday. We very much appreciate your presence and the time you took to be with us. These positions were confirmed: Churchwardens: Ninette Dodoo; Pat Thomas. Election to Council: Mabel Collins-Yussuff; Helen Campbell. At the AGM I announced my retirement that will take effect on 31 December. My last weekend will be negotiated with the Staff, Wardens and Council but will be late November/early December. Full details are in the paper that I have written and are available at the back of the church.

Jean-Pierre Herman We said a formal farewell to Jean-Pierre at the AGM. He was duly presented with a gift from the congregation. We wish him God’s blessing for his future ministry as Assistant Rector at All Saints in Waterloo.

Passion Sunday Today is Passion Sunday. Fifty years ago (2 April), I stepped forward at the Billy Graham Crusade in London to give my life to Jesus Christ. Today at 10.30 I plan to give my testimony sharing God’s goodness to me over those 50 years. On 29 May my whole family will descend on the Albert Hall, London to celebrate 50 years of Billy Graham’s ministry in the UK. (If anybody else would like to go to that great event, which includes the All Souls Orchestra, see the notice board for the necessary information.)

Lent Course We have the second of our Lent meetings this coming Wednesday (31) 20.00 for 20.30 in Church House. Last time we reflected on the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa and how, in Uganda at least, the problem has been brought under some control. We further considered how, by helping Africa now, Europe will benefit in the future. I will share how I believe Africa can help Europe (and has already begun to do so). In addition a convert from Islam will come and share with us, as Islam may be the greatest challenge facing both continents.

Scripture Union Notes Peter Luson will be taking your orders for April/June today. Please pay with your order (€5).

CRP Self Help Please support Peter Mackenzie week by week as ‘self help’ continues in our renovation project. Things are beginning to shape up and to get really exciting. If you are able bodied do be a part of this worthy project. The opening of the renovated centre will be on 12 June in the afternoon (more details as soon as we know).

                                                                                             Nigel Walker

 

At the 10.30 service today Alaric Gilmore Kalish and Paul Raphaël James Spence are being baptized. We welcome them and their families and friends to Holy Trinity.

 

COMING SOON . . .

Why did Jesus die? The second stop of the Alpha for Youth adventure will be this Friday 2 April and will explore the reasons behind the death of Jesus? Was his death due to suicide, execution or persecution? Or was it accident, sickness or as a result of our sinfulness? There’s no wrong answer, just come to Church House by 19.30 and have your say! For details contact obinosky@yahoo.com or call 0496 976 911

Join the Inter-Church Committee of Brussels for a Prayer Vigil at St Michael and Gudule’s Cathedral on Saturday 3 April at 20.00.  This year the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches celebrate Easter on the same day. We would like to seize this wonderful opportunity, offered by the calendar, and ask all the Christian communities of Brussels to join in this vigil. An inter-church group is in charge of preparing this celebration, which will focus on prayer and meditation. This meeting aims at enabling a common start of the celebrations of Holy Week among Christians from different denominations.

Calling all bakers and buyers Next Sunday, 4 April, will be Bun Sunday (as the 2nd Sunday is Easter Sunday). Please support us by buying or providing baked goodies. Birthday, Easter and other cards will also be available as well as TEARCraft teas and coffees.                                                           Ann Freeman

Brussels Prayer March Make a difference in Europe by joining all the Christian community in Belgium during the prayer march that is taking place in Brussels on Sunday 18 April. Prayer starts at 14.00 and the public procession will kick off at 15.00. The assembly point is the Palais de Justice. For more details visit www.pray4belgium.be/index.php?id=19&L=0

INFORMATION

Warmest congratulations to Monika and Chris Sherwood on the birth of Laura on Thursday 18 March. Laura weighed in at 3kg.

Easter Lilies As usual we will be decorating the church with lilies at Easter. If you would like to dedicate a lily to the memory of a loved one please collect an envelope from the Welcome Table, write the name of the person/s on the envelope and place €1.50 per lily required inside. The envelope may be placed in the basket on the Welcome Table or given directly to Sue Cox or Diane Oppenheim. A list of the names of the loved ones will be displayed on Easter Sunday.                                                                           Sue Cox

This month the mission focus is Mission East and we have a display at the back of the church. Mission East is currently active in seven countries in Eastern Europe and Asia delivering relief and development aid to the poor. If you would like to find out more then please talk to Mags Bird, Peter Drummond-Smith, Richard Peppiette or Alex Ramos-Peña.

The final count for the collection at HTB for the Karenni Bible College and project for elderly Karen refugees was €3091 given in February. This is indeed a wonderful amount and is a generous gift within the body of God's people. I know that letters of thanks from the refugees will be appearing on the mission board before long; the money will do so much good.  If you are interested to know more about the work of Projects to Support Refugees from Burma there are some trip reports at the back of Church, please take one.                                                           Sally Steen

Free Eurostar tickets available!  2 return tickets for seniors (over 60), and 2 return tickets for juniors (under 26), for departure from Brussels 14 April, return from London 17 April.  Contact the church administrator for more details.

A number of old hard wood window frames were discovered under the ceremonial porch and which are surplus to requirements. If anyone would like to make an offer for them, please contact the office, or Peter Mackenzie, who can show you what is there.

The Prayer Chain welcomes requests for prayer for any situation in complete
confidentiality. Please pass your request to Sue Cox 02/767 29 11 or cottoncox@hotmail.com or to Ann Milton 02/772 47 04.

 

ADMIN. NEWS

KEYS The lock has been changed on the garden door. All those who hold keys to the old garden door are kindly requested to return them to church office as soon as possible. New arrangements are being made for current access to the church.

Wanted… back! The Church House First Aid kit and cupboard disappeared two weekends ago. We found the cupboard abandoned in the garden, but what happened to its contents remains a mystery. We would all be most grateful for their safe return “home”. Thank you.

 

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