This harvest we are financially supporting Tearfund's work in the Darfur region of Sudan. Please use the Tearfund envelopes provided. These donations will go towards disaster relief but just as importantly towards the long term rehabilitation efforts that will be needed for people to rebuilt their lives once the political situation has stabilised.

 

CHAPLAIN’S NOTES

Harvest Today is Harvest Sunday. Our sincere thanks to Sue Cox and all her helpers for the harvest decorations today. Thanks too to all who have brought gifts which will be taken to the Protestant Social Centre this week. Supremely thanks to God for once again demonstrating his love to us and expressing it in so many ways – not least in the harvest.

Ann Lewis Next Sunday we shall welcome back Ann Lewis at the 10.30 Service. Ann is the widow of my predecessor, John Lewis, who died shortly after his retirement in 1994. It will be a real pleasure to see her again and to welcome her together with the friends who are accompanying her.

Archdeaconry Synod The Synod takes place this week in Antwerp so the clergy will be there between Thursday night and Saturday together with our Archdeaconry Representatives.

A kind of Borzée in Brussels: Saturday 9 October 10.00 – 14.30 This year we have invited Chris Byworth to come and give us two very interesting fully illustrated lectures, first on Genesis 1-11 and then, in the second half of the morning, on the Life of Christ. Both are fully illustrated. This will be a most interesting morning. The price, including lunch, will be approximately €10 per head. Bookings commence this weekend. Regrettably there are no children’s activities. During my time at The London College of Divinity, Chris was undoubtedly the outstanding student and subsequently embraced a broad ministry which included both pastoral ministry as well as being Warden of Cranmer Hall, Durham. He has paid many visits to the Middle East and mastered his understanding of Mesopotamian civilization. I have heard him before and thoroughly recommend what could be a most interesting and worthwhile morning. Don’t miss it!

Nigel Walker

EVENTS

The Alpha Course continues on Wednesday 29 September at 19.00 in the Charles Le Jeune Centre This course is a wonderful introduction to the Christian Faith for those who are on the edge of belief. Invite your friends and bring them yourself! For further details please pick up a leaflet, or call Filip Ameloot on 02/644 05 00 or filip.ameloot@busmail.net. We will aim to provide a cold buffet meal with soup, for a small charge each week.

Morning Bible study for women  10.00 - 11.45 every Tuesday morning. We meet in Holy Trinity Church in the Ch Le Jeune Centre, and are studying Philippians : RUN THE RACE, by Bill Hybels.  ‘Life as a follower of Christ is not a fifty-yard dash.  It's a marathon.  God offers strength for the race, cold water to quench our thirst, and fresh legs when we grow weary.  We never run alone.’ All women welcome at any age or stage.  We also offer a crèche for little ones under school or maternelle age for which we make a small charge.  New babies are welcome in the study with us!  Come and enjoy fellowship, study and support.   For more information contact Helen Walley 02/354 59 85 or helen.walley@belgacom.net

Community Bible Study International, a non-denominational women's group,
continues its study of Acts on Wednesday 9.30 - 11.30 at the
International Baptist Church in Wezembeek-Oppem. Classes are available in
English and French and there is a crèche and children's programme available.
No previous bible study is necessary. For more information contact Susan
Srensgard on 010/22 75 02 or sstensgard@GEMission.com, Cheryl Ford on 02/657
71 09 or Sue Cox on 02/767 29 11 or cottoncox@hotmail.com.

‘Presence – Songs of worship and songs of life’ with artist/worship leader, Sue Rinaldi at 20.00 on Saturday 16 October at the British School, 3080 Tervuren. Free tickets at the door. Organised by St Paul’s Church, Tervuren. More info from 02/767 34 35 or Joanna.mckee@belgacom.net.

Also: Sue Rinaldi @ CYFA Open to any youth group ages 14-18. Sunday 17 October from 19.15 – 21.30 at CC2, St Pauls Church Centre, Hoornzeelstraat 24, 3080 Tervuren. More info from Youth Director: Paul Moynan on 02/767 34 35 or youth@stpaulstervuren.org  If you want to know more about Sue Rinaldi go to her website: www.soundhouse.uk.com

Learning To Listen Course (Acorn Christian Foundation) Encompasses teaching and practical learning on Listening to others, Listening to ourselves and Listening to God. Saturday 16 October and Saturday 4 December, Charles Le Jeune Centre, Holy Trinity Church from 9.30 - 16.30. Bring your own packed lunch.  €35 covers required course fee, all materials, refreshments etc. Open to anyone who has not done a Listening course before or who has only done The Importance of Listening and would like to go further - or you may want a refresher.  Particularly recommended if you are in any kind of leadership rôle, prayer ministry or require good listening skills for your work or at home.  The course is a prerequisite for a series of small bite-sized courses which stand alone entitled Time to Listen to Change, to Bereavement, to Young people, to Depression etc. which will be offered in Spring 2005.  Course tutors trained with Acorn Christian Foundation:  Helen Walley and Julia Leigh, who have backgrounds in Counselling and teaching respectively.  Please ask Helen for a brochure, 02/354 59 85 or helen.walley@belgacom.net   Also available on church website www.htbrussels.com  Closing date for applications:  Friday 8 October.

INFORMATION

Accommodation needed early 2005 Is there anyone willing to have a mother and her 6-year-old daughter as lodgers from 5 January to 25 March 2005? This lady is a Christian, British and an experienced nurse. She is coming to Brussels to do some research at VUB with the World Health Organisation. Her child will be going to a school in Scharbeek. She would like to lodge with, housesit for someone or rent a flat during these nearly three months. If anyone can help or knows of a place please contact Helen Walley as soon as possible on 02/354 59 85 or Helen.walley@belgacom.net for more information.

Cleaning Thank you for your response. However we’re not there yet! Due to the fact that the Council did not feel it right to spend at least €20,000 per annum on cleaning, the church has now arranged for a new cleaning system which requires the active help of at least some members of the congregation. We are most grateful to Dora for heading up our church cleaning team and those students who will assist her. However, please offer your help to Dora on at least an occasional basis so that our renovated buildings can remain a church centre that we can always be proud of.

Beslan It was generally considered that we had a very worthwhile meeting recently when thirteen of us reflected on the outrage at Beslan. We shared Scripture and prayed that God would bring good out of evil. Reflecting on Hosea’s shattering experience (Hosea 1-3) with his wayward wife we drew comfort from God’s promise that he would make the Valley of Achor (the place where Achan was stoned following his sin at Jericho – Joshua 7) ‘a door of hope’. This led us to pray that, just as God would bring good out of evil at Achor, there might also be revival in Beslan and throughout the Caucasus through this terrible event. Vladimir Hankishiev told us of the pastor who lost six of his eight children. This surely concentrated our minds! I was reminded of the hymn written by the American hymn writer Horatio G. Spafford following the drowning of his three daughters: “When peace like a river attendeth my way,/when sorrows like sea-billows roll,/whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say,/’It is well, it is well with my soul.’” We agreed to continue to pray for Beslan.

Archdeacon's retirement gift  As some of you will already know, the Archdeacon of North-West Europe, The Venerable Geoffrey Allen, is due to retire very shortly. The Archdeaconry is making a collection for him and, if you would like to contribute, you are invited to leave a donation with the ushers at the end of the service. 

Available for anyone interested brand new Canon BCI 21 printer cartridges (1 black, 1 colour) bought by mistake. Please contact Vicki at Church House on 02 511 71 83.

The Prayer Chain welcomes requests for prayer for any situation with 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.

Items for the Newsletter Please send these, at the latest by 9.00 on Tuesday, to David.Iliff@Pandora.be or to the Church Office at admin@htbrussels.com