Chaplain’s Letter

The article on Coptic Connections (see below) started via a conversation with two workmen in church and then got me thinking about the way in which human lives intersect in a most surprising manner. 

‘Six degrees of separation’ refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is an average of six "steps" away from each person on Earth.  It is quite a fun concept to play with.  If we limit the contact to a handshake, then having shaken hands with both Queen Elizabeth and the Archbishop of Canterbury I find that a vast network of politicians, celebrities and sports people are within two degrees of separation from me.  Similarly, having spent a little time in Africa, I am no more than two degrees of separation away from some of the poorest people on earth.  All this might seem somewhat superficial, as it is not the number of contacts that is important but their quality.  How many ‘Face Book’ ‘friendships’ are really significant?   For Christians it is important how much care, respect and love we put into our relationships. 

At the Rentrée this year we look forward to renewing acquaintances and catching up with one another.  We will also meet people new to our community, perhaps even those who are new to church.   We all need good relationships: at work, in school, at church, at home.  The one relationship above all others that we can be sure of is the one with God, who as Trinity embodies loving relationships.  God has no need of anything or anyone outside himself, and yet he chooses to offer us a place within his life.  Like the figures in the Coptic icon, God, in Christ, extends the offer of a deep relationship with him.  May our life as his people at Holy Trinity mirror this relationship, in our worship of him and our care and concern for each other.

Trevor Whitfield

Who are the Copts and what’s their belief are questions that are often asked.  Here are some answers from our chaplain.

Coptic Connections

In conversation with the two young men who were redecorating the church recently, we discovered that they both came from Egypt.  As we spoke further they said how pleased they were to be working in a church as they were both Copts. 

Holy Trinity has had links with Coptic Christians over recent years via our Mission and Outreach Committee.  At the instigation of Dr & Mrs.  Salib, former members of Holy Trinity, we have supported the work among the so called ‘garbage people’ of Mokattam, who make a living by recycling the rubbish of Cairo.  When Christine Salib visited us recently she mentioned that she and her husband are moving back to Cairo where they want to offer their medical and nursing skills by opening a clinic.

The Coptic Church has a long history, claiming St Mark as founder, and scholars and bishops of Alexandria in the early centuries of Christianity as fathers (e.g.  Clement, Athanasius).  It preserves the Coptic (ancient Egyptian) language, and observes the liturgy and sacraments of the ancient Alexandrian rite.  It maintains a monastic tradition and structure, its head (called a ‘pope’) being elected by a religious tribunal and confirmed by the Egyptian government.  Its members make up around seven percent of the population of Egypt today.  The Church resisted the Muslim conquest in the seventh century and survived to the present day, but not without difficulties.  One of the young decorators spoke very bitterly about his own experience.  Yet the church does more than survive.  One of its most stunning modern church building is hewn literally out of rock, forming an open air amphitheatre with seats for many thousands!

Although its title is The Orthodox Coptic Church, it is not a member of the Orthodox Community along with the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches, but is one of the “Oriental Orthodox” Churches which did not accept the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, which had agreed that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, two natures in one person.  The Copts split from the rest of the Church, as did the Churches of Syria and Armenia.

If you visit the Louvre you might well come across an ancient Coptic icon showing two men standing next to each other, both within a framework of golden light.  The cross in the halo of the man on the right, and the Greek letters for saviour swter indicate that it is Jesus, as does the Bible he is holding, the Word made flesh.  The figure on the left is Abba Mena, a monk, whose right hand is pointing to Christ, in the same way that icons of the Virgin and Christ show Mary pointing to her Son, who is the focus of our love and devotion.

The striking thing about this picture is the intimacy between the two figures.  They are like brothers or close friends, inseparable, the hand of Jesus resting on the shoulder of Abba Mena.  Both are surrounded by the same golden light and within the life and light of the Holy Spirit they look out toward us as if asking: “Do you want to join us?”

Perhaps we can join them in a very practical way by continuing our support of the Salibs’ work and maintaining our Coptic connections.

T.W.

Karin Whitfield gives us some prayers for the Rentrée.

Prayers

I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of man to be busy with.  He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.  I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; also that it is God’s gift to man that every one should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil.  I know that whaterver God does endures for ever and ever… Ecclesiastes 3.  10-14

Almighty God, as a community and as individuals we thank you for your goodness shown to us each day. 

We thank you for the summer now past, praying especially for those for whom it has been difficult to be happy and enjoy themselves.  May the gentle hand of Christ rest on their shoulder and give them comfort and courage.

We thank you that we can eat and drink together, giving special thanks for the wedding feast of Millie Salisbury and John Crosse and for the baptism feast of Felix Phipps.  May we seek to share God’s gift of food and drink with everyone.

We ask that we may truly take pleasure in all our toil within our church, at home, at school

KW

Whether you read the Bible alone or in a group this book, reviewed by Jean Lefèvre, underlines how we can get the most out of it.

Life with God, by Richard Foster.

Do you read the Bible? Why? How? What do you expect from this experience, whether alone or in a group?

The theme of Richard Foster’s new book ‘Life with God’ gives a hint of what is described in the subtitle as ‘A life-transforming new approach to Bible reading’. He outlines the two most common errors of those who attempt to study ‘Holy writ’ —the first being a tendency to concentrate on the acquisition of information or knowledge alone, and the second, in trying to find ‘a formula that will solve the pressing need of the moment’. He suggests that the Bible can be used in ways that actually stifle or destroy spiritual life and insists that the Bible does not primarily exist for historical knowledge, literary appreciation or religious instruction. (Head knowledge). What is needed even before we start to read the Bible at all, is what he calls ‘Heart knowledge’, or what was called from very early on in the history of the Church, ‘lectio divina’, (listening, reflecting, praying and obeying). But both these aspects are necessary for ‘a balanced intake of Scripture’.

He starts with the Old Testament, and analysing it briefly, category by category and book by book points out how, over and over again, in all the stories of fallible human beings, God is seeking a loving relationship with his people which was to culminate in the birth of Jesus as Messiah, where we are given through the New Testament, a clearer revelation of his purposes for the whole world, - the Immanuel Principle (God with us). He then describes six spiritual disciplines exemplified in not only God’s people in the Bible, but in the lives and writings of diverse Christians throughout the ages up to the present day. He emphasises the importance of Bible reading as a corporate activity and identifies historical traditions in our common response to God which counterbalance each other, contributing to richer communal and personal worship. The last chapter of the book, ‘Living by Grace’, in which he calls on examples such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Mother Teresa, sums up what the Bible tells us about ourselves and others in this wonderful journey of God-given life.

J.L.

You’ll find out more about this book from a leaflet on the bookstall (near the coffee counter), and you can order it from Jean

Karen De la Tour describes the excellent work carried out by our local Secours Catholique, one of the charities supported by Holy Trinity.

A Day in the Life of the Secours Catholique

A short visit to the delightful volunteers at the Maisons-Laffitte Secours Catholique opened up my eyes to the often-unnoticed underprivileged people living in our town

The Secours Catholique, which has been operating for about forty years in Maisons-Laffitte, gave out over 140 food provision packages to the needy in 2007.  A typical day consists of greeting those in want and offering them a cup of coffee and perhaps some literature to take with them, followed by a visit with a few volunteers to set up a file and pinpoint an applicant's need for social assistance.  The Secours Catholique works side by side with social workers from the mayor's office to which applicants are assigned.  The social worker can then put the deprived in contact with the help they need whether it be medical, psychological, housing, or other. 

Once a file has been established and special needs noted the newcomer receives twenty Euros in coupons to purchase clothes, shoes, handbags, or linens.  These coupons are renewed every few months.  The Secours Catholique store is open on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings and has anywhere from 25 to 45 visitors a day.  On the day we visited the Secours Catholique, they had already sold 260 Euros-worth of their items.  The money that is received from their store and braderies (they have a Christmas and summer braderie) is then sent to the headquarters in Versailles to be distributed on an ‘as-required’ basis to surrounding Secours Catholique Centers throughout the Yvelines.  The Secours Catholique association is also aligned with Caritas, which gives international aid for the poor and distressed. 

Every Thursday the Maisons-Laffitte Secours Catholique provides a social hour called "Le Petit Café" to allow their regulars and newcomers as well to get together and play cards and chat.  On December 25^th of each year the Center has a Christmas dinner for the needy.  Holy Trinity Church has contributed to this dinner for the past couple of years, and the SC Centre is looking for more volunteers for this event as so few people are available on this sacred holiday. 

The fifty-strong volunteer force would like to stress that the Secours Catholique store is open to the public as well and has a wide variety of appealing clothing, toys and leather goods.  Please do not hesitate to stop by on a Tuesday or Saturday morning from 9am to 12 noon and take a look at what they offer.  You may just find the perfect thing, at a very low price.  The Secours Catholique is located at 28, rue du Fossé, next to St. Nicholas church. 

KdlT

Going to a new school? Or a new Church? How similar are they, asks Robbie  Gibson, and how can we help the new boys (and girls) to cope?

A Newcomer Writes …

Do you remember your first day at a new school?  No, neither do I, but I imagine that I probably felt similar emotions on my first Sunday at Holy Trinity two years ago as I did on that far-off Monday morning in Belfast when I went to Big School for the first time.  Of course, at Big School the teachers take a while to get to know your name, but I was pleasantly surprised to be recognised and welcomed by Debbie Flach on my first Sunday here (I had had a brief stint working with the Youth Group here at the end of the 20th century).  That was a gentle reminder to me of the importance of genuine human contact at the beginning of a stint in a new area.

Obviously, our expectations are always shaped by our previous experiences.  In my case I had previously attended several different institutions in several different countries (I'm talking about church now, not school, in case it isn't obvious) although always within the Anglican Communion.  The principal advantage of that, of course, was that when I arrived in Holy Trinity I knew most of the words of the liturgy, and even when to stand up and when to sit down.  All my previous churches had regarded the Lord's Supper as a kind of special treat once a month so I was surprised to see it given every week, and sung communion was new for me as well.  Now I've managed to learn all the words I find that I actually quite enjoy it, after getting over the initial culture shock!

Another thing that was different for me coming here was the number of social events happening.  Where my previous churches had managed one summer fête or an annual barn dance, Holy Trinity has an astonishing number of events to which it is very easy to invite friends or colleagues.  You may be, as I am, somewhat ambivalent about the fund-raising aspect (I feel that a church should be self-supporting without recourse to outside sources) but the fact remains that the primary purpose of reaching out into the community is largely successful.  When you attend your next Holy Trinity event, as you munch your hot-dog or dance a jig, remember that contact with you might be the closest some people get to experiencing Jesus.

So now I am no longer a new boy, but a third year.  I strongly feel that is our responsibility as old-timers to keep a watch out for those recently arrived in the area or at church and to give them a welcome that speaks immediately of God's grace and His love.  The welcome team and Karin and Trevor do a great job, but they can't be everywhere and talk to everybody, especially in the busy rentrée period.  This September, why not make a point of meeting some new people (or even those who've been around a while but you've never got the chance to speak to)?  If you're feeling particularly courageous you might even consider inviting them round for dinner!

RG

Our University Correspondent, Claire Gilmore, brings us up to date with her latest news.

The Calm Before the Storm

Time always speeds up during those last few weeks of freedom before the whirlwind of the rentrée takes over again.

Riding on the wave of the British athletes’ success at the Olympics (though I shouldn’t speak too soon – there are still a few more days to go and medals to be won), I have been thinking back to the Holy Trinity “Champions Challenge” holiday club in July.  Helping out was a very rewarding experience because I saw the children starting to grasp some of the more complex aspects of Christianity whilst enjoying themselves enormously. 

At the moment I am enjoying a day on the beach in Brittany, near Pont-Aven in the Finistère.  Apart from a boating incident involving a ripped sail and a visit from the ‘sauveteurs en mer’, it has all been smooth sailing with barbecues, regattas and many special moments shared with friends and family. 

Yesterday, we planned a picnic on a friend’s boat.  No sooner had we attacked the chicken than, in true Breton fashion, it started to pour with rain and very soon we all looked like drowned rats.  The more intrepid of us decided to jump in off the side and as it turns out, it was far warmer in the sea than it was on the boat. 

 So I am seizing every opportunity to soak up the last rays of the summer before returning to the wet and blustery microclimate that is Bristol.

I am very excited about starting again but also slightly worried that I have caught the gap-year syndrome of extreme procrastination, compulsive doodling and giving in to the tempting summer reads still on display at Waterstone’s instead of digging my teeth into the Canterbury Tales. 

CG

Nicolas de la Tour gives us the Teens’ commentary.

?rinity  ?eens

The Olympic Games and the Rentrée

This year the Olympic Games started on the 9th of August in Beijing, China.  The best athletes in the world assembled to compete for their personal honour and for their countries.  At this time of writing, it seems to be going well for Korea, the US, Australia, Great Britain and some other countries, and mostly for China.  It looks like for four years they found the best in their huge population and trained them to death for the Olympics. 

I took a special interest in fencing that the French almost won, but at the last minute the French guy, Nicolas Lopez, a southern athlete, got beaten by the Chinese player Z.  Hong.  I was impressed by Michael Phelps, the American swimmer, who was relentless and won 8 GOLD medals during the games.     

Sometimes as we watch the athletes we wonder what drives them to make them go so far.  It must involve a lot of sacrifices due to the rigorous training they have and it requires strength of character to continue even in the face of defeat. 

While watching the women’s swimming event we saw Laure Manaudou lose, and it was sad to see her crying in front of the reporters.  We can all relate to her disappointment. 

In two weeks’ time we will begin a new school year where we will be faced with many challenges, some defeats and disappointments.  We need to remember the famous quote that must keep most Olympic athletes going: “Don’t ever give up!”

NdlT

What happens to all those children who troop out after the first hymn?   Elizabeth Ragsdale provides the answer.

Back to Sunday School

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Christian parents, like myself, take comfort in this Bible verse.  We do what we can at home to teach our children about God and then we send them out into the world and hope that it “took”.  The world is a scary place today and in my opinion children need more than what we give them at home.  They don’t get it at school.  In fact, my son comes home with stories of being attacked for his belief in God by some of his classmates.  I find this very worrying but I tell him that he can be a gentle loving witness to nonbelievers everywhere, even at school.  How can I assist him when at 9 years old he is perhaps forming the most important decisions of his life?   What a tall order!

There is an African proverb that states: "It takes a village to raise a child." This is a very controversial statement, but I firmly believe that it happens whether we agree with it or not.  Our children are greatly impacted by grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, dance instructors, scout leaders, coaches and many others.

I believe that it is important to have a solid base in Christianity, which makes this verse in Proverbs an eventual reality.  For me, that means bringing my children to church and to Sunday school to learn about the Word of God.  I think it is very important that my children encounter other children learning about God and that they have a healthy forum in which to discuss their doubts, fears and of course, joys of being a Christian child today.  I would like to assure you that we have this available in our Sunday School classes at Holy Trinity. 

We have an energetic and dedicated team of men and women who put in many hours perfecting weekly bible lessons, organizing summer camps, presenting special dramas such as the Christmas Nativity service and preparations for First Holy Communion and Confirmation…to name a few.

What do we do in a normal Sunday school service?   When you say goodbye to the children in church, they are taken to an assembly where they are all together and where we sing and say prayers to ask the Lord’s blessings on our lessons.  We then break up into four age-appropriate groups, each one led by two teachers who present the same lesson that Trevor is discussing in his sermon.  We use the workbook “Living Stones”, and the lessons are especially designed for each age group.  The group breakdown is as follows:

· Sparklers 3-4 (petite and moyenne sections)

· Shooting Stars 5-6 (grande section and CP)

· All-stars 7-8 (CE1 and CE2)

· Trailblazers 9-11 (CM1 and CM2)

In addition, we have the following groups for the older children who meet on Sundays:

· Pathfinders 12-13

· Youth Group 14 plus

· Lycée Group 16-18s

During the 5 years that I’ve been teaching the children at Holy Trinity, my Christian life has been enriched beyond measure.  Something magical happens when I stand before a group of eager and impressionable children with a Bible in my hand.  I quietly confirm my own faith over and over and as the questions pour forth I inevitably answer questions for myself. 

To illustrate this experience, the following is a list of children’s questions about God from the “Times Online”, from July 19, 2007.

Twenty questions parents said were unanswerable. 

1. Does God exist?  

2. Has God got a beard?

3. Is there life after death?  

4. If God made us who made God?  

5. What does God look like?  

6. Why is the world here?

7. Who created God?

8. Why are people bad to each other?

9. Why are we here?   Am I real or is this just a dream?

10. If God is everywhere why do we have to go to church to see him?  

11. Why can't we ring God up?  

12. Why does Easter change its dates each year?  

13. Why is God all around us?  

14. Why is there a world?  

15. Why is there so much war in the world?  

16. Why do we have wars?  

17. Why do I believe in one God while my Hindu friend believes in lots and is my God the same as my Jewish friends’? 

18. Do you know why Jesus wept? 

19. Who made the universe? 

20. Does God have a mum? 

Even though I find some of these questions quite simple to answer obviously others need a bit more thought! If you’ve ever thought of a deeper commitment to our church we are always in need of new teachers.  With a large team, each teacher can teach perhaps one Sunday per month and then enjoy sitting in church during the service with the adults the rest of the month.  No prior experience is necessary.  We have men and women, as well as young adults, and it might be a decision that could change your Christian life dramatically.

I would like to end with mentioning two trusted servants on our team who are stepping down this year.  Rachel Ischoffen has served as Sunday School Coordinator for the past 6 years.  She is passing the baton to Cathy Simonnet and…yours truly! We would appreciate your prayers and support as we take on this new role.

Lastly, our lovely and talented Christine Hart is venturing away from working with our children in order to pursue other services in our church community.  I would like to finish with a special vote of thanks to Christine from all of us- parents, children and the teachers alike.

ER

Jean Genock looks back on her early days as an expatriate and shares the lessons it taught her

Our First Expatriate Experience

I often wonder who is really in charge of our destiny, are we, or is there someone behind us?

Why do we make decisions which change our lives?  Why do some people suffer more than others, does suffering make us stronger?  In our case I am convinced our experiences helped us through life’s crises & problems.

I came to Paris for the first time 48 years ago as a young bride.  Max’s grandparents were French and he had spent many holidays in Paris so he was eager to show me his favourite city.  I immediately fell in love with it.  Little did we know that many years later we would be back as expatriates and finally retire in Paris. Was this in the plan for us?  Our destiny?

Max’s first job was in Banbury and when a posting to Jamaica came up he said “Yes.” I was in agreement, eager to broaden our outlook and see how the rest of the world lived.

July 1968, amid great excitement and some apprehension we were starting this great adventure with our young daughters, Yvette & Suzanne, with a holiday crossing over to New York on the legendary liner ‘France’, a memorable experience.  We were met by Max’s aunt & uncle; Eve had been a nurse and missionary in Africa before WWII and Ed a war correspondent with Paramount News.  They had planned a trip with us around the East Coast which gave us the opportunity to get to know a couple whose faith and belief in God was at the time difficult for us to grasp, but has since become much clearer.  Was it destiny or God’s Will that we should spend this time with them?

On to Jamaica.  Expats in those days were not given much information as to what to expect.  The culture shock was great and on our first visit to Mandeville market we seemed to be the only white faces around.  Should we be there was our first reaction! We had a lot to learn.  One thing that struck us was the poverty but, at that time, the Jamaicans were also happy go-lucky and did not seem to yearn for material things.  Life was simple and uncomplicated for them and in some ways for us too.  It was, to use a favourite phrase of Max’s, ‘a learning curve’. 

We gradually adapted to life in a hot humid country.  We learned amongst other things to air everything on sunny days, even books; to look in your shoes before putting them on, and sieve the flour for weevils before you used it.  Our main water supply was the rain water off the roof, collected in huge tanks which held goldfish to eat the mosquito larvae.  Drinking water was from a tap in the garden which was turned on for roughly 2 hours a day or sometimes not at all!  Milk, which we pasteurised ourselves, we collected from the farm together with eggs.  The local fruit and vegetables, like plantain, yams, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, breadfruit, okra, papaya, mangoes etc were all new to us.  The local shops, run mainly by the Chinese community, had basic commodities, no frills, sugar, salt and soap could become scarce.  There were, thank goodness, no snakes but many different insects, the worst being the mosquitoes which particularly liked Suzanne and me.   Our favourite small reptile was the lizard; they lived behind the curtains and would dart out to catch the mosquitoes.  Our house was sprayed once a month against cockroaches, as however clean the kitchen was they would be found in the drawers and cupboards. 

Despite all these small inconveniences there is no doubt we were privileged.  Our bungalow was on the top of a hill.  On a clear day we could watch the sunrise over the sea 30 miles away.  Our garden was overgrown when we arrived.  I planted, with the help of a garden boy, (when he wasn’t sleeping in the shade) bougainvillaea in many different colours.  The majority of Jamaicans in our area lived in shacks with small patches of land where they grew vegetables, kept chickens and goats.  so they did not starve and despite having no real comforts they were always singing and dancing in their villages.

The development by the big Aluminium Companies to produce alumina from locally mined bauxite changed things considerably.  There was work for the men on the construction sites and for the women in the homes of the Expats.  Unfortunately, when the construction ceased only a few of them were skilled enough to work in the plants.  This was the one of the turning points for Jamaica.  Some newly unemployed men took to attacking and robbing the houses.  Where there had been local crops grown these were replaced by marijuana as obviously this brought in more money.

At the end of our stay, only 17 months, we lived in fear of being robbed.  Our neighbour was attacked during the day, she managed to escape and came running up the hill to me.  Our telephone as usual did not work (no portables in those days) so I had to drive half a mile to our other neighbour to call the police.  Their reaction was very laid-back and by the time they came the attacker had long gone.  Thereafter we had an armed night guard.  Whether it was this, our black dog (Jamaicans were said to be afraid of them) or someone else watching over us, we remained the only house of the 20 in our neighbourhood which was not burgled.

We visited many parts of the Island with their very diverse landscapes.  The route over the Blue Mountains was an adventure in itself, with unexpected obstacles, like cows lying in the road.  On the beautiful North Coast, we ended up capsizing a dinghy with the two girls on board, and on a trip into the interior skirting the uninhabited Cockpit Country (where even today no one ventures), we nearly ran out of petrol.  Again someone seemed to be in charge!

When we left I remember feeling sad as we flew over the Island on our way to Kingston to be leaving what must be one of the most beautiful spots in the world and wondering what was to become of it.  How did a luscious apparently self-sufficient Island come to this, was there no God there to guide them or were they being put through a test?   That was nearly 40 years ago and violence is still a feature.  For those who knew Andy Lovelace, a member of our congregation, his mother & father retired to Jamaica to run a church and help their people.  Not long after they arrived his father was shot outside the church; luckily he recovered but one asks why this should happen to someone who was trying to preach God’s word.

Our next expatriate posting was Milan, Italy, another climate, another language, another culture and another ‘learning curve’.  I do believe, however, that our short stay in Jamaica had prepared us to meet the challenges which followed. 

My advice to families on an expatriate assignment would be: try to integrate as much as possible, take time to understand the local people, make the most of the experience of being in a different environment, and finally never look back...

The past is not important; live for today because it is the dream of tomorrow.   I would not be what I am today if I had not passed by there (the past).

JG

A Sunday School teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year-year-olds.

After explaining the commandment to ‘honour your father and your mother’, she asked, ‘Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’

Without missing a beat, one boy (the oldest of a family of seven) answered, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’

Hop on the roundabout with Jeannie Lassez and Karen de la Tour and catch up on people and news.

Round About Chat

Trusting that all of you have had a profitable and restful summer, we are happy to find you all once again at the Rentrée in our church community.  Summer, with its glorious, sunshiny days, as well as with its grey and ominous clouds bursting with rain, has indeed visited us and left us with various and many souvenirs.  For some, time was spent at the seaside, with waves and salt air to awake and refresh the spirit.  Others have had peaceful moments in the country, to relax and rest the soul.  Others have had adventures in mountainous places, close to the skies and with marvellous views to delight the eye.  And others have seen faraway places and taken in cultural delights perhaps fashioned so long ago.

Maybe some of us have not been able to get away at all this summer, but at any rate, we hope that you have at least been able to enjoy the slightly more empty streets and the slower pace of life that installs itself in our communities during July and August.  And now, there is much news to share, and it’s always fun to see what is going on in our friends’ lives.

Some of our families have moved this past summer, and we would like to mention the Edwards, who have moved back to Britain.  However, before leaving, Fergus Edwards managed to receive the “Médaille de Bronze” in the Benjamins Nationale 3 in Horseball.  In case any of you don’t know what Horseball is, just stop by the paddocks at the Hippodrome on a Wednesday afternoon and you can see this sport being performed by lots of enthusiastic, young riders.  So anyway, we congratulate Fergus for this honour….

Speaking of “moving”, we warmly welcome the Lawson family- Suzanne, Bruce, Ian and Colin- into Maisons-Laffitte, where they decided to make their home after having spent some time in St. Germain-en-Laye.  We are so happy to have them, and they live only a couple of houses down from the Loubrys on avenue Condé…. 

That big ole stork was seen cruising around again back in May, and we can’t deny it after having seen the proof that a gorgeous, wee bundle in blue was dropped off at the Cox residence.  Congratulations are in order for Caroline, Duncan and Lucy Cox upon the arrival of baby Callum….

Another very happy event took place at Holy Trinity the last Saturday in August as our own Millie Salisbury and Jon Crosse took their vows of holy matrimony.  Congratulations to the new couple, and to proud parents of the radiant bride, Steve and Christine Salisbury….

Happy to be home in the States this summer for a family visit was Mary Lisa Trufanow.  She and her son, Nicolas, had a wonderful three weeks in her home state of Colorado.

More moving lorries were seen this past summer going to and fro, carrying the belongings of two of our wonderful musicians and long-time members of Holy Trinity, Richard and Carol Griffiths.  It is said that the Griffiths have gone to Brittany to retire, but we hope to see them often at our church whenever they have a hankering to come east! We will sorely miss them….

And now, not a moving lorry but an airplane carried the last member of the Pokorny family, husband and dad, Raymond, out westward to Seattle, Washington, USA to spend three weeks with wife Gail and their sons in the States.  We are so happy for their being reunited, and pray that  their house may soon be sold and Raymond will be able to rejoin them on a permanent basis.

And lastly, a bit of news about our former Youth Director, Nathan Lambert, and his lovely bride, Beki! Nathan has been hired by St. Marks in Versailles as their Youth Director, and they now have the address of 46, av.  de Sceaux, 78000, Versailles.  And although no stork has been sighted flying around this address, a tiny, red tabby kitten has made its way into their hearts and home, to delight them with its antics! So welcome to baby “Gaufre”!

Well, thanks for bearing with us as we shared our news, and feel free to look around you this Rentrée and see if there aren’t any other titbits just waiting to be found out and passed around!

JL & KdlT

Ever wonder who’s that man on the right, up front?  Read on and find out from Nancy Huguet

Parish Person

Stephen Hopkins was born in Bedford Hospital, Bedfordshire on 23 April 1945 on the feast of St. George.  The flags were flying and there was much rejoicing, as it was the end of WWII and close to VE day.

Stephen, his older brother and his parents lived in Ampthill for his younger years.  He was baptized at the Ampthill Wesleyan Chapel.  Whilst at junior school he started singing in the local Methodist choir, and then at Luton Parish Church, a passion which continues to hold a special place for him today.

When he was 11, the family moved to Hertfordshire in order for Stephen to be eligible for St. Albans’ secondary school.  St. Alban’s was founded in 948 and was originally an abbey school.  At the time Stephen attended, it was boys only.  Stephen also sang with the school choir at St Albans. 

While living in Harpenden, Stephen joined the Crusaders, a Christian organization for boys (now mixed).  It was during this time that he made his decision to follow Christ.  Some of you may have been in church on 13 April this year, when Stephen celebrated his 50 year anniversary of following Christ.  He was confirmed at Harpenden parish church.

After doing A levels in pure and applied maths, Stephen did a teacher training course at St. Peter’s College, Saltley and taught in Birmingham.  His next stint was customer training with ICL.  At this time, he was very keen on bridge and when his bridge partner moved to France, Stephen decided it was time for a change of scenery and he followed.  The fact that he failed O level French three times seems not to have been a deterrent.

Stephen did a stint working for Honeywell Bull in France, where he was in the team that won the national companies bridge tournament.  Meanwhile, while he was at the British Consulate making sure he had the correct working papers, he discovered that just next door was St. Michael’s.  He started attending there, and while Eric McLellan was minister, Stephen felt that he was called to go into the ministry.  He was accepted on the condition that he do a pre-theology course. However, when the college closed, the acceptance became a refusal.  St. Michael’s gained a lay assistant.

In 1984, Stephen set up his own computer consultancy, which led him to move to the west of Paris, closer to his customer base.  He first came to HTC in order to replace Ben Eaton who was on holiday.  One Sunday, Stephen showed up expecting to hear Ben preach, only to discover that Ben was away and that his name was down as the replacement.  We know that God works in strange ways.  When Brian Lea, minister at St. Michael’s left, Stephen decided it was time to move to HTC.

I was fascinated to learn that Stephen has another hidden talent.  He is a bell ringer.  As a youth, in the village of Ulceby, north Lincolnshire, occupations were few and far between, so when the opportunity came up to learn to ring bells during the holidays, he took it.  Since then Stephen has rung bells in many churches in the UK (in France the bells are not hung for ringing).  As a bell ringer neophyte, I learned that each ringer rings a single bell, and that ringing all combinations on seven bells is known as a peal.

HTC is lucky to have Stephen as a lay assistant, seconding Trevor.  Stephen is currently on the Church Council as Treasurer and is also on the committee of the newsletter, doing the layout.  Stephen has an active role as godfather to the talented Pokorny boys (now living in the US).

NH

George Hart gives us some unexpected hints on how to get our cash back!

Getting Money Out of the Church

This sounds rather like getting blood out of a stone! It’s more normal for a church to ask you for money.  However, the church will refund you for expenditures you have made on its behalf, provided you follow certain simple rules.

Firstly, if it is a large sum of money it must be approved before you make the purchase.  What is a large sum?  Well that rather depends on the purpose and a number of other intangible factors… such as the weather.  Generally speaking, up to 100 € for a recognised church activity such as one of the Sunday Groups or a Fair or Fête can be paid without prior notice.  However, if you’re unsure, the best thing is to seek advice from either the Treasurer, Stephen Hopkins, or the Assistant Treasurer, George Hart, before spending money or committing the church to spending money.

Secondly, please get a formal receipt, made out to Holy Trinity Church, if at all possible.  However, for small sums a till receipt is sufficient.

Thirdly, write a note to the Treasurer along the lines of “Food bought for the Summer Fête.  Please reimburse me.  John Doe”, and date and sign it.  This can be written on the receipt, if it is large enough, or the receipt can be stapled (not paper-clipped, please) to an A4 sheet with the request on it.  If there are several receipts, please write down the individual figures and total them.  And if a receipt includes items for your own use, please indicate very clearly which ones are for the church, so that the calculations can be easily checked.

Fourthly, pass the whole thing to the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer (not to the Chaplain please – he has enough on his plate), or leave it in their tray in the office (the top one in the left hand stack at the left of the door).  One of them will write out a cheque and get it signed (all cheques need two signatures) and hand or post it to you.

PLEASE: if you have expenditure for something like the Summer Fête or Christmas Fair, do not wait until afterwards to ask for it to be refunded, but let one of us know as soon as you have paid it (or collect it from the stall’s takings on the day).  If we announce that it made (say) 6000 euros and then find out that a further 500 have to be paid out, it is rather depressing for the organiser.

If you have expenditure paid in sterling, we will generally pay the equivalent amount in euros (at the mid-point rate) unless you ask specifically for sterling.

If all this seems like a lot of fuss about very little when all you are trying to do is help the church, it is because we have to satisfy the auditor that all expenditures are justified, and may indeed have to do so for the French tax authorities if they decide to call our books in for inspection (as has happened to other churches).

Thank you and good luck.

GH

Christine Hart gives us some positive ideas on what we can look forward to this Autumn

The Rentrée

“Write something on the Rentrée”, said your editor.  Searching for an idea, I turned to the dictionary: rentrer: v.t; go/come back in.  Returning to or returning from, I wonder.  Of course for children, it’s Back to School; and for adults, there is a feeling of settling down into a familiar routine.  At Holy Trinity, we look forward to the Harvest Festival, Bonfire, and, coming all too fast, Christmas.

But are we exactly where we were last year?  Heraclitus said “You can’t step into the same river twice”.  Things change; life is a journey.  Children are in a different class or school, or maybe are off to university; people move houses - or countries - or jobs.  There is a sense of new beginnings.  I remember in my twenties the thrill of the new brochure for evening classes.  Would I learn fencing?  or car maintenance?  Would this be the year I finally mastered Italian for beginners?

Surrounded by images of the Olympic Games, I remember Paul’s exhortation to run the race to win.  Perhaps we need a goal in our spiritual lives as well.  We are not offered silver and bronze medals for nearly winning, only the gold of everlasting life.  Of course it’s non-competitive - everyone can win.  But perhaps we need to make a bit more effort - training involves daily discipline.  So could we use this Rentrée to make more time for prayer?  - join a Bible study group?  And because this ‘race’ is not just a personal one, but a team (community) one as well, what could we contribute to Holy Trinity? 

Back to the dictionary: “rentrer dans - to be included in”.  Now there is a goal for this Rentrée.

CH

Having problems with the Rentrée?  See what Jeremy Daynes has to say about it.  He’s a parent and a teacher, so he should know.

‘Total and Insane Horror’

 the Rentrée from an Educational Perspective

Anybody who has witnessed Carrefour’s stationery section at the end of August would have to agree with the above title – a loose scrum in a France vs.  England rugby match would seem like a walk in the park by comparison.  For parents the start of the new academic year in the French educational system is fraught with financial and emotional anxieties – the equipment, the forms, the bus-pass etc.  As La Petite Anglaise has put it, “The implication is that if your child does not start the new school year with a completely new (preferably designer) wardrobe, an Olympic standard sports kit and a shiny new bag containing the equivalent of half of the WHSmith stationery department, you are a bad parent and your child will be a social outcast.  It’s a very serious business...”

Well, let’s deal with the financial side first.  According to the Association Familles de France it can cost up to 1000 euros to equip a Senior Lycée pupil for the rentrée (and that’s just for hair products?!).  However, did you know that you can get a grant to help you with the cost of the rentrée.  If, for instance, you have 2 children under 10 and your net income last year was below 27000 euros then you would be entitled to 272 euros per child.  Also one way of avoiding the stationery department maelstrom is to order on line – and why not this year (and every year hence?) make it an environmentally friendly rentrée and buy recycled products?  Just Google and you will find a surprising number of companies now offering stationery made from recycled materials – including the must-buy Ellie-Poo paper, partly made from elephant dung.

Then there’s the emotional anxiety.  Well, it may be very real for you but at the end of the day this is actually not your issue.  It’s your child’s problem – and their response to the rentrée varies very much in line with their personality and their experience of school so far, if indeed they have been to school before.  When I asked Jessica as she enters the theoretically dreaded Terminale (last year of school – aptly named?), how she felt about going back, she answered, “No problem, you show your clothes off and you see your friends” … end of story! But for other children the rentrée can be traumatic.  French doctors even have a term for it – ‘Le mal de la rentrée’.  As the date for the rentrée nears, children often develop a range of minor ailments – headache, sore throat, upset stomach – and young patients with these symptoms are a ‘seasonal fixture’ in doctors’ waiting rooms and even hospital emergency rooms.  According to a paediatrician at the Lenval Children’s Hospital in Nice, “It’s quite normal for kids to be stressed after two months out of school but the problems usually clear up quickly once they’re back in the classroom.  The critical ages are 5 to 7 and then again early adolescence”.  It’s also obviously important to found out why your child seems stressed about going back to school.  As Laura Neden, a former teacher in England and now with two children in school in France, has pointed out, “With the smaller ones it’s often fear of separation but older pupils can have worries about renewed contact with a disliked teacher or about bullying.  These things are best talked through but not in a way that indicates the parent is equally worried.  That won’t help”. 

The crucial thing is to warn the teacher that your child has a problem.  As with many things in life, communication is essential – forewarned is forearmed – and if teachers are aware about the nature of your child’s difficulties they can take the appropriate steps to deal with it.  In the French system communication is not always easy but don’t assume that everything is fine just because the teacher hasn’t asked to see you.  You have the right to take an appointment with the teacher at a mutually convenient time.  Also talk with other parents, attend parent meetings, use the ‘association de parents d’élèves’ – you can often get through to the core problem via this group when you fail to do so individually. 

The rentrée sickness does not seem to be so prevalent in the international schools so perhaps you are debating about whether or not to put your child in the French system or perhaps you have decided and are concerned about whether you have made the right decision! The rule is to send your child to French school as early as possible but remember that starting a child over the age of 8 in a foreign language school, without any prior knowledge of the language, is likely to make it difficult, so special language classes are essential.  Success is dependent on many factors, but if a child is having difficulty with his or her own language they are highly unlikely to do well in another language and if they do not do well they may be required to repeat the year again, (with all the associated risks of exacerbating a sense of failure).  Also be aware that the French primary system is far from perfect.  In August 2007 a study of French public primary schools in France showed that 40% of 6.5 million students have “serious difficulties in reading, writing and mathematics as they go into middle school ………the system being resigned to the failure of these more vulnerable students and unable to help them catch up”.  The study also showed something that most of us are aware of anyway – “preschool children who are helped at home by an environment that encourages early learning have a real advantage and do much better than the other children in the class”.  So switch off the TV and put all your energies into making your child as ready as possible for school.

Finally, have you considered completely opting out of the madness of the rentrée altogether?  Many Christians have realised that the current education system simply reflects the values of a society that is increasingly removed from the path Jesus urges us to take.  Over the last 40 years Christianity has gradually been squeezed out of state school life and Religious Education is often no longer on the curriculum.  Here in France you are left with much less choice in terms of schools so some have taken the radical choice to home-school.  There is now an abundance of Christian home-schooling material available on line.  Here at Holy Trinity the Pokorny’s home-schooled their children, freeing them up to develop their musical talents – and we as a church enormously enjoyed the fruits of that decision.  My sister, Cherry, went one step further and helped start a Christian school in Strasbourg.  Perhaps one could be started at Maisons-Laffitte – it only takes a small nucleus of families to come to a joint-agreement...

JD

Iff yoo karnt spel yor kompiouter wil hellp yoo 2

Computer's Spell Check

I halve a spelling checker,

It came with my pea see.

It plainly marks four my revue

Mistakes I dew knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word

And weight four it two say 

Weather eye am wrong oar write

It shows me strait aweigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long 

And eye can put the era rite

Its rarely ever wrong.

I've scent this massage threw it,

And I'm shore your pleased too no 

Its letter prefect in every weigh; 

My checker tolled me sew.

Elizabeth Bean asks why we call ourselves Anglicans, and what’s the real meaning of “catholic”?

Is the Pope a Catholic?

This question was raised by Dr Colin Podmore during one of three addresses he delivered at this year's Archdeaconry Synod which took place at the I'Abbaye de Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer in Brittany in early April.  Dr.  Podmore is (amongst other things) a writer on matters of ecclesiology and is the author of "Aspects of Anglican Identity", published in 2005.  His presentations to the Synod were based on that work and they were, for me, an introduction to many concepts to which I had previously given precious little thought.  As a consequence of listening to Dr.  Podmore and of studying the ideas in his book, my ignorance in respect of matters ecclesiological has been laid bare, but therein lies the challenge.

It would be impossible to provide in this piece even a précis of the many ideas, issues and questions which Dr.  Podmore raises in his work, and indeed I would do a great injustice were I to attempt to distil them into a few paragraphs.  My aim here is to provide a taster which I hope will encourage others to seek a better understanding of why we call ourselves Anglicans, why we follow certain forms of worship, and how the church is structured and ordered.  I would urge anyone who is struggling (as I am) to comprehend the debates on issues such as whether women should be allowed to become Bishops or whether homosexuals should be permitted to take senior posts with the Church, to read "Aspects of Anglican Identity".

When I was at school I had learnt something of the Reformation and of the separation of the English Church from Rome.  I knew that these events had led to the Monarch becoming the head of the Church of England, thus denying the supremacy of the Pope.  However, my understanding of all this was rather sketchy, a mere faint outline of a tumultuous period in European history.  Yet Sunday after Sunday I dutifully recite the Nicene Creed in which appears the line "We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church", without fully understanding or appreciating just what it is I am claiming to believe in or quite why we say these words.  I had some inkling that "catholic" didn't actually refer to the Church of which the Pope is the supreme head, but my lazy intellectual skills didn't trouble themselves into pursuing a better understanding.

To return to that question "is the Pope a catholic?" No, he isn't; he's a Roman Catholic.  Dr.  Podmore reminds us that "catholic" is only one of the adjectives we attribute to the Church when we say the Nicene Creed, the others being "one, holy and apostolic".  The word catholic, he states, means 'according to the whole' and it was deliberately included in the Nicene Creed (and other prayers) by Cranmer and the English Reformers to demonstrate their wish to return to the faith of the primitive Church.  It is also re-iterated in the Preface to the latest version of the Declaration of Assent (which all Church of England bishops, priests, deacons and others have to make) which states "The Church of England is part of One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church worshipping one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit." This is a reminder that the Church of England is not an entity in itself; it is but a part of something bigger - the catholic Church as a whole.  "The Church is the body of Christ and the Church of England is part of that body", writes Dr.  Podmore.

For those who worship at Holy Trinity, however, perhaps the most pertinent of the issues raised by Dr.  Podmore concerns the nature and identity of Anglicanism and the Anglican Community.

On Holy Trinity's website we read that "the spirituality and worship of Holy Trinity is within the framework of the Anglican / Episcopal Church, but deeply conscious of the full riches of Christian spiritual experience of all denominations through the ages and today".

Thus worshippers from a wide spectrum find in their worship at Holy Trinity a place in which they can come to God, and we gain much from the diversity within the community of which we are a part.  Even so, I believe that there is much to be gained through the seeking after of clearer definition and comprehension of the terms which are used.

To quote Dr.  Podmore: "… the structures of the Anglican Communion are not an end in themselves.  As good Anglicans we should look beyond them towards a greater whole of which we long to be part.  … There is no distinctive doctrine that Anglicans preach.  ...This radically provisional character of the Anglican Communion means that developments within it must always be tested against the question, ‘does this take us closer to or father away from that wider unity of the Church to which we are called?’”

Being part of the Anglican community in Europe involves, I have found, being faced by challenges which I had not previously experienced as a member of the Church of England in England.  Until I heard Dr.  Podmore speak I had paid little heed to the fact that the Church of England is but one expression of Anglicanism, and thus my understanding of the debates surrounding the controversial issues of the day has been rather limited.

The scales have fallen from my eyes and though this has been a humbling experience, the fuller knowledge which I am now gaining through study of "Aspects of Anglican Identity" together with other researches and reading, is enriching my faith by revealing to me the foundations off which the Christian church is built.

EB

This moving article is from a member of the congregation who wishes to remain anonymous

Walking on Water

Sunday Worship at Holy Trinity on 10 August was a particularly up-lifting experience.  The Chaplain being away, we worshipped following the Order for Morning Service, the prayers in which are so helpful in their simplicity and meaning.  All the hymns were ones I recall singing at school so I was able to sing them at the top my tuneless voice.  The Gospel reading was taken from Matthew Chapter 14 and recounts how Jesus and then Peter walked on water.  Stephen delivered a very helpful sermon based on that reading but it reminded me also of a beautiful story quoted by Judy Hirst in her book "Struggling to be Holy".  The story was written by Anthony de Mello.  I re-read it when I returned home from Church, and once again found it so incredible in its impact and so inspiring, so thought-provoking, that I want to share it with whoever will listen! The story is called "We Are Three" and goes as follows:-

'When the bishop's ship stopped at a remote island for a day, he determined to use the time as profitably as possible.  He strolled along the sea shore and came across three fishermen mending their nets.  In pidgin English they explained to him that centuries before they had been Christianized by missionaries.  'We, Christians!' they said, proudly pointing to one another.

The bishop was impressed.  Did they know the Lord's Prayer?  They had never heard of it.  The bishop was shocked.

'What do you say, then, when you pray?'

'We lift our eyes in heaven.  We pray, "We are three, you are three, have mercy on us."

The bishop was appalled at the primitive, the downright heretical nature of their prayer.  So he spent the whole day teaching them the Lord's Prayer.  The fishermen were poor learners, but they gave it all they had and before the bishop sailed away the next day he had the satisfaction of hearing them go through the whole formula without fault.

Months later the bishop's ship happened to pass by those islands again and the bishop, as he paced the deck saying his evening prayers, recalled with pleasure the three men on that distant island who were now able to pray, thanks to his patient efforts.  While he was lost in thought he happened to look up and noticed a spot of light in the east.  The light kept approaching the ship and, as the bishop gazed in wonder, he saw three figures walking on the water.  The captain stopped the boat and everyone leaned over the rails to see this sight.

When they were within speaking distance, the bishop recognised his three friends, the fishermen.

'Bishop!' they exclaimed.  'We hear your boat go past island and come hurry hurry to meet you.'

'What is it you want?' asked the awe-stricken bishop.

'Bishop,' they said, 'we so, so sorry.  We forget lovely prayer.  We say "Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come...", then we forget.  Please tell us prayer again.'

The bishop felt humbled.

'Go back to your home, my friends,' he said, 'and each time you pray, say, "We are three, you are three, have mercy on us!"

Here’s some good advice contributed by Hesry Marshall

A.S.A.P.  = Always Say A Prayer

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.?  Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives.  Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet; You've got no time to spare, But as you hurry and scurry- ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos, 'Quality time' is rare. 
Do your best; let God do the rest- ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

It may seem like your worries Are more than you can bear. 
Slow down and take a breather- ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER 

God knows how stressful life is; He wants to ease our cares, 
And He'll respond to all your needs A.S.A.P.  - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER. 

Here are some original recipes from Claudia Parr.

Food For Harvest Time

Harvest Festival used to be celebrated at the beginning of the Harvest season on 1 August and was called Lammas, meaning ‘loaf Mass’.  Farmers made loaves of bread from the new wheat crop and gave them to their local church.  They were then used as the Communion bread during a special mass thanking God for the harvest.  The custom ended when Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, and nowadays we have harvest festivals at the end of the season.  At the start of the harvest, communities would appoint a strong and respected man of the village as their ‘Lord of the Harvest’.  He would be responsible for negotiating the harvest wages and organising the fieldworkers.  The end of the harvest was celebrated with a big meal called a Harvest Supper, eaten on Michaelmas Day.  The ‘Lord of the Harvest’ sat at the head of the table.  A goose stuffed with apples was eaten along with a variety of vegetables.  Goose Fairs were and still are held in English towns at this time of year.

The tradition of celebrating Harvest Festival in churches as we know it today began in 1843, when the Reverend Robert Hawker invited parishioners to a special thanksgiving service for the harvest at his church at Morwenstow in Cornwall.  Victorian hymns such as “We plough the fields and scatter”, “Come ye thankful people, come” and “All things bright and beautiful” helped popularise his idea of harvest festival and spread the annual custom of decorating churches with home-grown produce for the Harvest Festival service.

A traditional harvest meal should include local produce in season, but city living makes this difficult sometimes.  This first recipe uses pumpkin which is not only in season in France, but is traditionally used in many countries throughout the world to celebrate the harvest season, and, of course, the American Thanksgiving

ROAST LAMB CUTLETS WITH PUMPKIN

Cooking time: About 45 minutes    Serves 4

Place the pumpkin or butternut squash, red onion, potatoes and garlic in a large roasting tin (spread out into a single layer).  Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle over the chilli flakes and toss together until the vegetables are coated in oil.  Add the lamb cutlets to the vegetables, season with salt and ground black pepper and sprinkle with the sprigs of rosemary.

Transfer to the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, turning the cutlets over halfway through the cooking.

This next recipe is certainly not local to here but it is a dish that reminds me of a meal we had once that was a truly genuine celebration of a local harvest.  Some fifteen years ago, during a two year stay in Northern Lincolnshire, we took part in a harvest supper in our deeply rural village.  All our neighbours were farmers and the harvest table was laden with their local delicacies.  Haslet, which comes from an Old French word for entrails, used to be made from pigs offal.  Today it is made using minced pork and the word basically refers to the fact that all the ingredients are very finely minced.  The area was famous for its pigs and the recipe, a type of meatloaf, is unique to the area although meatloaf is known in a variety of forms worldwide.

LINCOLNSHIRE HASLET

Serves 4 – 6

Soak the bread in sufficient milk or water to cover and, when soft, squeeze out the excess moisture.  Set the oven to 190°C/375ºF.  Mix together the bread, pork, onion, sage and seasoning.  Put through a fine mincer or mince it finely in a food processor.  Lightly grease a 1 – 1.5 litre (2½ - 3 lb.) loaf tin.  Put the mixture into the tin and press down firmly and evenly.  Bake for 1½ - 2 hours, covering the top with kitchen foil if it browns too quickly.  Allow to cool slightly in the tin, then turn out and allow to cool completely.  Serve cold, sliced, with salad and boiled potatoes.

CP

Hallo from the Editor

Many thanks to those of you who responded to my plea in the summer newsletter to bring back other churches’ magazines from your holidays; it was interesting to compare them with ours.  A friend from the U.K.  to whom I showed “Trinity Times" commented “This is different from any other church magazine I’ve ever seen.” As you can imagine I couldn’t wait to hear the reason why, was it good or mediocre or just downright bad?  Can you guess?  (I didn’t).  Then he added “It’s the only one with no advertising in it.” Sighs of relief, and I hope you’ll agree that this is a plus-point and that our aim is to advertise what we believe in and how that affects everything we do, both spiritually and practically, as well as showing our varied interests.  We’re a lively community and we try to reflect this in the range of articles we print.

So don’t wait to be asked (or bullied?) into writing something for us.  Please send it to Jeannie Lassez, 15 avenue François-Mansart,
78600 Maisons-Laffitte or e-mail it to jlassez@noos.fr.  The copy date for the Christmas issue is 3rd November.

Have a happy Rentrée, whether it’s to school, university or the office.  I look forward to seeing you all again in church, or at the supermarket or in the High Street (Grand’ rue if we’re speaking French).  A bientôt

Ilona Wicker

Thank You

Please support the organisations that supported our Summer Fete

Agence Principale, ML
Homat Furniture Rental, Carrieres-sur-Seine
Pricoa Relocation, ML
P & O Stena Lines, Calais
W.H.  Smith, Paris
Hotel Ibis, ML
Restaurant l'Open, ML
Cosy Restaurant, ML
Soprano Restaurant, ML
Daskalides, ML
Rouge Saveurs, ML
Van Besien Boulangerie, ML
La Petite Fleur, ML
La Veille Fontaine, ML
Boucher du Parc, ML
Speedy, ML
Epicerie Longueil, ML
Fuji Film, ML
Alain de Paix de Coeur, ML
Laffittotherapie, ML
Sky Design, Jeremy Buckland, ML
Annette & Tom St. John, Montesson
O'Sullivans Pub
Carolyn Dubuis, ML
Jane Cadman, ML

Looking Back.  Face painting and the tug of war were two of the many fun things at our Summer Fete last May.  We take this opportunity to thank sincerely those who so generously gave prizes for the Tombola.