Sunday 14th March

⭐  We are happy to be able to hold two physical services of Holy Communion this Sunday morning at the NEW TIMES of 9.30am and 11am. 
(There will be no online sign-up, but we will have track and trace in place on-site.)

⭐  Our virtual service and Den@Ten will also continue on Sunday mornings.

Join us for our virtual service this Sunday (available from 9am), and come for tea or coffee via Zoom from 11am:

✅  Click here for our virtual service
✅  Click here for our YouTube channel
✅  Click here for Zoom tea or coffee

CANCELLED: Holy Communion this Thursday 11th March

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we have to exceptionally CANCEL this week’s midweek Holy Communion service which was due to be held this THURSDAY 11th March at 11.30am.  

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and will let you know as soon as possible if Sunday’s physical services at 9.30am and 11am can go ahead.

Sundays are BACK!

⭐ We are excited to announce that from this Sunday 14th we will hold two (socially-distanced) services of Holy Communion each Sunday morning at the NEW TIMES of 9.30am and 11am. (Numbers will be limited, but there will be no online sign-up for the time being – we will have track and trace in place on-site.)

⭐ We continue with our midweek Holy Communion service which will now take place on THURSDAYS at 11.30am from this week onwards (rather than Fridays).

⭐ Our virtual services on Sunday mornings will also continue on our YouTube channel.

THE LOTUS FOUNDATION

Click here to view PDF document

The Lotus Foundation – Foundation for the Enhancement and Development of Community Life in Sri Lanka.

Norman Martinesz and his family were actively involved in HTCML from 2008-2011 and he now spends his time whenever possible with his Lotus Foundation in Sri Lanka (supported by Holy Trinity) and his family in Bourdeilles in the Dordogne.

The Lotus Foundation evolved from a basic desire to make a positive change in the lives of individuals and communities and in particular to help and support the underpriviledged children and the elderly in war torn Sri Lanka in 1997. Subsequently through the years, the traumatic tsunami and its aftermath, that still leaves individuals and families distressed and requiring help, much has been done to achieve that change.

Wherever possible the direct involvement of the sponsors, with the guidance of the Foundation has ensured one hundred percent of the funding being directed to projects that are individually tailored to how the sponsors wish to expend the funds or the material donations made, or how they wish to be personally involved.

Projects include; building of simple low cost houses around existing wattle and daub, or mud huts; occasionally to help with emergency repair of houses damaged by extreme weather conditions or by wild elephants; purchasing fully paid up government pensions for the farming or agricultural community; provision of electricity to houses; provision of water to domestic residences and communities by mains supply, or by digging or boring wells in strategic locations; special educational outings for underpriviledged childen; education (education is free in Sri Lanka but help with school books, clothing and incidentals is always needed); grants for university students (university education is also free with minimal Government grants to help with food, travel and stationary). The Foundation provides a monthly grant to the students to subsidise day to day living, and examination fees. We also work with those needing special mobility needs, those with hearing difficulties, and the visually impaired.

Sponsors of the Lotus Foundation are friends, friends of friends, visitors to Sri Lanka, UK Lions, Rotary clubs, and well wishers. Sponsors have donated funds or equipment such as sewing machines, miscellaneous woodwork and metalwork tools to provide a sustainable livlihood; stationary, disability aids, and other miscellaneous items that could be sold and funds raised either in the UK or in Sri Lanka. In more recent times and in post war Sri Lanka the ready availability of most essential items (due to growth in the nations manufacturing industry), and tighter controls of imports, has meant that it has been more favourable and convenient to transact funds although not entirely dismissing the occasional shipment of donated items considered to be potentially useful or saleable.

‘BRIDGETHAINE’, Narendrasinghe Mawatha, Kundasale, Sri Lanka, my home in Kandy remains open, and a welcome spacious family residence, set in the verdant central Hill Country. All sponsors and potential sponsors are invited to stay and be indirectly involved or at least see for themselves what their goodwill has achieved. Meeting the recipients of their generosity, and enjoying the Sri Lankan hospitality so willingly and unreservedly offered, needs to be experienced, never to be forgotten.

To be a Sponsor and get involved contact: UK cheques made payable to N E Martinesz; Bank transfers to: First Direct 51873237, Sort 40-47-75 Norman Elmo Martinesz, Co-ordinator and Controller, Lotus Foundation, Sri Lanka ‘Bridgethaine’ Narendrasinghe Mawatha, Kundasale, Sri Lanka Tel:+94 (0)15 665 919. (M)+94 (0)713 622 995 E-mail: normanmartinesz@hotmail.com 19 Blake Court, South Street, Gosport, Hants, PO12 1EX, UK Tel: 0044 (0)23 92 528 630

French cheques made payable to: Kay H Martinesz; E-mail: kaymartinesz@hotmail.com Kay H Martinesz, Chateau des Senechaux, Rue de L’Eglise, 24310 Bourdeilles, France Tel: 0033 (0)647 386834

All donations in any form will be greatfully received, and acknowledged by the Lotus Foundation and used entirely for the benefit of the underpriviledged of Sri Lanka.

Holy Communion Thursdays@11:30

From next week, join us for a short, socially-distanced service of Holy Communion each THURSDAY (no longer on Fridays) at 11:30am at Holy Trinity Church. No sign-up needed, just come along.

Sunday 7th March

“There in the Temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons, and also the moneychangers sitting at their tables. So he made a whip from cords and drove all the animals out of the Temple, both the sheep and the cattle; he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins; and he ordered those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take them out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!'”  John 2: 14-16

Join us for our virtual service this Sunday (available from 9am), and come for tea or coffee via Zoom from 11.15am:
✅  Click here for our virtual service
✅  Click here for our YouTube channel
✅  Click here for Zoom tea or coffee

Den@Ten

We have another fabulous Zoom session for kids this Sunday morning at 10am – Den@Ten – for our Sunday Groups (and siblings & friends!) with music, games/activities, a Bible story and guaranteed fun!

Do encourage your kids to join us at 10am this Sunday. See you there!

✅ Click here to join Den@Ten on Sunday

Sunday 28th February

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Mark 8: 34-35

Join us for our virtual service this Sunday (available from 9am), and come for tea or coffee via Zoom from 11.15am:
✅  Click here for our virtual service
✅  Click here for our YouTube channel
✅  Click here for Zoom tea or coffee

Calling all Gardening Enthusiasts!

☀️ Don’t miss a great opportunity to volunteer at church on what promises to be a gloriously sunny afternoon THIS SUNDAY 21st February at 14h00!

🌿 We will be digging, weeding and pruning, in preparation of re-planting Biblical and colourful plants in the church garden. All ages most welcome for this super socially-distanced, family-friendly activity!

🪴 There will be firewood to take away, and maybe some surplus Yucca plants.

😷 Please bring a facemask, suitable clothes, gloves and footwear, a snack & drink, and, if you have them (please label with your name), secateurs/strong cutters, short or long pruning saw, large garden fork, handfork/trowel for weeding, spade, mattock, and, for the tree-pruners (!), a hard hat and goggles.

Sunday 21st February

Join us for our virtual service this Sunday (available from 9am), and come for tea or coffee via Zoom from 11.15am:
✅  Click here for our virtual service
✅  Click here for our YouTube channel
✅  Click here for Zoom tea or coffee