16th April 2022Hello Everyone, What a glorious Easter weekend this has been, where the sunshine has filled us with a sense of momentum and some optimism as Spring shows itself in full glory. Holy Week has been marked by a faithful following of the journey of Christ into Jerusalem and Linda and I attended a packed St Albans Abbey for the Maundy Thursday Chrism Service when the oils for anointing are blessed and ministers renewed their vows. The singing was tremendous and the whole occasion very uplifting. We held our own services for Maundy Thursday in our churches to mark Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. These were more intimate and still so special. Then Good Friday plunged us into the reality of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. With the altars stripped, the starkness and enormity of what Jesus did for each one of us hit home. Now we are on the cusp of Easter Day and the celebration of the Resurrection, a reason for real hope, a reason for true momentum. Services will reflect the joy of this Easter season Easter Day Services7.00 am Westoning Church, Dawn Service followed by Breakfast. All welcome- Nigel 9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Linda 9.30 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion - Nigel and Robert9.30 am Tingrith Church, Morning Praise - Jon. 11.00 am Toddington Church, Holy Communion - Linda 11.00 am Westoning Church, Holy Communion - Nigel Other services and events this weekMonday 18th April - Bank HolidayTuesday 19th AprilWestcaf 10.00 am – 12.00 noon Westoning Village Hall Knitting Group, 10.30 am – 12.00 noon Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Sewing Bees 1.00 pm Westoning Village Hall Wednesday 20th April Harlington Morning Service at 10.00 am? (might not meet this week) Thursday 21st AprilFellowship with Friends 2.00 pm Wilkinson HallFriday 22nd AprilPainting for Pleasure Group Wilkinson Hall, 10.30 am – 12.00 noonSaturday 23rd April Coffee Morning 10.00 am – 12.00 noon, Wilkinson HallCelebrate St George's Day - 7.30 pm Ceilidh Dance and Supper (but bring own drinks), Wilkinson Hall. Tickets £12 (or £30 for families) from Punch Opticians or Dee on 01525 872649A couple of dates for your diaries: Children's Art Attack, Toddington Church, 3.30 - 5.30pm Friday 29th April with Stanley Greening.800 yrs Celebration Service with Bishop Richard, Toddington Church 30th April, 3pm.Wishing you all a very Happy Easter, and sending our love and prayersLinda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneHoly Week begins on Sunday with Palm Sunday as we remember Jesus's entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey to cheering joyful crowds. During the morning services, Palm Crosses will be blessed and distributed to the congregations. Samson the Donkey will make a special appearance at Harlington Church and a pony will be visiting Westoning Church. Bishop Richard is visiting as a special guest this week at Tingrith and Westoning churches and at Toddington we offer our first monthly Messy Church Sunday morning with crafts and breakfast, at Wilkinson Hall.As we move further into Holy Week, on Maundy Thursday Clergy and Readers (and members of our congregations) are invited to attend the annual Chrism service at St Albans where we will renew our ministry vows and observe the blessing of the Holy Oils to be used in our parishes during the year. If you would like to attend this service with us, please liaise with Linda and Nigel so we can sort lifts. You will be very welcome. The Maundy Thursday evening services in our local churches remember Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples, before Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he had gone to pray.Holy Week then moves swiftly forward into Good Friday, with services and events to mark Jesus' journey to the cross. These services vary from a Walk of Witness in Harlington (with Churches together) to re-enact the Easter Story, a morning family service at Westoning with children and families sharing craft and stories to remember the special day, and an Easter reflective service at Chalgrave church. During the week, Toddington church will be open to enable visitors to follow the Easter Encounter stations to interact with Jesus' journey.Good Friday afternoon 'Last Hour at the Cross' services will be held at Westoning, Harlington and Toddington at 2.00 pm, to offer quiet reflective services watching and waiting with Jesus during His final hour on the Cross.Easter Saturday (or Holy Saturday) is also remembered but there are no services in church, and we meet again in church on Easter Day to celebrate the day of Jesus' resurrection, when visitors to the tomb discovered that Jesus' body was no longer there, because 'Jesus is Alive' - 'He is Risen'.We invite you to walk the way of the cross with us this Easter time. Jesus is the reason for the season!Palm Sunday services on 10th April 20229.15 am - 10.30 ish Palm Sunday, Messy Church with Breakfast, Wilkinson Hall - Rebecca9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Linda9.30 am Tingrith Church, Holy Communion with Bishop Richard and Jon9.30 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion - Nigel and Robert11.00 am Toddington Church, Holy Communion - Linda11.00 am Westoning Church, Holy Communion - Bishop Richard and Nigel6.00 pm Palm Sunday Upper Roomhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83832337842?pwd=V0RCUERQRVFqR0VQR0ZkY2hXbEZPQT09For details of how to join please contact Revd LindaOther services and events from Sunday 10th AprilMonday 11th AprilMorning Prayer, Toddington 9.3 0amSeated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall with Jo at 2.00 pmTuesday 12th AprilWestcaf 10.00 am - 12.00 noon Westoning Village HallKnitting Group, 10.30 am – 12.00 noon Wilkinson Hall, ToddingtonSewing Bees 1.15 pm Westoning Village HallYouth Group 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm (years 4,5, and 6)Wednesday 13th AprilHarlington Morning Service at 10.00 amLent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, 12.00 noon - 1.15 pm - proceeds to Ukraine Humanitarian AppealThursday (Maundy Thursday) 14th AprilSt Albans Abbey Maundy Thursday Chrism service 11.00 amFellowship afternoon with friends 2.00 pm Wilkinson HallMaundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 6.00 pm, Toddington - LindaMaundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 7.30 pm Westoning - NigelMaundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 7.45 pm Harlington - Linda and RobertFriday (Good Friday) 15th AprilGood Friday reflective service 9.30 am, Chalgrave ChurchWalk of Witness, 10.00 am Harlington finishing at Harlington Church (more information from Robert)Good Friday Family Service, Westoning Church 10.00 am(No Churches Together Walk of Witness in Toddington this year)'The Last Hour at the Cross' 2.00 pm services at Harlington, Toddington and Westoning ChurchesEaster Sunday 17th April7.00 am Dawn Service followed by breakfast, Westoning Church9.30am service Tingrith9.30 am service Chalgrave9.30 am service at Harlington11.00 am Service at Toddington11.00 am Service at WestoningLooking ahead to 23rd April, Toddington Church is planning some special events to celebrate St George's Day:'Art Attack' in church in the morningCoffee Morning in Wilkinson Hall7.30 pm Ceildiih with Ploughman's supper, Wilkinson Hall. For information about tickets, please contact DeeThinking of you all and sending our love and prayersLinda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneThe Easter school holidays are now underway. Families, children and teachers will be glad of time to rest and to have a well-deserved break with good weather. (We have had a request to pray for sunshine.. so please do pray for this). The weather this week has been so strange with glorious sunshine, cold winds, snow flurries and a return to winter temperatures. Hopefully, we will soon emerge again into warmer sunnier days, which will match the emerging Springtime flowers. As the daffodils begin to fade, the hyacinths are bursting forth along with tree buds, forsythia and blossoms. New life is emerging with the lengthening of days and the approach of Easter. It is the season to take stock and to reflect as we journey towards Jerusalem with Jesus at the beginning of Passiontide. Our Lent course this week reminded us to slow down and appreciate each day and to connect with Jesus in his trial and challenges. Nigel and I both led Collective Worship in local schools, and enjoyed the wonderful opportunity to engage with the children in the Easter story. It was Nigel's first time into Westoning Lower School for 2 years, since the start of Covid, so it was a very special time, talking to the children about Jesus' journey from the desert into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday, and beyond to the events of Holy Week. He talked about Jesus' act of breaking of bread and sharing with his friends and the reason why Good Friday is called 'Good', when Jesus surrendered to the cross. One 8 year old answered: It's GOOD Friday because God revived Jesus.Linda loved watching the year 3 Easter performance on Tuesday about how the wood, from three different trees, served such special roles for Jesus. Year 2 children also came into church for an Easter Experience stopping at different interactive zones to explore more about Jesus' journey. Do please pop into Toddington church in the days leading up to Easter to spend a quiet time reflecting and praying and connecting with the Easter story.It is so easy to rush to Easter without experiencing the truths of the approaching days which can mature us and deepen our understanding of what it means for us. So let us all take time to slow down to engage more fully with this very special season and to walk with Jesus.Services for Sunday 3rd AprilBook of Common Prayer Holy Communion Service, Harlington 8am - NigelHoly Communion Service Harlington, at 9.30am - Nigel and JonFamily Breakfast at the Parish rooms and Animal Farm on the Bury, Harlington 10am - with stories and crafts, and animals to view - presented by St Mary's and Life Church together this month - RebeccaChalgrave : Holy Communion Service 9.30am - LindaToddington: Holy Communion Service 11am - LindaWestoning: Holy Communion Service at 11am - Nigel and JonUpper Room 6pm 'Passiontide' Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87913734258?pwd=ZXByOGRVZFhScnhrakZDM2FGZDhSQT09Meeting ID: 879 1373 4258. Passcode: 798443Other Events and Services this week 3rd AprilSunday 3rdWestoning: 3pm Amalfi String Quartet Afternoon Tea at Flitwick Cricket Club (Contact Joyce for info)Monday 4thMorning Prayer: 9.30am Toddington ChurchHarlington Lent Course at Mary's at 3pmHarlington PCC, in church, at 7.30pmTuesday 5thWestcaf 10-12noon at Westoning Village HallKnitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington, 10.30-12 noonSewing Bee 1-3pm at Westoning Village HallJoy's funeral (of Harlington) at Luton Crematorium at 2pm - NigelYouth group (years 4, 5, and 6) Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 5.30-7pmWednesdayTwig Easter Breakfast at Westoning Village Hall, 9am -10.15amMidweek Service, 10am Harlington ChurchLent lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington, 12 noon to 1.15pm, raising funds for Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Toddington PCC on zoom 7.30pm tbc8pm '60 Minutes with God Prayer Time'. Zoom link available from NigelThursdayPloughman's lunches Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 12-2pm (see attached poster)Final session of online Lent Course, 'Unanswered Prayer' via zoom at 7.45pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87550086028?pwd=RlIvKzhydnJUOWdhSXhNZ29YaUh2QT09Meeting ID: 875 5008 6028. Passcode: 380530FridayPainting for Pleasure group Wilkinson Hall, 10.30am to 12 noon ToddingtonFriday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall 2-4pmSaturdayMen's Breakfast at The Chequers in Westoning with speaker Archdeacon Dave Middlebrook. Contact Phil Steer to reserve a place (01525) 862357.Advance Notice: Palm Sunday Services:Messy Church Palm Sunday Breakfast 9.15-10.30am(ish), Wilkinson Hall, Toddington. The new monthly Messy Church Breakfast where breakfast will be provided and there will be Craft and Story too. The Bishop of Bedford will be leading the services at Tingrith and Westoning on Palm Sunday, 10th April. There will be a pony in the churchyard at Westoning between 10.30 and 11.15am. At Harlington 9.30am service, Samson the Donkey will be making an appearance.We hope you all have a good week and look forward to linking with you at some of the above events.God blessLinda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneWhat glorious days we have experienced this week with strong expressions of Spring: offering colour and optimism. These though are tempered by our thoughts for the Ukrainians and the madness of war. We continue to pray and press in to seek practical expressions of ways to help. If anyone is interested to host a Ukrainian family, do please get in touch with us to let us know so we, as church, can begin to put a support structure in place. Linda attended a meeting at Barton Church on Friday to learn more about what to expect and what the community and host family will need to do if receiving a refugee family. It will be so important to build community links to support the family, and to connect them with other local Ukrainian families. The initial visa application process seems quite complicated but it is important that the procedure is followed correctly before the family travel to England, to make sure support and safeguarding checks are engaged by the local Council. Harlington Community are seeking to offer refuge to a few families and it would be good to connect any potential Toddington, Westoning, Chalgrave or Tingrith hosts too.The Church of England has an online support link for any families seeking to host a refugee family. One thing to stress is to think carefully before committing. The families will be in need of tlc, safety and security. They have been through so much already. It is for a minimum commitment of 6 months.Please remember to put your clocks forward one hour tonight.Services for Mothering Sunday - Sunday March 27th9.30am Chalgrave, Holy Communion Service Linda9.30am Harlington,Mothering Sunday Service Nigel/Robert11am Toddington, Holy Communion Service Linda11am Westoning, All Age Service for Mothering Sunday Nigel3pm Tingrith Mothering Sunday Service Nigel/Jon/LindaUpper Room online service: Theme: Our Mothers Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88516973654?pwd=OVF4RlJLeHJkMWdZMXM5Mjc4a3BPUT09Meeting ID: 885 1697 3654. Passcode: 471104Other services and events during the week:Monday 28th March9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church10.30am Set up Easter Prayer Stations - Toddington Church2-4pm Crafty Ladies group - Wilkinson Hall Toddington8pm Toddington Churches Together AGM Wilkinson HallTingrith PCC Meeting 1.45pmHarlington Lent Course at Mary's at 3pmTuesday 29th March10-12 noon Westcaf, Westoning Village Hall10.30am to noon - Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington1-3pm Sewing Bees Celebration Westoning Village HallWednesday 30th March9.30- 11.45am Lower School visit Toddington Church10am Harlington Church, Midweek Service11.30am Daisy Drake's Funeral at Harlington Church12-1.15pm Lent 'Poverty' Soup lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington - raising funds for Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal7.30pm Westoning PCC via zoom (link to be issued)Thursday 31st March10.30am Meeting at Wilkinson Hall about 'Petal and Purl' exhibition for 'Celebrate 800'Online Lent Course 7.45pm - Unanswered Prayer by Peter Greig. Please let Linda or Nigel know if interested. Zoom link to be issued.Friday 1st April10.30-12 noon Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall, ToddingtonLittle Stars: 1.15pm-2.45pm Westoning ChurchFriday Fellowship 2-4pm Westoning Village Hall3.30pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall, ToddingtonSaturday 2nd April... have a rest!Wishing you all a good week and a special Mothering Sunday tomorrow.With love and prayersLinda and Nigel
