BENEFICE BULLETINFor Harlington, Tingrith and WestoningHoly Communion with Reverend Linda Washington Morning PrayerHoly Communion with Reverend Linda WashingtonWestcaf at Westoning Village Hall. ALL WELCOME.Weekly social gathering offering coffee, tea and a piece of cake and company, all free – time to chat and to meet friends old and new.Craft & Sewing Bee at Westoning Village Hall.Come and join us for the afternoon – bring your current project.All welcome – enquiries Penny Denman – 01525-720695Holy Communion at HarlingtonFriends of St Mary’s Harlington – meeting at Harlington Church for those interested in becoming a “friend” of St Mary’s. Light supper provided. All welcome.Little Stars – Toddler Group in Westoning Lower School for pre-school children and babies with parents/carers. All welcome, come along and have lots of fun with crafts, play dough, songs, toys, snacks and refreshments. For more information ring or text – Margaret Timothy 07958292655 or Jane Steer 07800862124Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall.Come and join us for the afternoon. Speakers, craft, games and a cuppa and company. Any queries – Joyce Corless 01525 – 752747ART ATTACK with a Christmas theme - 2 – 5pm in Harlington Church creative with craft and painting – all ages welcome. Refreshments available.Harlington Tingrith Westoning9.30 9.30 11.00Tuesday 22nd 10.00-12.00 1.00-3.30Wednesday 23rd 10.00am 7.30pmFriday 25th 1.15-2.452.00-4.00 Saturday 26th 2.00-5.00pmPOSADA - SIGN UP ON SUNDAY to join in taking the Posada (figures of Joseph, Mary, a donkey and candle) around our parishes. The figures will be brought to you and they spend a night in your home. The next day, you take them to the next home on the list. It is a lovely opportunity to meet others and share some hospitality. Please sign up on the sheets at both Westoning and Harlington churches. (Tingrith are organising their own rota). Or contact Steve Farmer on 01525 712651 or stephenjfarmer2@aol.com Please sign up by 20th November.CHRISTMAS CARDS for WestoningThe cards are at the back of church all ready for distribution. Please could you help with this by taking a bundle (or two) and delivering them whilst enjoying a stroll around our beautiful village. Many thanks.APPEALSSalvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal. Please donate toys for ages 0 – 16 – new and unwrapped. Drop them in to Harlington Church or 70 Lincoln Way, Harlington by the end of November. Any queries please contact Tricia Murphy at tricia.murphy5@ntlworld.comTHE NEED PROJECT thanks Westoning Parish Church for our continued and valued support and hopes we can donate towards their Christmas Food Parcels – latest date for donations – Sunday 4th December Please donate by putting items in the box in Westoning Church. Please be aware of the “use by dates” as these items will be given at Christmas to those in need. There is a list of suitable items in church but any of the following will be gratefully received:Christmas puddings, mince pies, boxes of biscuits, tins of ham, tins of salmon, chocolate, sweets, cartons of fruit juice, tins of fruit, small tins of evaporated milk, selection boxes, small bags of sugar, tea, coffee, tins of rice pudding or custard, gravy powder.DATES FOR YOUR DIARYSaturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL in Harlington Church with the theme of “Christmas Carols” – open to visitors from 12noon to 5pm on both days. Entrance £2.50 per adult. Your visit will be guaranteed to make you smile and add a bit of sparkle to your Christmas. Festival Finale Service at 5.00pm on Sunday 4th December, songs, carols and stories for everyone. Refreshments and great raffle.NEXT SUNDAYSunday 27th NovemberHoly Communion with Roger WoodChristingle Service - All Age WorshipHoly Communion Service with Reverend Linda Washington9.30am Harlington11.00 Westoning3.00pm Tingrith6.00pm ALL WELCOME to the Upper Room via Zoom - the subject is “Forgiveness”
BENEFICE BULLETINFor Harlington, Tingrith and WestoningHoly Communion with Reverend Linda Washington Morning PrayerHoly Communion with Reverend Linda WashingtonWestcaf at Westoning Village Hall. ALL WELCOME.Weekly social gathering offering coffee, tea and a piece of cake and company, all free – time to chat and to meet friends old and new.Craft & Sewing Bee at Westoning Village Hall.Come and join us for the afternoon – bring your current project.All welcome – enquiries Penny Denman – 01525-720695Holy Communion at HarlingtonFriends of St Mary’s Harlington – meeting at Harlington Church for those interested in becoming a “friend” of St Mary’s. Light supper provided. All welcome.Little Stars – Toddler Group in Westoning Lower School for pre-school children and babies with parents/carers. All welcome, come along and have lots of fun with crafts, play dough, songs, toys, snacks and refreshments. For more information ring or text – Margaret Timothy 07958292655 or Jane Steer 07800862124Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall.Come and join us for the afternoon. Speakers, craft, games and a cuppa and company. Any queries – Joyce Corless 01525 – 752747ART ATTACK with a Christmas theme - 2 – 5pm in Harlington Church creative with craft and painting – all ages welcome. Refreshments available.Harlington Tingrith Westoning9.30 9.30 11.00Tuesday 22nd 10.00-12.00 1.00-3.30Wednesday 23rd 10.00am 7.30pmFriday 25th 1.15-2.452.00-4.00 Saturday 26th 2.00-5.00pmPOSADA - SIGN UP ON SUNDAY to join in taking the Posada (figures of Joseph, Mary, a donkey and candle) around our parishes. The figures will be brought to you and they spend a night in your home. The next day, you take them to the next home on the list. It is a lovely opportunity to meet others and share some hospitality. Please sign up on the sheets at both Westoning and Harlington churches. (Tingrith are organising their own rota). Or contact Steve Farmer on 01525 712651 or stephenjfarmer2@aol.com Please sign up by 20th November.CHRISTMAS CARDS for WestoningThe cards are at the back of church all ready for distribution. Please could you help with this by taking a bundle (or two) and delivering them whilst enjoying a stroll around our beautiful village. Many thanks.APPEALSSalvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal. Please donate toys for ages 0 – 16 – new and unwrapped. Drop them in to Harlington Church or 70 Lincoln Way, Harlington by the end of November. Any queries please contact Tricia Murphy at tricia.murphy5@ntlworld.comTHE NEED PROJECT thanks Westoning Parish Church for our continued and valued support and hopes we can donate towards their Christmas Food Parcels – latest date for donations – Sunday 4th December Please donate by putting items in the box in Westoning Church. Please be aware of the “use by dates” as these items will be given at Christmas to those in need. There is a list of suitable items in church but any of the following will be gratefully received:Christmas puddings, mince pies, boxes of biscuits, tins of ham, tins of salmon, chocolate, sweets, cartons of fruit juice, tins of fruit, small tins of evaporated milk, selection boxes, small bags of sugar, tea, coffee, tins of rice pudding or custard, gravy powder.DATES FOR YOUR DIARYSaturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL in Harlington Church with the theme of “Christmas Carols” – open to visitors from 12noon to 5pm on both days. Entrance £2.50 per adult. Your visit will be guaranteed to make you smile and add a bit of sparkle to your Christmas. Festival Finale Service at 5.00pm on Sunday 4th December, songs, carols and stories for everyone. Refreshments and great raffle.NEXT SUNDAYSunday 27th NovemberHoly Communion with Roger WoodChristingle Service - All Age WorshipHoly Communion Service with Reverend Linda Washington9.30am Harlington11.00 Westoning3.00pm Tingrith6.00pm ALL WELCOME to the Upper Room via Zoom - the subject is “Forgiveness”
Hello EveryoneWe are looking ahead to a busy week-end of events both nationally and locally and it is so lovely to see the sun shining to herald in the weekend. It will be a chilly wait for anyone in the Queue in London waiting to pay their respects to HM the Queen but stories told of friendships formed and of the incredible moment of entering Westminster Hall to share the vigil make one tingle. How resounding was the sound of the drum beat on Wednesday's procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall with the crowd watching on in deep silence. The week has been full of precisely choreographed military spectacles as the people of the United Kingdom, and the world, have come together to pay their respects to a much valued and deeply loved Queen who served and led her people with such commitment and grace. King Charles and the Royal Family could not have done more to honour their mother, grandmother, aunt - our monarch. My prayers for strength, comfort and peace reach out to them.Please see below the details of the upcoming services for Westoning Benefice.God bless Linda,BENEFICE BULLETIN For Harlington, Tingrith and Westoning Sunday 18th SeptemberTingrith 9.30 Morning PrayerHarlington 9.30 Holy Communion Service reflecting the Queen’s passing led by Ven. Dave Middlebrook - Archdeacon of BedfordWestoning 11.00 Holy Communion Service reflecting the Queen’s passing led by Ven. Dave Middlebrook - Archdeacon of BedfordAll welcome 6.00pm Upper Room – with the theme of hope, reflecting on the Queen’s passing - informal online zoom service Monday 19th September Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II can be viewed at The Recreation Club in Westoning (from 10am) which will be opening for anyone wanting to follow the day’s events on their big screen. Refreshments available.Tuesday 20th 10.00-12.00 Westcaf at Westoning Village Hall. ALL WELCOME to this weekly social gathering offering coffee, tea and a piece of cake and company, all free – time to chat and to meet friends old and new.1.00-3.30 Craft & Sewing Bee at Westoning Village Hall. Come and join us for the afternoon – bring your current project. All welcome – enquiries Penny Denman – 01525-720695Wednesday 21st 10.00am Holy Communion at Harlington ChurchStraight from school – 5.30 TWIG (Tea with God) - Westoning Village Hall - a free fun filled family after school club. Drink/snacks on arrival and simple meal at the end. Crafts/activities/short talk.Children must be accompanied by an adult.Friday 22nd 1.15-2.45. Little Stars – Toddler Group in Westoning Church. For pre-school children and babies with parents/carers. All welcome, fun with crafts, play dough, songs, toys, snacks and refreshments.2.00-4.00 Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall. Come and join us for the afternoon. Speakers, craft, games and a cuppa and company. Any queries – Joyce Corless 01525 - 752747NEXT SUNDAYSunday 25th SeptemberHarlington 9.30 Holy Communion Service at St Marys Churchand at 10.00 a Joint Churches Together in Harlington Service at the Methodist Church to mark the end of Churches Together Prayer weekendWedding at 2pmWestoning 11.00 Harvest Festival – All age serviceTingrith 5.00pm Harvest Festival Service followed by Harvest Supper6.00pm Songs of Praise Service at WestoningYou may be interested to also visit the Petal and Purl Festival at St George's Church, Toddington, a wonderful display of flower arrangements depicting 800 years with knitting displays of church scenes. Open from 1-5pm.This Quintet choir will be singing at Toddington Church at Linda's Licensing service as Rector at 6pm tomorrow. All Welcome to this service and also to a special service at 7.15pm to Commemorate and honour HM Queen Elizabeth on the eve of her state funeral. The National one minute silence will be observed at 8pm.Future date: 1st October Men’s Breakfast at Westoning with Bishop of St Albans; Harvest Supper at Harlington and Macmillan Coffee Morning – more details next week.
Hello EveryoneWhat an enormously strange week this week has been. Who could have anticipated the last seven days.Last Sunday, Nigel retired from Westoning Benefice after a very special and moving service. On Monday his retirement began unexpectedly with a period of enforced rest after a positive Covid test. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris, stepped down and Liz Truss was appointed as the new Prime Minister by the Queen at Balmoral and asked to form a new Government. The Queen looked frail but smiling and determined to fulfil her duties as Sovereign and reportedly held a good level of interested conversation with both Prime Ministers. On Wednesday, I also tested positive for Covid - it was inevitable really.. but the timing is awful. On Thursday, we heard the sudden news of the Royal Family being summoned to be alongside the Queen whose health was of concern... and then came the very sad, shocking news, that the Queen died later that day and the new King was announced. How our world has turned upside down this week. Most of us have previously known no other sovereign that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and what an amazing Queen she has been. She has been a figure of inspirational leadership, a dedicated servant to her people, a caring, intelligent, inquisitive, knowledgeable role model and a beacon of the Christian Faith. To each one of us, she will be remembered in our own special way.HM King Charles III has already shown that he intends to be a King of the people and despite his deep grief, has extended hands of friendship on two walkabouts already and has offered such profound words of tribute to his mother, his guiding example, and at his Proclamation as King today, offered lifelong commitment to serve the people and the nations, with the help of God.As we all try to come to terms with the rapidly moving times in which we live, our churches offer to be places of solace and peace.The church of Harlington will be open over the coming week for people to come and pay their respects to the Queen, to write special tributes in a book of condolence, and to spend some quiet time in church with opportunity to also light a candle. Special prayers will be said at the morning services tomorrow and next Sunday.Sunday 11th 9.30am Morning Service. Prayers will be said for HM Queen Elizabeth II and HM King Charles III, with opportunity to sign the book of condolence. Wednesday 14th 10am Holy Communion ServicePlease contact Tricia for times when the church will be open.Please also remember Jean whose funeral took place this week and pray for her daughter as she grieves. If you would like to view a recording of Jean's funeral service please contact me or Tricia and we'll be pleased to forward you the link.with love, peace and prayersGod Save the King!LindaPS: If you would like a link to the recording of Nigel's leaving service please send me an email or give me a call.
