Hello Everyone,

I'm afraid it is a late email this evening. It has been a very busy week with lots going on and new events before us.

Thank you to everyone involved in the Open Gardens event last weekend. Despite the 'changeable weather', visitors to the gardens, refreshments, the Tombola, and the plant stall raised just over £2,000. A wonderful result! Thank you so much to everyone who opened their gardens, met us with a cheery welcome, baked and served refreshments or enticed people to buy tombola prizes or plants. It was a quality experience all round.

We have three fundraising social events ahead. Songs and Scones is at Chalgrave Church next Sunday at 2pm (or you can come and listen to the songs without the scones if you wish). This celebration event marks the completion of the latest restoration work and the opening up of the church for social events again. Chalgrave cakes and scones are very enticing.. But so is Richard's playing. Do please join us. (see poster)

Pop Up Tea Room is at Tebworth Memorial Hall on Wednesday 24th July 11am.

On Sunday 28th July, Friends of Toddington Church host 'Hymns and Pimms' at 6pm with David Warner playing some of our favourite hymns. (see poster)

This is a busy week-end in Chalgrave. Today, was fun and games Saturday (with more cakes provided by the Chalgrave ladies!), and tomorrow afternoon is the Vintage Car Show in the afternoon at Tebworth. We also hosted coffee morning at Toddington this morning. What would we do without cakes?! Thank you to our wonderful bakers.

On Tuesday, Dee and I met with Councillor Andy Snape from Flitwick to discuss the possible introduction of a 'Toddington Community Fridge' stall at Wilkinson Hall on Saturday mornings 9.30 - 11am. We agreed to offer a pop-up stall next Saturday 20th July at Wilkinson Hall (See attached posters). Community fridges are a simple solution to reducing food waste and sharing good-quality food with local people. The food in the fridge is donated by local businesses and individuals. Our nearest fridge is at The Rufus Centre in Flitwick and is open daily and open to Toddington residents! We will work with the team in Flitwick to try out a pop-up food stall at Toddington, over the Summer, to see if there is demand for us to open a fridge in Toddington. It is an exciting prospect. We will need help to run this facility so would welcome volunteers who would be willing to collect the produce from Flitwick on a Saturday morning and deliver it to Wilkinson Hall for distribution. Offers of help from anyone willing to lift will be very welcome. Until we gather a team of volunteers, we will probably trial this on a fortnightly basis initially. If you would be willing to cover one week.. it would be great so we can gather a rota of volunteers. Please let me know if you can help and do come along next Saturday between 9.30 and 11am to collect some fresh produce.

Over the summer, we will be holding three fun Art and Craft Days on 7th, 21st and 28th August, at Wilkinson Hall. See poster. These are instead of Messy Church in July and August.

Youth group this Tuesday will be the last with Rebecca leading, as she will be easing back to focus on her roles in Westoning Benefice and some other projects that she is involved in. We will miss her and thank her so much for all the support, leadership and friendship she has offered. Hopefully, she will still visit us occasionally so we can stay in touch. Over the Summer we are looking to start a Youth Alpha course so still have plans to get together. More dates to follow.

This Sunday’s Services:

9.30am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church

11am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church

Upcoming Events:

Mon 15th July

Morning Prayer 9.30am Toddington Church

Tues 16th July

Knitting Group 10.30am – 12.30pm Wilkinson Hall

Youth Group Yr5 upwards 5.45pm-7.15pm Wilkinson Hall

Thurs 18th July

St. George’s Fellowship 2pm – 4pm, Wilkinson Hall

Chalgrave PCC Meeting 4pm The Calders

The Bible Course 7pm The Rectory

Fri 19th July

Painting for Pleasure 10.30 am – 12.30pm, Wilkinson Hall

End of Term for Schools

Sat 20 July

Toddington Community Larder 9.30-11am Wilkinson Hall

Sun 21th July

Holy Communion Service 9.30am Chalgrave Church

Holy Communion Service 11am Toddington Church

Songs and Scones concert and cream teas. 2pm, Chalgrave Church

Evensong 6pm, Toddington Church

Mon 22nd July

Morning Prayer 9.30am, Toddington Church

Seated Pilates 2pm – 3pm, Wilkinson Hall

Tues 23rd July

Knitting Group 10.30 am – 12.30pm Wilkinson Hall

Wed 24th July

Pop Up Tea-Room 11-1pm, Tebworth Mem Hall

Fri 26th July

Painting for Pleasure 10.30am – 12.30pm, Wilkinson Hall

Sun 28th July

Holy Communion Service 11am, Toddington Church

6pm Hymns and Pimms, Toddington Church

Mon 29th July

Morning Prayer, Toddington Church

Tues 30th July

Knitting Group 10.30am – 12.30pm, Wilkinson Hall

August

Art and Craft Fun Days from 10am Wilkinson Hall 7, 21 and 28th August

Scarecrow Festival Sunday afternoon August 25th and all day Bank Holiday Monday 26th

Have a good week.. and let’s pray for some sunshine to lighten and warm the summer months.

God bless

Linda

Rev Linda Washington

Rector

Toddington and Chalgrave

07715 603557