Hello Everyone

The 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.

Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion Service, Harlington 8am - Nigel

Holy Communion Service Harlington, at 9.30am - Nigel and Jon

Family 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 - Rebecca

Chalgrave : Holy Communion Service 9.30am - Linda

Toddington: Holy Communion Service 11am - Linda

Westoning: Holy Communion Service at 11am - Nigel and Jon

Upper Room 6pm 'Passiontide' Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87913734258?pwd=ZXByOGRVZFhScnhrakZDM2FGZDhSQT09Meeting ID: 879 1373 4258. Passcode: 798443

Sunday 3rd

Westoning: 3pm Amalfi String Quartet Afternoon Tea at Flitwick Cricket Club (Contact Joyce for info)

Monday 4th

Morning Prayer: 9.30am Toddington Church

Harlington Lent Course at Mary's at 3pm

Harlington PCC, in church, at 7.30pm

Tuesday 5th

Westcaf 10-12noon at Westoning Village Hall

Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington, 10.30-12 noon

Sewing Bee 1-3pm at Westoning Village Hall

Joy's funeral (of Harlington) at Luton Crematorium at 2pm - Nigel

Youth group (years 4, 5, and 6) Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 5.30-7pm

Wednesday

Twig Easter Breakfast at Westoning Village Hall, 9am -10.15am

Midweek Service, 10am Harlington Church

Lent lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington, 12 noon to 1.15pm, raising funds for Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (see poster)

Toddington PCC on zoom 7.30pm tbc

8pm '60 Minutes with God Prayer Time'. Zoom link available from Nigel

Thursday

Final session of online Lent Course, 'Unanswered Prayer' via zoom at 7.45pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87550086028?pwd=RlIvKzhydnJUOWdhSXhNZ29YaUh2QT09

Meeting ID: 875 5008 6028. Passcode: 380530

Friday

Painting for Pleasure group Wilkinson Hall, 10.30am to 12 noon Toddington

Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall 2-4pm

Saturday

Men's Breakfast at The Chequers in Westoning with speaker Archdeacon Dave Middlebrook. Contact Phil Steer to reserve a place (01525) 862357.

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.