Hello Everyone

Holy 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 2022

9.15 am - 10.30 ish Palm Sunday, Messy Church with Breakfast, Wilkinson Hall - Rebecca

9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Linda

9.30 am Tingrith Church, Holy Communion with Bishop Richard and Jon

9.30 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion - Nigel and Robert

11.00 am Toddington Church, Holy Communion - Linda

11.00 am Westoning Church, Holy Communion - Bishop Richard and Nigel

6.00 pm Palm Sunday Upper Room

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83832337842?pwd=V0RCUERQRVFqR0VQR0ZkY2hXbEZPQT09

For details of how to join please contact Revd Linda

Other services and events from Sunday 10th April

Monday 11th April

Morning Prayer, Toddington 9.3 0am

Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall with Jo at 2.00 pm

Tuesday 12th April

Westcaf 10.00 am - 12.00 noon Westoning Village Hall

Knitting Group, 10.30 am – 12.00 noon Wilkinson Hall, Toddington

Sewing Bees 1.15 pm Westoning Village Hall

Youth Group 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm (years 4,5, and 6)

Wednesday 13th April

Harlington Morning Service at 10.00 am

Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, 12.00 noon - 1.15 pm - proceeds to Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Thursday (Maundy Thursday) 14th April

St Albans Abbey Maundy Thursday Chrism service 11.00 am

Fellowship afternoon with friends 2.00 pm Wilkinson Hall

Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 6.00 pm, Toddington - Linda

Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 7.30 pm Westoning - Nigel

Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 7.45 pm Harlington - Linda and Robert

Friday (Good Friday) 15th April

Good Friday reflective service 9.30 am, Chalgrave Church

Walk 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 Churches

Easter Sunday 17th April

7.00 am Dawn Service followed by breakfast, Westoning Church

9.30 am service Chalgrave

9.30 am service at Harlington

11.00 am Service at Toddington

11.00 am Service at Westoning

Looking ahead to 23rd April, Toddington Church is planning some special events to celebrate St George's Day:

'Art Attack' in church in the morning

Coffee Morning in Wilkinson Hall

7.30 pm Ceildiih with Ploughman's supper, Wilkinson Hall. For information about tickets, please contact Dee

Thinking of you all and sending our love and prayers

Linda and Nigel