Hello Everyone
What a wonderfully snowy white and frosty week this has been.. with the odd smattering of freezing fog to add to the wintery atmosphere! The pavements have been treacherously slippery so I hope you are all in one piece, without bruises. The scenery has been so pretty with trees heavily laden in white sparkling droplets, frozen cobwebs twinkling under the lights, and an expanse of white fields and hedgerow before our eyes. It is a long time since I remember a winter as deeply cold as this.
It has been a busy and special week; with St George of England Lower School and Parkfield's School Christmas services either in church or in school, Christmas Messy Church, Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Toddington Wednesday Winter Warmer, and of course, last weekend's Carols by Candlelight service at Chalgrave and the Christmas Tree Festival at Toddington. I have also enjoyed time with my son David, when I can, while he is home from Australia - and it has been special choosing a Christmas tree together as a family and enjoying time around a log fire and simple things like having a chat. It has also been great to have his help carrying heavy shopping for our school family Christmas hampers - (see photo of Helen arriving with 9 home-made fruit cakes).
It was a delight to welcome the Parkfields students to church for their first service in church for a few years with the new choir leading the singing with Mr Winn leading. Sadly, the lower school weren't able to make it to church (and I sadly missed the early year's Christmas songs at school) due to the weather but it was a delight to go into school instead to watch the nativity play and to share worship and the final Christmas service. Then the week culminated with a lovely Christmas Messy church with fun activities, crafts, singing and tea.
This weekend the Christmas concerts continue with Toddington Band concert this evening (17th December) at 6.00 pm and the Nine Lessons and Carols Service with the Quintet Choir, at 6.30 pm on Sunday 18th December, both at Toddington Church.
This Sunday's services:
9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church - Nigel
11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church - Nigel - (covering for me so I can take the services at Harlington and Westoning Churches)
2.00 pm Tingrith Nativity service (with a difference) - Linda lead
6.30 pm Toddington 9 Lessons and Carols Service - Linda
This Christmas week and the following New Year events and services:
Monday 19th December
9.30 am Morning Prayer
12.00 noon Toddington PCC lunch
Tuesday 20th December
12.30 pm Funeral of Ronald Smith, Toddington Church
Westoning Church, Carol service, with Quintet Choir 7.30 pm
Wednesday 21st December
Wednesday Winter Warmer, Wilkinson Hall, 10.30 am – 3.00 pm, with soup and baked potatoes
6.30 pm Chalgrave PCC dinner
Thursday 22nd December
?
Friday 23rd December
Harlington Christmas Carol Service with Quintet Choir 8.00 pm
Saturday 24th December - Christmas Eve
3.00 pm Crib Service, Chalgrave Church
4.30 pm Crib Service, Toddington Church
10.00 pm Midnight Mass, Toddington Church
11.15 pm Midnight Mass, Chalgrave Church
Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day
10.00 am Benefice Holy Communion Service - Toddington Church
Sunday 1st January - New Year's Day
11.00 am Benefice Morning Worship Service - Toddington Church (No Communion) - Malcolm
Sunday 8th January
9.30 am Morning Worship service, Chalgrave Church - Malcolm Curtis
11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church - Rev Jane Fox
Other regular events of knitting group, painting group etc will finish and restart at different times.. but please link with the groups for information.
This will be my last email for a few weeks as I will take time off after Christmas to rest and share family time before David returns to Australia.
Nigel and I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and look forward to meeting with you either before Christmas at one of the Christmas services, or in the New Year.
Have a wonderful Christmas and let us not forget that Jesus is the reason for the season. Happy Christ Mass (it is the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ)
with love and Christmas blessings
Linda and Nigel