Hello everyoneThe temperatures have dipped suddenly and winter is very much upon us. Christmas activities and services are also approaching quickly.Nigel and I enjoyed a dark, cold walk at Wrest Park last evening, strolling along a wonderful evening light walk through the grounds, admiring the display of coloured lights which highlighted the trees and buildings. It was very cold and wonderfully atmospheric... and very enjoyable.. but there was no obvious sign of reference to Jesus. Next weekend will be the Toddington Church wonderful Christmas Tree festival which is such a highlight of our year with community groups getting together to contribute their creative ideas and decorations. There will be restricted access to the church from Wednesday whilst the trees are installed but the church will be open for prayer. I wonder where we will find Jesus among the trees? There will be so much to see and to admire (with refreshments available in the Hall). We finish on Sunday, carol singing amidst the trees. This morning I attended a Christian Breakfast at Frost's garden centre with Fiona Castle speaking about Christmas... and she reflected on how beautiful the centre looks with its twinkling lights and beautiful displays... but then reflected on how so many people celebrate Christmas, and yet have no idea about the person whose birthday we are celebrating. An interesting perspective! This week, I had the privilege to spend special time in the lower school with colleagues from church, telling the children about Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist) as part of our Christmas Assemblies and on Friday, a team of us from church headed back into school for an afternoon of making Christingles with the children... such a wonderful time! We gathered later with the children for a time of worship.. with them all proudly holding their Christingles as I explained the symbolism of the Christingle..remembering Jesus, the light of the world (the white candle), at the centre. It was a very special afternoon, enjoyed by us all, and I was very grateful to Mr Darlington, and the staff, for making us so welcome.This afternoon, the Linsdale singers gave a wonderful concert of Christmas songs at church.. definitely with Jesus at the heart. And then I popped along to the Christmas Rotary Afternoon Tea.. which had a lovely happy atmosphere, with people contentedly tapping along to the music, enjoying lovely food and time together. I always love this gathering. Was Jesus visible? He was certainly present in the generosity of the provision and care given by the Rotarians and volunteers who were keen to serve and provide a special time. He was there drawing people together and in the various conversations. He is so often in our interactions and meetings. I wonder where you will find Jesus this week?Fiona Castle suggested an interesting type of Advent calendar action... to try to do a good deed each day...something that will make someone's day a little brighter. It doesn't need to be much.. and yet it may make all the difference to the person you reach out to. 'What would Jesus do' is an interesting thought each day. Asking God each day to guide us, can bring about some very special moments. May you be blessed, as you reach out and may we have wonderful opportunities to introduce Jesus into people's Christmas this year.This week's services and events:Sunday services 3rd December. Advent Sunday9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church11am Holy Communion, Toddington ChurchMonday 4th9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington churchTuesday 5th10.30am Knitting Group Wilkinson HallWednesday 6- Friday 8thsetting up for the Christmas Tree FestivalFriday 8thChristmas Tree Preview evening with wine and canapes. Tickets need to be pre-booked and cost £10. Contact Fran Brown 01525 872501Saturday 9thChristmas Tree Festival 11-5pm entrance £2.50, children free.Sunday 10th9.30am service at Chalgrave Church11am Holy Communion Service Toddington ChurchChristmas Tree Festival 1-5pm finishing with carols by the trees. Entrance £2.50, children free.Upcoming Christmas events:Tuesday 12th December 5.45pm Youth Group Christmas Party, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 14 December 3.30pm Christmas Messy Church, Wilkinson HallFriday 15 December 7pm Scout Carol ServiceSaturday 16 December 6pm Carols by Candlelight Chalgrave ChurchSunday 17 December 3pm Toddington Band Christmas Concert, Toddington ChurchMonday 18 December 7.30pm Nine Lessons and Carols, Toddington Church.Tuesday 19 December Parkfields Carol services, in churchWednesday 20 December Toddington St George L S carol service, in churchThe church Christmas cards have now arrived and we will be delivering these to homes in Toddington, Tebworth, Wingfield and Chalton. If you have time and energy to deliver some cards, I will be very happy to receive your help! Please send me an email or a text.(If you, like me, enjoy Christmas Tree Festivals, you may wish to visit Harlington Church festival this Sunday afternoon).Wishing you a bright and blessed week.LindaRev Linda WashingtonRector Toddington and Chalgrave.07715 603557
Hello EveryoneThere has been a hive of activity on the Green today with stall holders preparing the scene for a fun village get together at the 'Light Up Toddington event this evening', from 4-7pm. Today has been wonderfully sunny with clear blue skies but it promises to be cold this evening so do please wrap up warm! I look forward to the children singing and the buzz of people meeting and greeting each other, whilst enjoying the fun, as the scene is set for a build up to Christmas. The Parish Council have arranged to illuminate the church this evening, which will provide a rather special backdrop (Thank you!). Besides music, stalls and entertainment on the Green, there will also be craft stalls and refreshments in Wilkinson Hall. Toddington is such a pretty village but it always looks extra special lit up and decorated for Christmas.This afternoon I attended the Royal British Legion AGM and I just want to say a huge thank you to the Toddington Branch for all their help and support with church commemorative and remembrance events and for their slick organisation of the annual Remembrance event on the Green and the poppy collection, which draws us all together so effectively, to Remember. We are very fortunate to have a village branch of RBL and I am keen to support them.. so I encourage you, to please consider becoming members, or supporters, so our local branch can stay strong and effective (contact John Wood, or Melanie).Chalgrave's Pop Up Tea Room on Wednesday at Tebworth Memorial Hall was another special moment this week with a full hall and lots of conversations shared over delicious cake, or hot soup. Thank you so much to the catering team for all their hard work. And, thank you to Toddiington team for catering this evening, and very soon at the Christmas Tree Festival. Do please link with Dee about any Christmas Tree entry queries.This week I also had a musical treat at Sunday's Young Musician of the Year competition with young musicians of great talent taking part. I was amazed by the quality.. and on Tuesday evening, Nigel and I had another treat at the concert of Choral Music and poetry at Bedford school, organised by Nicholas Hopton in aid of Movember. Such a musical blessing.. with us leaving uplifted by the talents of pupils and teachers, and the choir, who took part. I am looking forward to hearing more singing this evening from the school choir and representatives.With a Christmas Theme in mind.. for your diary...here is a list of the forthcoming Christmas events and services at Toddington and Chalgrave churches during December:December Services and Events:Chalgrave ChurchSundays 3, 10 and 17th December Holy Communion Service, 9.30amWednesday 13th December Christmas Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11am - 1pmSaturday 16th December Carols by Candlelight Service, 6pmSunday 24th December Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, 11amChristmas Eve, 24th December Crib Service, 2.30pm Midnight Mass, 11.15pmChristmas Day, 25th December Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, 10am31st December Benefice Morning Praise Service, Toddington Church, 11amToddington ChurchFriday 1 December Christingle Service with the children at Toddington St George School.Saturday 2 December Christmas Concert, Linsdale Singers, 2.30pm, Toddington ChurchSundays 3, 10th, 17th December Holy Communion Services, 11am ToddingtonMondays 4,11,18th December Morning Prayer, 9.30am, Toddington Church Friday 8 December - 7pm Christmas Tree Festival Preview Evening, Toddington Church.Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December Christmas Tree Festival Toddington Church, Saturday 11.5pm, Sunday 1-5pm, ending with Carols. Refreshments available in Wilkinson HallThursday 14th December Christmas 'Messy Church' 3.30pm Wilkinson HallFriday 15th December Scout Carol Service, 7pm, Toddington Church.Sunday 17th December Toddington Band Christmas Concert 3pm, Toddington ChurchMonday 18th December Nine Lessons and Carols service, 7.30pm, Toddington ChurchTuesday 19th December Parkfields School, Christmas Carol services, Toddington ChurccWednesday 20 December Toddington St George Lower School Christmas Carol service, Toddington ChurchSunday 24th December Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, 11amChristmas Eve (Sunday) 4pm Crib Service, and 10pm 'Midnight Mass', Toddington ChurchChristmas Day (Monday) Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church 10amSunday 31st December Benefice Morning Praise Service, 11am, Toddington ChurchThis week's services and events:Sunday 26 November - Christ The King Sunday9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church11am Holy Communion, Toddington ChurchMonday 27th November9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church2pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson HallTuesday 28th November10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 29th NovemberRest DayThursday 30 NovemberRest DayFriday 1st December 10.30am Painting For Pleasure group, Wilkinson HallNo Ploughmans lunch this month!Looking forward to seeing you to catch up sometime.. perhaps at a Christmas Service, or perhaps over a glass of mulled wine, or a hot cuppa this evening.Keep warm and look after yourselves.God blessLindaRectorToddington and Chalgrave07715 603557
Hello everyone I hope you are well and have had a good week. The autumn colours are building and beautiful to see, but how quickly the dark evenings have set in. I'm already looking forward to the longer days and brighter evenings but in between we can enjoy the time of Christmas lights leading us forth through Advent towards Christmas. Last weekend, it was a privilege to take part in the various Remembrance services at Toddington, Chalgrave Church and Tebworth, to remember those who had died, were injured, or affected by the different conflicts and wars past (and present). The rain held off for the services, apart from a few minutes at each service and it was good to see so many people gather to represent the villages, the schools, the uniformed groups and the different community groups. Well done to the British Legion team for setting up the gazebos and sound system at Toddington, for their careful organisation of the event, and for attending each service. Thanks also to Toddington Band for their music and to Tebworth Parish Council for their organisation. We look forward to the next Toddington village community event this Saturday to light up Toddington for the Christmas season, which will take place on the Green between 4-7pm, and is organised by Toddington Parish Council. There will be music from Toddington Band and 'Simply Sax', fun stalls refreshments and entertainment on the Green plus craft stalls and refreshments in Wilkinson Hall. Do come along if you can. It is always good to see the light shining in the darkness! Sunday Services 19 November 2023 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am, a Baptism and Holy Communion service, Toddington Church 6pm Evensong, Toddington Church Other services and events this coming week: Sunday 2.30pm Young musician of the Year Competition (with young musicians from Beds, Herts and Bucks), Toddington Village Hall, admission on the door £8 adult, £1 children Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday Knitting Group, 10.30am Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 10am Church brass cleaning working party, Toddington Church 11-1pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall Thursday rest day! Friday 10.30am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday Light up Toddington, 4-7pm Toddington Green and Wilkinson Hall Sunday 26th November 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Have a good week everyone. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone With Remembrance Sunday tomorrow, how wonderful it would be to have a bright, sunny day like today but sadly the weather suggests a high likelihood of rain. The gritter lorries will be out this evening, so tomorrow will also have a November chill in the air. I hope the rain will hold off between 10.00 - 11.30 am at Toddington and 3.00 – 4.00 pm at Tebworth! On Friday morning, both Toddington St George school and Parkfields school held a short service of Remembrance and it was a privilege to attend both services. The year 4 children offered a full explanation about the origins of Remembrance Sunday, and Parkfields staff and pupils gave similar introduction before the Last Post and a time of silence. This morning, on the Green, there was a short Remembrance service for Armistice Day, then John P and I headed up the church tower to raise the Union Flag for this Remembrance Weekend. (Sadly, the church clock has stopped again and the church bells will not toll the time tomorrow- the clock needs to be serviced and possibly repaired as it keeps stopping). Tomorrow's Remembrance Services bring the villages together as we gather to remember all who fought for their countries in the World Wars and in later conflicts, and we also pray for all affected by conflict and war. The uniformed groups will gather at the Village Hall in Toddington, and begin to process to the Green at 10.40 am to be ready for the main Remembrance Service. Chalgrave Church will hold a short outdoor service at the church memorial at 2.00 pm before the 3.00 pm Remembrance Service at Tebworth Memorial Hall. Do please come along to any of the services. There will also be a 9.30 am Benefice Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church before the main Remembrance service. This week, a Remembrance display has been installed at Toddington church, with poppies created by many organisations and contributors from the village. If you would like to add a poppy, or poppies, in memory of someone who served their country, you will be most welcome. There is also a memory tree of light and life, on which you can place a leaf (with a name or a message) in memory of a loved one. Please feel free to come into church (which is open in daylight hours) to remember. During last Sunday's 'In Loving Memory' Services, at both churches, we remembered loved ones who have died and offered sensitive space for folks to come forward to light a candle for those remembered. Thank you to everyone who has contributed this week to decorating the churches for Remembrance, or provided cakes, or attended the Coffee Morning today, or helped to create Samaritan's Purse Shoeboxes ready for transport abroad to children who will not otherwise receive Christmas gifts, or given foods for the Foodbank or for the fresh provisions table inside Toddington south church porch. This Sunday's Services 9.30 am Holy Communion Benefice Service, Toddington Church 10.30 am Gather on Toddington Green for the village Remembrance Service 2.00 pm Chalgrave Church - a short service of Remembrance 3.00 pm Tebworth Memorial Hall, Remembrance Service This week's Services and Events Monday 13th 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall Tuesday 14th 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 15th 10.00 am Working Party for church grounds 2.00 pm The Friends of St George Trustees meeting Thursday 16th 2.00 pm Fellowship group, Wilkinson Hall, preparing for Christmas Tree Festival Friday 17th 10.3 0am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 18th A day of rest! Sunday 19th 9.30 am Holy Communion service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service - with a baptism, Toddington Church 2.30 pm Young Musician of the Year Competition 2023, Toddington Village Hall, 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church Friday 24th November Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall, 3.30 pm Have a good week everyone. Best wishes Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
