Hello EveryoneI do hope the sunshine lasts into this weekend.. and the promise of higher temperatures is right. It has been pretty chilly this week in the evenings.. and so very wet at times. But today the sun is shining again!Just a short email to let you know about this weekend's special St George of England events at Toddington Church - see attached poster. We have wonderful window ledge displays of the life of the church, a dragon and St George, beautiful flowers, and art and history displays, children's fun activities, refreshments and a 3.00 pm concert in church on Saturday afternoon organised by Toddington Music Society. Just what is needed to blow away the winter cobwebs as we gather together and have fun. On Tuesday afternoon there is a special St George of England afternoon tea in Wilkinson Hall. Tickets are available from Dee or Fran.This Sunday, Chalgrave church will be open and up and running again for our 9.30 am morning service. Praise the Lord! We will meet in the Lady Chapel as the Chancel is still full of scaffolding but it will be so lovely to be back.Key upcoming events this week and next:6.30 pm Alpha week 6 - 'How and Why Should I read the Bible', at the RectoryFriday 19th April10.00 am, Confirmation course, the RectorySaturday 20th April10.00 am – 5.00 pm Gift weekend events, Toddington Church and Wilkinson Hall3.00 pm Music Society concert in Church (Please note 3pm, not 2pm as given in some earlier publicity)Sunday 21st April9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church11.00 am St George's Patronal Festival Holy Communion Service, St George's Church.2.00 - 5.00 pm Gift Weekend event6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington ChurchTuesday 23rd April2.00pm St George's special afternoon Tea, Wilkinson HallWednesday 24th April11.00 am Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Hall Thursday 25th AprilAlpha week 7 - 'How Does God Guide Us' - The Rectory 6.30pmFriday 26th April10.00 am Confirmation Course - The Rectory3.30 pm Messy ChurchSunday 28th April9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church led by Bishop Richard, Bishop of Bedford (and currently the acting Bishop of St Albans)11.00 am Confirmation and Communion Service, Toddington Church - led by Bishop Richard, Bishop of BedfordHave a good week. I look forward to seeing you at some of the upcoming events.Wishing you every blessingLinda Rector of Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone How lovely it is to feel and see the warm sunshine today. Spring is upon us with lambs in the fields, blossom on the trees, new buds bursting forth and for those of us who experience hay fever.. the pollen is rising too! I hope you have managed some rest and recuperation during the Easter holidays and feel refreshed. Schools return this week for the Summer Terms and we wish the staff, pupils and families a blessed term. (Can we already be two thirds through this Academic year?!). Nigel and I have been glad of two weeks rest following the Easter services, and now look ahead to all the fun things planned at church. There is a lot ahead: Chalgrave restoration work continues and the Chancel remains full of scaffolding (and lots of dust! – see photograph) but the restoration work completed is so very skilled. Toddington church prepares to mark St George's Day with a Gift week-end of activities for children and families next weekend. Will you be able to find St George's dragon? There will also be a music society concert on Saturday (see poster attached). On Tuesday 23rd, there will be a special St George's Day Afternoon Tea at Wilkinson Hall.... and just in case you haven't had your fill of cake and lovely refreshments, Chalgrave folk host the next Pop Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall on Wednesday 24th. Bishop Richard, the Bishop of Bedford, is coming to visit both Chalgrave Church and Toddington Church on Sunday 28th April and will be leading a Confirmation Service at Toddington in the 11.00 am Toddington morning service. Do come and support the candidates and join the congregation as we celebrate and worship. All are welcome. This Week's Services and other upcoming events: Sunday 14th April 11.00 am Joint Chalgrave and Toddington Benefice Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church Monday 15th April 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2.00 pm Seated Pilates with Alison (in Jo's absence) Wilkinson Hall Tuesday 16th April 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 18th April 2.00 pm Afternoon with Friends in the Wilkinson Hall 6.30 pm Alpha course session 6, Why and How Should I Read the Bible, The Rectory Friday 19th April 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 20th April 'Gift Weekend' - Toddington Church and Wilkinson Hall (see poster) 10.00 am – 5.00 pm with a concert in church at 3.00 pm (see poster). Sunday 21st April 11.00 am Holy Communion service at Toddington Church (probably a Benefice service with Chalgrave church.. tbc) 6.00 pm Evensong Service, Toddington Church 'Gift Weekend' 1.00 – 5.00 pm with activities and refreshments, church and Wilkinson Hall. Alpha Course: Thursdays 25th April, 2nd May, 9th May 16th May Alpha course, and Saturday 11th May Alpha Holy Spirit Day - all at The Rectory. Messy Church: Friday 26th April, 24th May, 28th June, 26 July, 3.30 pm Wilkinson Hall Confirmation Service: 28th April, 11.00 am Toddington Church with Bishop Richard and 9.30 am service at Chalgrave Church Youth Group: Tuesday 30th April, 7th or 14th May (tbc), 21 May, 11 and 25 June, 2 and 16 July, Wilkinson Hall 5.45pm Have a good week and thank you so much for all your help and support at all the different events. Thank you also for your prayers and support for Harrison and his family these past weeks. They are so very grateful for our prayers and thank you so much. Please keep praying that young Harrison will make a good recovery and that the family can be all together again soon. God bless you all Linda Rector of Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone What a brilliant Spring sunny day we have had today. Just right for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Last week, Holy Week, was a busy week! Monday began with Morning Prayer and was quickly followed by a Governor's visit to the Lower School. On Tuesday morning I led Collective Worship at the Lower School about Good Friday, and Nigel and I led assemblies at Parkfields School on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons talking about the significance of the Cross. Youth Group met in the evening with fun and Bible reflection with an Easter focus. Wednesday seemed to be soup day...Chalgrave Pop Up Tea room was buzzing with conversation, beautiful cakes and refreshments (broccoli and stilton soup), The Lent Lunch at Toddington followed providing more tasty soups and then at Alpha in the evening - more soup plus a very. tasty meal provided by Rachel and Doug. On Thursday morning we hosted a joyful.. wonderful Easter Celebration school service at Toddington church with the whole school attending and where the children sang with such joyful enthusiasm - almost lifting the roof off the church! Their Christmas visit made my Christmas and their Easter visit did too. It is such a special time to gather all together in church. Then, after the service, Nigel, Malcolm and I made a quick journey to St Albans Abbey for the annual diocesan Maundy Thursday service when Bishops, clergy, readers and lay members renew their vows of service and faith. In the evening, we shared a lovely Benefice Maundy Thursday meal in Wilkinson Hall of delicious soups, followed by fruit before heading into church for a Holy Communion Service to remember Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. On Good Friday children and families gathered for an Easter Messy Church morning of crafts and a story at Wilkinson Hall, decorating eggs, making and decorating crosses, helping to create a Palm Sunday Easter Collage, and enjoying hot Cross Buns. Later, at the more sombre afternoon Hour at the Cross service the story of Jesus' trial and crucifixion was told through Bible readings and reflections by the characters who were involved on the day - all read by volunteers who read so brilliantly. It was very moving. Tomorrow we celebrate that 'Jesus is Risen' in our Benefice Service at 11.00 am at Toddington Church. You all are very welcome. Do come and join us if you can. Chalgrave Church continues to be closed for restoration work. This week the scaffolding in the Nave has been removed and the Chancel is now filled with scaffolding and has been sealed off by a large blue sheet. Sadly there will still be rather a lot of dust as the next stage of investigative work takes place so we cannot yet meet there. I've attached 2 photos which show the care of work which Mick and team have offered to the repair of two decayed beams. One beam has been repaired on both ends.. that is the beam I used to stand beneath when leading the services. I rather thank God that it stayed up there safely for as long as it did! Besides the Easter events, I have been supporting a young family whose 3 year old son unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest and has since been in Paediatric Intensive Care at Royal Brompton Hospital. He is very poorly and his parents have not left his bedside for almost 4 weeks. On Tuesday evening I travelled up to London to baptise this special and beautiful little boy. It was a very special and moving occasion. Something I will never forget. We as a church have been praying for young Harrison for a miracle of healing and for his parents Alex and Kyle who wait alongside him. They face a very long journey. It is likely that he will need a heart transplant. Harrison's aunt Cherie has posted an explanation of his situation on 'GoFundMe'. As you can imagine Harrison's parents are exhausted and in an effort to lift the financial anxiety from them an appeal has been launched. Cherie says: 'As a family, we have come to the decision to ask for help to support my sister and her family at this extremely difficult time. We know of all the love and support for Alex, Kyle and their 3 children, and I know how grateful they are to everyone wishing them well and supporting anyway that they can, but they now need financial help so they can continue to be by Harrison’s side whilst he fights for his life. If you could donate, no matter how big or small, or even share so this reaches as many people as possible, we would be eternally grateful. Any funds left over will be donated to The Royal Brompton Hospital, who continue to provide Harrison, Alex and Kyle the best care'. If you would like to donate or read more please click this link: https://gofund.me/f5ac8f81 (I need to press command and click at the same time). Or Search GoFundMe Harrison Blanchflower. The appeal has already almost reached its initial target.. but I think that was a modest target - not knowing what lays ahead. The family have asked me to 'thank everyone at church for their prayers/support/donations if they are able, it means the world to us'. Thank you if you are able to hold this young boy and his family in your prayers. We continue to pray for a miracle of healing.. and many people across the country and across the world are also praying for him. As we approach Easter Day, and think of Jesus' resurrection, we pray that Harrison will also be blessed by healing in body, mind and spirit. Here is information about this week's events: Easter Day service: 11.00 am Easter Benefice Holy Communion Service Toddington Church. Monday 1st April - No Morning Prayer.. Bank Holiday Tuesday 2nd April - Knitting Group, 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 3rd April - Churchyard Gardening, Toddington Church, 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Thursday 4th April - Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, 12.00 noon to 1.30 pm Friday 5th April - Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall, 10.30 am- 12.30pm Wishing you and your families a very Happy Easter, with love and prayers and with thanks for all you do in so many ways. Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello allIt has been such a beautiful sunny day.. but isn't it chilly this evening! The gardens are rapidly springing into life with birds and wildlife busy, shrubs already in need of curbing and lawns a rich lush green. After so much rainfall recently, I suppose it's understandable that some plants are taking off apace even though they hardly made an appearance last year when it was so dry. I didn't know we had so many grape hyacinths.. and bluebells have totally taken over some flowerbeds.. and I thought I'd cleared them! I love Spring time and part of that joy is the sound of the birds getting busy. This afternoon I enjoyed watching four sparrows happily settled having a good peck on a shrub. Sparrows which seemed so abundant a few years back now seem quite a rare sight.This weekend, we begin Holy Week, with Palm Sunday tomorrow - the start of Jesus' journey into Jerusalem, when he rode into Jerusalem on a colt, with the crowds of people cheering him, shouting 'Hosanna, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'. How joyfully they laid their cloaks on the road with branches cut from the trees to herald his arrival. What an amazing scene it must have been. We will distribute Palm Crosses tomorrow to identify with Jesus' journey. But, how quickly the mood changed in Jerusalem. Within days, the happy, cheering crowds were shouting for Jesus to be crucified. This week, during Holy Week we have various special services and Youth Group and Messy Church gatherings, which will remember Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Day. Do please come along if you can. Easter is such an important and significant season in the Christian Calendar. It is the foundation of our faith.Sadly, Chalgrave Church is still full of scaffolding. The scaffolding in the Nave is due to be taken down on Monday and Tuesday as that work is coming to an end, but scaffolding will be erected in the Chancel. We think it will be very difficult to clean the church in time to hold services for Easter and expect to be holding joint Benefice services at Toddington Church (but a final decision will be made early next week after discussion with the Archdeacon and the Diocesan Registry). If you would like to register a family loved one's name to be remembered with an Easter lily please contact Sandy for Chalgrave and Dee for Toddington churches. The churches always look so beautiful decorated with the special white lilies. (If Chalgrave church is closed, their lilies will be displayed at Toddington Church)This Sunday's Service:11am Palm Sunday Benefice Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church. (No service at Chalgrave Church again this Sunday)Services and Events this week:Monday 25th March9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington ChurchTuesday 26th March10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 27th March11am-1pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall12 noon Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall6.30pm Alpha week 5 'Why and How do I Pray', The Rectory, 41 Leighton Road, ToddingtonThursday 28th March9.30am Toddington St George Lower School visit to Toddington Church for their Easter Service11am Maundy Thursday service at St Albans Abbey (please let Linda know if you would like a lift)6pm Maundy Thursday Supper, Wilkinson Hall7.30pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service, Toddington ChurchGood Friday 29 March10am An Hour at the Cross, Reflective Service at Chalgrave TBC (This may not be possible due to the restoration works - I will confirm later this week)10.30-12noon Easter Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall2pm An Hour at the Cross, Reflective Service, Toddington ChurchEaster Day 31 March9.30am Holy Communion Service at Chalgrave TBC (This may not be possible due to restoration works - I will confirm later this week)11am Easter Day Holy Communion Service, Toddington ChurchThis week we remember in our prayers, the Princess of Wales and King Charles and wish them a speedy recovery. We also pray for all who are anxious, sick or afraid and for the war torn areas of the world.. and we pray for the peace, the love and the light of Christ to overcome the darkness, as we remember Jesus, who died on the cross, in the most generous, selfless gift of love to us all.With love in ChristLindaRectorToddington and Chalgrave Churches
