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