Hello Everyone,

Autumn's approach is in the air and the temperatures are beginning to dip, but we are still blessed with sunshine and dry days. This Sunday we host Harvest Services at Chalgrave at 9.30 am and Toddington at 11.00 am, to give praise to God for his provision and his good creation. As the church is still so beautifully decorated, we are inviting donations of long-life food items for the food bank which covers our area, and any fresh produce will be sent to the Noah project for the homeless. Thank you to everyone who has helped to decorate the churches and for any foods you may donate.

We had a lovely time at Messy Church yesterday celebrating Harvest through crafts and activities. It is so lovely to see the children and their families sharing time together. This evening at 6.00 pm we host the benefice Harvest Supper at Wilkinson Hall.

Can it be less than a week since the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth and a week since the beautiful Petal and Purl festival at Toddington? How this week has flown by! I was absorbed most of the day last Monday watching the funeral processions and services and was incredibly impressed by the slick performance of HM forces and the smoothly choreographed event. How moving it was. I have also been very impressed by the beauty of the flower and knitting arrangements in Toddington church which have presented a wonderful celebration of the church's 800 years anniversary and of God given talents and care. Thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way to the displays, and to the provision of the Preview evening and a weekend of refreshments - plus separate stalls. It was truly a special event. Thank you, and with particular thanks to Rita and June for organising the floral displays, to Angela for organising the knitting displays, and to Dee who lived at church for days! I am very aware that many, many people were involved, so thank you all.

Last Sunday at 6.00 pm Toddington and Chalgrave churches came together to mark the occasion of my licensing as Rector of the benefice. Thank you so much to everyone who came to support. It was a moment in time to mark and recognise our progress and also to offer stability and security as we move forward. Archdeacon Dave led the service and shared the joy of the occasion. I had fun learning how to ring bell no 5 (which is one of the heavier bells) and managed to make it ring out to mark the moment.

At the end of the service, we were moved to see so many people queueing to come into church for the service of Commemoration to the Queen. About two hundred adults and children came to the service to pay their respects. Afterwards we gathered outside at 8.00 pm to light candles, lay flowers and to share the nation's one minute silence.

I've attached a few photos of Petal and Purl festival and also of my licensing.

This week end I will be leading my last Sunday services for a month as Nigel and I are taking some time out for a rest (following his retirement from Westoning Benefice) and this may be the last weekly email for a few weeks.

The services will be as follows for this Sunday and for October:

This week's Sunday Services

Sunday September 25th

9.30 am Harvest Festival with Communion - Chalgrave Linda and Malcolm

11.00 am Harvest Festival with Communion - Toddington Linda and Malcolm

October Sunday Services

Sunday October 2nd

9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Rev Ian Ogilvie

11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington - Rev Roger Wood

Sunday October 9th

9.30 am Morning Praise, Chalgrave - Malcolm C

11.00 am Morning Praise, Toddington - Malcolm C

Sunday October 16

9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Rev Roger Wood

11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington - Rev Roger Wood

Sunday October 23

9.30 am Morning Praise, Chalgrave - Malcolm C

11.00 am, Morning Praise, Toddington - Malcolm C

Sunday 31st October

9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Archdeacon Dave

11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington - Archdeacon Dave

Regular Events going forward for this week and future weeks:

Morning Prayer 9.30 am Monday in church

Tuesday Morning 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall

Friday Morning 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall

Weekly events happening during the month:

Monday, Craft Group (4th Monday of the month) 26th September and 24th October at 2.00 pm, Wilkinson Hall

Monday, Seated Pilates group (2nd Monday of the month) 10th October 2.00 pm, Wilkinson Hall

Wednesday, Pop up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall: 28th September and 19th October, 11.00 am

Thursday, Ploughman's Lunch (first Thursday of the month) 12.00 noon, 6th October, Wilkinson Hall

Thursday, Afternoon with Friends (2nd Thursday of the month) 2.00 pm, 13th October, Wilkinson Hall

Thursday, St George's Fellowship (3rd Thursday of the month) 2.00 pm, 20th October Wilkinson Hall

Friday, Messy Church, (4th Friday of the month) 3.30pm 28th October, Wilkinson Hall

Saturday Cake Stall on the Green (2nd Saturday of the month) 9.30 am 8th October.

Saturday, Coffee Morning (4th Saturday of the month) 10.00 am 22nd October, Wilkinson Hall

Sunday Messy Breakfast (2nd Sunday of the month) 9.30 am, Wilkinson Hall

Toddington PCC Thursday 6th October

Funerals at Toddington Church:

7th October at 2.30 pm - Harry Britain

Thinking of you all. May you have a good week.

God bless

Linda