Hello EveryoneI hope you have had a good week?There has been a lovely build up this week to Harvest celebrations. On Thursday I visited the Nursery unit at St George's and spent time with the children as they learned about fruit and vegetables, and they also learned how to cut them up safely. Then on Friday, the school celebrated Harvest in Collective Worship and we admired and gave thanks for the beautiful display of foods collected by the children, for the local Foodbank. Later in the afternoon, Messy Church met at Church for the first time since the Summer, and we enjoyed making special Harvest crafts with the children.. You may notice the welcome scarecrow outside Toddington Church, inviting you to our service in the morning, and the harvest loaf displayed inside which the children all contributed to.This morning, faithful teams of volunteers got together to decorate the churches for tomorrow's morning services and this evening the church 'family' enjoyed a very special harvest supper at Wilkinson Hall, with wonderful company and wonderful tasty food, prepared by volunteers from Chalgrave and Toddington churches. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed in any way this week to the different activities, and to preparing the churches for Harvest. You work so hard, and give up so much time and effort! The decorations inside church are so beautiful and everything else has gone so well. Thank you!Do please come tomorrow, if you can, to share in the special Harvest services when we will give thanks to God for his creation and for His provision. We are looking forward to welcoming you.If you would like to make a harvest donation of food, that will be most welcome, but if that is not possible, we fully understand. Please come anyway and just enjoy being together. Food collected will be distributed locally to families in need of support and to the foodbank, as times are hard for many at the moment. If you are not able to come to the service, but would like to make a donation, the church is open daily during daylight hours, and food donations can be left in church. Money donations from the harvest meal will be divided between the foodbank and the Bishop's harvest appeal. Thank you so much for anything you are able to offer. Equally, if you are in need of some help, or know a family in need, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me, Linda on 07715 603557 or Dee.Sunday's Services9.30am Harvest Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church11am Harvest Holy Communion Service, Toddington ChurchNext Week's EventsMonday9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington ChurchTuesday10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson HallNo Youth Group this week!Wednesday10.30am Church Working Party.. more information from DeeThursday12 noon Ploughman's LunchFriday10.30am Painting for Pleasure GroupEnjoy the warmer weather that is on its way in October! (Can it really be October already?!)Have a good weekBest wishesLindaRectorToddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone What a beautifully sunny autumnal afternoon this has been. I hope you are managing to enjoy some sunshine and have emerged from the heavy rains ok. I nearly changed my school assembly theme last Thursday to Noah's Ark as it seemed very fitting after the storms the night before!! But like Noah's Ark, the sun came out and there have also been some splendid rainbow sightings. So as our spirits rise with the warmth of the sun, so we can share God's hope and encouragement that better days are ahead. Many people will be reassured this week that the rate of inflation is down (albeit slightly) and we pray that souring costs will settle and families' and business' finances will stabilise. It is heartbreaking to hear stories about families' struggles to put food on their tables, and of the huge number of families on Universal Credit who are struggling to buy food for the month, whilst other bills are so high. Food banks are experiencing a huge uptake in demand for food, which includes families where both parents are in work. With this in mind, our harvest services next week will be collecting food for the foodbanks, and fresh fruit and vegetables for local families and for the Noah project which provides meals for the homeless. It seems sensible, going forward, for the church to become a resource hub for offerings of home grown produce - especially as many families are struggling to buy fresh fruit and veg. The church building is open each day during daylight hours and we can easily put out a table to receive people's food offerings so others can pop by to select and take food that they need. A bit like recycling to avoid waste. We will be decorating the churches for harvest next Saturday morning and are happy to receive any harvest donations that morning, or during the morning Harvest services. We hope you will be able to share one of the services with us.. and please invite a friend too! The Harvest Supper will be on Saturday 30th September at 5.00 pm. All Welcome, but please let Sandy or Dee know you are coming for catering numbers (see attached letter). Messy Church is on this Friday 29th September at 3.30 pm and will have a harvest theme for crafts. It will be wonderful to welcome our families back after the Summer holiday break. Youth Group met again this week and we had a happy time. Thank you to everyone who has been along to an event this week or who has helped cater, including the MacMillan afternoon tea on Thursday. We look forward to the return of the Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room this Wednesday... always lots of wonderful cake available there too. This Sunday's Services: 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Events this week: Monday 25th September Morning Prayer 9.30am 2.00 pm seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall Tuesday 26th September 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 27th September 11.00 am - 1.00 pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall Working Party in the grounds, Toddington church 10.30 am Thursday 28th September A Rest day! Friday 29th September 10.30 am Painting for pleasure, Wilkinson Hall 12.00 noon Funeral - David Gadsden, Toddington Church 3.30 pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 30th September During the morning - decorate the churches for harvest (please link with Dee or Sandy for more information -(see attached letter) 5pm Benefice Harvest Supper - Wilkinson Hall Sunday 1st October 9.30 am Special Harvest Community Service with Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Special Harvest Community Service with Holy Communion, Toddington Church Have a good week. We look forward to seeing you soon. Best wishes Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave parishes
Hello Everyone What lovely weather this week, offering an extension to Summer, but it sounds as if Autumn is now on its way with rains forecast. Nigel and I have enjoyed a few days by the sea this week and have loved the rest, the sunshine and the beauty of the area. I hope your week has gone well. Thank you to all who have been involved in helping at church in any way this week. We are so grateful for your help. 17 September, Sunday's services; 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church - Linda and Nigel 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church - Linda and Nigel 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church - Malcolm This week's events: Monday 18th September 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Tuesday 19th September 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 20th September Toddington Church Grounds, morning Working Party from 10.30 am Thursday 21st September 2.00 pm Macmillan 'coffee afternoon', Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 22nd September 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 23rd September rest day Looking further ahead: Sunday 24th September 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Friday 29th September Funeral of David Gadsden 12.00 noon, Toddington Church 3.30 pm Messy Church - Harvest theme Saturday 30th September am Decorate the church for harvest 5.00 pm Benefice Harvest Supper, Wilkinson Hall - all welcome. Please contact Dee or Sandy for catering numbers. Sunday 1st October Harvest Festival 9.30 am Chalgrave Church Harvest Festival 11.00 am Toddington Church with best wishes Linda Rector, Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone I hope you have managed to stay comfortable today despite the high temperatures, although anyone who took part in the Beds and Herts Historic Churches fundraising event today has my full admiration. To be out cycling, walking or driving in this heat was a real challenge..it was so hot! Tony, Dee and Malcolm took part on behalf of Toddington Church, and Alison on behalf of Chalgrave church.. so if you have a few pence (or £) to spare, please consider sponsoring them in retrospect to help raise funds for our two churches. The sum raised will be split 50/50 between historic churches trust and the sponsoring church.. which means, we gain both ways in the long run as Historic Churches Trust has been generous to us previously in our applications for financial support on church restoration projects. 'Every little helps' to coin a well known phrase. This week the schools returned for the new school year, following the summer holidays.. and how ironic that the sun came out and the temperatures rose just as they returned. It was a pleasure to be back in school this week meeting staff and children, including Mr Darlington the new headteacher at St George's LS. As I walked in on Thursday to lead assembly, I was struck by the beautiful display in the corridor of children's work and how quickly the displays in the Hall had been prepared to reflect the values of the school, with Biblical references. The staff all work so hard and there is a clear sense of purpose amongst children and staff; keen to learn and to teach. I wish them every happiness and success this year and look forward to leading another assembly soon. There was a contented hum of conversation this morning at Toddington Coffee morning as there had been on Thursday at Ploughman's lunch. Youth group met for the first time since the holidays on Tuesday eve and we chatted as we munched pizza, whilst enjoying being back together again. The group meets again on Tuesday 14 and 21st September at 5.45pm at Wilkinson Hall. New members are welcome to come along to join us, especially year 5 children who have just started Parkfields. The first few sessions will give everyone chance to get back together again while we consider the shape of the groups moving forward. Planning seems key at the start of this new 'academic year' as we return to the full buzz of planning for services and events up to Christmas. Can this be possible so soon.. oh yes, it can! We are currently planning dates for the church Christmas Card, events to include in a village newsletter, and generally getting the diary sorted! With PCC meetings this week for each church we looked forward to upcoming events and here are a few thoughts for your diaries: Services for Sunday 10th 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Events for next week: Monday 11th 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2pm Seated Pilates, with Jo, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 12th Knitting Group 10.30am, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Youth Group 5.45pm,Wilkinson Hall, from 9yrs upwards Wednesday 13th Church Grounds morning working party (tbc) Thursday 14th Afternoon with Friends 2pm, Wilkinson Hall Friday 15th Painting for Pleasure 10.30am, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 16th Cake stall on the Green 10am Looking further ahead: Tuesday 19th Youth Group - Wilkinson Hall, 5.45pm Thursday 21st Macmillan Afternoon Tea with St George's Fellowship, Wilkinson Hall, 2.30pm Wednesday 27th Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall, 11-1pm Friday 29th Messy Church, (for lower school children and younger children, with parents and accompanying adults). Wilkinson Hall, 3.30pm Saturday 30th Harvest Supper 5pm Wilkinson Hall, all welcome but please let Dee or Sandy know for catering numbers. Sunday 1st October Harvest services at Chalgrave at 9.30am and Toddington at 11am And even further ahead: (in addition to the regular weekly and monthly events) Possible Scarecrow festival Saturday 21 October, Toddington Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Wednesday October 25th, Tebworth Memorial Hall, Sunday 29 October 3pm Toddington Band Concert, Toddington Church Chalgrave Church Christmas Fayre, 4th November - more information to follow. In Loving Memory Services Chalgrave 5th November 9.30am, Toddington Church 3.30pm Remembrance Day Services, 12 November. details tbc Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, 22 November, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11am Christmas Tree Festival, Toddington Church 9 and 10 December Christmas Pop Up Tea Room, Wednesday 13th December 11am, Tebworth Memorial Hall Scouts Carol Service Toddington Church, 7pm Friday 15 December. Carols by Candlelight Service Chalgrave Church, Saturday 16 December time tbc. Toddington Band Christmas concert, Toddington Church Sunday 17 December. time tbc Parkfields School Christmas Concerts, Toddington Church, Wednesday 20 December. Other events will be added as they become known Have a great week everyone. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
