Hello Everyone It seems we are in for a lovely bank holiday weekend with high temperatures on Monday, which will be lovely - although, I hope it doesn't reach as high as Spain's 40 degrees! - phew! The excitement is building this week as we approach King Charles III Coronation on Saturday. London will be abuzz with practice runs and dignitaries arriving for the special occasion. The pageantry promises to be slick and exciting with the largest number of Heads of State gathered in one place. Across the country communities will gather to celebrate and mark the special event with street parties and other opportunities for fun and fellowship - such a welcome time to gather, post Covid lockdowns. Toddington has special events planned for Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, and in our Sunday services both this week and next we will include prayers for King Charles and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, and all involved in the service. This week's Services and Events Sunday 30th April 9.30 am Morning Praise service, Chalgrave, led by Malcolm Curtis 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington, Linda and Malcolm Monday 1st May - Bank Holiday no services and events Tuesday 2nd May 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 3rd May 11.00 am Funeral of D Squires, Toddington Church Thursday 4th May 12.00 noon, Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 5th May 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Saturday 6th May - Coronation Day Toddington Church bells to be rung in the morning before the Coronation Events on the Green, led by the British Legion in the evening. (See poster) Sunday 7th May 9.30am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church Monday 8th May - Bank Holiday no services Tuesday 9th May 10.30 am Knitting Group 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 11th May 2.00 pm Meeting with Friends, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 4.00 pm Burial of Sheila Parkes' ashes, Chalgrave Friday 12th May 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group 6.30 pm Service of Thanksgiving for King Charles III, Toddington Church, with the Quintet Choir and Royal British Legion representatives. All Welcome Have a wonderful week. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone I hope you have had a good week. The weather has been pretty kind to us and the grass and plants are growing apace.. with beautiful blossom emerging. Our churches have looked beautiful, decorated for Easter, but now, despite being still in the Easter Season our attention is turning also to Springtime events, including the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III. I know the various villages will be planning different events to celebrate this special occasion and I have circulated a poster about the Royal British Legion Toddington events, but please do let me know of any other events happening in Toddington, Tebworth, Wingfield and Chalton villages so I can share these too. Later today, volunteers from the Royal British Legion will help to raise the English standard at the church, to commemorate St George of England, the patron saint of England and also of Toddington Church. We will pay tribute to our patron saint in tomorrow morning's service. There are also various fun things happening locally, including at Wrest Park for families. This Afternoon St George's Church hosts a Toddington Music Society Spring Concert by Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy Flute Ensemble at 2.30 pm which will conclude St George of England's 800 years celebrations. Tickets available on the door £10 (cash only). All welcome. The Quintet Choir will be rehearsing songs and music for a special Thanksgiving service for the Coronation of King Charles which will be held at 6.30 pm at Toddington Church on Friday 12 May 2023. All Welcome to the service.. and to join the Quintet Choir... see below invitation from Nicholas: Dear Singers, We have been invited to sing at a coronation-themed service at Toddington on the evening of Friday 12th May. To prepare, we will rehearse 7.30-8.30 pm on the following Thursdays: 20th April, 27th April , 4th May, 11th May The first three practices are likely to take place at Harlington and the fourth will be held at Toddington. Amongst the music, I hope we can do Malcolm Archer's arrangement of 'Rejoice the Lord is King' - Please do come along to rehearsals, even if you cannot make the service on 12th May as we will be singing some other pieces too. Do please feel free to go along to any of the rehearsals and if you would like to speak to Nicholas for more information I can link you. This Friday's Messy Church will have a Coronation theme and we look forward to welcoming our families. This week's services and Events Saturday 22nd April - Spring Concert, Toddington Church, 2.30pm Sunday 23rd April 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion and remembering our Patron Saint, St George, Toddington Church Monday 24th April 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 25th April 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Wednesday 26th April 11.00 am Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall. Thursday 27th April 7.30 pm Quintet Choir Rehearsal, Harlington Church Friday 28th April 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall 3.30 pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Sunday 30th April 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Have a good week. With every good wish. Linda
Hello EveryoneHoly Week was a busy time in the churches as we remembered Jesus' journey into Jerusalem and his journey to the Cross, and on Easter Sunday we celebrated that 'Jesus is Risen' and sang joyful Alleluia songs in church. Thank you so much to everyone who took part in the preparations, or joined the worship in church. There have been so many people involved, offering time, talents and help: cooking, flower arranging, setting up prayer stations at Toddington, playing for our services, singing in the choir at the Wednesday eve service, helping as sidesperson for services, washing up in the hall etc. It really has been a team effort for which I am so grateful. Thank you all. I definitely could not have managed without you. The churches look so beautiful decorated with lilies and spring flowers to remember loved ones. I offer you all a 'Happy Easter' greeting.This week continued to be busy as the churches hosted the funeral of Joy Britain and Grace and Billy's wedding at Toddington, and the funeral of Sheelagh Deamer at Chalgrave church. Please hold them, and their families, in your prayers.Services on Sunday 16th9.30am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church11am Holy Communion Service, with a baptism, Toddington Church6pm BCP Evensong service, Toddington ChurchServices and Events from 17 AprilMonday9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington ChurchTuesday 18thKnitting Group 10.30am, Wilkinson HallYouth Group 5.45pm, Wilkinson HallWednesday 19thFuneral of Roy How, Toddington Church, 12 noonThursday 20thSt George's Fellowship 2pm Wilkinson HallFriday 21stPainting for Pleasure group 10.30amSaturday 22nd 2.30pm Toddington Music Society Spring Concert by Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy Flute Ensemble, Toddington Church, Entry £10 (cash only)Sunday 23rd9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church11am Patronal Service, and Holy Communion, Toddington ChurchWednesday 26thPop Up Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall, 11amFriday 28th 3.30pm Messy Church, Toddington, Wilkinson Hall This year's Annual Parochial Church Meetings will be held at:Chalgrave Church 21st May. There will be a 10.30am Morning Service, followed by APCM, and a bring and share lunch. Toddington Church 24th May at 7pm.Have a good week.. especially remembering all who are returning to school or work after the Easter holidays.God blessLinda
Hello Everyone This Sunday, Palm Sunday begins Holy Week which is the special week in the church when we follow Jesus' journey into Jerusalem, first cheered by happy crowds waving palm leaves, then to the Last Supper with his disciples, before a time of intense prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane which we mark on Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday we remember Jesus' arrest and trial, and lonely walk with the cross to his crucifixion. How quickly the atmosphere changed from joy to sadness. This week, a team of loyal volunteers worked hard to create a series of 10 interactive prayer stations in church ready for Holy Week, and for the Toddington lower school year 2 children who visited last Thursday. The children were a joy to host. We thoroughly enjoyed their visit, and so did they. One of my favourite moments was as we all sang 'Give me Joy in my heart.. with the chorus 'Sing Hosanna', with the children waving palm leaves. The children all had their own special memory and it was a wonderful surprise to receive thank you letters from them on Friday at the end of term assembly. How important it is to say thank you, and I guess that is what Holy Week is mainly about. It is a time for us to slow down, stop the busyness, and pause to acknowledge what Jesus did for us on the cross, and to say a big thank you! Do please join us this Easter for our special Holy Week Services and events and do please pop into church to spend a little time walking the prayer stations, and then head to the Cheyne Chapel to sit alongside the station of Jesus in the tomb (the scene of his resurrection) and remember Jesus, and loved ones, and say thank you. The peace is special. Jesus' love for each and every one of us, is so special and it is unconditional. Come and soak awhile in it. You will be most welcome. This week's services and events: Palm Sunday 9.30 am Holy Communion and the distribution of palm crosses, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion and the distribution of palm crosses, Toddington Church Monday 3rd April 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 11.00 am Toddington Lent Course, The Rectory. Tuesday 4th April 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 5th April 7.30 pm Easter Journey with Jesus service, with readings, music and songs, with the Quintet Choir. Maundy Thursday 6th April 6.00 pm Maundy Thursday Benefice Supper, Wilkinson Hall ( for catering purposes, please let Sandy or Dee know if you will be coming) 7.30 pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church Good Friday 7th April 9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Hour at the Cross Service with readings and reflections 10.30 am – 12.00 noon Easter Messy Church, for messy church children and families, Wilkinson Hall. All Welcome. 2.00 pm Toddington Church, Hour at the Cross Service with readings and reflections. Easter Saturday 8th April 8.00 pm Confirmation Service at St Alban's Abbey. Please come and support Diane, Len and Lianne who will be confirmed by Bishop Richard at this special Easter Saturday service (Please be seated by 7.45 pm, and let me know if you would like a lift) Easter Sunday 9th April 9.30 am Easter Day Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave 11.00 am Easter Day, Holy Communion Service, Toddington Future dates for your diaries: No Morning Prayer on Monday 10th April - Bank Holiday. 12th April, 10.30 am the funeral of Joy Britain, Toddington Church 14th April, 12.30 pm The wedding of Grace and Billy, Toddington Church 14th April, 3.00 pm, Memorial Service for Sheila Diemer, Chalgrave Church Easter Lilies in memory of loves ones. Chalgrave and Toddington Churches will be decorated with Easter lilies for Easter Sunday. Each Lily flower will be in memory of a loved one. If you would like to include your loved ones, please either write their names on the list in church, or let Sandy know for Chalgrave church, and Dee or Roger know for Toddington Church. A donation for each lily is requested, please. We have become aware of several families who are finding things difficult at the moment. If you feel able to make a small donation (either food or a little money) to help to ease their journey, please have a word with Linda or Dee. Donations of food, from the church, have been very gratefully received this week. Thank you. I wish you all a special, reflective and peaceful week as we journey with Jesus. God bless Linda
