Hello Everyone We hope you are keeping well and enjoying these summer days... even if they are rather parched. Nigel and I managed a few days by the sea this week, although the phone lines and emails kept us busy it was good to breathe the sea air and walk. I had a lovely day on Thursday, travelling on the open top bus to Swanage and then walking back on the coastal path towards Sandbanks. The scenery was beautiful. How amazing our God is! As I write this email, I realise that it will be one of Nigel and my last emails to the Quintet of Churches. I will continue to email Toddington and Chalgrave churches, but next Sunday will be Nigel's last services at Harlington (9.30 am) and at Tingrith (3.00 pm) followed by his final service at Westoning on Sunday 4th September (11.00 am) as his retirement from the benefice looms ever closer. It is a time of mixed emotions for us both, as a beautiful season of ministry at these churches draws to a close for Nigel. He has served at Westoning and Tingrith churches for 22 years, since being ordained as a minister, and at Harlington since 2017.. although these villages also contain many more memories for him of his days as a Teacher and Head of Sixth form at Harlington Upper School. So hard to step away from you all. We will pray for you over these coming months for a smooth process to replace him and for the right minister to come forth to lead the parishes forward into a brand new, blessed season. Nigel will miss you deeply. Thank you for being such a wonderful flock and for the many special years together. He will cherish the memories and is keen for friendships to endure. This week's Services and Events from Sunday 21 August. 9.30 am Morning Praise Tingrith - Steve 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Linda (in church) 9.30 am Family All Age Service, Harlington - Nigel. Topic: the whole armour of God. 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington - Linda and Malcolm 11.00 am Family Communion and Baptism service, Westoning - Nigel Monday 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington 11.00 am Funeral of Christopher Huckle, Toddington Tuesday 10.00 am Westcaf, Westoning Village Hall 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 1.00 pm Sewing Bee, Westoning Village Hall Wednesday 10.00 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion Service 11.00 am Funeral of Jim Bunce, Toddington Church Thursday Friday Painting for Pleasure 10.30 am - Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Messy Church, 3.30pm, Wilkinson Hall TBC Future Dates for your diaries: Funeral of Derek Gordon, Toddington Church Thursday 1st September,11am 1st September Toddington PCC 7.30pm 2nd September 11am Funeral of Frances Barford. Harlington Church 3rd September Toddington Village Fete 10 September- all churches.. Historic Churches Bike Ride (drive or walk) fundraising event. Sponsorship forms available in church. 11 September 2pm Baptism Harlington Church 14 September Chalgrave PCC 17 and 18 September Petal and Purl festival - flower arrangements and knitted scenes to Celebrate 800 years of St George of England, Toddington. Preview Evening 16 September. (Poster to be forwarded separately as a large file) 18 September 6.00 pm - a celebration service to mark a new season for St George of England Church (lifting of 'suspension of living' - Linda to be made Rector) 20 September 10.00am onwards.. Safeguarding Training for PCC members, Rectory Toddington 24 September 6.00 pm Harvest supper for Toddington and Chalgrave, Wilkinson Hall 25 September Harvest Services at Toddington, Chalgrave, Westoning and Tingrith churches. 25 September – 2.00 pm wedding Harlington Church 28 September 11.00 am – 2.00 pm - Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room 30 September 3.30 pm Messy Church Toddington (continuing on 4th Friday of each month) 2 October 9.30 am Harlington Church Harvest Festival service. Sorry about the long list of dates and particularly with such a Toddington/Chalgrave focus. We hope Westoning Benefice will keep the churches informed of their events in the future so we can maintain the close Quintet links which have developed. Regular events have not been listed on the diary but are expected to continue. We send you our love and prayers Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone The sky is blue, the sun has been beating down and Summer is in full swing. The fields are being harvested and fruit is ripening on the trees. It is a lovely time of year, but also a strange time of year.. village life calms and people head away on holiday as the routine and momentum changes. It is important to rest and we hope that you all will find time to have rest and fulfilment. It was a joy to host Messy Church families at Toddington this Friday. We had no idea if anyone would come.. and suddenly children appeared along the path, with their parents, and we enjoyed a lovely time together with 24 children making crafts about Zacchaeus and munching home-made pizzas for tea. Ploughman's lunches were also a special time with Wilkinson Hall abuzz with happy chatter. Within the seasons of life's changes, Nigel is now in his final month before his retirement as Vicar of the Benefice of Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington churches - which is a poignant stage, with the last one of everything approaching (including for Nigel a last special wedding at Harlington). This all adds to it being a 'strange time of year'. This week's services and events from Sunday 7th August 8.00 am Harlington, BCP Holy Communion - Nigel 9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Linda 9.30 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion - Nigel 9.30 am Tingrith Church, Morning Prayer - Steve 11.00 am Toddington Church, Holy Communion, with baptisms during the service - Linda 11.00 am Westoning Church, Holy Communion, Nigel 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm Tingrith Church, Cheese and Wine Lunch, Tickets £5 Monday 8th August Morning Prayer Toddington Church 9.30 am Seated Pilates 2.00 pm Tuesday 9th August Westcaf 10.00 am – 12.00 noon, and Sewing Bee 1.00 – 3.00 pm Westoning Village Hall Knitting Group 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Wednesday 10th August Holy Communion Service, Harlington Church 10.00 am Thursday 11th August 2.00 – 4.00 pm Afternoon with friends, Wilkinson Hall Friday 12th August Painting For Pleasure group, 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall Wedding rehearsal Toddington Church 1.30 pm Saturday 13th August 9.30 am Stall on the Green (cakes, jams etc), Toddington 11.00 am Westoning Church, baby thanksgiving service Sunday 14th Services 9.30 am Holy Communion - Chalgrave 9.30 am Holy Communion Harlington 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington 11.00 am Holy Communion, Westoning 2.00 pm Wedding - Toddington Church We send our love and prayers to you all. God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneWe hope you are all well and able to enjoy some Summer downtime and holiday rest. The weather is kind at the moment and people seem glad to have a change of scene and routine with time to be with family and friends. We hope you too can enjoy a less frantic few weeks and get some sunshine and rest.This week's servicesChalgrave 9.30 am Holy Communion Service - Linda and MalcolmHarlington 9.30 am Holy Communion Service - Nigel and RobertToddington 11.00 am Holy Communion Service - Linda and MalcolmWestoning 11.00 am Holy Communion Service Nigel and JonToddington 12.45 pm Baptism service - LindaWestoning 3.30 pm Big Baptism Blessing with refreshments - Nigel and RebeccaThis week's services and events:Monday 1st August9.30 am Morning Prayer ToddingtonTuesday 2nd August10.30 am Knitting group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 3rd August10.00 am Morning Service, Harlington churchThursday 4th AugustPloughman's lunch, 12.00 noon, Wilkinson HallFriday 5th August10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson HallMessy Church 3.30 pm, Wilkinson HallNo Westcaf, Sewing Bee or Friday Fellowship this week at Westoning due to the Village Hall closure. The groups return next week.No Little Stars until SeptemberHave a good week Linda and Nigel
Dear All This week has been a wonderful week, but a poignant week, with year 4 leaving concerts/services at Westoning and Toddington lower schools, an entertaining 'Evening with the Vicar' at Harlington, and a special wedding at Toddington this weekend, which was all the more special because it was finally able to take place with family and friends, after having been postponed several times over the past 2 years due to Covid restrictions. As we enter the school Summer holiday period, a new exciting season of life begins for many people. Mariia and Izabella send a big thank you to everyone who supported their Ukrainian Charity Concert last week at Toddington Church, and for the toy donations which were collected from Toddington church on Thursday and which are now on their way to Ukraine. Mariia and Izabella have asked me to pass on their thanks to you for your generosity and care. They are very grateful. I will forward on to you other information in due course. This Sunday's Services 9.15 am Messy Church Family Breakfast, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington - Rebecca 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Harlington - led by Nigel and Robert. 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave - Linda 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington - Linda (and Malcolm?) - No baptism this week 11.00 am All Age service, with Family Communion, Westoning - Nigel This month's online Upper Room Service at 6.00 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89552865802?pwd=SFV6VHNXVmg1VERGWnljVCtoZzJHUT09 For details of how to join please contact Revd Linda Other events and services this week: Monday 25th July Morning Prayer at Toddington Church, 9.30 am Tuesday 26th July Westcaf at Westoning at 10am and Sewing Bee at 1.00 pm Knitting group, 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Wednesday 27th July Morning Service at Harlington at 11.00 am Pop Up Tea Room, Chalgrave Memorial Hall, 11.00 - 1.00 pm TWIG Beach Party at 3.30 pm at Westoning Church Friday 29th July Painting for Pleasure Group 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall 11.00 am Funeral at Tingrith Church Friday Fellowship, Westoning, outing to Elstow Sunday 31st July Usual morning services Baptism at Toddington church 12.45 pm Baptism bonanza service at Westoning Church 2.30 pm We hope you have an enjoyable, restful week, and enjoy the warm sunshine. We send special thoughts and care to those who are unwell and pray that you make a speedy recovery. We also hold in our hearts and in our prayers those who grieve the loss of a loved one. with love and prayers to you all Linda and Nigel
