Hello everyone We wish you and your family good health and happiness and hope this week has been a good week. In a return to cold frosty mornings and some sunshine to brighten the day, after the heavy rain at the beginning of the week, Nigel and I finally summoned up the energy to head to the coast to see the sea.. and at 4.29 pm yesterday we stood on the cliffside at Southbourne looking across to Swanage and the Purbeck Hills and watched the most beautiful sunset shining forth across a clear sky and millpond sea, the reflections and evening light were so beautiful (picture attached). How can we but praise our God for his wonderful creation. This week my thoughts have turned frequently to those who grieve the loss of loved ones, work colleagues and friends and those with family members working within the medical, caring and emergency services for whom we have prayed, anxious for their well being, during this pandemic. My heart goes out to all who mourn but with a special depth of sorrow for those who had to mourn in isolation - without the support of family and friends alongside, or who have faced enormous medical moments alone in hospital. How challenging these past months have been for so many people, in many different ways. It was good to read this week that the latest wave of Omicron may finally have passed the peak. We look forward to moving into a new season. This year, Toddington Church celebrates its 800 years milestone and we are looking forward with hope in our hearts to times of joy as we celebrate this special anniversary. More information to follow. But the first event to mention is Bridget's initiative to walk over 800 miles within 7 months. Aware of the many positive qualities of a walk... not least to walk, share and talk, she invites others to join her, whether for one mile, or more. Please do get in touch if you fancy a walk! (You are of course very welcome to also offer to sponsor her, to help raise funds for our beautiful church). Chalgrave Church is looking forward to joining the community at the next Pop-Up Tea-Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall on Wednesday from 11.00 am – 1.00 pm. Last time was so successful it will become a regular monthly feature. (poster attached) Do please let us know of any future church events which you would like us to mention and do check on the church websites, A Church Near You and Facebook pages for updates. This Sunday's services: Harlington Church 9.30 am Holy Communion - Nigel Chalgrave Church 9.30 am Holy Communion - Linda Tingrith Church - No service this week Toddington Church 11.00 am Holy Communion - Linda Westoning Church 11.00 am Holy Communion - Nigel The Upper Room returns online at 6.00 pm. Theme: New Year Resolve. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86914811575?pwd=MVRIL1hnSWw2OHRBZjAwNjhOQTlQZz09 Please contact Revd Linda for joining instructions Services and Events this week: Monday 17th January Morning Prayer at Toddington Church 9.30 am Tuesday 18th January Westcaf - Westoning Village Hall 10.00 am – 12.00 noon Knitting Group - Wilkinson Hall Toddington 10.30 am Sewing Bee Westoning Village Hall 1.00 – 3.00 pm Chalgrave PCC meeting 8.00 pm - The Rectory Wednesday 19th January 10.00 am Morning Service, Harlington Church Pop-Up Tea Room, 11.00 am – 1.00 pm, Tebworth Memorial Hall (with refreshments and a book stall) TWIG 3.30 – 5.00 pm Westoning Village Hall Westoning PCC 7.30 pm at church. Thursday 20th January Fellowship Time 2.00 pm Wilkinson Hall Toddington PCC 7.30 pm - Zoom Friday 21st January Painting for Pleasure group 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall Little Stars 1.15 pm Westoning Church Friday Fellowship – 2.00 pm, Westoning Village Hall Thank you all so much for your wonderful support to all the churches in so many different ways. It really is a fantastic team effort. We wish you a good week, with good health and happiness. God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone We hope you have had a reasonable week and are keeping Covid-free. The infection rates in our areas are particularly high at present, so do please keep safe. There will be a supply of lateral flow tests available in the churches, if you need a box. This week I enjoyed going back into St George's Lower school to take an assembly and Nigel and I are beginning to 'Rev' up again but both of us have been feeling exceptionally tired post-Christmas, as I suspect many of you are too. I always find January a difficult month with the lack of sunlight and cold, dark days.. but already we are noticing that the days are getting longer which is so encouraging. As I drove the other morning appreciating the sunshine and sunlight, I praised God for the beautiful scenery in the fields alongside. I also love lighting candles in the fireplace which flicker and glow alongside a log fire - so comforting. I wonder which day you removed your Christmas decorations? Was it by Wednesday last week the twelfth night before Epiphany started on Thursday.. or a long time before? I always cling to the last moment enjoying the twinkling lights in the darkness... but all is now clear, and we move forward further into the new year. Last Sunday we celebrated Epiphany in church and the Wise Men (or the Kings) were placed into the crib as they arrived to visit baby Jesus. This Sunday we continue further into the Epiphany season, on a journey of realisation of Jesus, as he grows into His ministry as the Son of God. We remember this week the baptism of Jesus' by John the Baptism and alongside the people of Israel we too can have expectation in our hearts as we enter this new year, anticipating emergence from Covid and a new year, with new promise. May the Light of Christ lead you on your way! This Sunday's Services are: Chalgrave Church Holy Communion Service 9.30 am - Linda Harlington Church - Family Breakfast club – 9.00 am Parish Rooms - Rebecca Harlington Church - Holy Communion Service 9.30 am - Nigel, with Robert Tingrith Church - No service this week Toddington Church - Holy Communion Service 11.00 am - Linda Westoning Church - Holy Communion Service 11.00 am - Nigel No Upper Room this week. We recommence next Sunday Next week's services and events: Monday Morning Prayer, Toddington Church, 9.30 am Tuesday Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon Westcaf, at Westoning Village Hall 10.00 am – 12.00 noon Sewing Bees at Westoning Village Hall 1.00 – 3.00 pm Wednesday Morning Service 10.00 am Harlington Church Thursday Afternoon with Friends, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington, 2.00 – 4.00 pm Friday Art/painting group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 2.00 - 4.00 pm Little Stars, Westoning Church 1.15 - 2.45 pm Friday Fellowship, Westoning Village Hall, 2.00 – 4.00 pm Youth Club, Westoning Village Hall - after school - Link with Rebecca for more information. Saturday Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 10.00 am -12.00 noon Sadly, January Messy Church could not take place this month at Toddington, but we very much look forward to getting together again on Friday 4th February, 3.15 to 5.30 pm. I'm very sorry for any disappointment caused. Rebecca will be in touch about future plans for Toddington Youth group. We are looking to meet up in February. Please hold in your prayers those who are sick and those who are isolated or bereaved. We hold you all in our thoughts and prayers. Do get in touch with us if you would like a chat, a visit or a prayer. God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone We wish you a Very Happy New Year for 2022 and every blessing for you and your families. May this year be a time of well-being, good health, peace and hope, held firmly in the love of Christ. As we move forward from the challenges of the past few Covid years, may this year offer the emergence into freedom and new light. This Sunday's services are as follows: Chalgrave 9.30 am Holy Communion Service - Linda Harlington 8.00 am BCP Morning Prayer Service - Robert 9.30 am Morning Prayer Service - Robert Tingrith 9.30 am Morning Prayer - Jon Toddington 11.00 am Holy Communion Service - Linda Westoning 11.00 am Morning Prayer Service - Jon There will be no Upper Room online service this week. This is just a short email this week to confirm Sunday service times. Have a good week. God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello everyone And so we are in Christmas Week. The lights are up, trees are twinkling, schools have finished for their Christmas holiday after a flurry of special events. The other day I was asked to go and speak to the young children about how Christians celebrate Christmas.. so as I am lifting the beautiful knitted Baby Jesus out of the box, resting in his manger there was an excited shout out before me.. there's Santa.. as Santa indeed walked past the window and waved happily, and the children bounced with excitement at the sight. It reminded me of how much I used to love taking the children to see Santa, shopping, enjoying the music playing in the background, decorating the home and sharing time together. Time with children is so special. Although, I did reflect with some sadness that baby Jesus lost out on this occasion.. the sight of a little baby in a manger did not manage to compete with Santa. And so, I have continued to reflect this week on the contrast of the pull of this material world against the simplicity of the first Christmas. Mary and Joseph, were called by God to leave their family and familiar surroundings, to travel a long difficult journey to somewhere remote, with Mary heavily pregnant. Arriving in Bethelehem there were no plush guest rooms or hotels for them, no family saying come in have a warm drink.. welcome. Instead, they found themselves destitute, in need of help, at the point of Mary about to give birth. Rescued by a considerate Inn-Keeper who offered his stable, the only place available - and here in this lowly place Jesus the 'Messiah' was born - a king, born in lowly surroundings, without a crown.. just wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And then.. the Angel visited the Shepherds in the fields, lowly and outcast by society but called by God to be the first to visit the baby Jesus, to bow down to him, to worship Him and to symbolically offer a lamb. God knelt down and blessed those who seemed unimportant, thought unworthy of by society, and he lifted them up and called them forth to see the most wonderful sight... he 'kissed them on the cheek' and blessed them. Next the wise men or the 'Sages' of their time.. came to visit. They had set off months before, led to find the baby Jesus by a bright star shining in the sky. They brought gifts.. special gifts.. gold, frankincense and myrrh.. gifts of great symbolic importance which heralded Jesus' death at Easter. Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, our Lord, was born in love, swaddled in love, visited in love, ministered to all he met in love and he died out of the most incredible sacrifice of love for us all. This week as my reflections continued I thought about families who are struggling to cope this year, with rising prices, and so many pressures placed on them by expectation and society's demands.. and I (and many of you) gained pleasure in gathering together hampers to give to certain families in need.. extending the hand of love.. keen to 'kiss them on the cheek' to say, you are loved. Let us share this burden together. Thank you to all who helped, to all who contributed. Anything which remains will be sent to the foodbank as need is very high this year. I posted a picture on the church facebook pages this week which says we are all innkeepers.. but will we let Jesus in this year? And so Santa may be a modern representation of Jesus.. the giver, the happy, cheery voice of joy to those he meets, but for me, Jesus is the reason for the season. It is Jesus who we come to worship this Christmas. Here are our services for this Sunday: Chalgrave Church 9.30 am Holy Communion Toddington Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Tingrith Church Nativity Service 3.00 pm Harlington Church 9.30 am Holy Communion Service Westoning Church Nativity themed service 11.00 am - please come dressed as a nativity character if you wish. Online zoom Upper Room Service 6.00 pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88981856814?pwd=SlArT05NMXZ3ckNLSENGTDB1b3Q5Zz09 For details of how to join please contact Revd Linda Next week's services: Monday 20th December 9.30 am Morning Prayer Toddington, 11.00 am Advent Course at the Rectory, Toddington The Coming Light, Harlington 8.00 pm - a service of readings and carols with the Quintet Choir Wednesday 22nd December A Service of lessons and carols with the Quintet Choir 7.30 pm Toddington Harlington Churches Together sing carols outside the parade of shops with the Salvation Army Band 6.30 pm Thursday 23rd December Funeral at Chalgrave Church 1.00 pm Wedding at Harlington Church 2.00 pm Friday 24th December - Christmas Eve Chalgrave 3.00 pm Crib Service 11.15 pm Midnight Mass Toddington 4.30 pm Crib Service 10.00 pm Midnight Mass Harlington (you are advised to please book places on the church website) Crib Service 4.15 pm Midnight Communion 11.15 pm Tingrith 8.00 pm Christmas Communion Westoning Crib services 3.00 pm and 5.30 pm (you are advised to please book places on the church website) 10.00 pm Christmas Communion Christmas Day and Boxing Day services Chalgrave no services at church. We will join a benefice service at Toddington Church Toddington - 9.30 am Holy Communion on Christmas Day and 10.00 am Holy Communion on Boxing Day (both are benefice services) Harlington: 10.00 am Christmas day family service (no communion), Boxing Day 9.30 am Holy Communion Westoning: 10.00 am Christmas Day Communion Service and 11.00 am Boxing Day Holy Communion Service Tingrith: No services at church. We will join a benefice service at Westoning Church. As we look forward to this week Nigel and I wish you and your families a very happy Christmas. We thank you for all your support, giving in so many different ways, for your enthusiasm, for your love and for being very special church family. May you enjoy a blessed, joyful and healthy Christmas.We send our love to you Linda and Nigel
