Hello everyoneHere we are, at the beginning of the new liturgical year C, with Advent Sunday tomorrow. How quickly this year has passed.This week I took an Advent Wreath into School for a talk about Advent, explaining how we light a different candle each Sunday to remember the Patriarchs, the Prophets of old who foretold the birth of Jesus, of John the Baptist, of Mary, and of Jesus the Light of the World. On Thursday Nigel and I led an assembly about the visit by Angel Gabriel to Elizabeth and Mary and we look forward to further assemblies and carol services at schools in the lead up to Christmas. It is such a joy to share this special season.This week, Toddington Youth group met on Tuesday and today Harlington Church hosted the children's wonderful Art Attack day organised and inspired by Stanley - decorating the church with colourful pictures. There was such a good turnout of children and parents. It is so important to encourage children. Other events for our children and families ahead this week are: TWIG meeting at Westoning on Tuesday at 3.30 pm at the Village Hall and Little Stars at 1.15 pm on Friday in Church; Toddington host Christmas Messy Church at 3.30 pm on Thursday (instead of Friday) also in Wilkinson Hall, and all these events lead into two wonderful Christmas Tree festivals which will be held at Toddington Church and Harlington Churches next week-end. The season of Jesus, the Light of the World approaches…with much excitement.This Wednesday Chalgrave Church co-host a pop-up tea room at Tebworth Memorial Hall from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm to offer folks opportunity to meet for a cuppa and a chat and tomorrow, Tingrith Church hold a special Advent service at 3.00 pm accompanied by Tingrith choir.This is the season to be still and reflect, and to prepare.- despite the busyness around us.. and with this in mind, Nigel invites Harlington folk to a new Advent course on Wednesday afternoons.I will be leading an Advent course in Toddington on Mondays. All welcome.Tomorrow, we look forward to lighting the first Advent Candles in our churches as we focus on this time of preparation for the coming of Jesus.Here are some of the upcoming services and events in our churches:This Sunday's services:Chalgrave Church - no service this week. We will be joining Toddington for a Benefice Service at 11.00 am.Harlington 9.30 am Holy Communion. Linda leading, Robert preachingWestoning 11.00 am Holy Communion . Nigel leading, Jon preachingToddington 11.00 am Holy Communion Benefice Service. LindaTingrith 3.00 pm Advent Service with Choir. Nigel/Linda/Jon6.00 pm Upper Room Service looks at the implications of Advent. Zoom access link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81115286922?pwd=Y2gvbEZmSkw3YVI3aW5YNWo5U1Bjdz09For details of how to join please contact Revd LindaEvents this week:Monday 29th NovemberToddington 9.30 am Morning Prayer(No Mums and Tots this week)Advent Course 11.00 am the Rectory (for Toddington/Chalgrave churches)Online Alpha course continues 7.45 pmTuesday 30th NovemberWestcaf at Westoning Village Hall 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.TWIG Westoning Village Hall 5.30 pmWednesday 1st DecemberHarlington. Morning Service at 10.00 amPop up Tea room at Tebworth Hall 11.00 am to 1.30 pmHarlington Advent Course begins at 2.30pm Book on 01525 714442Thursday 2nd DecemberMessy Christmas Church 3.30 pm Wilkinson HallFriday 3rd DecemberLittle Stars at Church at 1.15 pm WestoningFriday Fellowship at the Village Hall at 2.00 pm WestoningSaturday 4th DecemberChristmas Tree FestivalsHarlington Church 12.00 noon to 5.00 pm Saturday and Sunday, finishing with a carol service at 5.00 pmToddington Church 11.00 am to 5.00 pm Saturday and 1.00 to 5.00 pm on Sunday finishing with carol singing at 5.00 pm We send our good wishes to you all this week. Keep warm, keep safe and take time to be still to watch, wait, and prepare for the coming of Jesus.God blessLinda and Nigel
Hello Everyone This week has flown past! I hope it has been a good week for you all too. We are now moving swiftly from Remembrance season towards Advent and Christmas and this weekend is the first of the Christmas events with the Toddington Church Christmas Bazaar at Wilkinson Hall from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm - with raffle and refreshments. This is swiftly followed by the Chalgrave Church Christmas Wreath making afternoon event from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm - with refreshments, and next Saturday 27th November, Harlington Church have a children's fun Art event from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, so please have a look at the attached poster if you have children in Harlington. Looking ahead, our diaries are filling up quickly with dates for the Christmas carol services, school visits and assemblies, Alpha, Youth Group and Messy Church style activities.. and we are hoping to soon offer some dates for an Advent course. The Quintet choir are busy rehearsing for the Christmas Lessons and Carols services - moving from Remembrance season, when they sang so beautifully at a Remembrance Service last Thursday, into Christmas time. Dee and Tricia are busy preparing for the Christmas Tree festivals which will be held at Toddington and Harlington churches respectively over the week-end of 4th and 5th December and this Sunday we will be collecting Samaritan's Purse Shoe-boxes at Toddington Church, to be sent to children abroad for Christmas. There is to be a collection from Dee's house next Wednesday so please make sure your box has been dropped off by Tuesday evening, at the latest, to Dee. She has leaflets about what can be packed in the boxes this year, and it is not too late to prepare a box. There will be a delighted child ready to receive a gift if you are able to offer a box. Thank you! This Sunday's Services for Christ the King Sunday are: Chalgrave Church 9.30 am Holy Communion Service - Linda Harlington Church 9.30 am Holy Communion Service - Nigel Toddington Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, with a Shoe Box theme - Linda Westoning Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service - Nigel Upper Room online zoom service at 6pm Christ the King https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81754486095?pwd=UXpZVFUrc0R6bEtBZmY1YlNaN2JZZz09 To join please contact Revd Linda Other events and services this week: Monday 22nd November 9.30 am Morning Prayer Toddington Church 4.30 pm Chalgrave PCC (rearranged date) 7.45 pm Online Alpha Course Tuesday 23rd November 10.30 am Knitting Club - Toddington, Wilkinson Hall 10.00 am – 12.00 noon Westcaf Westoning Village Hall -Free tea, coffee, cake and chat 1.30 – 3.00 pm 'Sewing and Craft Bees' Westoning Village Hall 5.30 – 7.00 pm Toddington Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 24th November 10.00 am Harlington Church service Friday 26th November 1.15 - 2.45 pm Little Stars at Westoning Church 2.00 – 4.00 pm Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall Saturday 27th 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Harlington Church Art Fun day -see poster attached 1.00 pm Wedding at Chalgrave Church Future dates for your diaries: Toddington Messy church will meet on Thursday 2nd December instead of Friday 3rd to avoid a clash with school event. Christmas Readings and Carols services: Westoning Church 16 December 7.30 pm Chalgrave Church 18 December 7.00 pm Carols By Candlelight service Harlington Church 20 December 8.00 pm Toddington Church 22nd December 7.30 pm We will confirm dates and information about other Christmas services, courses and events over the next weeks. Wishing you well. Keep warm as the temperatures dip next week. We look forward to seeing you soon. God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone'We Will Remember Them' is a clear theme this week during Remembrance week. Last Sunday we held 'In Loving Memory Services' at Tingrith, Westoning, Chalgrave and Toddington churches to offer an opportunity to remember loved ones who have died and who we miss. Harlington remembered John Bunyan in their evening service (their 'In Loving Memory service' was the preceding week). On Thursday, on Armistice Day at 11am on the 11th November there were special remembrance services at Toddington on the Green with the British Legion, and in the local schools, followed by the evening Remembrance Service at St George's Church which was accompanied by the British Legion, and the Quintet Choir who sang some beautifully moving songs, led by Nicholas. This evening at 9pm the BBC will broadcast the Remembrance Service from the Royal Albert Hall.. which will pay tribute to the fallen and mark the centenary year of the Royal British Legion.. an organisation which has offered such important support to those affected by war.Tomorrow our usual morning services will not quite follow their usual pattern as we gather to attend the various civic Remembrance ceremonies and join with our local communities to pay our respects. This Sunday's services are as follows:Toddington/Chalgrave 9.30am Benefice service of Holy Communion at Toddington Church. (Linda) Toddington village Remembrance Parade at the Green gathering at 10.40 for an 11am service Westoning Church 9.30am Families service (led by Rebecca and Nigel)Westoning Church 11am Service of Remembrance and Holy Communion (Nigel)Westoning War Memorial 12.30pm a village Service of Remembrance. (Nigel)Tingrith A Service of Remembrance 9.30am - (Phil Steer LLW)Harlington 10.30am folks gather at the war memorial for the 11am village Remembrance ServiceHarlington Church - A Church Service of Remembrance follows the Village Remembrance service (Robert)Chalgrave Church - Remembrance Service at 3pm with Tebworth and Wingfield villages. (Linda)The Upper Room online zoom service 6pm. Meeting ID: 891 2266 8974. Contact Linda or Nigel for password.Other events and services this week:Sunday 14th Harlington -World War 2 Exhibition - Parish Rooms following the Remembrance events.Monday 15th Morning Prayer 9.30am Toddington ChurchMums and Tots group 9-10.30am Wilkinson Hall, ToddingtonHouse group for Harlington Church members 2.30pm.. please contact Nigel for more details.Online Alpha 7.45pm by zoom. Link to be sent out separately. Tuesday 16th West Caf meet 10-12noon, Westoning Village HallWednesday 17th Morning Worship 10am Harlington Church. Harlington PCC 19.30pmThursday 18th Georgian's Fellowship 2pm Wilkinson Hall, Toddington<Chalgrave PCC 17.30pm and Toddington PCC 19.30pmFriday 19thLittle Stars 1.15pm Westoning Church and Friday Fellowship 2pm Westoning Village HallSaturday 20thChristmas Bazaar 9.30 to 12.30pm Wilkinson Hall, ToddingtonChristmas Wreath Making Workshop, with Afternoon Tea.. Chalgrave Church, 1pm to 4pmNext Sunday 21st November We will gather in Shoebox donations at Toddington Church and Harlington Church to send to Samaritan's Purse.Services next Sunday:Chalgrave 9.30am Holy CommunionToddington 11am Holy Communion - please bring your shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse.Harlington 9.30am Holy CommunionWestoning 11am Holy Communion Tingrith - no service The Upper Room online service at 6pmAs 'We Remember' this week.. we give you our thanks for your continued help and support, for your energy, friendship and inspiration and for your tremendous hard work in so many different ways in our communities.God bless you allLinda and Nigel
Dear AllIs it possible that November is just around the corner and the clocks go back this weekend. Where did this year go? I know they say time goes quicker when you get older but I didn't expect it to go this fast! I have to admit that I am not a lover of dark late afternoons and evenings and already long for the days to lengthen and stretch forth again from January. I have installed a new SAD desklamp by my computer to help persuade my body that the sun is still shining! Fortunately, with this mild October we have continued to have sunshine to encourage us forward for autumn walks and fresh air. With the tree leaves rapidly turning colour now, how beautiful the countryside looks in the sunshine and today I seized the opportunity for a day off by the sea which has been so wonderfully restorative watching the crashing waves whilst also getting a good walk. I hope you also manage to take some time for yourselves to rest and to re-gather your energies.As we move forward into November our attention is turning to the season of Remembrance, with 'In Loving Memory Services' at each church either this Sunday at Harlington 4pm, or next Sunday 7th at Chalgrave 9.30 am, Toddington 3.00 pm, Westoning 3.00 pm and Tingrith 9.30am. If you would like to remember at one of these services a loved one who has died, please email or telephone or write Linda or Nigel to register the names of your loved ones, so they can be included in the appropriate service.On 14th November the various village Remembrance Services will also be taking place....more details of these next week. We also hope to hold an evening Remembrance service at Toddington on 11th of November, with the Quintet Choir, to pay tribute to all who made sacrifices during the various wars, and to recognise the British Legion's wonderful achievement and contributions to so many, as this year the organisation celebrates their centenary year.Sunday 31st October Services:Chalgrave Church 9.30 am Holy Communion Service - led by LindaHarlington Church 9.30 am, Service of the Word with visiting speaker from Compassion - led by Nigel with RobertToddington Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service - led by LindaWestoning Church 11.00 am, Morning Prayer Service - led by JonHarlington Church 4.00 pm In Loving Memory Service6.00 pm Online Upper Room Service by zoom with theme of 'We Remember'. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88673298982?pwd=Q203Zit2RVdSb2pGZWV0c2RFWWR6Zz09 For details of how to join the meeting contact Revd LindaOther Events and services: Saturday 30th October Alpha Holy Spirit day 9.30 am to 2.00 pm, Flitwick Cricket Club. Please bring a packed lunch. If you are interested to come along (and have previously missed this opportunity, please contact Nigel or Linda).Monday Alpha continues Online by zoom..7.45pm.WestoningSaturday afternoon, 30th October, Westoning, Twig Light party. More information from RebeccaWednesday 3rd November 8.00 pm 60 Minutes with God prayer time (by zoom)Friday 5 November 1.15 pm Little StarsFriday 5 November 2.00 -4.00 pm Friday Fellowship at the Village Hall (men also welcome)ToddingtonMonday 1st November 9.00 - 10.30 am Mums and 'tots' (and babies) - Wilkinson Hall, Toddington. All Welcome.. no need to book.Monday 1st November 9.30 am Morning Prayer at ChurchMonday 1st November 5.30 pm Prayer group on zoomTuesday 2nd November 10.30 am - 12.30 pm Knitting Group, Wilkinson HallTuesday 2nd November 5.30 - 7.00 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 3rd November Funeral 12 noonThursday 4th November - Hot Ploughman's lunch 12 noon. Please contact Dee to book a place.Friday 5th November - Messy Church 3.15 to 5.30 pmSaturday 6th November Browse a book sale 12.00 – 4.00 pm HarlingtonWednesday 3rd November 10.00 am Morning Worship ServiceSunday 7th November Bunyan Service 6.00 pm I have also attached a couple of invitations to a Belief talk on 6th November and an Interfaith event on 17 November which may be of interest to you.Have a good week and please stay safe. Infections rates have reached the highest level ever in Central Beds this week. We are sadly not out of the woods yet.God bless Linda
