It has been busy week with so much going on and we are now drawing breath for the week ahead. With infections rising worryingly both locally and nationally we pray that you stay safe and well. We also pray for those from our parishes who are affected at the moment. Please join us in these prayers, and let us also pray for the teachers and pupils in the schools and families, that they get a good rest over half-term.This week Nigel and I were delighted to visit Parkfields school on Tuesday and Wednesday to speak at their harvest assemblies and we were very impressed by the colourful display of foods gathered for the foodbank and by the warm welcome by staff and pupils. It is the first time that we have been able to return to the school for almost a year, and it was very special to be back. Wednesday was a busy day with a morning visit to St George of England lower school and the the joyful hosting in the evening of a joint baptism and confirmation service led by Bishop Richard, with candidates from Toddington, Westoning and Barton churches. It was the first Confirmation service at Toddington Church since 2003 and was suitably special. We send our congratulations to all five candidates. Harlington, Toddington and Chalgrave PCCs met this week and Westoning meets next week. We thank all involved in this, and other roles, who do so much to support the individual parish churches voluntarily serving and supporting with such commitment. Each church is taking time to consider wise Stewardship with sermons, information and discussion as we reflect on our personal gifts and talents, and on the church's financial provision, as we seek to move forward into a new season of mission, outreach and ministry whilst also looking to financially resource the churches for future generations, and also to balance the books.As we come to review our Mission Action Plans, please consider what you may be able to offer to support your local church. Your skills and time will be much valued and if by chance you would like to make a regular financial giving to support your local church, there are Parish Giving Booklets available should you wish to make a regular commitment to give financially and donation buttons on some websites for occasional gifting. We thank you so much for your generous and wonderful support to date, which is so very much appreciated - offered in so many different ways: time, gifts, skills and talents.. all so very valued and valuable.Our social events are returning and life is getting busier, but it is a joy to see folks being able to meet and enjoy time together.This Sunday's services are:9.30am Chalgrave Church- Morning Praise service led by Linda, with visiting speaker from 'Compassion' charity. 9.30am Harlington Church - Holy Communion service led by Nigel and Robert11am Toddington Church - Holy Communion Service led by Linda, with visiting speaker from 'Compassion' charity.11am Westoning Church - Holy Communion Service led by Nigel3pm Tingrith Church, with choir, A Stewardship Service, led by Nigel and Linda6pm Upper Room, by zoom, with a theme this week of Bible Sunday. Meeting ID: 863 0266 3273. Please contact Linda or Nigel for passwordThis week's services and events:Monday - Morning Prayer at Toddington Church 9.30amMonday - 7.45pm Quintet online Alpha session - this week about reading the BibleTuesday - Toddington 4-6pm Youth Group meet at the RectoryTuesday - Westoning 10-12 noon Westcaf at Westoning Village HallTuesday - Westoning PCC 7.30pm by zoom. Link to be issued by NigelWednesday - 10am Morning Service at HarlingtonWednesday - 11am Funeral at ToddingtonFriday - Ladies Fellowship 2pm Westoning Village HallSaturday - Alpha Holy Spirit Day at Flitwick Cricket Club - 9.30am until 2pm. Saturday - Westoning Twig Light Party 3-5pm, Westoning Village Hall (more information from Rebecca or Nigel)I have not doubt we will have missed something! There is so much happening now. Please also check on your local church websites and The 'A Church Near You' church pages.Looking forward to seeing you soon.God blessLinda and Nigel
Hello Everyone Another week has passed.. and don't they fly quickly by! It is the season of Harvest.. and last week Tingrith and Westoning Churches celebrated their Harvest Festivals and this week Harlington, Toddington and Chalgrave churches will celebrate theirs. We send a big thank you to all who have helped to decorate the churches, and to those who have made donations of harvest produce to give thanks to God our creator. The produce received will be forwarded to the foodbank or to other projects to help those who need support. We look forward to Toddington and Chalgrave harvest supper this evening, and also offer our thanks to Nicholas and the Quintet Choir for providing such wonderful music and song yesterday at Harlington Harvest Hurrah. This week has been a busy week for new launches and re-starting groups. Toddington launched its Mum's and Tot's group (which will meet fortnightly at Wilkinson Hall on Mondays from 9-10.30am from this coming Monday) and on Friday, we were also delighted to welcome back our Messy Church families. (We will meet on the first Friday of each month). Friday lunches also met for the first time for many months.... The smiles and happiness were tangible. It is so good to gather again. At Harlington, the first Family Breakfast (Messy Church style gathering) meets for breakfast, craft and songs, at 9am in the Parish Rooms, led by Rebecca. Westoning TWIG (Messy Church style group) re-started this week too, and there was much happiness again as folks had time to get together again. Friday Fellowship and the Sewing Bees group also meet weekly. We look forward to further gatherings being announced in the future. This Sunday's services: Tingrith 9.30 Morning Worship Service led by Jon Westoning 11 am Holy Communion Service led by Nigel Harlington 8am BCP Communion led by Nigel Harlington Families Breakfast Club 9am led by Rebecca (Parish Rooms) Harlington Harvest Festival Communion Service 9.30am led by Nigel and Robert Chalgrave 9.30am Harvest Communion Service led by Linda Toddington 11am Harvest Communion Service led by Linda Online Upper Room Service 6pm zoom link: to be sent our separately. Services and events this week: Toddington Mum's and Little People group Wilkinson Hall 9-10.30am Monday Morning Prayer, 9.30am Tuesday 10.30-12.30 Knitting Group Wilkinson Hall (knitters are welcome to join) Westoning Tuesday Westcaf at Westoning Village Hall 10-12 Tuesday Sewing Bee at 1pm 60 Minutes with God Wednesday at 8pm Contact Jane Steer Friday Little Stars 1.15 Westoning Church Friday Fellowship 2pm Westoning Village Hall Harlington 10am Wednesday Morning Service Next week's services for Sunday 10th October No service at Tingrith Harlington 9.30am Service of the Word, Harlington led by Robert Westoning 11am Service of the Word, Westoning led by Robert Chalgrave 9.30am Morning Service led by Rev Kausal David Toddington 11am Morning Service led by Rev Kausal David Upper Room online service.. information to be sent later. We wish you a happy healthy week. God bless Linda
Dear AllJust a short introduction this week to register our thanks to all who work so hard, in so many different ways. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you at some of the services and events this week... if you (and we) have fuel to get there!Services on Sunday:9.30am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion Service led by Linda9.30am Harlington Church, Holy Communion Service led by Nigel10am Harlington Churches Together Service at the Methodist Church to conclude the Prayer Weekend.11am Toddington Church, Holy Communion Service led by Linda11am Westoning Church, Harvest Festival (on-screen service) with a short Holy Communion - led by Nigel5.30pm Tingrith Church, Harvest Service led by Nigel and Linda, followed by Harvest Supper at 6pm.NB: No Upper Room Service this week due to Harvest commitments. The next Upper Room Service will be on Sunday 3rd October at 6pm.Services and events w/c Monday 27th SeptemberMonday, 27 September, Toddington Church, 9.30am Morning PrayerMonday, 27 September, online Alpha Course week 2. New people are still welcome to join the course. Please contact Linda or Nigel for more information and the access link. Please register via Westoning Website. The course starts at 7.45pm, and runs for about 75 minutes.Tuesday 28 September, 9am to 10.30am launch of New Mums and Tots group at Wilkinson Hall, Toddington. We look forward to meeting with you. On week one, we will also chat about which day is best for meeting in future. More information from Linda, Dee or Rebecca.Tuesday 28 September, Sewing Bee club, 1pm Westoning Village HallTuesday 28 September, TWIG restarts at Westoning Village Hall, straight from school until 5.30pm. More information from Rebecca or Nigel Tuesday 28 September Chalgrave PCC at 18.30pmWednesday 29 September, Harlington Church 10am Morning Service.Thursday, 30 September, Open the Book assembly. ToddingtonThursday, 30 September, The funeral of Mr J Windsor - please pray for the bereaved family. Friday, 1st October, Messy Church, Toddington restarts - meeting straight after school until 5.30pm.Friday 1st October Harvest Hurrah an hour of songs, readings, refreshments (finger buffet) and good company - wonderful to welcome back Nicholas and the Quintet Choir, Harlington Church at 7.30pm. Free entry.Friday 1st October: Toddington Friday lunches return to the Village Hall. More information from Rachel.Friday 1st October, Little Stars mums and tots group, Westoning Church 1.15pmFriday 1st October: Westoning 2pm Friday Fellowship. More information from Joyce.Saturday 2nd October, Toddington and Chalgrave Harvest Supper, Wilkinson Hall 5pmSaturday 2nd October, Baptism service at Toddington Church, 11amSaturday 2nd October, Men's Breakfast at The Chequers, Westoning, 8.45am. Please contact Nigel or Phil (01525 862357) for more information, or to reserve a place.There is a new Pilates class running at Wilkinson Hall at 6pm on Thursdays.The Toddington Knitting Club plan to meet at Wilkinson Hall on Tuesdays. (more information from Dee)Please let Linda know if you would be interested to join a cuppa and chat group at the rectory, or a Walk and Talk group at Toddington, or a morning BCP Holy Communion mid-week service at Toddington. Please also link with Linda if you would be interested to be confirmed (or baptised) at a service of Confirmation at Toddington church 7.30pm 20 October.Sunday's services 3rd OctoberHarlington8am BCP Holy Communion Service 9am Families Breakfast Club - the Parish Room, Harlington. All families welcome to come for breakfast, crafts, songs and togetherness. Please contact Rebecca or Nigel for more information.9.30am Harvest Communion Service - led by NigelChalgrave: 9.30am Harvest Communion Service - led by Linda. Please contact Sandy if you are able to help with decorating the church in the week before.Toddington: 11am Harvest Communion Service - led by Linda. Please contact Dee if you are able to help with decorating the church.Each church will be collecting gift offerings of tins and packets for foodbanks, or fresh produce for the Noah Homeless project in Luton. Your donations will be very gratefully received. Thank you!Tingrith 9.30am Morning Prayer serviceWestoning 11am Holy Communion ServiceThe Upper Room online service at 6pmAs events re-start we look forward to the opportunity to meet with you in new places socially. We wish you a good week and look forward to seeing you soon.God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneWe hope you are well and have had a good week? It has been an interesting week for us.We attended the Bishop's Clergy Conference in Derbyshire from Monday to Wednesday, on a theme of Hope. It was a good conference with welcome opportunity to catch up with other clergy colleagues and to hear great theological teaching by Paula Gooder. One thing that soon became apparent was the general weariness in many of our colleagues. Many said how tired they are... and yet, as we got chatting, we were able to share encouragement and anticipation. Lockdown over these past months have been challenging for so many people in so many different ways, as you will all be so very aware. How good it is now to begin to plan to get together with opportunity to meet, at start certain social events. Today has also been a blessing in being able to host a joint (post lockdown) baptism at Harlington and a wedding at Toddington with families re-gathering and celebrating together. How long families have been apart but now we see new journeys beginning with the promise of new life ahead. Part of this new journey is the New Online Alpha course which launches on Monday evening. It is not too late to register. If you would like to explore more about Jesus and the Christian faith in a safe environment, please register to join the course via St Mary Westoning's website or contact Linda, Nigel or Eileen. You will be very welcome. You may wish to dip in to explore one session to see if is for you?On Wednesday 20th October we are holding a Confirmation Service at Toddington Church at 7.30pm. If you would like to find out more about Confirmation or baptism please speak to, or email Linda. The Alpha course first 3 sessions would give you a good opportunity to explore about Jesus in preparation for Confirmation or Baptism. Linda will also be hosting a discussion group at the Rectory, Toddington, if you would prefer to meet in person. Do please get in touch if you are interested.Continuing on the theme of journeys.. the Harlington Art exhibition 'Being' continues for one more afternoon at Harlington Church from 2-4pm tomorrow. Do drop in to see Stanley Greening's impressive pieces, which have evolved from his personal journey of loss. (His 3.3 mile walk will remain for another week).At 4pm there will be a Benefice service at Harlington, attended by Archdeacon Dave, to mark the forming of the new Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington benefice under Nigel's incumbency... another journey! Refreshments available from 3pm.As churches we are all now looking forward to celebrating our Harvest services over the coming weeks, and Nigel and I are also looking forward to offering a focus on Stewardship as we consider the future journeys of our churches. Every week, we move forward. No week is the same. We are so grateful to you all for your support in so many ways. We were also very pleased to receive news that applications to the Diocese for funding to support Messy Church and youth initiatives were successful for Harlington, Toddington and Westoning churches offering £250 each to help fund these activities. Every little helps, and is gratefully received. If by chance you have any thoughts on other areas where we might be able to seek funding to support our youth and family work and general mission, do please have a chat with Linda and Nigel.Our services this week:Chalgrave Church 9.30am Holy Communion Service led by LindaTingrith Church 9.30am Morning Service led by Jon Denman.Harlington Church 9.30am Battle of Britain Service led by Nigel and Chris BrownToddington Church 11am Holy Communion Service led by LindaWestoning Church 11am Holy Communion Service led by Nigel6pm Upper Room online zoom service with a theme of 'Hope': (Meeting ID: 862 3843 0873. Passcode available from Linda or Nigel)Monday Morning Prayer Toddington 9.30amWednesday Morning Service, Harlington 10amThursday Westoning Church, the funeral of Rachel Farmer 11.30am. Please hold Steve, Linda, James and John in your prayers this week.Friday - the funeral of Dawn. Please hold Jess in your prayers this week.This week's events:Tuesday - 10-12 noon Westcaf - WestoningFriday - 1.45pm. Little Stars 0.4yrs and parents/carers at Westoning ChurchFriday - Friday Fellowship 2pm Westoning Village HallFuture events:Next Sunday Churches Together in Harlington host the Prayer weekend from Thursday to Sunday, culminating with a joint church service at the Methodist Church 10am on Sunday 26th September. More information from Tricia, Robert or Nigel.A new Toddler and Baby group (with mums', dads and carers) starts at Wilkinson Hall on Tuesday 28th September 9-10.30am for the first time. At that first session we will decide which is the best day and time to meet again. Messy Church resumes at Wilkinson Hall on Friday 1st October, from after school until 5.30pm. Messy Church will meet on the first Friday of each month and we look forward to welcoming back our families and new members.Monthly Families Breakfast Club will launch at Harlington Church 3rd October 9-10.30am. A fun activity family gathering in the Parish Rooms.Harvest Hurrah and Supper - Harlington Church 1st October, with the Quintet Choir. More information to follow.Harvest Supper for Toddington and Chalgrave Churches 5pm 2nd October in Wilkinson HallHarvest services at Chalgrave, Toddington and Harlington Churches will be on 3rd October. Westoning and Tingrith are on 26th September.We wish you a special week, with fellowship, joy and the knowledge that the Lord walks alongside you and cares for you.God blessLinda and Nigel
