Hello Everyone What a brilliant Spring sunny day we have had today. Just right for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Last week, Holy Week, was a busy week! Monday began with Morning Prayer and was quickly followed by a Governor's visit to the Lower School. On Tuesday morning I led Collective Worship at the Lower School about Good Friday, and Nigel and I led assemblies at Parkfields School on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons talking about the significance of the Cross. Youth Group met in the evening with fun and Bible reflection with an Easter focus. Wednesday seemed to be soup day...Chalgrave Pop Up Tea room was buzzing with conversation, beautiful cakes and refreshments (broccoli and stilton soup), The Lent Lunch at Toddington followed providing more tasty soups and then at Alpha in the evening - more soup plus a very. tasty meal provided by Rachel and Doug. On Thursday morning we hosted a joyful.. wonderful Easter Celebration school service at Toddington church with the whole school attending and where the children sang with such joyful enthusiasm - almost lifting the roof off the church! Their Christmas visit made my Christmas and their Easter visit did too. It is such a special time to gather all together in church. Then, after the service, Nigel, Malcolm and I made a quick journey to St Albans Abbey for the annual diocesan Maundy Thursday service when Bishops, clergy, readers and lay members renew their vows of service and faith. In the evening, we shared a lovely Benefice Maundy Thursday meal in Wilkinson Hall of delicious soups, followed by fruit before heading into church for a Holy Communion Service to remember Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. On Good Friday children and families gathered for an Easter Messy Church morning of crafts and a story at Wilkinson Hall, decorating eggs, making and decorating crosses, helping to create a Palm Sunday Easter Collage, and enjoying hot Cross Buns. Later, at the more sombre afternoon Hour at the Cross service the story of Jesus' trial and crucifixion was told through Bible readings and reflections by the characters who were involved on the day - all read by volunteers who read so brilliantly. It was very moving. Tomorrow we celebrate that 'Jesus is Risen' in our Benefice Service at 11.00 am at Toddington Church. You all are very welcome. Do come and join us if you can. Chalgrave Church continues to be closed for restoration work. This week the scaffolding in the Nave has been removed and the Chancel is now filled with scaffolding and has been sealed off by a large blue sheet. Sadly there will still be rather a lot of dust as the next stage of investigative work takes place so we cannot yet meet there. I've attached 2 photos which show the care of work which Mick and team have offered to the repair of two decayed beams. One beam has been repaired on both ends.. that is the beam I used to stand beneath when leading the services. I rather thank God that it stayed up there safely for as long as it did! Besides the Easter events, I have been supporting a young family whose 3 year old son unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest and has since been in Paediatric Intensive Care at Royal Brompton Hospital. He is very poorly and his parents have not left his bedside for almost 4 weeks. On Tuesday evening I travelled up to London to baptise this special and beautiful little boy. It was a very special and moving occasion. Something I will never forget. We as a church have been praying for young Harrison for a miracle of healing and for his parents Alex and Kyle who wait alongside him. They face a very long journey. It is likely that he will need a heart transplant. Harrison's aunt Cherie has posted an explanation of his situation on 'GoFundMe'. As you can imagine Harrison's parents are exhausted and in an effort to lift the financial anxiety from them an appeal has been launched. Cherie says: 'As a family, we have come to the decision to ask for help to support my sister and her family at this extremely difficult time. We know of all the love and support for Alex, Kyle and their 3 children, and I know how grateful they are to everyone wishing them well and supporting anyway that they can, but they now need financial help so they can continue to be by Harrison’s side whilst he fights for his life. If you could donate, no matter how big or small, or even share so this reaches as many people as possible, we would be eternally grateful. Any funds left over will be donated to The Royal Brompton Hospital, who continue to provide Harrison, Alex and Kyle the best care'. If you would like to donate or read more please click this link: https://gofund.me/f5ac8f81 (I need to press command and click at the same time). Or Search GoFundMe Harrison Blanchflower. The appeal has already almost reached its initial target.. but I think that was a modest target - not knowing what lays ahead. The family have asked me to 'thank everyone at church for their prayers/support/donations if they are able, it means the world to us'. Thank you if you are able to hold this young boy and his family in your prayers. We continue to pray for a miracle of healing.. and many people across the country and across the world are also praying for him. As we approach Easter Day, and think of Jesus' resurrection, we pray that Harrison will also be blessed by healing in body, mind and spirit. Here is information about this week's events: Easter Day service: 11.00 am Easter Benefice Holy Communion Service Toddington Church. Monday 1st April - No Morning Prayer.. Bank Holiday Tuesday 2nd April - Knitting Group, 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 3rd April - Churchyard Gardening, Toddington Church, 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Thursday 4th April - Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, 12.00 noon to 1.30 pm Friday 5th April - Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall, 10.30 am- 12.30pm Wishing you and your families a very Happy Easter, with love and prayers and with thanks for all you do in so many ways. Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello allIt has been such a beautiful sunny day.. but isn't it chilly this evening! The gardens are rapidly springing into life with birds and wildlife busy, shrubs already in need of curbing and lawns a rich lush green. After so much rainfall recently, I suppose it's understandable that some plants are taking off apace even though they hardly made an appearance last year when it was so dry. I didn't know we had so many grape hyacinths.. and bluebells have totally taken over some flowerbeds.. and I thought I'd cleared them! I love Spring time and part of that joy is the sound of the birds getting busy. This afternoon I enjoyed watching four sparrows happily settled having a good peck on a shrub. Sparrows which seemed so abundant a few years back now seem quite a rare sight.This weekend, we begin Holy Week, with Palm Sunday tomorrow - the start of Jesus' journey into Jerusalem, when he rode into Jerusalem on a colt, with the crowds of people cheering him, shouting 'Hosanna, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'. How joyfully they laid their cloaks on the road with branches cut from the trees to herald his arrival. What an amazing scene it must have been. We will distribute Palm Crosses tomorrow to identify with Jesus' journey. But, how quickly the mood changed in Jerusalem. Within days, the happy, cheering crowds were shouting for Jesus to be crucified. This week, during Holy Week we have various special services and Youth Group and Messy Church gatherings, which will remember Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Day. Do please come along if you can. Easter is such an important and significant season in the Christian Calendar. It is the foundation of our faith.Sadly, Chalgrave Church is still full of scaffolding. The scaffolding in the Nave is due to be taken down on Monday and Tuesday as that work is coming to an end, but scaffolding will be erected in the Chancel. We think it will be very difficult to clean the church in time to hold services for Easter and expect to be holding joint Benefice services at Toddington Church (but a final decision will be made early next week after discussion with the Archdeacon and the Diocesan Registry). If you would like to register a family loved one's name to be remembered with an Easter lily please contact Sandy for Chalgrave and Dee for Toddington churches. The churches always look so beautiful decorated with the special white lilies. (If Chalgrave church is closed, their lilies will be displayed at Toddington Church)This Sunday's Service:11am Palm Sunday Benefice Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church. (No service at Chalgrave Church again this Sunday)Services and Events this week:Monday 25th March9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington ChurchTuesday 26th March10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 27th March11am-1pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall12 noon Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall6.30pm Alpha week 5 'Why and How do I Pray', The Rectory, 41 Leighton Road, ToddingtonThursday 28th March9.30am Toddington St George Lower School visit to Toddington Church for their Easter Service11am Maundy Thursday service at St Albans Abbey (please let Linda know if you would like a lift)6pm Maundy Thursday Supper, Wilkinson Hall7.30pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service, Toddington ChurchGood Friday 29 March10am An Hour at the Cross, Reflective Service at Chalgrave TBC (This may not be possible due to the restoration works - I will confirm later this week)10.30-12noon Easter Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall2pm An Hour at the Cross, Reflective Service, Toddington ChurchEaster Day 31 March9.30am Holy Communion Service at Chalgrave TBC (This may not be possible due to restoration works - I will confirm later this week)11am Easter Day Holy Communion Service, Toddington ChurchThis week we remember in our prayers, the Princess of Wales and King Charles and wish them a speedy recovery. We also pray for all who are anxious, sick or afraid and for the war torn areas of the world.. and we pray for the peace, the love and the light of Christ to overcome the darkness, as we remember Jesus, who died on the cross, in the most generous, selfless gift of love to us all.With love in ChristLindaRectorToddington and Chalgrave Churches
Hello Everyone I hope you have had a good week? The weather is a bit mixed, the garden is bursting into life, restoration work continues at Chalgrave Church, and as we approach the Easter season, the diary gets busier. I've attached a 'What's On' list for March for your information. Services this Sunday: No Service at Chalgrave Church (restoration work continues) 11.00 am a Benefice Morning Praise Service, Toddington Church - Malcolm 6.00 pm Evensong Service, Toddington Church - Malcolm This week's events: Mon 18th March Morning Prayer 9.30 am Toddington Church Tues 19th March Knitting Group 10.30 am – 12.30 pm Wilkinson Hall Wed 20th March Lent Lunch 12.00 noon - 1pm Wilkinson Hall Thursday 21st March St George’s Fellowship 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm Alpha Course, 6.30 pm Wilkinson Hall The Rectory Friday 22nd March Painting for Pleasure 10.30 am – 12.30 pm Wilkinson Hall Wishing you every blessing Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone,Spring is definitely in the air, with daffodils, camellia flowers and blossoms emerging, and lawns summoning a new year mow. How much better it feels with the lengthening days and the milder weather approaching. Folks have happily gathered this week at 'church' for Lent Lunch on Wednesday, Hot Ploughman's meal and the Alpha course on Thursday, and this morning for Coffee morning. Thank you all who have worked so hard this week to cook and provide such splendid hospitality. There is something so special about such times when we share a meal or a cuppa. At last, we are all feeling comfortable to mingle again and to relax together. It is such a relief after those horrible times of lockdown and distancing.For the next two Sundays 10th and 17th March (and possibly also on Palm Sunday 24th) there will be no Sunday morning service at Chalgrave Church while the Church is closed for restoration work. (We will be meeting for a Benefice Service at Toddington Church instead). Mick the builder is getting on well with the work and when I popped in yesterday I took a few photos which show the two rotted ends of the Chancel beam - at least what is left of them! Mick has been covered in dry rot dust for a week and as you can see there are buckets of dust and very fragile remains of the beam ends alongside the buckets. The scaffolding has been extended across the centre of the church while this beam is repaired, and Mick has installed a pulley to help lift the heavy oak replacements up high ready for the repair. We are very grateful for this work taking place.. and I will feel a lot safer standing underneath the beam, once it has been repaired!Tomorrow we host a Benefice Sunday Mothering Sunday service at 11am at Toddington Church, and all are welcome. I am very conscious that this day can be a day of poignant sadness for some and a time of celebration for others. We are all on a different journey. I miss my own mother dearly and would love to be able to pop by tomorrow to give her a hug and a thankyou for such special times together, but instead, Nigel and I will be visiting the cemetery to lay flowers for both our mothers, with deep love and gratitude in our hearts. I also feel for those who would dearly love to be a mother but who are not, and for those who had a difficult childhood, or who are alongside a child in hospital waiting anxiously for their recovery. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Tomorrow, in our service, we will sensitively thank God for the gift of motherhood, aware of the joys it can bring, and also aware of the challenges and sadnesses.This Thursday, offered a wonderful time of joy in school as the children all dressed up as book characters, for World Book Day, celebrating the gift of reading, writing and of special books. It was a wonderfully colourful scene as the children and staff all gathered in the Hall. I saw Superman, The Hulk, Worzel Gummage, Dorothy with her red shoes, characters from Frozen, and so many more. A lovely sea of characters. How special it is to curl up with a book to have a good read. Perhaps we should start a church book club?! It has certainly been a privilege to share in Alpha and we are only two weeks into the course, but how important it is to share our own stories and our faith to build each other up and to encourage each other. This evening there was a special service at St Albans Abbey to celebrate 30 years of Women into Ordained Ministry. Another special time to share. This week's Services and Events:Sunday 10th March11am Mothering Sunday Benefice Service, with Holy Communion, Toddington Church - Linda and MalcolmMonday 11th March9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church1pm Chalgrave MAP meeting - the Calders.No Pilates at Toddington this week (Jo hopes to return in September.. and we will investigating if we can offer a temporary alternative option)Tuesday 12 March10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall2pm Toddington MAP meeting, Wilkinson Hall5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 13th March11am Funeral of Mrs Rosemary Line, Toddington Church12 noon, Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall2pm Toddington PCC, Wilkinson Hall7.30pm Deanery Synod, Studham,Thursday 14th March2pm Afternoon with Friends, Wilkinson Hall6.30pm Alpha Course, session 3: 'Why Did Jesus Die?' - The Rectory, 41 Leighton Road, Toddington. (All Welcome - but please let Rev Linda know you would like to come for catering nos)Friday 15th March10.30am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson HallSunday 17th March11am Benefice Morning Praise service, Toddington Church - Malcolm6pm Evensong, Toddington Church - MalcolmFuture Events:Thurs 4th April Ploughman’s Lunch Our ‘Gift Weekend’ April 20th- 21st which we hope will incude an art display, a children’s art and craft display, historical display, refreshments and more.Sunday 21st April - an evening Confirmation Service, led by Bishop Richard, Toddington Church.23rd April (St. George’s Day) Afternoon Tea in Wilkinson Hall (ticket only)Have a good week.God blessLindaRector, Toddington and Chalgrave07715 603557revdtoddington@gmail.comrevdchalgrave@gmail.com
