Hello everyoneThe sun has been shining brightly for much of the week and it has been so very hot. The plants have been wilting and we have joined them. How welcome is the rain and a drop in temperature. How have you fared? We hope you have had a good week? It has been a busy week for many of us. Schools have started their much-needed Summer holidays, and the teachers, pupils and parents can now have a welcome rest after a very challenging year of ups and downs. Many families will have headed away on holiday this weekend if the volume of traffic on the roads today is anything to go by. The Olympics have begun in Tokyo and will offer a wonderful illustration by athletes of resilience, determination and achievement, and in some cases of disappointment, which may rather symbolically reflect our own life journey these past Covid-19 months. From last Monday, we all face another season and another goal with the 'unlocking' at stage 4 of the roadmap. How we proceed is now up to 'Personal Responsibility' but in our churches, we also recognise a corporate duty of care for those who come to church. We must look out for each other and protect the vulnerable. Each church PCC has met to discuss the situation and each PCC agreed that for now we will move forward cautiously and will continue to follow existing guidelines:Those attending church will continue to be invited to sanitise hands on entering the church, to use the NHS Covid 19 QR code or to list their names for track and trace purposes and to wear a face mask, and there will be opportunities to socially distance. We will not yet sing in church but the situation will be reviewed regularly.Sadly, infection rates in Central Bedfordshire continue to be very high at present with 177 new daily positive cases 1542 over the week, representing an increase of 24.9%. Taking this into account, our churches will move forward cautiously, keen to protect each other and to keep the 'flock' safe.Our Services this Sunday:Chalgrave Church 9.30am Holy Communion Service, in church, led by Rev NigelHarlington Church 9.30am, Holy Communion Service, with the baptism of Evie, led by Rev LindaToddington Church 11am, Holy Communion Service led by Rev LindaWestoning Church 11am, Holy Communion Service led by Rev NigelTingrith Church 3pm Holy Communion Service led by Rev Nigel (and Linda)The Upper Room, 6pm Zoom Service - with the theme ' A lot from a little' - Zoom access code available from Nigel or LindaServices and events this week:Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer at Toddington ChurchWednesday 10am Holy Communion Service Harlington ChurchThe Annual World Day of Prayer Service on Friday at 2pm (see poster link)The Toddington Branch of the World Day of Prayer are meeting together on Friday 30th July at 2.00pm to honour the Women of Vanuatu with the Service that had to be postponed in March. As limited numbers are able to attend we invite family and friends of our local Churches to join us by Zoom and YouTube.Join Zoom Meeting ID: 958 7305 4251. Passcode: available from Nigel or LindaThe service will also be streamed to YouTube on both the Harlington Methodist Church Channel and the Churches Together in Harlington Channel. with love in ChristLinda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneWhat a beautiful day it is today....the sky is clear blue, the sun is high up shining brightly, and we are promised continuing good weather into next week. Finally, summer has arrived and how good that feels. This week our schools close for their Summer break, and people will head off on holiday. We wish everyone a well deserved holiday and rest. This will be a very welcome time for staff and students after what has been a very difficult year, for everyone, with so many changes and fluctuations. We have all had to adapt so much and have done well to cope with the various changes and limitations and there is no doubt, it has been hard.We are now on the verge of further changes from Monday and the essence of the latest guidelines seems to say move forward with caution, placing the emphasis on us all to behave responsibly, to look out for each other, with care. We can meet with family and friends... but with advice to stay safe, meeting outdoors or in well ventilated rooms and to continue wearing masks in enclosed spaces.How important it is for our own well-being and, for that of others, for us to get together, to share a listening ear and concern, to chat and share a laugh, a smile, a joke or two or to sit around a table over a cup of tea. How we have missed all these things. The sunshine today draws us forth.. thank you Lord, for the beauty of this day!Over the next few days, Nigel and I will be meeting with our various PCCs to discuss how we move forward in church under the new guidelines. Our instinct is to remain cautious, not rushing at change, recommending the continued use of face coverings in church until the infection rates stabilise with a mind to keep all safe. We will confirm details as Government and Church of England guidance is released and as our PCCs have chance to discuss the implications of any change but be assured, we have your well-being very much in our minds.Services and events this week:Sunday ServicesChalgrave Church 9.30 am Morning Worship The service will be held outdoors in the beautiful church grounds. All Welcome, but please bring a chair, and a drink if you wish to stay and chat afterwards. Service led by LindaTingrith Church 9.30 am Morning Prayer - led by JonHarlington Church 9.30 am Holy Communion - led by Nigel and Chris Brown (no refreshments to be served after the service)Toddington Church, 11.00 am Morning Worship led by Linda and SteveWestoning Church, 11.00 am Holy Communion led by Nigel6.00 pm The Upper Room online service via Zoom led by Jon - 'Taking time out with God'. Zoom access code available from Rev'd Linda. All WelcomeThis week's services and eventsMonday 9.30 am Morning Prayer at ToddingtonMonday 7.30 pm Westoning PCC at ChurchTuesday 9.30 am Morning Prayer by Zoom. Zoom access code available from Rev'd Linda.Tuesday 2.00 pm Toddington PCC at ChurchTuesday 6.00 pm Chalgrave PCC at ChurchWednesday 10.00 am Holy Communion service at HarlingtonWednesday 7.30 pm Harlington PCCWednesday 7.00 pm Dunstable Deanery SynodThis Weekend 17 and 18th July- Toddington Open Gardens on Saturday 11.00 am -5.00 pm and Sunday 1.00 pm -6.00pm. Tickets and refreshments from Wilkinson Hall. Tickets £5 per adult. We wish you a wonderful week. Enjoy the sunshine!Sending our love and prayersLinda and Nigel
<div>Hello Everyone</div><div>We hope you are all well and enjoying the warmer weather and have had chance to get outdoors to enjoy the beauty of the countryside and the gardens. The sun seems to have been a little withdrawn this week but the rain has helped the gardens to thrive with flowers and greenery in abundance, which bodes well for Toddington's Open Gardens next week-end. </div><div>As I reflect back to this time last year, Nigel and I were so grateful to be out on country walks discovering new sights and shared with others in posting beautiful images of plants and scenes on social media to encourage each other. This year's focus in posts that we see listed, has changed to day trips, meals out, holidays and new opportunities as folks emerge from lockdown. Next week we will be approaching the next stage of the Roadmap.. another stage of release.</div><div>It has been wonderful today to lead two weddings for couples whose weddings had to be postponed more than twice because of Covid-lockdowns. At last, on this special day, they have been united in marriage and able to celebrate with family and friends (albeit with limited numbers, social distancing and masks in presence). What a lot of anxiety and disruption wedding couples have faced, but how joyful everyone was today to be able to share in heir joy and celebration. </div><div>On Thursday, Nigel and I were encouraged by the local Covid testing centre, to collect large boxes of Lateral flow tests to hand to our congregations. The centre staff are concerned that folks don't realise that they should be lateral flow testing twice a week to keep everyone safe. We were informed that many people think because they are double vaccinated that they will not have the virus, whereas there are regular cases being picked up at the testing centre of double vaccinated people who test positive (and this is borne out by the Public Health England national figures). And so, please pick up a box of lateral flow tests tomorrow if you don't have a set. The test only takes 30 minutes and can be a wonderful assurance that all is well before you mix with others. </div><div>We will be working to make sure than when you attend church you will be safe.</div><div>Services and events this week:</div><div>Sunday services:</div><div>9.30am Chalgrave Church Holy Communion led by Linda with Steve preaching.</div><div>9.30am Harlington Church, Service of the Word led by Dr Robert Johns</div><div>11am Toddington Church, Holy Communion led by Linda with Steve preaching</div><div>9.30am Westoning Church, Families Service led by Rebecca and Nigel</div><div>11am Westoning Church, Holy Communion Service led by Jon and Nigel</div><div>6pm Upper Room Service via Zoom - continuing with focus on Prayer with talk by Peter Greig on 'Adoration"</div>Meeting ID: 860 2655 8489<font size="2">. </font> Please contact Nigel or Linda for the Passcode<div>This week's services and events</div><div>12th. Morning Prayer, Monday 9.30am am Toddington</div><div>14th Morning Service, Wednesday 10am Harlington</div><div>15th and 16th Funeral services at Toddington</div><div>16th Friday, Westoning, Little Stars 1.15-2.45pm</div><div>16th Tingrith PCC </div><div>17th and 18th Saturday and Sunday Friends of St George's, Toddington, Open Gardens (Saturday 11-5pm and Sunday </div><div>1-6pm). Tickets and refreshments available from Wilkinson Hall, next to the church </div><div>We look forward to seeing you soon. Have a good week.</div><div>God bless</div><div>Linda and Nigel</div>
