Hello EveryoneWe are looking ahead to a busy week-end of events both nationally and locally and it is so lovely to see the sun shining to herald in the weekend. It will be a chilly wait for anyone in the Queue in London waiting to pay their respects to HM the Queen but stories told of friendships formed and of the incredible moment of entering Westminster Hall to share the vigil make one tingle. How resounding was the sound of the drum beat on Wednesday's procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall with the crowd watching on in deep silence. The week has been full of precisely choreographed military spectacles as the people of the United Kingdom, and the world, have come together to pay their respects to a much valued and deeply loved Queen who served and led her people with such commitment and grace. King Charles and the Royal Family could not have done more to honour their mother, grandmother, aunt - our monarch. My prayers for strength, comfort and peace reach out to them.Please see below the details of the upcoming services for Westoning Benefice.God bless Linda,BENEFICE BULLETIN For Harlington, Tingrith and Westoning Sunday 18th SeptemberTingrith 9.30 Morning PrayerHarlington 9.30 Holy Communion Service reflecting the Queen’s passing led by Ven. Dave Middlebrook - Archdeacon of BedfordWestoning 11.00 Holy Communion Service reflecting the Queen’s passing led by Ven. Dave Middlebrook - Archdeacon of BedfordAll welcome 6.00pm Upper Room – with the theme of hope, reflecting on the Queen’s passing - informal online zoom service Monday 19th September Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II can be viewed at The Recreation Club in Westoning (from 10am) which will be opening for anyone wanting to follow the day’s events on their big screen. Refreshments available.Tuesday 20th 10.00-12.00 Westcaf at Westoning Village Hall. ALL WELCOME to this weekly social gathering offering coffee, tea and a piece of cake and company, all free – time to chat and to meet friends old and new.1.00-3.30 Craft & Sewing Bee at Westoning Village Hall. Come and join us for the afternoon – bring your current project. All welcome – enquiries Penny Denman – 01525-720695Wednesday 21st 10.00am Holy Communion at Harlington ChurchStraight from school – 5.30 TWIG (Tea with God) - Westoning Village Hall - a free fun filled family after school club. Drink/snacks on arrival and simple meal at the end. Crafts/activities/short talk.Children must be accompanied by an adult.Friday 22nd 1.15-2.45. Little Stars – Toddler Group in Westoning Church. For pre-school children and babies with parents/carers. All welcome, fun with crafts, play dough, songs, toys, snacks and refreshments.2.00-4.00 Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall. Come and join us for the afternoon. Speakers, craft, games and a cuppa and company. Any queries – Joyce Corless 01525 - 752747NEXT SUNDAYSunday 25th SeptemberHarlington 9.30 Holy Communion Service at St Marys Churchand at 10.00 a Joint Churches Together in Harlington Service at the Methodist Church to mark the end of Churches Together Prayer weekendWedding at 2pmWestoning 11.00 Harvest Festival – All age serviceTingrith 5.00pm Harvest Festival Service followed by Harvest Supper6.00pm Songs of Praise Service at WestoningYou may be interested to also visit the Petal and Purl Festival at St George's Church, Toddington, a wonderful display of flower arrangements depicting 800 years with knitting displays of church scenes. Open from 1-5pm.This Quintet choir will be singing at Toddington Church at Linda's Licensing service as Rector at 6pm tomorrow. All Welcome to this service and also to a special service at 7.15pm to Commemorate and honour HM Queen Elizabeth on the eve of her state funeral. The National one minute silence will be observed at 8pm.Future date: 1st October Men’s Breakfast at Westoning with Bishop of St Albans; Harvest Supper at Harlington and Macmillan Coffee Morning – more details next week.
Hello EveryoneWhat an enormously strange week this week has been. Who could have anticipated the last seven days.Last Sunday, Nigel retired from Westoning Benefice after a very special and moving service. On Monday his retirement began unexpectedly with a period of enforced rest after a positive Covid test. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris, stepped down and Liz Truss was appointed as the new Prime Minister by the Queen at Balmoral and asked to form a new Government. The Queen looked frail but smiling and determined to fulfil her duties as Sovereign and reportedly held a good level of interested conversation with both Prime Ministers. On Wednesday, I also tested positive for Covid - it was inevitable really.. but the timing is awful. On Thursday, we heard the sudden news of the Royal Family being summoned to be alongside the Queen whose health was of concern... and then came the very sad, shocking news, that the Queen died later that day and the new King was announced. How our world has turned upside down this week. Most of us have previously known no other sovereign that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and what an amazing Queen she has been. She has been a figure of inspirational leadership, a dedicated servant to her people, a caring, intelligent, inquisitive, knowledgeable role model and a beacon of the Christian Faith. To each one of us, she will be remembered in our own special way.HM King Charles III has already shown that he intends to be a King of the people and despite his deep grief, has extended hands of friendship on two walkabouts already and has offered such profound words of tribute to his mother, his guiding example, and at his Proclamation as King today, offered lifelong commitment to serve the people and the nations, with the help of God.As we all try to come to terms with the rapidly moving times in which we live, our churches offer to be places of solace and peace.The church of Harlington will be open over the coming week for people to come and pay their respects to the Queen, to write special tributes in a book of condolence, and to spend some quiet time in church with opportunity to also light a candle. Special prayers will be said at the morning services tomorrow and next Sunday.Sunday 11th 9.30am Morning Service. Prayers will be said for HM Queen Elizabeth II and HM King Charles III, with opportunity to sign the book of condolence. Wednesday 14th 10am Holy Communion ServicePlease contact Tricia for times when the church will be open.Please also remember Jean whose funeral took place this week and pray for her daughter as she grieves. If you would like to view a recording of Jean's funeral service please contact me or Tricia and we'll be pleased to forward you the link.with love, peace and prayersGod Save the King!LindaPS: If you would like a link to the recording of Nigel's leaving service please send me an email or give me a call.
Dear allAs we approach the final days of issuing the weekly email to the Quintet of churches, this week we are sending general information about events taking place in each benefice. In future, Linda will then issue emails to Toddington and Chalgrave Churches, and Westoning Benefice will issue emails to Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington churches.Nigel's final services: This Sunday:Harlington 9.30am Holy Communion with Nigel. Linda and Robert. Starting with parish breakfast at 8.30am.Tingrith Church 3pm: Holy Communion with Nigel and Linda - followed by refreshments.Sunday 4th September: 11am Holy Communion Service, Westoning Church. Reports suggest the church is going to be busy. If you are unable to attend or would prefer to watch the service on live stream please click the link below to view the service. (Don't click this week!)NEXT WEEK if you would like to watch the live-stream link to Nigel's final service at Westoning Church on Sunday 4th September....please click the below link on Sunday 4th September 2022 from about 10.35amhttps://vimeo.com/event/2377866When you click the link it is important to read the 'PLEASE READ ME' information before viewing.If you are unable to watch live a further link will be issued later with a recorded version of the service.This Sunday's services Chalgrave Church 9.30am Morning Praise service led by MalcolmHarlington Church 9.30am Holy Communion, Nigel, Linda and RobertToddington Church 11am Holy Communion Service, Linda and MalcolmWestoning Church 11am Family Service- Nigel. A 40 minute service, theme: 'Encouragement' with goodie bags and refreshments.Tingrith Church 3pm Holy CommunionServices and events for this weekMonday: 29th Augustno Morning Prayer at Toddington - Bank HolidayScarecrow festival, Toddington, CancelledTuesday 30th10am Westcaf followed by Sewing Bee 1pm, Westoning Village HallWednesday 31st10am Holy Communion Service Harlington ChurchThursday 1stFuneral of D Gordon, Toddington Church, 11amFuneral of R Boote - 2.30pm Luton Crem (Westoning)Friday 2ndPainting for Pleasure 10.30am Wilkinson Hall, ToddingtonFuneral of F Barford, Harlington Church, 11amSaturday 3rdToddington Church - fete and fun - details tbcSunday 4th9.30am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion Service, Linda and Malcolm9.30am Harlington Church, Morning Praise/Prayer - Stephen11am Toddington Church - Morning Praise - Malcolm11am Westoning Church - Holy Communion Service (Nigel's retirement service) Nigel, Linda, Jon, Steve and Margaret B. Please also see above live-stream link to watch from home.Future events:1 September Toddington PCC7 September Funeral of Jean Carrington, (Harlington) - Bedford Crematorium 3.15pm - Malcolm8 September Quintet Choir rehearsals begin 7.30-8.30pm - Harlington Church - More information from Nicholas Hopton 9 September from 5pm Nigel's retirement party, Westoning - more information from Jon Denman10 September: Historic Churches Bike, walk or drive - a fundraiser for all churches. Please sponsor those taking part.11 September - Baptism service at Harlington Church 2pm - Linda12 September Funeral of Tim Jackson 1.30pm Westoning Church - Nigel and Linda14 September - 1pm Funeral of I Bain: 16, 17 and 18 September - Petal and Purl festival week-end. See attached poster.18 September - special 800yrs celebration service at Toddington church and licensing Linda as Rector, 6pm21 September - Baptism Service 11am, Westoning - Linda23 September - Messy Church 3.30pm, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington24 September - Harvest Supper, 6pm Wilkinson Hall, Toddington25 September - Wedding at Harlington Church 2pm - Linda25 September - Harvest Services for Chalgrave, Toddington, Tingrith and Westoning.28 September - Pop Up Tea Room, Chalgrave at Memorial Hall 11-1pm2 October - Harvest service, Harlington church 9.30amThis is a poignant time for us and Nigel specifically sends his love to everyone for their love and support throughout his years of ministry in Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington churches. It has been a privilege to serve. God blessings to you allLinda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneWhat glorious weather we have had this week (if you like it hot!), but next week promises to be even hotter - 😓. Do please take care of yourselves. With a red alert weather warning on the horizon for Monday and Tuesday, and now possibly extending into Wednesday, it's not a week to be running marathons! The Toddington schools, and Toddington Childcare, have issued letters to parents offering to release students at 1pm on the red alert days, if parents wish to take them home before the heat peaks. There is also advice to open the windows of your home in the early hours of the morning to let cool air in but then close windows and curtains later before the heat really starts, to keep your homes as cool as possible. Please look after yourselves and keep safe.Our photo this week comes from the wonderful nature day at Harlington Church, which had lots of fun activities for visitors.. a hedgehog house, bug searching, activity sheets and craft.. and of course drinks and cakes! Thank you to everyone involved.This Sunday we are excited to be hosting a charity concert for Ukraine at St George's Church, Toddington at 7pm with the very talented Mariia and Izabella entertaining us with live music and songs.. some of which they have composed. They will also be sharing about their beautiful country and the problems which they, and many others are now facing. Please do come and support them. There is no charge for entry but donations will be invited to raise funds for Ukraine.This Sunday's services:9.30am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Rev Roger Wood9.30am Harlington Church, All age worship, with Communion - Nigel and Linda9.30am Tingrith Church, Morning Prayer - Jon11am Toddington Church, Holy Communion - Rev Roger Wood11am Westoning Church, Holy Communion - Nigel and Linda7pm Ukraine Charity Concert, St George of England Church, Toddington (see attached poster and information below)This is a special concert by Ukrainian Mariia and Izabella, two highly talented young ladies who will be sharing their own stories from Ukraine and also a larger picture about the historical background, set alongside quality songs and music.A Message from Mariia & Izabella:I want to thank you for all your help and support! It is very much appreciated! I am very happy to meet such wonderful people in a new country! Thank you very much! Here is a little more information about our next event. Now, so many people can not only point out where our country is on the map, but also list all the districts of Kiev. They talk about Ukraine everywhere. But what is Ukraine?The Ukrainian language is considered one of the best sounding in the world, but how does our music sound? We sing both in joy and in sorrow. So which songs were key for us during different historical events? What kind of places did we see from the window when we rushed to work or our first date? If someone asked us to describe our region in a few words, what would we say? Or what kind of music would we create, trying to describe Ukraine with melodies and sounds?Mariia Yaremak (composer, singer) and Izabella Ivashchenko (vocalist), have prepared a special concert-performance about Ukraine, where we would like to share with the world the soulfulness of our people, show the infinite beauty of our lands, as well as to attract the attention of people from other countries to the current events. For this we have combined live performance, video and the stories of eyewitnesses into a single production to immerse people into an atmosphere of art and emotions - those languages that we can understand without words. The performance will be in English, but the songs will be performed in Ukrainian. So if you are someone who would like to know a little more about Ukraine, or if you would like to hear more Ukrainian music in the author's interpretation - we will be very happy to see you! Our event can tell the British more about what people in Ukraine are going through now, understand their feelings and way of life. And for Ukrainians it will be an opportunity to meet and get acquainted with their citizens and also to feel the atmosphere of something close here, in the new country.Other Events and services this week:Usual weekly events plus these new notices:Youth Group Toddington, on Tuesday at 5.45pm will be postponed to a later, cooler date! We will keep the families informed of any new date.Wednesday 10am Westoning School Assembly in church5pm Westoning PCC 7pm Petal and Purl Meeting, Toddington7.30pm Harlington PCCFridayAn Evening with the Vicar Harlington Village Hall 7.30pmWedding rehearsal Toddington 5pmSchools close for the Summer holiday. Saturday12 noon Wedding at Toddington Church12.15pm Baptism at Westoning ChurchSunday 24th July11am Toddington Church - Holy Communion Service with baptismCovidCovid cases are rising. Apparently, 1 in 18 people nationally may now be infected so you may wish to consider taking precautions to protect yourselves in an enclosed public area.We send you our love and prayersLinda and Nigel
