Hello Everyone I hope your week has gone well, with some memorable moments to sustain you. I enjoyed tagging along with the school children's trip on Tuesday to Conger Lane.. although it was a shame that it was raining.. but it didn't dampen the children's enthusiasm. The restoration work at Toddington Church has been moving on well and I was fascinated to view the beauty of the original stonework on the inner South West wall with the old render removed. Both Dee and I said separately to Mick the builder that we would prefer it not to be re-rendered as it is such an impressive example of original stone craftmanship - but it will need to be. (Photos attached). Chalgrave Church has received emergency permission to begin sorting arrangements for the next stage of repairs. February feels like a transitional stage in the year. It is a time to emerge, a time to rest, a time to prepare, and a time to get active. We are just back from a quick walk in the park and stopped to listen to the birds singing in the trees.. such a welcome sound.. a European robin singing so beautifully from on high, calling out so effectively to all around. In the garden the snow drops, crocus, narcissi are coming in flower with buds and blossom quickly emerging on certain shrubs and the garden is already calling us quite loudly to come and attend to several tasks. Spring time has a strange sense of a call that it is also a time to clear out and declutter with the 'Spring Clean' but that will have to wait a while. The schools are already half way through this academic year with half term holidays this week, and this week we entered the church season of Lent with Ash Wednesday following swiftly after Shrove Tuesday. I wonder if you had a pancake or two and what was your favourite filling? The children in nursery at school were excitedly telling me how they had made and eaten pancakes. Are you entering into Lent giving up something or taking up something? It is good to follow a daily Bible Reading or a Lent study and there are various apps or opportunities for this. The Church of England is offering daily Lent Reflections: Journey through Lent with our #WatchAndPray daily email reflections. Sign up at cofe.io/LentReflections. There is also The Bible Society's Lent Encounter 2024 – The shadow of the cross. Where is Jesus in the Old Testament? Sign up now and dive into God’s word to trace his salvation plan through salvation history. Or, perhaps you might like to join us on the Alpha course from 29th February to learn more about Jesus? You will be most welcome. Sunday's Services 18th February 2023 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church - Malcolm to lead Upcoming Services and events: Mon 19th February Morning Prayer 9.30 am Toddington Church Tuesday 20th February Knitting Group 10.30 am – 12.30pm Wilkinson Hall Wed 21st February Lent Lunch 12.00 noon – 1.00 pm. Wilkinson Hall Fri 23rd February Painting for Pleasure 10.30 am, Wilkinson Hall Messy Church 3.30pm - 5.30 pm Wilkinson Hall (see poster) Sun 25th February 9.30 am Holy Communion Service Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church Mon 26th February Morning Prayer 9.30 am Toddington Church Tues 27th February Knitting Group 10.30 am – 12.30 pm Wilkinson Hall Toddington PCC 2.00 pm Wilkinson Hall Youth Group Yr 5 upwards 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm Wilkinson Hall Wed 28th February 11.00 am – 1.00 pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall Lent Lunch 12.00 noon – 1.00 pm. Wilkinson Hall Thurs 29th February The Alpha Course begins, 6.30 pm The Rectory (more information from Rev Linda). Please register your name with Linda for catering numbers. (see poster) Friday 1st March World Day of Prayer Service 2.00 pm Harlington Church This year's service with the theme: 'I beg you, bear with one another in love' has been prepared by the women of Palestine Thursday 7th March Hot Ploughmans Lunch 12.00 noon – 1.30 pm Wilkinson Hall Have a good week. With every blessing Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone It has been so wonderful to feel a hint of Spring in the air today with birds singing in the bare tree tops and daffodils, snowdrops, primroses, and aconites bursting forth in Toddington Church grounds. People have breathed a sigh of relief today to sense the warmer weather, looking up to the sunlight peeping through the grey clouds, to absorb a little vitamin D... and there is hope in the air. Today's coffee morning at Wilkinson Hall had a busy, happy atmosphere with folks enjoying company, cake and catch up after all that rain! Thank you so much to all who have provided this week for Youth group, Wednesday warmer lunch, Time with Friends, and coffee morning. They are all such special times. This week has also been a time of Architect, Structural Engineer and Builder visits. Both churches now have areas shrouded in plastic sheeting as work either commences or investigations progress. The Chancel plaster repair work began at Toddington church on Friday and the Reredos and the altar are now hidden under protective covering to avoid damage while work progresses to remove the 'old' blown plaster in readiness for the new, fresh plaster replacement. At Chalgrave Church, the structural engineer, architect and builder climbed up to the top level of scaffolded platforms to examine the roof beams. We now know that both ends of the Nave roof beam, which had been causing concern, need to be replaced. The wood on each end is soft and rotting, due to damp (probably dating back to when the roof lead was stolen some years back). Unfortunately, another large beam end towards the centre of the Nave also needs replacing, plus a smaller roof beam needs repair. Sadly, it will be a much bigger job than first thought, and much more expensive too. We will now await the Engineer's report, repricing quotes and will then have to submit an application to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for permission to proceed. We will also need to apply for grants to help us to cover costs. I've attached some pictures of this week's building projects, plus some pictures of some lovely spring flowers. This week we move into the season of Lent in our church services with Ash Wednesday swiftly following Shrove Tuesday. There will be a benefice Ash Wednesday Holy Communion service, with the Imposition of Ashes, at Toddington Church at 6.30pm. All are welcome. I've attached a separate calendar of this month's events for your information but have listed below next week's events: This Sunday's Services 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Nigel (and Linda) 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington - Nigel (and Linda) This week's services and events: Monday 12th February 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 13th February 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 14th February Ash Wednesday 12.00 noon Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall 2.00 pm Friends of St George's Church, Trustees meeting, Wilkinson Hall 3.00 pm Friends fundraising meeting, Wilkinson Hall 6.30 pm Ash Wednesday Benefice Holy Communion Service with the Imposition of Ashes, Toddington Church Thursday 15th February 2.00 pm Fellowship time, Wilkinson Hall Friday 16th February 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall On Thursday 29 February we begin a new 10 week Alpha Course at the Rectory at 6.30 pm, which will mainly be held on Thursday evenings, with an occasional Wednesday. It is a wonderful time to learn more about the Christian faith in a friendly, informal setting. We begin with refreshments, then watch a film on a different weekly theme exploring such topics as Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can I be sure of My Faith? Why and How should I read the Bible? Does God Heal? Why and how do I pray? What does the Holy Spirit do? Then we move into small discussion groups to consider what we have heard that evening. The sessions soon become very special, with folks valuing each others company and by the end of the course, people have made new friends and feel like part of a bigger family. All are welcome. Please ring Linda to have a chat and for more details. (07715 603557 or 01525 714442). The course dates are: Thursdays 29 Feb, 7, 14 and 21 March, Wednesday 27 March, and then after a short break for Easter time, we recommence on Thursdays 18, 25, April, 2, 9 and 16 May. Alpha is an ideal introduction to the Christian Faith for anyone wishing to consider being confirmed. Do please have a word with me if you would be interested to confirm your faith at a Confirmation service. I'm also happy to consider leading a Lent Course if folks would like one? Do please link if you would like a chat, a prayer or any support. Have a good week God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone I hope you are well and have had a good week? It has been a generally good week for me, but not an out and about week.. a week tied to the computer filling in the annual church statistical returns, attending the odd zoom training course, plus fending off another cold bug - ugh! But it is good to look forward and to appreciate that Spring is on its way with bulbs peeping ever higher and daffodils about to shoot into bloom, snow drops appearing in clusters, and aconites looking resplendent in their yellow bloom. Daylight now lingers until 5.30pm and afternoons are stretching forth. The long dark days are drifting past and the light and sunlight are shining with vitamin D to boost our energy levels. This Sunday we depart from Epiphany season and begin the Sundays before Lent. We will meet in the Chancel at Chalgrave again this week for the 9.30am Holy Communion service. Despite the scaffolding in the Nave last week, the service was rather special and I am looking forward to gathering there again this week - under the warmth and comforting glow of the wall heaters. We are also hoping that Cliff can find his way under the plastic sheeting to be able to play the organ this week. It looks a bit of a challenge but he is optimistic! This week's services and events Sunday 4th February 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am Holy Communion Service Toddington Church Monday 5th 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 6th 10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 7th 11am-2.30pm Wednesday Winter Warmer lunch and fellowship, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 8th 2pm Afternoon with Friends, Wilkinson Hall Friday 9th 10.30-12.30pm Painting for Pleasure, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 10th 10am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall I am looking to offer an Alpha course starting later this month and Thursday evenings seem to be a popular time, so, if you would be interested to come on this informal and welcoming course to learn more about Jesus and the Christian Faith, please put these provisional dates in your diaries: Thursday 29th February (or possibly Wednesday 28th February) Thursdays 7, 14, 21 March, Wednesday 27 March. We will then have a half -way break over the Easter period and continue on Thursdays 18 and 25 April and 2, 9, 16 May. It is a special course and you will be most welcome. Please let me know if you are interested, and have a word with me if you would like to know more. Have a good week, and please look after yourselves. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone Tomorrow we will celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple in our morning Holy Communion services and reflect on the faith of Simeon and Anna and the obedience of Mary and Joseph in bringing their son, baby Jesus, before God in thanksgiving. I shared the story this week in Collective Worship at the Lower school and we also mentioned it at Messy Church, which was such a lovely gathering with 20 children with their parents and carers. Thank you to Bridget, Helen, Rachel, Dee and Malcolm - the team, who prepared crafts and enjoyed time with the children. (see photos). Thank you also to Rebecca, Bridget and Doug for leading Youth Group this Tuesday. This morning the bargain sale run by the Friends of St George's raised an amazing £166 and provided another opportunity for cake over a cuppa with a chat. It has been a busy week for the church teams this week with Pop Up Tea Room on Wednesday at Chalgrave and Winter Warmer Wednesday at Wilkinson Hall, to mention just a couple of church led hospitality events with folks working so hard baking and providing. Thank you all so much! These occasions are truly valued by all who come. This week, Chalgrave church Nave interior has been transformed into what seems more like a building site with scaffolding poles and platforms in place in preparation for the investigations to the roof beams to assess if there is any decay. We would appreciate your prayers please for a reassuring outcome. This stage of the work, which includes work in the Chancel roof, and investigation to two particular beams in the Nave, has already been costed at £27k and that is mainly to pay for the scaffolding! Any further discoveries will cost more. We are praying that no major issues will be discovered. The church is so beautiful and we are so fortunate to be able to worship there in the peaceful surroundings and are keen to preserve the church for future generations to come. We welcome your prayers.. and also any thoughts on how to raise funds to cover the work. (I have attached some pictures). Tomorrow we will gather in the Chancel for our service which will be wonderfully special and in the attached photo, above the standard, you can see the repair which was has already completed to the original decayed beam. Services for Sunday 28th January 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church Events this week: Monday 29th January 9.30 am Morning Prayer Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 30th January 10.30 am Knitting Group Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Wednesday 31st January 11.00 am Wednesday Winter Warmer gathering, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 2nd February 10.30 am Painting For Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington I am wondering who might be interested in attending an Alpha course to explore more about Jesus and the Christian faith. This could be a daytime course or an evening course so please do have a word with me, or send me an email, if you would be interested to come along. I know that one or two people are keen to be confirmed, and the first few sessions of Alpha would be helpful preparation for confirmation. And, as we approach Lent.. you may also be interested in a Lent course. Again, please have a word with me, if this is of interest to you. Have a good week everyone. God bless Linda
