Hello EveryoneThere has been a hive of activity on the Green today with stall holders preparing the scene for a fun village get together at the 'Light Up Toddington event this evening', from 4-7pm. Today has been wonderfully sunny with clear blue skies but it promises to be cold this evening so do please wrap up warm! I look forward to the children singing and the buzz of people meeting and greeting each other, whilst enjoying the fun, as the scene is set for a build up to Christmas. The Parish Council have arranged to illuminate the church this evening, which will provide a rather special backdrop (Thank you!). Besides music, stalls and entertainment on the Green, there will also be craft stalls and refreshments in Wilkinson Hall. Toddington is such a pretty village but it always looks extra special lit up and decorated for Christmas.This afternoon I attended the Royal British Legion AGM and I just want to say a huge thank you to the Toddington Branch for all their help and support with church commemorative and remembrance events and for their slick organisation of the annual Remembrance event on the Green and the poppy collection, which draws us all together so effectively, to Remember. We are very fortunate to have a village branch of RBL and I am keen to support them.. so I encourage you, to please consider becoming members, or supporters, so our local branch can stay strong and effective (contact John Wood, or Melanie).Chalgrave's Pop Up Tea Room on Wednesday at Tebworth Memorial Hall was another special moment this week with a full hall and lots of conversations shared over delicious cake, or hot soup. Thank you so much to the catering team for all their hard work. And, thank you to Toddiington team for catering this evening, and very soon at the Christmas Tree Festival. Do please link with Dee about any Christmas Tree entry queries.This week I also had a musical treat at Sunday's Young Musician of the Year competition with young musicians of great talent taking part. I was amazed by the quality.. and on Tuesday evening, Nigel and I had another treat at the concert of Choral Music and poetry at Bedford school, organised by Nicholas Hopton in aid of Movember. Such a musical blessing.. with us leaving uplifted by the talents of pupils and teachers, and the choir, who took part. I am looking forward to hearing more singing this evening from the school choir and representatives.With a Christmas Theme in mind.. for your diary...here is a list of the forthcoming Christmas events and services at Toddington and Chalgrave churches during December:December Services and Events:Chalgrave ChurchSundays 3, 10 and 17th December Holy Communion Service, 9.30amWednesday 13th December Christmas Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11am - 1pmSaturday 16th December Carols by Candlelight Service, 6pmSunday 24th December Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, 11amChristmas Eve, 24th December Crib Service, 2.30pm Midnight Mass, 11.15pmChristmas Day, 25th December Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, 10am31st December Benefice Morning Praise Service, Toddington Church, 11amToddington ChurchFriday 1 December Christingle Service with the children at Toddington St George School.Saturday 2 December Christmas Concert, Linsdale Singers, 2.30pm, Toddington ChurchSundays 3, 10th, 17th December Holy Communion Services, 11am ToddingtonMondays 4,11,18th December Morning Prayer, 9.30am, Toddington Church Friday 8 December - 7pm Christmas Tree Festival Preview Evening, Toddington Church.Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December Christmas Tree Festival Toddington Church, Saturday 11.5pm, Sunday 1-5pm, ending with Carols. Refreshments available in Wilkinson HallThursday 14th December Christmas 'Messy Church' 3.30pm Wilkinson HallFriday 15th December Scout Carol Service, 7pm, Toddington Church.Sunday 17th December Toddington Band Christmas Concert 3pm, Toddington ChurchMonday 18th December Nine Lessons and Carols service, 7.30pm, Toddington ChurchTuesday 19th December Parkfields School, Christmas Carol services, Toddington ChurccWednesday 20 December Toddington St George Lower School Christmas Carol service, Toddington ChurchSunday 24th December Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, 11amChristmas Eve (Sunday) 4pm Crib Service, and 10pm 'Midnight Mass', Toddington ChurchChristmas Day (Monday) Benefice Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church 10amSunday 31st December Benefice Morning Praise Service, 11am, Toddington ChurchThis week's services and events:Sunday 26 November - Christ The King Sunday9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church11am Holy Communion, Toddington ChurchMonday 27th November9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church2pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson HallTuesday 28th November10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 29th NovemberRest DayThursday 30 NovemberRest DayFriday 1st December 10.30am Painting For Pleasure group, Wilkinson HallNo Ploughmans lunch this month!Looking forward to seeing you to catch up sometime.. perhaps at a Christmas Service, or perhaps over a glass of mulled wine, or a hot cuppa this evening.Keep warm and look after yourselves.God blessLindaRectorToddington and Chalgrave07715 603557
Hello everyone I hope you are well and have had a good week. The autumn colours are building and beautiful to see, but how quickly the dark evenings have set in. I'm already looking forward to the longer days and brighter evenings but in between we can enjoy the time of Christmas lights leading us forth through Advent towards Christmas. Last weekend, it was a privilege to take part in the various Remembrance services at Toddington, Chalgrave Church and Tebworth, to remember those who had died, were injured, or affected by the different conflicts and wars past (and present). The rain held off for the services, apart from a few minutes at each service and it was good to see so many people gather to represent the villages, the schools, the uniformed groups and the different community groups. Well done to the British Legion team for setting up the gazebos and sound system at Toddington, for their careful organisation of the event, and for attending each service. Thanks also to Toddington Band for their music and to Tebworth Parish Council for their organisation. We look forward to the next Toddington village community event this Saturday to light up Toddington for the Christmas season, which will take place on the Green between 4-7pm, and is organised by Toddington Parish Council. There will be music from Toddington Band and 'Simply Sax', fun stalls refreshments and entertainment on the Green plus craft stalls and refreshments in Wilkinson Hall. Do come along if you can. It is always good to see the light shining in the darkness! Sunday Services 19 November 2023 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am, a Baptism and Holy Communion service, Toddington Church 6pm Evensong, Toddington Church Other services and events this coming week: Sunday 2.30pm Young musician of the Year Competition (with young musicians from Beds, Herts and Bucks), Toddington Village Hall, admission on the door £8 adult, £1 children Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday Knitting Group, 10.30am Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 10am Church brass cleaning working party, Toddington Church 11-1pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall Thursday rest day! Friday 10.30am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday Light up Toddington, 4-7pm Toddington Green and Wilkinson Hall Sunday 26th November 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Have a good week everyone. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone With Remembrance Sunday tomorrow, how wonderful it would be to have a bright, sunny day like today but sadly the weather suggests a high likelihood of rain. The gritter lorries will be out this evening, so tomorrow will also have a November chill in the air. I hope the rain will hold off between 10.00 - 11.30 am at Toddington and 3.00 – 4.00 pm at Tebworth! On Friday morning, both Toddington St George school and Parkfields school held a short service of Remembrance and it was a privilege to attend both services. The year 4 children offered a full explanation about the origins of Remembrance Sunday, and Parkfields staff and pupils gave similar introduction before the Last Post and a time of silence. This morning, on the Green, there was a short Remembrance service for Armistice Day, then John P and I headed up the church tower to raise the Union Flag for this Remembrance Weekend. (Sadly, the church clock has stopped again and the church bells will not toll the time tomorrow- the clock needs to be serviced and possibly repaired as it keeps stopping). Tomorrow's Remembrance Services bring the villages together as we gather to remember all who fought for their countries in the World Wars and in later conflicts, and we also pray for all affected by conflict and war. The uniformed groups will gather at the Village Hall in Toddington, and begin to process to the Green at 10.40 am to be ready for the main Remembrance Service. Chalgrave Church will hold a short outdoor service at the church memorial at 2.00 pm before the 3.00 pm Remembrance Service at Tebworth Memorial Hall. Do please come along to any of the services. There will also be a 9.30 am Benefice Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church before the main Remembrance service. This week, a Remembrance display has been installed at Toddington church, with poppies created by many organisations and contributors from the village. If you would like to add a poppy, or poppies, in memory of someone who served their country, you will be most welcome. There is also a memory tree of light and life, on which you can place a leaf (with a name or a message) in memory of a loved one. Please feel free to come into church (which is open in daylight hours) to remember. During last Sunday's 'In Loving Memory' Services, at both churches, we remembered loved ones who have died and offered sensitive space for folks to come forward to light a candle for those remembered. Thank you to everyone who has contributed this week to decorating the churches for Remembrance, or provided cakes, or attended the Coffee Morning today, or helped to create Samaritan's Purse Shoeboxes ready for transport abroad to children who will not otherwise receive Christmas gifts, or given foods for the Foodbank or for the fresh provisions table inside Toddington south church porch. This Sunday's Services 9.30 am Holy Communion Benefice Service, Toddington Church 10.30 am Gather on Toddington Green for the village Remembrance Service 2.00 pm Chalgrave Church - a short service of Remembrance 3.00 pm Tebworth Memorial Hall, Remembrance Service This week's Services and Events Monday 13th 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall Tuesday 14th 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 15th 10.00 am Working Party for church grounds 2.00 pm The Friends of St George Trustees meeting Thursday 16th 2.00 pm Fellowship group, Wilkinson Hall, preparing for Christmas Tree Festival Friday 17th 10.3 0am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 18th A day of rest! Sunday 19th 9.30 am Holy Communion service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service - with a baptism, Toddington Church 2.30 pm Young Musician of the Year Competition 2023, Toddington Village Hall, 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church Friday 24th November Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall, 3.30 pm Have a good week everyone. Best wishes Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone I hope you've had a good week and perhaps, like us, you have managed to share some special time with family and friends - especially as it was half term holidays. Nigel and I enjoyed celebrating our 30th Wedding anniversary last week, and we thank Malcolm who led services in our absence, and all who covered in any way. We remember our wedding day so vividly.. it was on a lovely crisp and bright October Autumnal day, bathed in sunlight, with a distinct chill in the air. The church was full of friends and family.. special loved ones who had shared our journey and our joy to that moment in time.. and I distinctly remember how Nigel had to encourage me out of the church because I wanted to stop and chat to everyone ( he says, little has changed!) It was such a joyful occasion. Looking back, we will never forget how we knelt at the altar before we left the church to give thanks to God for bringing us both to that day, and how we both surrendered our lives to God. And look what happened next! We both became ordained ministers in the Church of England. That was a little unexpected! Our journey has been blessed and our marriage has been so very happy. How can 30 years have rushed by so quickly? Continuing on the theme of time... in just under two months we will be celebrating Christmas in our churches which will be a special time of joy as schools, families and friends gather to celebrate and give thanks for the birth of Jesus, over 2000 years ago. In between, we hold our In Loving Memory Services next Sunday on All Saints Day (please email me names of loved ones to be remembered, or sign the list in church). On Sunday 12th November we join with other regions across the country in our Remembrance services. And I am sure you will join me this week in holding close in your prayers, all who are caught up in current wars and conflicts, and pray for peace. Here are some of the upcoming events: Sunday 29th October 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church - Linda and Nigel 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church - Linda and Nigel 3.00 pm Toddington Band Autumn Concert, Toddington Church Monday 30th October 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 31st October 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Light Party, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 1st November 10.30 am Church working party Thursday 2nd November 12.00 Noon Hot Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall Friday 3rd November 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 4th November 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Chalgrave Christmas Craft Fayre, Tebworth Memorial Hall, a lovely festive event; with a good range of crafts stalls, plus homemade cakes and refreshments. (poster attached) £1 entry, under 10s free. Sunday 5th November 9.30 am In Loving Memory Service at Chalgrave Church (poster attached) 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church 3.00 pm In Loving Memory Service at Toddington Church. - (poster attached). Please email me the names of your loved ones you wish to remember. We will remember each loved one by name and you will be invited to light a candle in their memory during this gentle reflective service. Friday 10th November - Linda to attend Remembrance 'Services' at Toddington St George lower school and Parkfields Middle school Saturday 11th November.. An Armistice Day Service of Remembrance on the Green with the Royal British Legion - gathering for 10.40 pm Sunday 12th November Remembrance Sunday 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church 10.30 am gather on The Green for Toddington Village Remembrance Service with the Royal British Legion and the uniformed services. 2.00 pm A time of Remembrance at Chalgrave Church memorial and a laying of a wreath 3.00 pm A Remembrance Service at Tebworth Memorial Hall Thinking of you God bless Linda Rector, Toddington and Chalgrave
