Hello Everyone I hope you are all well and have coped with the changeable, cold, snowy, wet and occasionally sunny weather this week. It was so lovely to see so many folk gathered at Toddington Coffee Morning earlier. Thank you for coming and thank you to all who were there to provide and serve. We look forward to the various activities and events this coming week, and to the continuing Lent courses. There will be a special Easter Saturday Service of Confirmation at St Albans Abbey with candidates from across the diocese coming together to be confirmed by Bishop Richard who will be leading this year's service. The Easter service is especially atmospheric as candlelight is taken into the dark Abbey at the start of the service. If you have wondered about Confirmation, and would like to know more, please have a word with me, or send me an email. I will be very happy to chat with you and you will be most welcome to join us in a local confirmation course as we investigate together Christian Faith. Here are details of this week's services and events: Sunday 12th March 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave - Linda and Nigel 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington, with baptism of baby Eric - Linda 6.00 pm Evensong Service, Toddington - Malcolm This week's services and events: Monday 13th March 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington 11.00 am Toddington Lent Course, The Rectory 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 14th March 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall (make sure you have a warm coat as we will be going out for a walk) Wednesday 15th March Lent Lunch 12.00 noon (provided this week by the Methodist church team) 7.30 pm Chalgrave Lent Course, at the Calder's Thursday 16th March 2.00 pm St George's Fellowship, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 17th March 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Saturday 18th March A Rest Day! Sunday 19th March - Mothering Sunday 9.30 am Morning Praise service, Chalgrave - Malcolm 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington- Linda 11.00 am Wednesday 22nd March Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall 10am Saturday 25th March Friends of Toddington Parish Church Tabletop Sale, with hot refreshments (bacon and sausage bread rolls). Cost £5 per table. Contact Fran or Dee to book a table. with best wishes Linda Rector, Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone This week seems to have gone past so very quickly and suddenly we find ourselves in March! How quickly the days are moving forward. Bulbs are appearing, buds and blossom are forming on the trees and the days are lengthening. All points to springtime.. but we have a colder week ahead of us so do please wrap up and stay warm. It has been a busy week, but there have been some very special times: Toddington and Chalgrave Lent courses had their first sessions and we shared happy times of fellowship plus good conversation as we all considered a Bible passage. The groups continue this week and you are very warmly invited to join us ( see details below). Seated Pilates on Monday afternoon was well received too. On Tuesday evening youth group went well with another very interesting conversation about Lent with cupcakes to tempt us all - plus some games to keep us on our toes. The morning knitting group enjoy meeting too with happy conversation interspersed with knitting. Wednesday Lent lunch (with soup provided during Lent by the different churches) was well received with a lovely variety of soups on offer. This week Toddington provided and next week Chalgrave will be serving. Thursday morning school assembly at St George's school left Nigel and I smiling broadly as we looked across at a sea of beautiful, coloured costumes worn by children and staff for World Book day. Everyone looked wonderful (although Nigel and I felt a little underdressed in ordinary clothes). Then there was a quick dive across to Wilkinson Hall for the first Ploughman's lunch of the year with hot meals and tasty puddings. There was such a wonderful buzz of contented conversation with the tables filled by happy customers. Friday morning art group met again in the hall and then later in the afternoon about 40 people from local churches celebrated World day of Prayer in a joint service at Toddington Baptist church. I had the privilege of leading a funeral for a dear lady from Chalton and of meeting her friends afterwards, and we hope to arrange to meet again. The week finished with a wonderful celebration with Cynthia of her special birthday. Such a delight to mark the occasion. Thank you to you all for all your hard work helping to support these events.. but most of all for your love, care and kindness, and for your warmth and generosity of welcome to all who attend. Can I please ask you to pray for Eddie, for a good and full recovery. Sunday services for Sunday 5th March 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Other events this week: Monday 6th March 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington 11.00 am Toddington Church Lent Course, The Rectory, 41 Leighton Road, Toddington LU5 6AL Tuesday 7th March 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 8th March 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall 7.30 pm Chalgrave Church, Lent Course, the Calders house. Thursday 9th March 2.00 pm Fellowship with Friends,Wilkinson Hall Friday 10th March 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group Saturday 11th March 10.00 am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall Sunday 12th March 9.3 0am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, with the baptism of baby Eric 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church (a new service) I wish you a blessed week and look forward to seeing you. with love and prayers Linda
Hello Everyone As I write, the winter sun is shining, a plane leaves a white trail high up in the blue sky, the bush opposite me is in full blossom and all seems still. People were out and about at Wrest Park earlier today, glad of the fresh air. The ducks were on the water in distinct pairs of male and female.. so I suspect there will be some little chicks on the river soon. Nigel tested out a new bird song app to identify which birds were singing in the trees and located robins, blue tits and great tits heralding in the springtime. We enjoyed seeing the snowdrop, daisy, crocus, hyacinth and iris flowers peeping through the cold ground with daffodils fully out blowing in the breeze. It is so good to enjoy the approaching season of new life. This week at church we moved into the Lenten season of forty days and forty nights, with Ash Wednesday services, and school assemblies, when Christians are called to reflect as we remember Jesus' time of testing and temptation in the wilderness. Youth group this week enjoyed pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and talked about temptation. Messy Church did crafts about 'be thankful', 'be creative' and 'be caring' and heard a story about the prodigal son who had a change of heart and returned home to his loving father. That is in effect what we are all called to do this Lent.. to reflect on our lives, to confess and repent (refocus and turn away from what is wrong) and turn back to Christ. During the Lenten period, Churches together, will offer Lent lunches (of soup, bread roll and fruit) on Wednesdays at Wilkinson Hall from 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm to raise funds for people in need. We begin out Lent courses this Monday and Wednesday. Monday's (Toddington's) will be held at 11.00 am at the Rectory (all welcome), and Wednesdays (Chalgrave) will be held at 7.30 pm at the Calder's. Each session will include a time of Bible study, conversation, prayer and reflection. I have also attached a link below to the Church of England's Lenten daily reflections which you can either sign up for or seek out on their main website. 'Lectio 365' app also offers some special Lenten reflections. Please do get in touch if you need any help, or prayer, or wish to discuss weddings, baptisms, confirmation, home communion or other opportunities or services. This Sunday's services: 9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion 11.00 am Toddington Church, Holy Communion Services and events this week and beyond Monday 27 February 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 11.00 am Lent course, The Rectory, Toddington 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 7.00 pm Chalgrave PCC Tuesday 28 February Knitting group 10.30 am - 12.30 pm, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 3.00 pm Toddington PCC 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Wednesday 1 March 12.00 noon Lent Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 7.3 0pm Chalgrave Lent Course Thursday 2 March 12.00 noon Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 3 March 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 2.00 pm World Day of Prayer service, Toddington Baptist Church Saturday 4 March a rest day! Future Services: Sunday 5 March 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Sunday 12 March 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church - a new service Sunday 19 March - Mothering Sunday 9.30 am Morning Worship, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Sunday 26 March 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Looking at the list of activities above which is so extensive and busy, can I say a very big thank you to all who help, cook, or resource our different events. This week we also had the Pop-Up Tea Room at Chalgrave, and the Winter Warmer Wednesday at Toddington. All are wonderful times for folks to gather together, and are so appreciated by the people who come, but these events would not be possible without the wonderful support and resourcing of so many hardworking volunteers who give unstintingly of their time. Thank you so much to all who help in any way to make these events possible and thank you to all who come to support them. Have a good week everyone. God bless Linda
Hello Everyone I hope last week was kind to you and that this week will be even better! As the schools settle back after half term holidays, we approach the start of Lent in the church calendar with Shrove Tuesday swiftly followed by Ash Wednesday. We will be holding a 6.00 pm Ash Wednesday service at Toddington church and both Parkfields and the lower school have invited me to in to lead an assembly about Lent. There seem to be many different perspectives by people about Lent. Some incline to 'give up' something for Lent while others prefer a more proactive approach to 'take up' something for Lent. I read an interesting article by English Heritage about Shrove Tuesday and Lent which said: 'Christians believe that the 40 days before Easter (called Lent) mark the time that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Traditionally, Christians would spend this time praying and fasting, which meant not eating a range of foods including meat, eggs, fats and milk. The word ‘shrove’ comes from a Roman Catholic practice – to ‘shrive’ meant going to confess your sins and being absolved by a priest. In the past, a ‘shriving’ bell was rung on Shrove Tuesday to call people to church to confess their sins'. Lent is indeed a time to seek to come closer to God, and through prayer and quiet time this may well lead to a time of confession. In the church, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with a penitential service and during that service there is opportunity to receive the sign of an ash cross on our foreheads to remind us of Jesus who was tempted and challenged in the desert for 40 days and nights, before the start of his ministry. The mark of the cross also reminds us that Jesus died on the cross at Easter and bore our sins. Through his death and resurrection, he demonstrated his love and forgiveness to us. We will be holding Toddington and Chalgrave Lent courses this Lenten season, to enable us to spend time learning about Jesus' ministry and reflecting on how we can apply what we learn today. So, this Lent, there will be a time of 'giving something up' and of 'learning something new' and of 'reaching out'. It is an important discipline to look inwards and to self examine, but also to look outwards with positive action... 'What would Jesus do'. You are very welcome to join a Lent course. They should be informal groups. Please let me know you are coming so I can prepare, or just come along. The Toddington course will meet at the Rectory at 11.00 am, starting on Monday 27th February, next week. The Chalgrave course will offer a series of Bible studies and reflections and will be based at the Calders. This week's services and events Sunday 19th February 9.30 am Service of Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Nigel 11.00 am Service of Holy Communion, Toddington - Nigel Monday 20th February Morning Prayer, 9.30 am Toddington Shrove Tuesday 21st February Knitting Group 10.30 am, Wilkinson Hall Youth Group 5.45 pm, Wilkinson Hall (and Tuesday 28th February) Ash Wednesday 22nd February (The start of Lent) Final Wednesday Winter Warmer gathering, 10.30 am, Wilkinson Hall - (next Wednesday - Lent lunch at 12.00 noon) Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11.00 am – 1.00 pm Ash Wednesday 6.00 pm evening service, with Holy Communion, Toddington Church Thursday 23rd February 11.30 pm Funeral of Sheila Parks, Chalgrave Church 7.30 pm Quintet Choir Rehearsal, Toddington Church - (Looking towards Easter) - all welcome Friday 24th February 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall 2.00 pm Rehearsal for World Day of Prayer service, Toddington Baptist Church 3.30 pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall Services and events from Sunday 26th February 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Linda 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington - Linda Monday 27th February 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington 11.00 am The Lent Course, Toddington, Mondays, 27 Feb, 6, 13, 20 and 27 March and 3 April. All Welcome. Come when you can. Location Rectory 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall 7.00 pm Chalgrave PCC Tuesday 28th February 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 3.00 pm Toddington PCC 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 1st March 12.00 noon, Lent lunch, Wilkinson Hall Chalgrave Lent Bible reflection group (each Wednesday evening during March) time tbc Thursday 2nd March 12.00 noon Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall Friday 3rd March World Day of Prayer, Toddington Baptist Church, 2.00 pm If you would be interested to have a chat, discuss baptism or Confirmation, receive prayer, have Home Communion, or have a worry, concern or a joy that you would like to share with me, do please get in touch so we can arrange to meet. with love and prayers Linda (and Nigel) Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
