Hello Everyone I hope you are keeping well and have had a good week. We have had a special week with wonderful singing and Christmas Lights as a theme. On Monday we went to a 'Singalong with Gareth’ Malone concert at Oxford which was great fun... singing alongside members of the Military wives, the Sing Choir, and Gareth's lockdown online choir in the audience. It was so special to sing with such beautiful voices and for a moment dream that your voice too was a beautiful voice as you were taken up in the sound! On our way across to the concert we stopped off at Blenheim Palace to see the Christmas light exhibition in the Palace.. this was stunning! On Tuesday evening Youth group met with Rebecca, Doug, Bridget and me at the Hall, and learned about the good news of Jesus, coming over the mountain (Isaiah 52 v 7) ... emphasised with the help of Toblerone, biscuits, green icing and a flower! The children also contributed to an imaginative Christmas tree for next weekend's Christmas Tree Festival.. which came alive with twinkling lights. Wednesday was Winter Warmer Day at the hall with a good turnout of folk gathering for a natter over soup and a baked potato. On Thursday morning Malcolm and I lead an Advent Collective worship at the lower school and lit the first Advent candle, telling 2 stories about Angel Gabriel's visits to Mary and Joseph (to be continued next week) and we gave out Nativity Advent Calendars to each class. St George's Church hosted the special funeral for Rita Stares on Thursday with the church resplendent with beautiful flowers and the sound of splendid choir and congregational singing and music as we honoured God and Rita. Yesterday evening as we were preparing a lit Christmas Tree, the church door opened and lots of beavers, cubs, scouts and parents gathered in church for the first carol service this year. It was a delight to see them all and we had fun as we unpacked the Christmas parcel, told the story of Jesus' birth with carol singing and the beavers and cubs singing songs and reading the story. Such a wonderful start to the Christmas season. So today continues with 2.00 pm Rotary Club Afternoon tea at Parkside school so I may see some of you there. There is also a Christmas Tree Festival at Harlington Church this week end if you would like a preliminary warm up for our own Christmas Tree Festival next week! Tonight, there is another opportunity to enjoy singing and music at the Toddington Music Society concert of festive music in church at 7.30pm. Poster attached. £6. Tickets on the door, cash payment. On Sunday we have a visiting speaker from Compassion Charity coming to speak at our morning services to update us on the work of Compassion and about some of the children we are sponsoring. I thank everyone involved in any of the activities and for the amazing support teams who have served refreshments, arranged flowers, or have helped in any other way. I look forward to sharing the coming week with you. This Sunday 4th December services 9.30 am Holy Communion with a visiting speaker from Compassion, Chalgrave 11.00 am Holy Communion, with a visiting speaker from Compassion, Toddington Services and events this coming week: Monday 5th December 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 6th December Knitting Group 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 7th December Winter Wednesday Warmer gathering in Wilkinson Hall 10.30 am- 3.00 pm Preparations for Christmas Tree Festival in church Thursday 8th December Preparations for Christmas Tree Festival in church Friday 9th December Painting for Pleasure group 10.30 am, Wilkinson Hall. Christmas Tree Festival Preview Evening at Toddington Church, 7.00 pm, with wine and canapes, £10 a ticket. Saturday 10th December Christmas Tree Festival weekend: 11.00 am – 5.00 pm Saturday Toddington Church. Sunday 11th December Christmas Tree Festival weekend 1.00 – 5.00 pm Sunday - finishing with carol singing at 5.00 pm, Toddington Church Carols By Candlelight Service, 7.00 pm Chalgrave Church (NB Sunday instead of Saturday this year) Toddington and Chalgrave churches both collect food donations for the Foodbank which is seeing increasing need. If you are able to make a donation, these can be dropped off during daylight hours at St George's Church, Toddington which has collection baskets in the South Porch, or to 22 Leighton Road by the back door. This year, we are collecting Christmas and essential food items for Christmas Food Hampers to bless some local families. The hampers will be issued through the schools so will be anonymous, but we would welcome donations towards these, if you feel able. There is a box in Toddington Church labelled for families for such donations. Thank you. And so, another busy week draws to a close and we look forward to what God has in store next week. May you all be richly blessed and know the Peace of Christ during this Advent season. Best wishes Linda Rector at Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello EveryoneWith the nights drawing in and the temperatures dipping, we are quickly entering the time of year when we will look to pretty decorative lights to light our way with the excitement of the appearance of Christmas lights on Christmas trees, in shop windows and decorated houses and gardens. This evening people gathered on The Green in Toddington for the official turning on of the Christmas lights, and there were many happy conversations taking place.Schools are preparing for Christmas nativity and concerts, and we too are preparing in our churches during this season of Advent as we look ahead to the Christmas services and events: carol and crib services, the Toddington Christmas Tree festival, Christmas Messy Church, and the next Chalgrave Pop-Up Tea room at Tebworth with Christmas carols. In these cold, wet and dark days, how important it is to get together to support each other, and to also remember Jesus, the Light of the World, the reason for the season.This Sunday's services:9.30am Holy Communion Service at Chalgrave Church - Linda 11am Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church - Linda 1pm Baptism Service at Toddington Church - LindaThis week's services and events: Monday 28 November9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Tuesday 29 November10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall5.45pm Youth group, Wilkinson HallWednesday 30 November10.30am to 3pm Wednesday Winter Warmer time together with lunch, Wilkinson Hall Dunstable Deanery Meeting, All Saints Church, Leighton Buzzard 7.30pmThursday 1st DecemberThe funeral of Rita Stares, 12.30pm Toddington Church. The service will be live-streamed and a link will be issued later this week.Friday 2nd December10.30am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall7pm Scout Carol Service, Toddington ChurchSaturday 3rd December7.30pm Musical Concert by the Luton Youth Cantores Choir and Peculi8. Costs £6 (pay at the door cash only please). There will be a comfort break in the middle and seasonal refreshments will be served in the Wilkinson Hall at the end for those who would like to stay and celebrate. The concert is being run jointly by Toddington Music Society and the Church and profits will be shared. See attached posterFuture Christmas services and events for your diaries:9 December 7pm Christmas Tree Festival Preview Evening. Tickets from Fran or Dee10 and 11 December Christmas Tree festival, Toddington Church, ending on Sunday afternoon with carols. Refreshments in Wilkinson Hall11 December, 7pm Carols by Candlelight Service at Chalgrave Church (Sunday this year)13 December, 5.45pm Christmas Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall14 December 9.15am a Lower school visit to Toddington church to sing carols14 December separate morning and afternoon visits by Parkfields school to Toddington Church for their Christmas Carol Services14 December Chalgrave Christmas Pop Up Tea room, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11am15 December Lower School Christmas Service at Toddington Church16 December Christmas 'Messy Church' 3.30pm (and last day of term)17 December Toddington Band Christmas Concert, Toddington Church, 3pm18 December, Service of 9 Lessons and Carols, Toddington Church, 6.30pm24 December Crib Service 3pm Chalgrave Church,24 December Crib Service 4.30pm Toddington Church24 December 'Midnight Mass' 10pm Toddington Church24 December Midnight Mass, 11.15pm Chalgrave Church25 December Christmas Morning, Benefice service 10am Holy Communion, Toddington ChurchIt will be a busy time, but a joyful time. God blessLinda (and Nigel)
Hello EveryoneThis Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, and our usual Sunday morning services will take place:9.30am Holy Communion Service at Chalgrave - led by Rev Nigel Washington11am Holy Communion Service at Toddington - led by Rev Nigel Washingtonand there is Messy Breakfast in Wilkinson Hall at 9.15am too, which is a family time to gather for breakfast, with crafts too.Nigel is covering at Toddington and Chalgrave churches this week so I can cover services at Harlington and Westoning during their vacancy ( a certain irony there!) so I am sorry not to be with you and will miss you, but you will be in safe hands with Nigel.This week's events:NovemberMonday 21st 9.30am Morning Prayer - Toddington ChurchTuesday 22nd 10.30am Knitting Group - Wilkinson HallWednesday 23rd Winter Warmer 10.30am until 3pm with lunches served at 12 noon at Wilkinson HallWednesday 23rd Chalgrave's monthly Pop Up Tea Room 11am until 1pm Tebworth Memorial Hall (with lots of home made cakes and good company)Friday 25th Painting for Pleasure group 10.30am Wilkinson HallFriday 25th Messy Church 3.30-5.30pm Wilkinson HallSaturday 26th November 9am Christmas Bazaar at Wilkinson Hall, followed at 10.30am by Coffee MorningCouncil fun afternoon on the Green and lighting of the Christmas LightsSunday 27 November 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave11am Holy Communion,Toddington1pm Baptism Service ToddingtonLooking ahead: dates for your diaries:29 November Youth group, Wilkinson Hall30 November 7.30pm Dunstable Deanery Meeting1 December 12.30am Funeral of Rita Stares2nd December 7pm Scouts' Carol Service9 December - preview evening for Christmas Tree Festival- Toddington10 and 11 December - Christmas Tree Festival - Toddington11 December - Chalgrave Carols by Candlelight 7pm (note Sunday evening this year)13 December Youth Group 5.30pm Wilkinson Hall14 December local schools' Christmas services at Church14 December Chalgrave Christmas Pop Up Tea room 11am15 December Lower School Christmas service at church16 December Christmas Messy Church17 December Toddington Band Christmas Concert in church pm18 December 9 Lessons and Carols Service, Toddington 6.30pm (unless changed to later in the week tbc)24 December Crib Services: Chalgrave Church 3pm, Toddington Church 4.30pm24 December Midnight Mass Service Toddington 10pm, Chalgrave 11.15pm25 December Benefice Christmas Morning Holy Communion Service 10am ToddingtonHow time flies by! Have a good week, and see you soon,God blessLinda (and Nigel)
Hello EveryoneThis has been a week of sensitive remembering of loved ones who have died. Last Sunday we held special 'In Loving Memory Services' at Toddington and Chalgrave churches and people took time to light candles in memory of loved ones. On Friday, I was fortunate to be invited to two special school Remembrance services: the first at St George's Lower School where each child laid a poppy petal to create a large school poppy, to remember the soldiers who had died. The year four children capably spoke out about the importance of Remembrance day and also sang a beautiful Remembrance Song. Parkfields Middle School kindly invited me to their special Remembrance Service where we all gathered outside to pay our respects, with class wreaths being laid, a two minute silence observed, poems read by students, and the Last Post played ably by a student. It was a moving service and such a privilege for me to attend both of these special services with our young people. Sadly, I was not able to attend the community service on the Village Green this year, which was at the same time, but it was rather lovely to hear the bugle sound in the distance on the Green as the school's Last Post fell silent, reminding us of being united in the act of Remembrance. This Sunday, our local village communities will gather on Toddington Green at 10.40am and at Tebworth Memorial Hall at 3pm for their respective Remembrance services with the British Legion, and wreaths of poppies will be laid in solemn tribute to local soldiers who gave their lives so selflessly in the different wars. Do please join us if you can.There will also be a short time of remembering with the laying of a wreath at Chalgrave Church memorial at 2pm All welcome. This week saw the successful launch of Wednesday Winter Warmer gathering at Wilkinson Hall from 10.30 to 3pm. This will take place on Wednesdays leading up to Christmas. All Welcome. There will be other events too. This Sunday's Services.. Remembrance Sunday9.30am Toddington and Chalgrave benefice Holy Communion Service at St George of England Church, Toddington 10.40am Remembrance Service on the Green at Toddington2pm a short time of Remembrance - Chalgrave Church3pm Tebworth, Wingfield and Chalgrave Remembrance Service, Tebworth Memorial HallThis week's services and events:Monday9.30am Morning Prayer - Toddington ChurchSeated Pilates 2pm- Wilkinson HallTuesdayKnitting Group 10.30am- Wiilkinson HallWednesdayWednesday Winter Warmer 10.30-3pm Wilkinson HallThursdayFellowship Group 2.4pm - Wilkinson HallToddington PCC Meeting 7pmFriday Painting for Pleasure 10.30am- Wilkinson HallDates for Diary: Chalgrave next Pop Up Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall is on Wednesday 23 November.The Funeral for Rita Stares will be at Toddington Church, 12.30pm on Thursday 1st December. The service will also be live streamed (link to be released later)As we reflect on the week ahead, let us take time each day not only to remember and to give thanks for our lives today but to bear in mind the words of Kohima Epitaph which we will hear tomorrow: ' When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today'Let us in these challenging times, consider what we can do today to make someone's tomorrow better. God blessLinda
