Hello Everyone I hope you have had a good week. Nigel and I enjoyed a few days in peaceful and beautiful Norfolk, walking at Blakeney and Cley near Sea. - where I got doused by a freak wave! We visited Blickling Hall on our journey and within minutes were met by a call of 'Linda and Nigel Washington!' Rev Nick Bell who retired some years before to Norfolk from St Mary's Luton, had spotted us. It was good to catch up and to hear of his joys in retirement. Last Sunday Nigel and I attended two moving and beautiful retirement services for Nigel at Harlington and Tingrith and this Sunday heralds Nigel's retirement from Westoning Benefice after 22 years service so, at the point of meeting Nick, we were enwrapped in a world of our own. Could it be that it was a God appointment to meet Nick, who looks so well, and is loving his new ministry as Chaplain to the local Rugby club. He was so full of joy and encouragement. It was very special to see someone whom we respect and miss, looking so well and vibrant with his family and grandchildren. We had two very special days away. The below is a quote from Nigel's letter to his benefice: 'Well all too quickly for my liking the 4th September has come around and I am called to retire as Vicar of Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington. It is all quite surreal and sad but I trust in a God who has good plans for us all and no doubt there will be exciting days ahead. Thank you one and all for the support you have given to the Church and to me in my ministry. It has been a privilege to share the good news of Jesus with you. Please click the below link on Sunday 4th September 2022 from about 10.35am https://vimeo.com/event/2377866 When 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. I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow. Please join me if you can. Every blessing Nigel Revd Canon Nigel Washington Rector of Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington' Hopefully, it won't be the last time we see Nigel at Toddington and Chalgrave Benefice. He will still be continuing as a minister within the diocese but on a 'permission to officiate' basis. He will need some time to rest and adjust and space to discern where/what God is calling him to pick up next. This week's services and events: Saturday 3 September 2.00 – 4.00 pm Fete in Toddington Church Grounds with stalls, bouncy castle and soft play area. Sunday 4 September 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave - Linda and Malcolm 11.00 am Morning Praise Service, Toddington - Malcolm Monday 5 September 9.30 am Morning Prayer service, Toddington Church Tuesday 6 September Knitting Group 10.30 am, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 8 September 2.00 pm Afternoon With Friends, Wilkinson Hall Friday 9 September 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 10 September 9.30 am Cake stall on the Green Future services and events Funeral of John Bryant 10.30 am Monday 12 September in church Funeral of Ivor Bain 1.00 pm Wednesday 14 September in church The church will then be closed to the public from 2.30 pm on 14 September until the Petal and Purl preview evening on 16 September so the church displays can be installed for the special Petal and Purl festival. Petal and Purl festival 16 September preview evening.. tickets from Dee. Petal and Purl festival 17 and 18 September open days for viewing Sunday 18 September - a special celebration service at 6.00pm to celebrate Toddington Church's 800 years anniversary which is being marked by the beautiful Petal and Purl festival and to give thanks for the hard work of all who serve, with the Quintet Choir offering a couple of special songs to mark the occasion. The service will also mark a moment in history when the Archdeacon will license me as Rector to Toddington and Chalgrave churches (instead of Priest in Charge). Do please come and join us to give thanks for our churches and to pray for our future ministry. Wishing you every blessing Linda
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 Everyone We hope you are keeping well and enjoying these summer days... even if they are rather parched. Nigel and I managed a few days by the sea this week, although the phone lines and emails kept us busy it was good to breathe the sea air and walk. I had a lovely day on Thursday, travelling on the open top bus to Swanage and then walking back on the coastal path towards Sandbanks. The scenery was beautiful. How amazing our God is! As I write this email, I realise that it will be one of Nigel and my last emails to the Quintet of Churches. I will continue to email Toddington and Chalgrave churches, but next Sunday will be Nigel's last services at Harlington (9.30 am) and at Tingrith (3.00 pm) followed by his final service at Westoning on Sunday 4th September (11.00 am) as his retirement from the benefice looms ever closer. It is a time of mixed emotions for us both, as a beautiful season of ministry at these churches draws to a close for Nigel. He has served at Westoning and Tingrith churches for 22 years, since being ordained as a minister, and at Harlington since 2017.. although these villages also contain many more memories for him of his days as a Teacher and Head of Sixth form at Harlington Upper School. So hard to step away from you all. We will pray for you over these coming months for a smooth process to replace him and for the right minister to come forth to lead the parishes forward into a brand new, blessed season. Nigel will miss you deeply. Thank you for being such a wonderful flock and for the many special years together. He will cherish the memories and is keen for friendships to endure. This week's Services and Events from Sunday 21 August. 9.30 am Morning Praise Tingrith - Steve 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave - Linda (in church) 9.30 am Family All Age Service, Harlington - Nigel. Topic: the whole armour of God. 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington - Linda and Malcolm 11.00 am Family Communion and Baptism service, Westoning - Nigel Monday 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington 11.00 am Funeral of Christopher Huckle, Toddington Tuesday 10.00 am Westcaf, Westoning Village Hall 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 1.00 pm Sewing Bee, Westoning Village Hall Wednesday 10.00 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion Service 11.00 am Funeral of Jim Bunce, Toddington Church Thursday Friday Painting for Pleasure 10.30 am - Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Messy Church, 3.30pm, Wilkinson Hall TBC Future Dates for your diaries: Funeral of Derek Gordon, Toddington Church Thursday 1st September,11am 1st September Toddington PCC 7.30pm 2nd September 11am Funeral of Frances Barford. Harlington Church 3rd September Toddington Village Fete 10 September- all churches.. Historic Churches Bike Ride (drive or walk) fundraising event. Sponsorship forms available in church. 11 September 2pm Baptism Harlington Church 14 September Chalgrave PCC 17 and 18 September Petal and Purl festival - flower arrangements and knitted scenes to Celebrate 800 years of St George of England, Toddington. Preview Evening 16 September. (Poster to be forwarded separately as a large file) 18 September 6.00 pm - a celebration service to mark a new season for St George of England Church (lifting of 'suspension of living' - Linda to be made Rector) 20 September 10.00am onwards.. Safeguarding Training for PCC members, Rectory Toddington 24 September 6.00 pm Harvest supper for Toddington and Chalgrave, Wilkinson Hall 25 September Harvest Services at Toddington, Chalgrave, Westoning and Tingrith churches. 25 September – 2.00 pm wedding Harlington Church 28 September 11.00 am – 2.00 pm - Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room 30 September 3.30 pm Messy Church Toddington (continuing on 4th Friday of each month) 2 October 9.30 am Harlington Church Harvest Festival service. Sorry about the long list of dates and particularly with such a Toddington/Chalgrave focus. We hope Westoning Benefice will keep the churches informed of their events in the future so we can maintain the close Quintet links which have developed. Regular events have not been listed on the diary but are expected to continue. We send you our love and prayers Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone The sky is blue, the sun has been beating down and Summer is in full swing. The fields are being harvested and fruit is ripening on the trees. It is a lovely time of year, but also a strange time of year.. village life calms and people head away on holiday as the routine and momentum changes. It is important to rest and we hope that you all will find time to have rest and fulfilment. It was a joy to host Messy Church families at Toddington this Friday. We had no idea if anyone would come.. and suddenly children appeared along the path, with their parents, and we enjoyed a lovely time together with 24 children making crafts about Zacchaeus and munching home-made pizzas for tea. Ploughman's lunches were also a special time with Wilkinson Hall abuzz with happy chatter. Within the seasons of life's changes, Nigel is now in his final month before his retirement as Vicar of the Benefice of Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington churches - which is a poignant stage, with the last one of everything approaching (including for Nigel a last special wedding at Harlington). This all adds to it being a 'strange time of year'. This week's services and events from Sunday 7th August 8.00 am Harlington, BCP Holy Communion - Nigel 9.30 am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Linda 9.30 am Harlington Church, Holy Communion - Nigel 9.30 am Tingrith Church, Morning Prayer - Steve 11.00 am Toddington Church, Holy Communion, with baptisms during the service - Linda 11.00 am Westoning Church, Holy Communion, Nigel 12.00 noon – 2.00 pm Tingrith Church, Cheese and Wine Lunch, Tickets £5 Monday 8th August Morning Prayer Toddington Church 9.30 am Seated Pilates 2.00 pm Tuesday 9th August Westcaf 10.00 am – 12.00 noon, and Sewing Bee 1.00 – 3.00 pm Westoning Village Hall Knitting Group 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Wednesday 10th August Holy Communion Service, Harlington Church 10.00 am Thursday 11th August 2.00 – 4.00 pm Afternoon with friends, Wilkinson Hall Friday 12th August Painting For Pleasure group, 10.30 am Wilkinson Hall Wedding rehearsal Toddington Church 1.30 pm Saturday 13th August 9.30 am Stall on the Green (cakes, jams etc), Toddington 11.00 am Westoning Church, baby thanksgiving service Sunday 14th Services 9.30 am Holy Communion - Chalgrave 9.30 am Holy Communion Harlington 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington 11.00 am Holy Communion, Westoning 2.00 pm Wedding - Toddington Church We send our love and prayers to you all. God bless Linda and Nigel
