Hello Everyone How quickly the weeks roll by. This week is half -term for the schools and I wish everyone a really good rest after such a busy start to this Academic year. Nigel and I ‘eased’ back into ministry on Monday after a lovely break. It was good to breathe some sea air and to have chance to worship in a few different churches... to listen and to receive, rather than to prepare. We visited York, for a few days first and enjoyed attending a couple of Evensong services at the Minster.. resting back to listen to the special choirs, and then we headed home via Lincoln, and went to Evensong at the Cathedral. We enjoyed the ambiance and the music and also the sense of prayer which has been laid down by faithful folk over so many years. We headed south for the rest of the holiday and I enjoyed going to Sunday morning services at a local church, with a choir supporting the singing, and a thought provoking sermon both weeks. It is good to be able to listen and mull over the Bible passages, without having to be the one preparing a sermon! But the holiday is over, and we are now back in full swing. The week has been busy with a school assembly and Pop Up Tea Room at Chalgrave on Wednesday – with lots of folk and wonderful refreshments, then we had a wonderful Messy Church yesterday with about 30 children (and their parents), enjoying making crafts about ‘Light’ after a story introduction by Malcolm, with the children finishing with a hot tea and cake. On Thursday, Toddington Church hosted the funeral of Catherine Stringer. The village turned out in force to pay their respects to a special lady who had served them for 36 years at the Social Club and who was much loved. Our thoughts and prayers reach out to Matey, Rachael, Robert, Matty and Caroline, and the family. Today, Toddington Community Fridge was well attended again, with a wonderful selection of foods provided from Tesco, Waitrose and Marks and Spencer and contributions by others too. Thank you so much for your support. As we look ahead to next week and future events, I suspect the weeks will continue to be busy! Next Sunday, 3rd November, we hold In Loving Memory Services at both Chalgrave Church (2pm) and Toddington Church (4pm) to remember loved ones who have died. If you would like to remember your special loved ones who are not with us any more (regardless of where they lived), do please either add their names to the list in church, or email me their names and so I can read them out in the ILM service. I would encourage you to attend please, so you can light a candle in their memory. It’s not the same if I read out a list of names and there is no-one there to remember them personally. The following Sunday will be Remembrance Sunday (10th November). After a 9.30am Benefice Service at Toddington Church, we will move out to the Green to join the Royal British Legion village act of Remembrance. At Chalgrave Church we will have a 2pm short Service of Remembrance in the church grounds, at the memorial cross, followed by a 3pm Remembrance Service at Chalgrave Memorial Hall. On Tuesday, Youth Group will be meeting at 5.45pm at Wilkinson Hall. The group is for children 9+ and is open to all children, and it would be great to see some of our previous Messy Church older children coming along, if they can. All Welcome. Do please tell your friends that it is on. Sunday Services 27 October (Bible Sunday) 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Monday 28th 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2pm Pilates, Wilkinson Hall Tuesday 29th 10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45pm Youth Group (please come dressed for a walk) Wednesday 30th Church working party, Toddington Church TBC by Dee Thursday 31st Bible Study Group (Post Alpha), Rachel and Doug’s house 7pm Friday 1st Nov 10.30am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 2nd Nov 9.30am Toddington Community Fridge, Wilkinson Hall Sunday 3rd Nov 11am Benefice Holy Communion Service Toddington Church 2pm In Loving Memory Service, Chalgrave Church 4pm In Loving Memory Service, Toddington Church Other events: Tuesday 5th November, 3pm Toddington PCC, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 7th November Ploughman’s Lunch, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 9th November, 11-4pm Chalgrave Christmas Craft Fayre, Chalgrave Memorial Hall – see photo above 9.30am Saturday 9th November, Toddington Community Fridge 10am Saturday 9th November, Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall Sunday 10th November, 9.30am Benefice Holy Communion, Toddington Church 10.40am Remembrance parade and service on Toddington Green 2pm Remembrance Service, Chalgrave churchyard 3pm Remembrance Service, Chalgrave Memorial Hall. Do get in touch with any concerns or requests for prayer. With love and best wishes Linda Rev Linda Washington Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone How wonderful it has been to see autumnal sunshine today. I hope it lasts for a while without further rain! The leaves are changing on the trees to a beautiful autumnal hue; apples, tomatoes, fruit and vegetables are cropping at the moment, and it will be so wonderful tomorrow to admire the beautiful decorations in church, at our harvest services at All Saints Church Chalgrave, and St George of England Church, Toddington and it will be special to gather for a benefice Harvest Lunch at 12.3 0pm at Wilkinson Hall. Do please let Dee know if you’d like to come. Both churches have been decorated beautifully by lovely helpers. Fresh produce is very welcome tomorrow as part of our thanksgiving to God for His provision and for the Harvest. (Who remembers the old days when we all prepared a shoebox of produce to lay at the altar as our own personal thanks to God?). Nowadays, we also collect tinned and packet longer life foods to distribute to Dunstable Foodbank, which supports families in need in our area. The need is increasing with these colder mornings and the Foodbank shelves are getting emptier, so they are grateful for any contributions please. I understand that tinned pies, meat, fish etc are particularly important this time of year to provide a meal for a family. Fresh produce will also be distributed to a good cause. Thank you so much for anything that you can contribute. It really is appreciated. The ‘Toddington Community Fridge’ continues each Saturday morning at Wilkinson Hall, from 9.30 am to 11.00 am and all are welcome to visit to collect up to 3kg of food per household. It is a sustainability initiative, geared to avoid food waste. Thanks to ‘Flitwick Community Fridge’ and volunteers, the ‘Toddington Community Fridge’ will continue on Saturday mornings going forward, for the foreseeable future. The food we receive comes from local stores in the Flitwick and Ampthill area eg Tesco and Waitrose and is collected by volunteers at Flitwick and transported to us by truck at 9am on a Saturday morning, courtesy of Cllr Andy Snape, Lynn from Tesco, and other volunteers. Whilst we appreciate people may wish to arrive early to ‘get in the queue” we won’t open until 9.30am as we need time to set up and prepare. We have seen some amazing provision over the past weeks. Sadly, today’s supplies were lower than usual, but we are grateful for what we receive and as this is a sustainability initiative some weeks will offer more than others. Thank you for your understanding today. As part of the initiative, volunteers at Toddington have completed food safety and hygiene certificates (cost £12 per person). We are grateful for any cash donations which have been given on a Saturday morning as these will help us cover our training costs and the ongoing cost of transporting the food up to Toddington. Thank you. For information, Flitwick Community Fridge is open daily Monday to Friday at the food hub, Rufus Centre with revised times from Monday 7th October: from 9.30 - 11.30 am and 2.30 - 5.30 pm and Saturdays 9.30 - 11.30am. You can check what is in the fridge each day on Facebook at ‘Flitwick Community Fridge’. Hopefully, the list of dates offered in my last email carried you forth, so you haven’t missed any events. I’ve lots of dates in today’s email for your calendars as I am taking 2 weeks leave from Monday afternoon and probably won’t issue another general email until I return. Do let me know if I’ve missed anything below or of any updates, and I will check my emails while away in case there is anything urgent. Sunday Services tomorrow, 6th October 9.30 am Harvest Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am, Harvest Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church 12.30pm Harvest Benefice Lunch, Wilkinson Hall Services and Events this week Monday 7th October 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church, weekly 1.00 pm Funeral of Kathleen Ward, Oakfield Gardens Crematorium, Steppingley. Tuesday 8th October 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, weekly Thursday 10th October 2.00 pm Afternoon with Friends Friday 11th October 10.30am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 12th October 9.30 – 11.00 am Toddington Community Fridge, Wilkinson Hall 10.00 am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall Sunday 13th October No Service at Chalgrave Church, 11.00 am Benefice, Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church - led by Rev Roger Wood Sunday 20th October 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church, led by Rev Anne Barker 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church, led by Rev Anne Barker 6.00 pm Evensong, led by Malcolm Curtis Additional Upcoming Events: Mondays 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church, weekly Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall, 14 and 28th October, 11 and 25 November, 2.00 pm Tuesdays Knitting group, 10.3 0am each Tuesday, Wikinson Hall Youth Group: 15th and 29th October, Wilkinson Hall, 5.45pm to 7.15pm Wednesdays Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall, 23 October, 27 November, and 18 December, 11-1.00 pm Weekly church grounds or cleaning working parties.. please speak to Dee Thursdays St George’s Fellowship, Wilkinson Hall 17 October, 21 November, 2.00 pm Ploughman’s Meal, 7 November, 12.00 noon, Wilkinson Hall Afternoon With Friends, 14 November, Wilkinson Hall, 2.00 pm Church Cleaning Parties, Chalgrave Church .. please speak to Sandy. Fridays Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall, 10.30 am, weekly Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall, 25 October and 22 November, 3.30 - 5.30 pm Beetle Drive, Wilkinson Hall, 7.30 pm (organised by the Friends of St Georges’s) Saturdays Toddington Community Fridge, Wilkinson Hall, 9.30 – 11.00 am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall, 9 November 10.00 am Chalgrave Christmas Craft Fayre, Tebworth Memorial Hall, 9. November 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Christmas Tree Festival: Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December Toddington Church Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church 6.00 pm Evensong 17 November In Loving Memory Services, November 3 – times tbc Remembrance Sunday 10 November Toddington 9.30 am Holy Communion Remembrance Services on Toddington Green from 10.45 am Remembrance Service at Chalgrave Church, 2.00 pm Remembrance Service at Tebworth Memorial Hall, 3.00 pm 15 December, visiting speaker Gram Seed, special informal service 2.00 pm, Toddington Church With every good wish Linda Rev Linda Washington Rector of Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone Just a quick diary date email today to flag up different upcoming services and events. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved in the Toddington Community Fridge and Coffee Morning this morning, and to anyone who set out today to raise funds for the Historic Church's Trust, and Chalgrave and Toddington Churches, by being sponsored to cycle, drive, or walk to as many different churches as possible today. Your hard work and your time and effort is much appreciated. This Sunday's services: 9.30 am Holy Communion Service at Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service at Toddington Church, with Sophia's baptism. 6.00 pm Evensong Toddington Church Services and events this coming week: Monday 16th Morning Prayer, Toddington Church, 9.30 am 3.00 pm Messy Church Planning meeting Tuesday 17th 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall (and each Tuesday) 2.00 pm Toddington PCC Meeting, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall (and on Tuesdays 1, 15 and 29 October) Wednesday 18th 9.30 am Church cleaning, Toddington Church Thursday 19th 2.00 pm St George's Fellowship, Wilkinson Hall 4.00 pm Chalgrave PCC meeting at the Calders Friday 20th 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall (and each Friday) 10.00 – 4.00 pm First Aid Course (for those already registered) Saturday 21st, 28th September and 5, 12, 19, 26 October 9.30 – 11.00 am Toddington Community Fridge, Wilkinson Hall Sunday 22nd and 29th September 9.3 0am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church Upcoming Events: Monday 23 September Seated Pilates class, 2.00 pm Wilkinson Hall Wednesdays 25 September and 23 October Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11.00 am – 1.00 pm Thursday 26 September 7.00 pm The Bible Course, The Rectory (or Rachel and Doug's) Fridays 27 September and 25 October 3.30 pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 3 October and 7 November Ploughman's Lunch 12.00 noon, Wilkinson Hall Friday 4 October A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Norman Costin, Chalgrave Church Sunday 6th October Harvest Festival Services:- 9.30 am at Chalgrave and 11.00 am at Toddington Churches Saturdays 12 October and 9 November 10.00 am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 9 November Chalgrave Christmas Craft Fayre, Tebworth Memorial Hall Sunday 10 November Remembrance Sunday With best wishes Linda Rev Linda Washington Rector
Hello EveryoneTomorrow is the first day of September. Is anyone else feeling where did the Summer go? Where did the last year go? How quickly the seasons fly by? I seem to have been in a whirl of organising First Aid training courses and Food Hygiene Courses today to make sure those of us who need to be trained are, and on Monday I attend a school staff and governor safeguarding course to prepare for the demands of the new school Academic year. How much valuable time is applied by volunteers, and others, to training, to make sure we are all safe! Thank you everyone for your commitment and time.Last weekend, volunteers created scarecrows, and baked cakes, for this year’s scarecrow festival and although the village seemed generally very quiet with folks grabbing a last chance to get away during the bank holiday, we were very pleased to raise £300 from the weekend’s efforts. Bart and Marg Simpson were very eye-catching and another lady scarecrow glistened as she swung on a swing under a tree. You may have noticed a scarecrow man sitting in his chair in the church grounds looking at a wonderful array of craft minibeast bugs created by the children at the Art and Craft Wednesdays during the holidays. Such talent. Thank you all who contributed in any way.Toddington Community Fridge continues to provide a happy service with people queuing early for the 9.30am start. Both last week and this, Flitwick Community Fridge have delivered crates if fresh food and bread, making a wonderful display of sustainable foods for people to gather up. There is no charge for the food which is amazing as the range is extensive and truly appreciated by so many. We have just begun to accept a voluntary donation of 50p or a £1 each week, from anyone who would like to contribute (no obligation), to help fund the transport costs from Flitwick and the cost of the Food and Hygiene courses which we need to undertake. I’ve attached a few photos of this week’s wonderful array of foods. Thank you to all those who provide and support this wonderful initiative.The Historic Churches Bike, Hike or Drive day to visit as many churches as possible during a day, and to be sponsored for your effort, will take place on Saturday 14th September. Please let Dee or Sandy know if you are happy to take part to raise funds for this important church charity, which returns 50% of the money raised to the churches and retains 50% to fund grant applications by churches, in times of need. Please also let Sandy or Dee know if you are willing to sponsor anyone taking part, Thank you!Services this Sunday 1st September9.30am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church11am Holy Communion Service, Toddington ChurchServices next Sunday 8 September11am Benefice Morning Praise service led by Malcolm Curtis (kindly covering for me)Services and events from Monday 2nd SeptemberMonday 2nd9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington ChurchTuesday 3rd10.30am Knitting group Wilkinson HallThursday 5th12 noon Ploughman’s Lunch, Wilkinson HallFriday 6th10.30am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson HallSaturday 7th9.30am Toddington Community Fridge, Wilkinson HallSunday 8th11am Benefice Morning Praise Service, Toddington ChurchA few upcoming dates for your diary:At Wilkinson Hall, Toddington:Youth group will meet on Tuesdays 17th September, 1st, 15th and 29th October, 12th and 26th November at Wilkinson Hall, 5.45pm Messy Church will meet on Fridays 27th September, 25th October, and 22nd NovemberPloughmans lunches will meet on Thursdays 5th September, 3rd October, 7th NovemberCoffee mornings will meet at 10am on Saturdays 14th September, 12 October, 9 NovemberEvensong: 6pm Sundays 15th September, 20 October, 17 NovemberThe Bible Course: 7pm Thursdays 12th and 26th September, The Rectory, ToddingtonChalgrave Church events at Tebworth Memorial HallPop Up Tea Rooms: 25th September, 23rd October, 27th November Christmas Craft Fayre: 9th November The Friends of St George’s Church Toddington will be hosting a Beetle Drive on Friday 18th October at 7.30pm. Poster attached.Wishing you all a very good week and a wonderful September!With love and prayersLindaRev Linda Washington07715 603557
