Hello Everyone What a lovely sunny start to the bank holiday weekend and to the upcoming school half-term holidays. I do hope the weather lasts and families have a good time together. I know several families are really looking forward to a break. It has been quite a week: Chelsea Flower Show has been a bright light this week, giving many folks lots of enjoyment as they browse beautiful garden displays – natural planting is the key this year to enhance nature and the environment. Beauty and enjoyment to inspire us in our gardens in an otherwise heavy week. Torrential rainstorms caused flooding and, in the midst of one of these storms, a General Election was announced. The Sub-postmasters continue their fight for justice and compensation, and families are understandably keen to get away for a break and some sunshine. Let’s hope they get the rest they crave. Food and hospitality have been a church focus again this week. Wednesday’s Pop-Up Tea Room at Chalgrave was very busy (despite the heavy rain and flooding) and there was another impressive offering of cakes and savouries and a fulsome plant stall raising funds for the Village Hall and for the Church. On Tuesday, Youth Group members made their own pizzas... whilst thinking about Jesus being a firm foundation for our lives; On Thursday we shared a lovely bring and share final Alpha meal with everyone contributing in some way. It was a special finale to what has been a meaningful course. Keen not to stop meeting together, we have arranged to meet again on Thursday 13th June. Messy Church was also ‘buzzing’ yesterday, thinking about ‘being kind’ or should I say ‘Bee-ing Kind’ as we had a surprise visit from Buzby the Bee. And now, as the sun continues to shine, we look forward to a special Garden Party organised by the Friends of St Georges, in Rachel’s lovely garden, this evening. Church family is so important. Thank you all for all that you contribute, in so many ways. Do join us if you can – all are very welcome. Looking ahead, there will be a D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration service, with the RBL, at Toddington church on Thursday 6 June at 8pm to remember and to give thanks for the bravery of all who were involved. At 8.45pm we are invited to gather on The Green for the lighting of the Beacon at 9.15pm. D-Day events continue on Saturday 8th June with entertainment organised by the RBL with a further lighting of the Beacon. If you have any special memories of family or people involved in the D-Day events, we are keen to remember them in our 8pm service in church on 6 June. Do please get in touch with me, or John Wood, with your memories. Chalgrave Church scaffolding is due to be struck on Tuesday as the restoration work is almost complete. Thank you so much Mick Bunning for your skill and dedication to complete this so beautifully and to our church architect Michael Dales for your guidance. We look forward to worshipping in the full body of the church, safely able to look up at the restored roofing beams. As Summer approaches there are other events in the offing, including the 'Friends' Open Gardens event on 6 and 7 July. Thank you to all who may be considering opening their garden this year. It is such a pleasure to have opportunity to come and appreciate all your hard work and to be inspired. We also look forward to the Village Fete on 22nd June. This Sunday's Services and upcoming Events: 9.30 am Holy Communion service at Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, with a baptism, at Toddington Church. Monday 27th May: Bank Holiday Tuesday 28th May 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 30th May 11am Funeral of Michael Graves, Toddington Church Friday 31st May 10.30am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall June 6th 12.00 noon Ploughman's Lunch, Wilkinson Hall 8.00 pm D-Day Service, Toddington Church 8.45 pm, RBL gathering on The Green for commemorative service and lighting of the Beacon at 9.15 pm June 8th 10.00 am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall Thinking of you all. Look after yourselves. God bless Linda Rector of Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone What a lovely day it has been today - such a great day for gardening. As I worked pulling up weeds, the birds sang so beautifully and a blackbird hopped along the lawn looking for insects and a quick meal. I couldn't resist putting on the bird identifier app for a few minutes to try to identify the birdsongs and it identified: a Eurasian Blackbird, a House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blue Tit, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Robin, Common Chaffinch and a Eurasian Wren in just eleven minutes of recording. How wonderful Spring time is. So much is bursting into life. This week, youth group went for a walk of discovery across the fields, with Bridget guiding what to look out for. The Alpha course met for the Holy Spirit day last weekend, and on Thursday and now sadly look towards out final session this week. We will have a bring and share meal and a gentle time of reflection about the course.. which has been very special these past weeks. The year four children from the lower school headed off for their three day adventure at Aston Clinton - the first time many of them had been away overnight so there will have been one or two concerned adults.. but I have no doubt that the children will have had a wonderful time and will be preparing for their move up to Middle School in September. The seasons of life move forward so quickly! The church season moves forward too. This Sunday, it is Pentecost Sunday - the day when we remember how the Holy Spirit came in Jerusalem, 40 days after Jesus' Ascension into Heaven. Pentecost was a day of energy, fire and revelation to so many people. Thousands came to faith and were baptised. People spoke in different languages with understanding between them. It was a time of revelation and of unity in the one Spirit. The Holy Spirit.. the Counsellor, the Comforter, was sent by Jesus to guide us and support us. It was the birth of the church.. so tomorrow we celebrate the church's birthday! Many Christians across the world have been uniting in prayer these past 2 weeks, praying for the world and for people to know Jesus. There have been exciting movements of faith, with the Gen Z generation, particularly turning to God. So please join is in praying for the world at this time. May Thy Kingdom Come, O Lord! Pentecost Sunday Services: 19th May 2024 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church, 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church Upcoming services and events Monday 20th 9.30 am Monday, Morning Prayer Toddington Church Tuesday 21st 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 22nd 9.30 am Working Party, Toddington Church (tbc by Dee) 11.00 am- 1.00 pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall Thursday 23rd 6.30 pm Concluding Alpha session, the Rectory Friday 24th 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall 3.30 pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall (see poster) Saturday 25th 7.00 pm Garden Party, organised by Friends of St George's. (See poster), tickets £10 in advance. Wishing you a blessed week With love and prayers Linda Rev Linda Washington Rector
Hello Everyone I wonder if you saw the Northern lights display on Friday night? Sadly, I didn't. I was absorbed working at the computer with the curtains closed and didn't pick up my phone in time to see our neighbour's message.. are you awake, come outside! And what a sight I missed. Just 45 minutes too late, sadly. Then, Facebook lit up with so many views from across the country, Toddington, Barton, Renhold and Dorset.. all with stunning pictures of beautiful dancing pink lights filling the skies with people saying they never thought they would see the Northern Lights! It has been a dream of mine to head off North to see the Northern Lights.. and here I was, shut away behind the curtains when there was the most beautiful light show on our doorsteps. Maybe it will return later.. or tomorrow. I hope so. I wonder what it was like on Ascension Day all those years ago when Jesus Ascended into Heaven?! That must have been the most incredible light show too! Last Thursday, Ascension Day was remembered in the Church Calendar. Many years ago, this day was so important, schools would attend a morning Ascension Day church service and then have a half day holiday to remember Jesus. Now, many people will not have heard of Ascension Day and will not know its significance. Ascension Day falls 40 days after Jesus' resurrection at Easter. During this time, Jesus lived on earth for 40 days and met with over 500 people. He walked with his disciples, talked with them, ate with them, cooked fish for them by the Sea of Galilee, reassured them and prepared them for his departure. In the Church Calendar we now look forward from Ascension Day to the Day of Pentecost. This is the time when the disciples waited patiently for the gift of the Holy Spirit.. the Counsellor, the Comforter, who Jesus promised would come to guide us, so we would not be alone, after He had ascended into Heaven. Pentecost Sunday is in on May 19th. As a church, there is a worldwide calling to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to refresh the people and the land. Last Monday and Tuesday, Nigel and I attended the Leadership Conference at the Royal Albert Hall, with visiting speakers from across the world. It was a coming together of leaders from many different nations, with wonderfully rousing worship and testimonies of what God has done in people's lives, bringing healing, and a desire to tell others about Jesus.. particularly among Generation Z - young people aged between about 15 to 25 years of age, who are experiencing an incredible wave of healings and spiritual hunger, combined with prayerful dedication to Jesus. (See attached article from Peter Greig who has seen many of these events). College campuses in America have been swiftly organising conferences to meet the demand from students to learn more about Jesus. Students on these campuses are praying and worshipping for hours and there have been so many baptisms the leader reported that they are still baptising well past midnight..as young people want to dedicate their lives to Jesus. This is happening in France and many other countries and also in England. The word 'revival' was mentioned many times and at the Conference and we leaders were also called to repent and to pray. and the Albert Hall became a wonderful place of prayer. The movements to prayer begin with a time of repentance and confession.. saying sorry to God for those things that have separated folks from Him. Then cleansed, and in many cases, newly baptised, there has come an energy and a hunger to know more.. a sense of not wanting to miss the moment, of needing to open the curtains not to miss the light show, and to tell others so they don't miss it either! Here is a link to the Church's call to join the global call to prayer for 'Thy Kingdom to Come' Lord. The Church of England 5 May at 16:47 · Thy Kingdom Come is a global wave of prayer that takes place between Ascension and Pentecost. Find various ways you can journey through all 11 days of prayer at cofe.io/ThyKingdomCome. At a time of such suffering, sickness and need, with wars and turbulent times.. let us join together in prayer for our young people, our children, our families, friends and colleagues, and for the world; that all people may know the love of Jesus. May crime and wars cease, may drug and people trafficking and addictions cease, may abuse and violence cease, and may we all live in peace together, filled and guided by the Holy Spirit. We heard so many stories of inspirational change, and of miracles at the Conference. The Alpha course has changed so many lives. The Light of Christ is real and the energy of the light show is tangible. Be encouraged! Please pray.. 'thy KIngdom come, O Lord'. This Sunday's Services: May 12th 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church (followed by this year's APCM meeting, with cuppas and cake!) Do join us! 11.00 am Morning Worship, Toddington Church - led by Malcolm Other upcoming events and services: Monday 13th May 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 14th May 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 15th May 9.30 am working party for Church grounds, Toddington Church? (Dee to confirm) 7.00 pm Toddington Annual Parochial Church Meeting, Toddington Church Thursday 16th May 2.00 pm St George's Fellowship, Wilkinson Hall Friday 17th May 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall Sunday 19th May 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church I have attached a copy of What's On in May with information about other upcoming events to pop in your diaries. If you would be willing to open your garden this year for Open Gardens Weekend in July, please contact Sue Ballinger, Dee or Fran. Tickets for the Garden Party also available from them as per attached poster. Thank you so much for all your love, prayer and support. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone At last we have had some sunshine today. How welcome it was after so many days of rain. I hope it continues for this bank holiday weekend and beyond... we could certainly do with the sunshine and warmth. The restoration work at Chalgrave Church is still underway in the Chancel and thankfully, the diocese have quickly given permission for work to proceed on the recently discovered decaying beam, which means it can be addressed while the scaffolding is still in place. Toddington Youth Group and Ploughman's lunch went well and thank you so much to all who helped for these events. It was wonderful to have Bishop Richard and his wife Helen with us last week for both Chalgrave and Toddington services and especially for the Confirmation service at Toddington, which he kindly offered to lead, despite having another big Confirmation service in Dunstable later that day. Folks very much appreciated their visit and the conversations after the service over a cuppa, and It was lovely to share in the special moment of Confirmation of three members of the congregation at Toddington This week is a little calmer (I hope!) although Nigel and I are off to London for the Leadership Conference at the Albert Hall which will be rather busy.. but hopefully also fun. This Sunday's Services: 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church This Week's Events: Monday 6th May - Bank holiday (no church services or events) Tuesday 7th May : Knitting Group at 10.30am Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 8th May: Toddington Church Cleaning - more information from Dee Thursday 9th May: Afternoon with Friends 2pm Wilkinson Hall Thursday 9th May: Evening Alpha 6.30pm at the Rectory: This week's topic: How Can I Resist Evil? Friday 10th May: Painting for Pleasure group 10.30am Wilkinson Hall Saturday 11th May: Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Saturday 11th May: Alpha Holy Spirit Awareness Day, 10.30 - 3.30pm, The Rectory. Sunday 12th May: 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church, followed by Annual Parochial Church Meeting 11.00 am Service, Toddington Church Wednesday 15th May Toddington Annual Parochial Church Meeting, Toddington Church, 7.00 pm Please continue to hold young Harrison and his family in your prayers. There is a recent update about his condition on gofundme uk Harrison Blanchflower. Harrison is still extremely poorly. Please pray for his healing. Have a special weekend Best wishes Linda Rector, Toddington and Chalgrave
