Hello Everyone What a beautifully sunny autumnal afternoon this has been. I hope you are managing to enjoy some sunshine and have emerged from the heavy rains ok. I nearly changed my school assembly theme last Thursday to Noah's Ark as it seemed very fitting after the storms the night before!! But like Noah's Ark, the sun came out and there have also been some splendid rainbow sightings. So as our spirits rise with the warmth of the sun, so we can share God's hope and encouragement that better days are ahead. Many people will be reassured this week that the rate of inflation is down (albeit slightly) and we pray that souring costs will settle and families' and business' finances will stabilise. It is heartbreaking to hear stories about families' struggles to put food on their tables, and of the huge number of families on Universal Credit who are struggling to buy food for the month, whilst other bills are so high. Food banks are experiencing a huge uptake in demand for food, which includes families where both parents are in work. With this in mind, our harvest services next week will be collecting food for the foodbanks, and fresh fruit and vegetables for local families and for the Noah project which provides meals for the homeless. It seems sensible, going forward, for the church to become a resource hub for offerings of home grown produce - especially as many families are struggling to buy fresh fruit and veg. The church building is open each day during daylight hours and we can easily put out a table to receive people's food offerings so others can pop by to select and take food that they need. A bit like recycling to avoid waste. We will be decorating the churches for harvest next Saturday morning and are happy to receive any harvest donations that morning, or during the morning Harvest services. We hope you will be able to share one of the services with us.. and please invite a friend too! The Harvest Supper will be on Saturday 30th September at 5.00 pm. All Welcome, but please let Sandy or Dee know you are coming for catering numbers (see attached letter). Messy Church is on this Friday 29th September at 3.30 pm and will have a harvest theme for crafts. It will be wonderful to welcome our families back after the Summer holiday break. Youth Group met again this week and we had a happy time. Thank you to everyone who has been along to an event this week or who has helped cater, including the MacMillan afternoon tea on Thursday. We look forward to the return of the Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room this Wednesday... always lots of wonderful cake available there too. This Sunday's Services: 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Events this week: Monday 25th September Morning Prayer 9.30am 2.00 pm seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall Tuesday 26th September 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 27th September 11.00 am - 1.00 pm Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room at Tebworth Memorial Hall Working Party in the grounds, Toddington church 10.30 am Thursday 28th September A Rest day! Friday 29th September 10.30 am Painting for pleasure, Wilkinson Hall 12.00 noon Funeral - David Gadsden, Toddington Church 3.30 pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 30th September During the morning - decorate the churches for harvest (please link with Dee or Sandy for more information -(see attached letter) 5pm Benefice Harvest Supper - Wilkinson Hall Sunday 1st October 9.30 am Special Harvest Community Service with Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Special Harvest Community Service with Holy Communion, Toddington Church Have a good week. We look forward to seeing you soon. Best wishes Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave parishes
Hello Everyone What lovely weather this week, offering an extension to Summer, but it sounds as if Autumn is now on its way with rains forecast. Nigel and I have enjoyed a few days by the sea this week and have loved the rest, the sunshine and the beauty of the area. I hope your week has gone well. Thank you to all who have been involved in helping at church in any way this week. We are so grateful for your help. 17 September, Sunday's services; 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church - Linda and Nigel 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church - Linda and Nigel 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church - Malcolm This week's events: Monday 18th September 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Tuesday 19th September 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 20th September Toddington Church Grounds, morning Working Party from 10.30 am Thursday 21st September 2.00 pm Macmillan 'coffee afternoon', Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 22nd September 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 23rd September rest day Looking further ahead: Sunday 24th September 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Friday 29th September Funeral of David Gadsden 12.00 noon, Toddington Church 3.30 pm Messy Church - Harvest theme Saturday 30th September am Decorate the church for harvest 5.00 pm Benefice Harvest Supper, Wilkinson Hall - all welcome. Please contact Dee or Sandy for catering numbers. Sunday 1st October Harvest Festival 9.30 am Chalgrave Church Harvest Festival 11.00 am Toddington Church with best wishes Linda Rector, Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone I hope you have managed to stay comfortable today despite the high temperatures, although anyone who took part in the Beds and Herts Historic Churches fundraising event today has my full admiration. To be out cycling, walking or driving in this heat was a real challenge..it was so hot! Tony, Dee and Malcolm took part on behalf of Toddington Church, and Alison on behalf of Chalgrave church.. so if you have a few pence (or £) to spare, please consider sponsoring them in retrospect to help raise funds for our two churches. The sum raised will be split 50/50 between historic churches trust and the sponsoring church.. which means, we gain both ways in the long run as Historic Churches Trust has been generous to us previously in our applications for financial support on church restoration projects. 'Every little helps' to coin a well known phrase. This week the schools returned for the new school year, following the summer holidays.. and how ironic that the sun came out and the temperatures rose just as they returned. It was a pleasure to be back in school this week meeting staff and children, including Mr Darlington the new headteacher at St George's LS. As I walked in on Thursday to lead assembly, I was struck by the beautiful display in the corridor of children's work and how quickly the displays in the Hall had been prepared to reflect the values of the school, with Biblical references. The staff all work so hard and there is a clear sense of purpose amongst children and staff; keen to learn and to teach. I wish them every happiness and success this year and look forward to leading another assembly soon. There was a contented hum of conversation this morning at Toddington Coffee morning as there had been on Thursday at Ploughman's lunch. Youth group met for the first time since the holidays on Tuesday eve and we chatted as we munched pizza, whilst enjoying being back together again. The group meets again on Tuesday 14 and 21st September at 5.45pm at Wilkinson Hall. New members are welcome to come along to join us, especially year 5 children who have just started Parkfields. The first few sessions will give everyone chance to get back together again while we consider the shape of the groups moving forward. Planning seems key at the start of this new 'academic year' as we return to the full buzz of planning for services and events up to Christmas. Can this be possible so soon.. oh yes, it can! We are currently planning dates for the church Christmas Card, events to include in a village newsletter, and generally getting the diary sorted! With PCC meetings this week for each church we looked forward to upcoming events and here are a few thoughts for your diaries: Services for Sunday 10th 9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Events for next week: Monday 11th 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 2pm Seated Pilates, with Jo, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 12th Knitting Group 10.30am, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Youth Group 5.45pm,Wilkinson Hall, from 9yrs upwards Wednesday 13th Church Grounds morning working party (tbc) Thursday 14th Afternoon with Friends 2pm, Wilkinson Hall Friday 15th Painting for Pleasure 10.30am, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 16th Cake stall on the Green 10am Looking further ahead: Tuesday 19th Youth Group - Wilkinson Hall, 5.45pm Thursday 21st Macmillan Afternoon Tea with St George's Fellowship, Wilkinson Hall, 2.30pm Wednesday 27th Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Tebworth Memorial Hall, 11-1pm Friday 29th Messy Church, (for lower school children and younger children, with parents and accompanying adults). Wilkinson Hall, 3.30pm Saturday 30th Harvest Supper 5pm Wilkinson Hall, all welcome but please let Dee or Sandy know for catering numbers. Sunday 1st October Harvest services at Chalgrave at 9.30am and Toddington at 11am And even further ahead: (in addition to the regular weekly and monthly events) Possible Scarecrow festival Saturday 21 October, Toddington Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, Wednesday October 25th, Tebworth Memorial Hall, Sunday 29 October 3pm Toddington Band Concert, Toddington Church Chalgrave Church Christmas Fayre, 4th November - more information to follow. In Loving Memory Services Chalgrave 5th November 9.30am, Toddington Church 3.30pm Remembrance Day Services, 12 November. details tbc Chalgrave Pop Up Tea Room, 22 November, Tebworth Memorial Hall 11am Christmas Tree Festival, Toddington Church 9 and 10 December Christmas Pop Up Tea Room, Wednesday 13th December 11am, Tebworth Memorial Hall Scouts Carol Service Toddington Church, 7pm Friday 15 December. Carols by Candlelight Service Chalgrave Church, Saturday 16 December time tbc. Toddington Band Christmas concert, Toddington Church Sunday 17 December. time tbc Parkfields School Christmas Concerts, Toddington Church, Wednesday 20 December. Other events will be added as they become known Have a great week everyone. God bless Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello all I hope you are all well and have had a good week. The school summer holidays are rapidly drawing to a close and there is a sense of people grabbing the last opportunity to have some family time before the new term begins. It seems Bank Holiday Monday was not the best choice of date this year to host the Scarecrow Festival so a decision has sadly been taken to cancel. There had only been 3 confirmed entries so far so I'm guessing that the inclement weather probably hasn't helped! Maybe September will be sunny and hold more promise, so we'll look ahead to see if anything else is possible. Chalgrave Chancel beam repair was completed the other week and it looked wonderful last Sunday with the spotlight highlighting the beautiful repair. All the scaffolding and supports in the chancel had been cleared away by Mick who carried out the work so efficiently and with great care. It was a delight to see the Chancel restored to its full beauty again. Sadly, we now await identification of the extent of the issue with the Nave beam and investigation of the other beams to make sure they are all secure and wholesome. In the meantime, we will hold our service in the Lady Chapel again this week.. which is rather cosy and lovely. Please look after yourselves this week, enjoy a rest and the remainder of the Summer - which hopefully, after today's showers, will be bright and sunny! Sunday's services for 27th August 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church - Linda 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church - Linda Monday 28th August - Bank Holiday No Morning Prayer - Bank Holiday Tuesday 29th August 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 30th August Working Party, Toddington Church grounds, from 10.00 am Friday 1st September 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group Sunday 3rd September 9.30 am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion, Toddington Church Monday 4th September 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 5th September 10.30 am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall 5.45 pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall Thursday 7th September 12.00 noon Ploughman's Lunch - Wilkinson Hall Friday 8th September 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 9th September 10.00 am Coffee Morning, Wilkinson Hall Historic Churches Bike and Hike fundraising day.. if you would be interested to walk, cycle or drive and to be sponsored for your journey to raise funds to support Chalgrave Church, or Toddington Church, please speak to Linda, Sandy or Dee to request a sponsorship form and details. All contributions of support, gratefully received especially as both churches have some restoration work underway. Future dates for your diaries: Pop Up Tea Room, Wednesday 27th September, 11.00 am – 1.00 pm, Tebworth Memorial Hall, Messy Church Friday 29thSeptember, 3.30 pm for children up to about 9 years, parents/carers. Harvest Supper Saturday 30th September 6.00 pm, Wilkinson Hall Harvest Festival Services Sunday 1st October Chalgrave 9.30 am, Toddington 11.00 am. With love and prayers Linda Rector
