Hello Everyone As the beautiful sunshine draws to a close on this 11th June day, it leads one to reflect on all that has taken place this week, starting with last Sunday's celebrations across the United Kingdom for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with huge crowds filling the Mall with excited cheering and joy (managing to avoid the rain). Local plans for Street parties were less fortunate, with folks hiding under awnings for protection, or events being rearranged or cancelled. At Toddington we had the bonus of Toddington Band filling the church with wonderful music as they retreated indoors to avoid the rain and a packed church listened to a special repertoire.. with amazing percussion. June is a season of anticipation for Summer and many families headed off on holiday for a long awaited break during half term but here we are this week, with a slightly calmer week but still lots of planning and activity afoot. This morning Westoning Church raised over £500 with a plant stall - amazing! Toddington Friends group have been putting up signs today to advertise the Open Gardens in July and the church is busy preparing for the big Petal and Purl festival on 16-18 September weekend. Harlington Church has hosted their Poetry Day today for children and adults and tomorrow host a Family Afternoon Tea on the Bury. Tingrith Choir Whats App has been buzzing this week with celebrations of the success of their special evening last Thursday, and with plans for the next event. Chalgrave Church folk were so very busy last Friday with the Platinum Jubilee pop up Tea Room, hosting many happy customers. This week Nigel and I have been busy leading weddings, funerals and baptisms and we think especially of those who have died and those who grieve; of the young families and adults coming forward for baptism and of the couples getting married. As part of church, there are so many varied things that you all do too as you live out your faith in the community. The Quintet of Churches are very much alive. Thank you! This Sunday's services: 9.30am Chalgrave Church, Holy Communion - Linda 9.30am Harlington Church, Holy Communion - Nigel and Robert 9.30am Westoning Church, Families Service (with song, story, craft and refreshments) - Rebecca 11am Toddington Church, Holy Communion - Linda 11am Westoning Church, Holy Communion - Nigel 3.30pm Harlington Church, Families Afternoon Tea on the Bury - Rebecca No Upper Room this week. This will now take place once a month with the next online service being held on 26 June. This week's services and events: Monday 13th June 9.30am Morning Prayer - Toddington Church 2pm Seated Pilates with Jo - Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 14th June 9.30am Burial of Phyllis' Ashes, Toddington Cemetery 10am Westcaf, Westoning Village Hall 10.30am Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 10.45am Royal British Legion Service on the Green to commemorate 40 years anniversary of the Falklands War 1pm Sewing Bees, Westoning Village Hall 5.45pm Youth Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington (years 4.5 and 6) 7.30pm Toddington PCC meeting with Bishop Richard, Wilkinson Hall Wednesday 15 June 9.30-11.30am Church Grounds Working Party, Toddington 10am Midweek Morning Service, Harlington Church Thursday 16 June 2pm Georgian's Group? Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 17 June 10.30am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 1.15pm Little Stars, Westoning Church 2pm Friday Fellowship, Westoning Village Hall Saturday 18 June 9.30am Cake stall on Toddington Green. Sunday 19 June Harlington and Westoning Churches will host All age services for Father's Day. Can we please encourage you not to forget Foodbank donations. They are very much in need of our support for those in need. Just one tin each will make a difference. Please pray for the Ukrainian families as they settle into the local communities, and for the host families. Harlington Village are hosting quite a few families and Toddington and Chalgrave are now also receiving families. Community support will be so important. Central Beds Ukraine facebook group are currently appealing for clothing donations for families at their new Wilstead store, and for dried or tinned food provisions, and/or financial donations to support their transport runs to Ukraine to give practical aid. Please hold the people of Ukraine very much in your prayers... they definitely need our prayers. Thank you so much for all you do to support so many. God bless you Linda and Nigel
Hello EveryoneI'm tuning in late tonight to prepare this email following a busy weekend of Platinum Jubilee celebrations as the different village communities have celebrated Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II seventy year reign.On Thursday evening Tingrith village produced the wonderful 'The Beacon' evening of music and entertainment. Nigel had 8 different costume changes. He says when he joined the village choir didn't realise how versatile a vicar he would need to be - see attached photo🤣. It was a wonderful celebratory evening, inspired by Charlotte and Chris.In the meantime, on Thursday, Toddington Community were busy with fun activities on the village Green leading up to the lighting of the Beacon on the Green at 9pm (video clip -20220602_210123.mp4. )On Friday we held a Civic Service of Thanksgiving at Toddington church in the morning, with refreshments in the hall afterwards. We were very grateful to Deborah Inskip OBE DL and her husband Dr Tom who represented the Lord Lieutenant, and to Sylvia Collins CC and to the Parish Councillors and the British Legion and all guests who attended. In the afternoon, Chalgrave Church provided the 'Pop Up Tea Room' for the Tebworth Village Platinum games afternoon. Another wonderful time of fellowship and fun. The afternoon finished with an impromptu performance by two very special young Ukrainian ladies who sang so movingly of their country's wartime experiences. We hope to arrange some concerts at the local churches where they can sing and share with us all.On Saturday we visited Harlington's music and fun afternoon before heading across to Toddington's family fun at the Recreation Ground, then joined a local street party before collapsing in front of the TV to watch the Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace.This Sunday our church services, on Pentecost Sunday, will include prayers for Her Majesty the Queen and Westoning and Harlington churches will offer a service of thanksgiving at 11am and 9.30am respectively.This Sunday's Services:8am BCP Holy Communion, Harlington Church - Linda9.30am Holy Communion, Chalgrave Church - Linda9.30am Platinum Jubilee service of Thanksgiving, with Holy Communion at Harlington - Nigel11am - Holy Communion Service, Toddington - Linda11am Platinum Jubilee service of Thanksgiving, with Holy Communion, Westoning - NigelNo Upper room online service this weekOther Services and Events this week:Monday9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington.10.30am Petal and Purl meeting, Toddington church (or hall)TuesdayKnitting Group - 10.30am Wilkinson HallWestcaf - 10am Westoning Village HallSewing Bee 1.30pm Westoning Village HallFuneral of Margaret D - Bedford Crematorium 4pmYouth Group 5.30pm Wilkinson HallWednesday10am Morning Service - Harlington Church11am Funeral of Jean Ludgate - Chalgrave Church12.30pm Funeral of Eileen Shenton - Harlington ChurchThursday1.30pm Burial of Rev John Wren's ashes - Toddington CemeteryFriday10.30am Painting for Pleasure Group - Wilkinson HallSaturdayWestoning Plant Stall 10am onwards Harlington Poetry DayWedding of Lucy and Liam, Toddington Church 1.30pm(The Queen's Birthday)We wish you an enjoyable and blessed week.Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone The Jubilee festive excitement is rapidly building as the Platinum Jubilee long weekend approaches. Union Jacks and bunting abound on homes, and village lamp-posts, with Platinum Jubilee crests appearing on stationery and signs. It is such a joy to be able to celebrate this landmark moment of HM Queen Elizabeth II's reign. There are a range of activities planned within the villages. Toddington: Please see attached copy of the Toddington Village flyer plus an invitation to St George's Church Civic Thanksgiving service on Friday 3rd at 10.30am. Last Friday morning Jubilee events began with a wonderful coffee morning and art display put on by the Painting for Pleasure group. Chalgrave/Tebworth have a fun afternoon at the Memorial Hall on Friday 3rd June from 1-6pm and Chalgrave Church folk will be hosting the 'Pop Up Tea Room' refreshments that afternoon. Offers of help in serving, or in providing cakes will be welcomed. Please link with me, Sandy, Alison or Sue if you are able to help. Tingrith have a fun 'The Beacon' evening of musical entertainment on Thursday 2nd June, which the choir and community have put a lot of effort into creating and it is already sold out. There is also a Tingrith Tea Party 2pm on Sunday 5th. Harlington Village have a community picnic on Bury Orchard on Sunday 5th June afternoon. Westoning Village have a Picnic in the Park at the Recreation Ground from 12 noon on Sunday 5th, with fun activities. There will be services of Thanksgiving at Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington Churches next Sunday morning. Please let us know of any other Jubilee events you would like us to circulate. I suspect there will be a lot of street parties taking place next weekend. This Sunday's Services 29 May 2022 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave - Linda 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Harlington - Nigel and Robert 11.00 am Morning Prayer service, Westoning - Jon and Steve 11.00 am Morning Praise service, Toddington - Robert (and Linda initially) No service at Tingrith 6.00 pm The Upper Room online service: Anticipating the Holy Spirit (of Pentecost) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84611067173?pwd=NGEzUkh5NDhQMUtUZGxsQ2JqUUJmQT09 For details of how to join please contact Revd Linda Other services and events this week: Monday 30th May 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Tuesday 31st May Knitting Group, Toddington 10.30 am Westcaf at Westoning Village Hall 10.00 am -12.00 noon Sewing Bee 1.00 – 3.00 pm at Westoning Village Hall Wednesday 1st June 10.00 am Harlington Midweek Service Thursday - Sunday Platinum Jubilee events see above and attachments. Friday 3rd June10.30 am St George's Church Civic Thanksgiving service No Messy Church - Toddington No Friday Fellowship - Westoning tbc No Little Stars - Westoning tbc Sunday 5th June Jubilee Services of Thanksgiving will be held next Sunday at Tingrith 9.30 am Harlington 9.30 am and Westoning at 11.00 am and prayers of thanksgiving will be said at Chalgrave and Toddington as part of the usual Sunday morning Service. Have a wonderful week. God bless Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone The bunting is going up around the villages as attention turns to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Flags are flying in the breeze high up on lamp posts with plans and preparations for street parties and village events taking form. What a pleasant change this brings after so many months of restrictions, and what a joy it was last week to watch the Queen relaxed and smiling as she enjoyed the first big event at Windsor Horse show with such a wonderful display of skill and disciplined delivery with representatives from across the world taking part. We will give more information next week about church and village plans to celebrate, but for now, we offer you information about this week's services and events: Sunday Services for Sunday 22nd May 9.15 am Messy Church Breakfast, Wilkinson Hall - Rebecca 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave - Linda 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Harlington - Nigel and Robert 11.00 am Holy Communion Service Toddington - Linda 11.00 am All Age Family Worship Service, Westoning - Nigel 3.00 pm Spring Celebration with refreshments, Tingrith - Nigel 6.00 pm Upper Room online Service with a talk by Jennifer Rees Larcombe Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82570577141?pwd=aHdCSkdDUHFFb3NVQ0lzdVVXcWtvUT09 For details of how to join please contact Revd Linda This week's Services and Events Monday 23rd May 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church 10.00 am Morning DAC visit to Westoning Church 2.00 pm Craft Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 24th May 10.00 am Westcaf, Westoning Village Hall 10.30 am Knitting group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington 11.00 am Funeral of Karen White, Harlington - Linda 1.00 pm Sewing Bee at Westoning Village Hall 7.30 pm Friends of St Mary's Meeting at Harlington Church Wednesday 25th May 10.00 am Midweek Service at Harlington 5.30 pm Chalgrave PCC meeting at Karen and Steve's 7.30 pm Toddington PCC meeting by zoom 7.00 pm Harlington Social Committee meeting Thursday 26th May A rest day?!! Friday 27th May 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure Group, Coffee Morning at Wilkinson Hall, Toddington (Poster Attached) 1.15 pm Friday Little Stars, Westoning Church 2.00 pm Friday Fellowship at Westoning Village Hall Saturday 28th May 10.00 am Coffee Time, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington (held monthly, next dates: 25 June, 23 July and 27 August) Quintet Church sponsored walk by the Nordic Walker Team.. please look out for them, they may stop for a while at each church. Do let us know if you would like to sponsor them. Future diary dates: Harlington upcoming Poetry Day on June 11th - poster attached. Toddington Civic Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving service - 10.30 am Friday June 3rd. Do let us know of any Jubilee village events you would like us to include next week. We wish you a happy and blessed week Linda and Nigel
