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
Hello Everyone What a lovely day it has been today. This morning I smiled to see several church folks happily relaxing on the Green, in the sunshine, as they 'manned' the church cake stall and chatted. Thank you to everyone who provided cakes for sale, or who bought goodies to help us raise funds for the church. It was a pleasant morning and it seemed fitting that the church clock struck in the background to complete the country scene. It has been lovely to have the clock up and running again this week, (even if it is nearly 10 minutes slow at the moment). A group of us went up the church tower, with John Pask, last Sunday, to learn how to set the church clock. We are hoping to build a small team of people to call to action when there is a power cut. If you are willing to learn how to set the clock, and to be part of the team, please let me or Dee know. We will have another training session soon. The church has been busy this week with the usual weekly activities in the Hall, including the fun art activity morning on Wednesday when adults and children alike enjoyed being creative. This was the last session for this Summer holiday, but I am sure we will be offering something similar again. The sessions have been relaxed and enjoyed by all. Last Sunday, I had the privilege to baptise a young mother and her son at Westoning Church, and similarly at Toddington Church. Both services were very important and heart-warming. It is such a privilege to share someone's journey to faith, and to be able to support them through to baptism. This Sunday, I look forward to baptising another young child, and to welcoming him into the church family. On Friday, I led a special Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Alan Ede, who will be sadly missed. It was a pleasure to meet with his family and friends and to hear of his love of racing, and of his meticulous care in repairing and restoring racing cars, including cars for Stirling Moss and many other drivers. Today, thankfully, as I led a wedding at Westoning Church the sun shone, and the temperature was just right, and there was such a sense of joy and support for the wedding couple. As I look back on the week, I see church community hard at work, sharing together, supportive of each other, keen to welcome and to engage with the village community, sharing time and energy and gifts and talents, so generously. What a blessing it is to serve with such wonderful teams. I count my blessings for the privilege of being a minister. God is good! Tomorrow morning at 11.00 am, the ladies England football team embark on their landmark moment in time, at the World Cup final, in Sydney. It has been an exciting championship, with our team demonstrating such a sense of unity and cohesion. I am sure our thoughts and prayers will be with them. May they be blessed and successful. This week's services: 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, with a baptism, Toddington Church. 6.00 pm Evensong Service, Toddington Church Services and events this coming week: Monday 21st August 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Tuesday 22nd August 10.30 am Knitting Group Wednesday 23rd August Morning working party in the Churchyard (please come along to assist if you have some time to spare) Thursday 24th August Wedding rehearsal, Toddington Church, 7.00 pm Friday 25th August 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure group, Wilkinson Hall Saturday 26th August Wedding, 2.30 pm Toddington Church Wishing you every blessing, Linda Rector, Toddington and Chalgrave
Hello Everyone As I type, the sky is building cloud... but no rain, so far, which is a joy. So many Saturdays lately have provided rain! The M1 was jammed and closed again today.. with traffic streaming through Toddington village, but sadly, closure usually means there has been an accident somewhere, so my thoughts go out to all involved. I watched the fire engine dash out of the village with blue warning lights flashing, which always has an ominous feel. This week has been a week of road works in Toddington with gritter teams and lorries quickly closing roads, dispensing loads, and quickly reopening again. It seems the next stint of gritting/road signage will be with road closures for 3 days from 16 August. This is separate to the teams digging channels in the roads in Toddington and in neighbouring areas, to lay pipework. Does anyone know what this is for? It is happening in Harlington, Chalton and Toddington. Sadly there was a theft from a car in Chalgrave Church car park during the week. As someone was tending a family grave, her handbag was lifted from her car. It seemed to have been an opportunist case and it all happened very quickly. Thankfully the handbag has been recovered but not the phone or purse. We definitely don't want this to happen again so encourage you to please be careful, It is best to remove valuables from your car and to lock other items in the boot out of sight.. and please don't forget to lock your car. In these strange times, we all need to be vigilant. It was good to see Wilkinson Hall buzzing at Coffee morning this morning with a happy sense of conversation as people caught up with each other. Thank you to all who served and provided cakes. An equally happy time was held last Wednesday at Wilkinson Hall with creative fun time for children and adults. It's on again this Wednesday from 10-30am to 12.30pm. See attached posters about fun art time and about the next Messy Church. At Chalgrave church we had good news on one front.. that the repair to the Chancel Beam is almost complete and the scaffolding will be coming down soon (see photo with the new oak repair in place.... but sadly, another beam in the nave (just above where I usually sit!) has also rotted through and needs repair. (See photo with the bracket in place to support the beam). The church architect will now be applying for a faculty to seek permission to move ahead with further repairs. On Monday I led a funeral; yesterday, I led a wedding at Harlington Church and Nigel led a wedding at Flitwick Church with the groom and best man arriving driving tractors! Tomorrow I lead a service of baptism at Westoning Church, followed later by another baptism service at Toddington Church. All such special occasions. The life of a minister holds so many privileges, and a week in the life of a vicar can be quite varied! This Sunday's Services: 9.30 am Holy Communion Service in the Lady Chapel, Chalgrave Church - Linda and Nigel 11.00 am Holy Communion Service, Toddington Church - Nigel 2.00 pm Service of Baptism - Linda This week's services and events: Monday 14th August 9.30 am Morning Prayer, Toddington 2.00 pm Seated Pilates, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Tuesday 15th August 10.30 am Knitting Group Wednesday 16th August 10.30am Creative art time, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Thursday 17th August 2.00 pm St George's Fellowship time, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Friday 18th August 10.30 am Painting for Pleasure, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington Saturday 19th August 10.00 am Cake stall on Toddington Green Sunday 20th August 9.30 am Holy Communion Service, Chalgrave Church 11.00 am Holy Communion Service with a baptism and thanksgiving, Toddington Church 6.00 pm Evensong, Toddington Church Wishing you a restful time this August. I hope you have a good week. Best wishes Linda Rector Toddington and Chalgrave
