10th April 2021
Hello Everyone,
We hope you have had a good week and a restful time over Easter. We loved celebrating Easter Day within the churches as we gathered together again, with many of you returning to church for the first time for a while. The churches were decorated so beautifully with lilies to remember loved ones who had died, and also with Spring Flowers to symbolically remind us of New Life, as we gathered to worship God together, in the knowledge of Jesus' resurrection, sharing Holy Communion for the first time for many months and with organ music ringing out, and in some cases bells tolling above with Easter tunes. It was a wonderful celebration day. Thank you to all who contributed in some way.
Thank you also for walking the journey towards Easter on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
This weekend, we are absorbing the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday and we will offer prayers for him, for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and for the Royal Family in our church services tomorrow. There is also opportunity for us all to hold them in our prayers this week during the official week of mourning and remembrance as preparations are made for his funeral next Saturday 17th April at 3pm. Suggested prayers, which you may wish to use, are attached above.
Sunday services this week:
Harlington Church - Morning Worship at 9.30am
Chalgrave Church - Holy Communion at 9.30am
Toddington Church - Holy Communion at 11am
Westoning Church - Morning Worship at 11am
The Upper Room at 6pm by Zoom - please contact Rev'd Linda for link.
The Recorded Service should appear on the usual link: https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
We plan to continue the pre-recorded Audio Services until the end of April.
Services and events this week:
Monday 12th April - Morning Prayer in Toddington Church 9.30am
Tuesday 13th April - Morning Prayer by Zoom 9.30am - please contact Rev'd Linda for link.
Private Prayer at Toddington Church on Thursday 15th April at 10.30am.
We will update you on other news during the week.. particularly with regard to any service of prayer or Remembrance for Prince Philip.
We send our love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
3rd April 2021
Hello Everyone
We look forward to welcoming you to an Easter Day service in church tomorrow. The churches have been decorated with Lilies and flowers, in memory of loved ones. Some churches may also have an Easter Garden to remind us that on Easter Sunday, when the ladies went to visit Jesus' tomb, it was empty. Jesus' body was not there. We thank God on Easter Sunday for the Resurrection of Jesus and for his tremendous outpouring of love for us all.
Each church will be offering an Easter Communion Service (the first since lockdown in December!) and we will remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples and the importance of being Christ's family..the body of Christ.
Easter Day Service times are:
Harlington Church 8am Holy Communion Service - Book of Common Prayer
Harlington Church 9.30am Holy Communion Service (Common Worship Liturgy) (Booking advisable via the church website)
Chalgrave Church 9.30am Easter Holy Communion Service
Westoning Church 11am Easter Holy Communion Service (Service bookings full - but you will be welcome to attend one of the other churches)
Toddington Church 11am Easter Holy Communion Service
Tingrith Church 3pm Easter Holy Communion Service
The Upper Room online service by Zoom at 6pm also celebrates Easter. The access link is available from Rev'd Linda.
The Easter Day Recorded Service is accessible through the usual link and through the church websites and Facebook pages and is available to be viewed during the following week.
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
Please also remember the Easter Trails which are available at Toddington, Harlington and Westoning.
We send you our love and prayers and hope that you are enjoying being released into the fresh air, now able to meet with family and friends outdoors.
Happy Easter! Christ is Risen.. he is risen indeed, Alleluia
with blessings to you all
Linda and Nigel
27th March 2021
Dear all
There is a lightness of anticipation this weekend as we approach the next stage of 'roadmap' release. It will be good to be able to meet with another household from Monday, or to be able to meet someone in our private gardens... especially as the weather promises to be warmer and brighter too.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to visit St George's Lower School this week to lead daily Easter Collective Worship, and I am looking forward to meeting with Toddington Youth Group, with Rebecca and helpers, on Tuesday. It will be so good to spend time with the youngsters again. There will be an Easter Family Trail in Toddington Church grounds which is being provided by Becky on behalf of a Dunstable church, and a similar Easter trail is being prepared for Westoning folk by Rebecca Caird. Easter Messy Church at home and Twig bags are on their way to families at Westoning and Toddington and we have also been able to give the children at Westoning, Toddington and Chalton schools a copy of the Bible Society Easter Resurrection story.
Each of the churches in the Quintet looks forward to being open tomorrow for Palm Sunday services, and on occasions during Holy Week, and we are also keen to celebrate that 'Jesus is Risen' on Easter Sunday in the churches. There is a lot of information for this week's email so I will keep the introduction brief.
This Sunday's services:
9.30am Palm Sunday Morning worship services at Chalgrave Church, Tingrith Church and Harlington Church (with organ music)
11am Palm Sunday Morning worship service at Toddington Church and Westoning Church (with organ music)
6pm Quintet Upper Room online service by Zoom: with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
This week's Recorded Service for Palm Sunday via church websites or Facebook pages, or by clicking this link:
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
The service sheet and this week's reading sheet are above.
Other Services during Holy Week (Zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda)
Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Chancel
Tuesday 9.15am Morning Prayer by Zoom
Tuesday 7.30pm Lent Course week 5 via Zoom - Passing on the Story, how the Spirit guides us as we speak.
Wednesday 10am Morning Worship at Harlington Church
Maundy Thursday:
6pm Reflective service at Toddington Church
7.30pm Maundy service at Harlington Church
7.30pm Maundy service by Zoom for Westoning Church and members of the Quintet. (Please contact Nigel for access link 01525 714442)
Good Friday:
10am Family Service at Westoning Church (Booking required via church website or phone 01525 862357)
10.30am Morning Service with reflective readings Chalgrave Church
2pm Service Final hour at the Cross with reflective readings, at Toddington Church
2pm Service Final hour at the Cross with reflective readings at Westoning Church (Booking required via church website or phone 01525 862357)
2pm Service Final hour at the Cross at Harlington Church
Evening Compline at 9pm online by Zoom (Zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda)
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Easter Sunday
8am BCP Holy Easter Communion at Harlington Church
9.30am Holy Easter Communion at Chalgrave Church,
9.30am Holy Easter Communion at Harlington Church (Booking advised via Church website)
11am Holy Easter Communion at Toddington Church
11am Holy Easter Communion at Westoning Church (Booking required via Church Website or phone 01525 862357 - if bookings are full, please register your interest in case it is possible to offer an alternative service)
3pm Easter service at Tingrith Church
The Diocese are also offering times during Holy Week for a silent led retreat:
Come Away and Rest A While - Short Holy Week Retreats to support spiritual and missional engagement.
A series of short retreats on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, looking at The Feeding of the Five Thousand, from the gospel of Mark.
'Come Away' - with so much of work, life and ministry based from home at present, we encourage you to turn off your email notifications, switch your phone to silent and come away from the busyness for a couple of hours.
Open to everybody, the retreat will be a combination of personal and group guided reflections and prayer. We hope they will provide an opportunity to listen to God and to minister to one another.
Format - 2 hours during Holy Week,
These retreats are planned with two distinct parts, about an hour for both. A ‘Come Away’ Guided Reflection has been produced for your use on these retreats.
If you cannot get to church over Holy Week or are still shielding please be aware that there are services which you can access:
Daily Hope – dial 0800 804 8044 for prayer, reflection, music and worship services from the Church of England. A weekly service is available from 9 am every Sunday.
BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition 2020. The Daily Service is available on a Radio 4 DAB side channel which is automatically made available about a minute before the programme begins ...
www.bbc.co.uk
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
Join us in a service of Daily Prayer | The Church of England
Join us in a service of Daily Prayer, including Morning, Evening, Night Prayer and Prayer During the Day. Services are available in both contemporary and traditional forms.
www.churchofengland.org
Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer audio are available on Soundcloud and via the Church’s free Time To Pray app.
We pray that you will be able to step aside for a while this Holy Week to connect with Jesus on his journey into Jerusalem to the cross, from Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion on Good Friday and to the Celebration Alleluia moment on Easter Sunday when be declare that 'Jesus is Risen'.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as we recall the heart of the Christian Story and travel together this Easter, and hopefully, out of lockdown too, to brighter times.
God bless you all
Linda and Nigel
20th March 2021
Hello Everyone
We hope you have had a good week? Hope and anticipation are in the air. The Government Roadmap says shielding will end on 31st March although most of us will still be awaiting our second vaccinations. From the end of March we will be able to meet with up to six people (or two households) outdoors.... socially distanced. Yippee church working parties can commence.
I have smiled to see people sitting on a bench with a friend in the fresh air.. glad to be able to meet for exercise and a chat (socially distanced) and to have a drink too. Children have returned to schools and it is now less than a month until haircut day on 12th April! If all goes to plan, we will also be able to return to gyms, swimming pools, non-essential shops and to sharing hospitality outdoors again. How wonderful this will be. Spring is in the air!
We can but reflect on how well everyone has responded during this lockdown stage, working together to bring down infection rates. Thank you! But how sad it is to see that infection rates in Europe are rising so quickly and in some other parts of the world and we hold these countries in our prayers.
Thank God for the scientists and vaccination teams in this country and across the world who have enabled us to have the hope of release.
It has been a joy to begin discussions with wedding couples and families requesting baptism as we look ahead to the Summer months of sunshine and special family times.
Last week Toddington Church folk returned to church for a Sunday morning service, and this week Chalgrave Church return for a 9.30am service. Next week, on Palm Sunday, and also on Easter Sunday, we are looking forward to each church being open (although Social distancing measures will remain in place). We hope that it will be possible to hold some services for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday within the Quintet and information on these will be confirmed soon.
This Sunday our services are:
The Recorded Service for Sunday, Lent 5 or 'Passiontide', will be on the usual link, or can alternatively be accessed via the church web pages, Facebook pages, or A Church Near You site. The service link is:
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
In Church:
Harlington Church, 9.30am Morning Worship
Chalgrave Church 9.30am, Morning Worship
Online:
11am Quintet Morning worship by zoom. All welcome. Zoom access link available on poster above.
6pm 'The Upper Room' worship with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Services and events during the week: (Zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda).
Monday Morning Prayer 10am at Toddington Church- all welcome. (later times this week due to school assemblies)
Monday Evening at 8pm Chalgrave Lent Course week 2 online via Zoom
Tuesday Morning Prayer by Zoom 10am.
Tuesday Evening Quintet Lent Course at 7.30pm via Zoom.
Wednesday Harlington Church Morning Worship at 10am via Zoom.
Wednesday St George's Church monthly Quiz (will be online this month) 'Toddipedia Quiz' at 7pm. £5 for a team.
Access information to be released soon.
Thursday 10.30am, Private Prayer at Toddington Church
Dates for Diary
Tuesday 4.30pm Tingrith PCC (by zoom)
Thursday 2pm Toddington PCC Meeting (time tbc) (by zoom)
Thursday eve 7.30pm Harlington PCC Meeting (by zoom)
Further updates will be issued about other events and Easter Services in due course.
We send our very best wishes to you all.
God Bless you all. Have a good week.
Linda and Nigel
13th March 2021
Dear All,
Another week passes in lockdown, but as I write the sun is streaming through the window with comforting warmth and light. The tubs outside display open hyacinths and bright pansy faces uplifted to catch the sunlight with pregnant daffodil heads about to bloom. Can it really be a year since Covid reared its head? Words like pandemic, coronavirus, sanitiser and lockdown have slipped into our vocabulary and catch phrases such as ‘Hands, Face, Space’, 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' are part of daily life. Our behaviours have changed and, observing protocols, we entered into new routines. What was 'normal' may never be seen in quite the same way again. As we draw on the lessons of the past and adapt to new ways of living we move forward into a time of a new normal.
At Diocesan Synod meeting this morning, it was remarked that live streaming of services may well be here to stay. Working from home will be favoured by many avoiding the need to crush onto commuter transport. There are also environmental benefits of not travelling long distances, but all these things, and so much more will need to be assessed in due course. There are benefits and there are negatives to also be weighed up and considered. Human beings were made to interact together.. and it will be so wonderful to be free to do this again (without masks, sanitiser and gloves). We long for the day.
On 23rd March, we are called by the Marie Curie charity, and the Government, to a day of reflection to mark the anniversary of the first UK lockdown. There will be the ringing of church bells, the lighting up of public buildings and a call to create a 'beacon of remembrance' from our doorsteps at 8pm as we remember and pay our respects to those who died during this pandemic. It is hard to imagine that at the start of the first lockdown there had been a total of 335 deaths. Sadly, there have been so many more deaths in between with about 175 daily deaths now. How hard this has all been.. but sadly, it is not over yet, and we all need to continue to be vigilant and to look out for each other.
In all this it has been impressive how most people have observed good discipline and care, with kindnesses and courtesy extended. We have drawn closer together in many ways as community, despite being physically distanced.
As Church we have learned how Church can be more than the building as we practise our Christian faith in deeds and with inventiveness in worshipping in new ways and in new places. We’ve missed the singing and the opportunity to see all the familiar faces; oh, to see faces with clear relaxed smiles and open eyes; oh, for the time when we can physically gather to worship freely and sing together.
This Sunday we begin to emerge to open the Church doors for live worship again. We continue to offer a mixture of live worship in church and online at the zoom services, plus the weekly recorded service.
This Sunday's Services:
Harlington Church Mothering Sunday Service at 9.30am
Toddington Church Mothering Sunday Service at 9.30am
These services will be socially distanced. Please wear a face covering in church and please stay at home if you have any Covid- symptoms.
Online services via live zoom link:
11am Quintet Morning worship by zoom. All welcome. Zoom access link available on poster above.
6pm 'The Upper Room' worship with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
The Recorded service will be issued on the usual link: https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service
Other services and events this week (Access links available from Rev'd Linda).
Our Quintet Lent Course via zoom has been going very well on Tuesday evenings. There is still opportunity to drop in as each week’s topic can stand alone.
Morning Prayer on Monday and Tuesday at 9.30am by zoom
Harlington Morning Worship Wednesday 10am by zoom
Afternoon Teas will probably not take place this week except perhaps for Harlington
Chalgrave Lent Course Monday at 7.30pm (by 8x8 link)
With our love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
6th March 2021
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week this week? The days are lengthening with hours of sunshine and bright light which is so encouraging.. although the wind has been rather chilly! Nigel and I went for 'refreshing' walk across the fields today and loved seeing the new leaves, and catkins on the trees with blossom emerging on a few trees. A farmer was out ploughing his field and the sheep in another field gave us a rather curious look as we stopped to chat to them.. no sign of lambs in their field yet, but I was delighted to see young lambs in a field on my way back from Chalgrave the other day. Spring is clearly on the way.
This week has been busy, with the re-scheduling of weddings and also starting to organise baptisms (how wonderful!) Sadly, some wedding couples are re-arranging dates for the second or third time but we hope that this time, their dates will be safe and their weddings will be very special occasions. We are also actively considering how and when we can practically return to church for Sunday services. We are hoping that each church will be open for services on Palm Sunday and for Easter Sunday but this will be confirmed as all becomes clear.
Toddington will host a 9.30am service next Sunday for Mothering Sunday and Chalgrave will host a 9.30am service the following week, in addition to the usual Harlington 9.30am service.
This Sunday the services are as follows:
The Recorded service - kindly recorded by the Quintet Readers: Robert Johns, Jon Denman and Stephen Farmer this week - to give us a breather so we could focus on this week's funeral services. We offer our grateful thanks to them and also to Nicholas for providing much of the music this week.
The Recorded service can be accessed on the link below or via church Facebook page. (The service sheet and reading sheet are attached above)https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service
Service in Church:
Morning Worship 7th March at 9.30am Harlington Church
Online services via live zoom link:
11am Quintet Morning worship by zoom. All welcome. Zoom access link available on poster above.
6pm 'The Upper Room' worship with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Other key Services and events this week:
The Lent Course: session 2 of God's Story, Our Story: Tuesday evening at 7.30pm by zoom: Access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Harlington Morning Service 10.00am on Wednesday 10th March 2021 by zoom: Access link available from Rev'd Linda.
There will also be a Chalgrave PCC Meeting at 8.15pm on Monday eve (plus Lent course?) 8x8.
Information about other events will be circulated as appropriate.. but Nigel and I will not be offering Afternoon Teas this week, and I (Linda) am easing back from mid-week zoom and screen commitments this week, to give my eyes a rest.. and to remind myself that I am part-time really (Nigel and I haven't taken a day off for months). So this week, I am going to take opportunity to ease away from the computer screen and take heed of some words by St Anselm, shared to clergy by Bishop Alan in his Ash Wednesday letter, and again last week:
“Come now … flee for a while from your tasks, hide yourself for a little space from the turmoil of your thoughts. Come, cast aside your burdensome cares, and put aside your laborious pursuits. For a little while, give your time to God, and rest in him. Enter into the chamber of your mind, shut out all things save God and whatever may aid you in seeking God; and having barred the door of your chamber, seek him.”
Other news and prayers:
We hold Revd Stephen Williams in our prayers following this announcement from Bishop Richard on Thursday:
Revd Stephen Williams – Retirement
After thirty-five years as Vicar of Harlington, before which he was Curate at St Paul’s Bedford, Steve is to retire on Tuesday 6th April, 2021. Over the years Steve has been at the heart of village life to which he has brought ministry, leadership, service, teaching and a love of history.
We thank him for this ministry in Harlington and the wider Diocese and wish him well for all that lies ahead as he moves to Herefordshire.
I commend Steve to your prayers as he moves on.
We also hold in our prayers those whose funerals have taken place this week, and their families who grieve:
Patricia Sutton - Toddington, Marian Barton - Toddington, Gerald Gordon - Toddington and Jim Rose - Harlington
We hold you all in our prayers this week and especially our schools as the children return on Monday.
May life treat you well. May you be encouraged. Stay safe and well and we look forward to seeing you soon.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
27th February 2021
Dear all
What a wonderfully sunny day it has been today, and also this week. It has been a joy to hear the birds singing in the trees, to see the buds forming - I saw sticky buds yesterday and catkins the other day and the spring bulbs are bursting into flower. How wonderful the 'Lenten Lilies' look dancing in the breeze.. otherwise known as daffodils- or so I have been told... with their bright yellow heads bringing light and joy.
This week we also learned the roadmap way ahead for emerging from lockdown, which has eased the way forward to open the churches for weddings and baptisms, and we are also considering how and when we will return to church for more regular weekly worship.
Today, the church bells rang out at midday to pay our respects to Captain, Sir Tom Moore to commemorate his life at noon at the start of his funeral. What an inspiration he has been to so many of us during the dark months with his determination to raise funds for the NHS, through his walking, and what an amazing amount was raised in tribute to the NHS
A prayer was posted online today praying for Sir Tom and his family, but with an encouragement to us all to follow in his footsteps, to speak words of hope and gratitude, to glimpse and seize opportunities, and to always ask ourselves 'how can I make a difference?'.. It is a message of hope and encouragement that we can take forward into our daily lives.
This Sunday's services
Sunday Services at Church Sunday 28th February.9.30am Morning Worship at Harlington Church
2pm-3pm Chalgrave Church, A short outdoor time of worship and prayer, followed by opportunity for Private Prayer in the church. Please bring a chair.
The Recorded Service is led this week by the Quintet Readers: Robert, Steve and Jon and is accessible through the following link on the St. Mary's Harlington website or can be accessed through the church webpages or Facebook pages:
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
Online live services via Zoom
'Our Family Service' for Twig and Messy Church families at 10 o'clock. A short, fun, 30 minute service for children and their parents.. to hear a Bible Story, sing a song, and do an activity. The Zoom link has already been sent out but if you know of someone who would like to 'come along' please let me Nigel, Rebecca, Dee or Jane Steer know. All families are welcome.
Quintet Morning Worship at 11am: Zoom access link available on poster above.
The Upper Room Lent Worship at 6pm: with two personal accounts of the meaning of Lent (Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda).
Other Services and Prayer opportunities this week: (Zoom access links for Services are available from Rev'd Linda)
Morning Prayer by zoom on Monday 1st March at 9.30am
Morning Prayer by zoom on Tuesday 2nd March at 9.30am
Harlington Wednesday Morning worship at 10.00am: (different time)
The Lent Course begins on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm, studying God's Story- Our Story. All welcome, but it would be helpful if you could please let us know in advance if you are coming.
Sixty minutes with God, prayer time. Contact Nigel for the zoom access link
Funerals this week: We remember in our prayers the families of:
Patricia Sutton - Toddington
Marion Barton - Toddington
Jim Rose - Harlington
Gerald Gordon - Toddington
Afternoon Tea - tbc
PCC Meetings this week:
Toddington Church Wednesday 3rd March 7pm by zoom.
Chalgrave Church on Monday 1st March at 8.15pm by 8x8
We wish you a very good week, with God's protection and love surrounding you.
Linda and Nigel
20th February 2021
Dear All,
Another week passes and with vaccines rolling out quickly and infection rates falling there is room for optimism. True infection rates are higher than they were in December and hospitals are still under pressure with very sick patients but if we can be vigilant for another month, observing protocols and socially distancing within lockdown then we can be optimistic about the Spring and Summer and we can begin doing some of the things we have missed so much…like having a haircut or cake or coffee in a restaurant or coming to church with complete confidence. Oh, how we have missed you as we operate behind computer screens, at desks, offering services into individual homes. It is good that we have had the technology to broadcast a whole range of services but how good it will be when we can meet in church, look at each other and perhaps even sing a hymn!! Wow, how wonderful that will be. But until then best behaviour everyone.
The week past has seen us gathering on zoom for some special services which mark that we have entered into Lent. On Tuesday we had Evening Prayer led by Nick Crago as he trains as an LLW. On Wednesday we had two Ash Wednesday services and Thursday evening concluded with a beautifully peaceful Compline. Do tune in next week as we observe Lent and watch out for details of the Lent Course which will be starting soon.
We hope you are well. We try to walk each day as the fresh air seems to have the capacity to lift the heart and amongst the bare trees and wet leafy paths there does seem to be some life springing forth. What joy.
This Sunday's services will be as follows:
Everyone is most welcome to any of the services listed.
This week's services are as follows (zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda):
Morning Prayer 9.30am on Tuesday 23rd by zoom
Morning Prayer 9.30am on Wednesday 24th by zoom
Harlington Morning Worship 10.30am Wednesday 24th (Others welcome) by zoom
Compline Thursday eve 9pm 25th by zoom
Afternoon Tea by zoom
Toddington and Chalgrave 4.30pm on Wednesday 24th
Plans are underway to follow the Archbishop's Lent Course on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm for Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington. This will take place on Tuesday evenings March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd. Please contact Nigel for more details. It is hoped to host an alternative Lent course for Chalgrave Church and Toddington Church (details to be issued soon), although you will also be welcome to join Westoning's course.
Next Sunday there will be the 11am Zoom Morning service and the 6pm Upper Room zoom service with a Lenten focus, plus the Recorded Service which will be issued on Saturday.
Please enjoy the sunshine and the approach of Spring this week. We look forward to seeing you all soon
God bless
Linda and Nigel
13th February 2021
Hello everyone,
What a cold week it has been! We hope you have all managed to stay safe and warm.
We have been on a brisk 8 mile walk today which was lovely, but oh so cold. How grateful we are for warm clothing and lots of layers, and a warm home to return to. We have had several conversations this week reminiscing about winters past which were definitely much colder than today.... with Jack Frost on the inside of the bedroom windows, thin gloves used to gather up the snow for snowballing - with fingers wet and cold, snow drifts several feet high, just one fire in the house and no radiators, chilblains, ice thick enough on lakes for iceskating...and I can remember one winter when the school coach to Dunstable couldn't get up the hill into Toddington to take us to school despite us getting out to push and we had to walk home to Flitwick in the snow. Happy times. How good it is to look back and remember.. and how good it is to appreciate and value special memories.
This week at church we look forward in the church calendar to Lent, with Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday leading into Ash Wednesday with the beginning of Lent. As Church services are still suspended we will offer an online Quintet zoom Ash Wednesday service at 7.30pm on Wednesday and will soon let you know about plans for a Lent course.
Services this Sunday 14th February 2021
There are various services and events taking place this week in addition to our recorded service and this Sunday's live zoom services at 11am and 6pm. You are very welcome to join us at any of the services or events listed, to come along to Afternoon Tea, or to join us for a Wednesday soup meal during Lent, in aid of Christian Aid. Please see Dee's email invitation:
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent – when we (together with Churches Together) would be holding the first of our Lent lunches of homemade soup in aid of Christian Aid.
Obviously we cannot do this in lockdown but we invite you to have a soup lunch (homemade if you wish!) on the Wednesdays in Lent.
Then at the end of March we can make a donation (you can pass your donation in an envelope to me) and we can send it via the church to Christian Aid.
We do hope you will want to support Christian Aid in this way ...and please tell your friends and family and invite them to take part too.
Services this week via Zoom (links available from Rev'd Linda):
Morning Prayer by Zoom
Monday 15th February at 9.30am
Tuesday 16th February at 9.30am
Wednesday 17th February at 9.30am
Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer by Zoom
Tuesday 16th February at 8pm. This service will be led by Nick Crago. Please do join him to offer your support.
Morning Worship for Ash Wednesday by Zoom
Wednesday 17th February at 10.30am. Harlington Morning group but others welcome.
Ash Wednesday Evening Service by Zoom
Wednesday 17th February at 7.30pm
Compline by Zoom
Thursday 18th February 9pm
NB: there will be no Private Prayer at Toddington Church this week as there will be a funeral at church. Please pray for Joyce Low's family as they grieve.
Other Events:
Afternoon Tea this week (Link available from Rev'd Linda)
Toddington Church and Chalgrave Church 4pm on Wednesday 17th February.
Nigel and I will be sending information out in the week about up and coming Lent courses. Do please look out for details.
We wish you a happy, healthy and somewhat warmer week. Do please get in touch if you have any concerns or would like some help or support for anything.. or a chat or a prayer. We are here for you and hold you all in our prayers and in our care.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
6th February 2021
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week. Weatherwise, it has been a grey week but the few bursts of sunshine have been so restorative and uplifting. Today we spotted a carpet of snowdrops, with primroses interspersed.. so beautiful. There are encouraging signs that Spring is approaching with birds singing from the trees and different varieties of spring flowers emerging; then there was the wonderful rainbow which arched over each of the villages this week. There were some amazing pictures of Harlington, Toddington and Flitwick on Facebook and of some wonderful double rainbows. It reminds us of God's covenant promise - a sign of hope. There have also been encouraging signs this week with Covid infection rates starting to decline, vaccinations on course and numbers of admissions to hospital starting to reduce, at last. Our hearts go out to those who have died and to those who grieve their loss. We especially remember Captain Tom and his family, and Jim Rose of Harlington Church who died today.
Our services this Sunday 7th February 2021
Morning Prayer by Zoom (links available from Rev'd Linda)
Monday 8th February at 9.30am
Tuesday 9th February at 9.30am
Wednesday 10th February at 9.30am
Compline by Zoom (link available from Rev'd Linda)
Thursday 11th February 9pm
Prayers for the Nation (link available from Rev'd Nigel)
Monday 8th February 6pm by Zoom with Nigel
Daily prayers are available online. Please let us know if you would like more information.
Toddington Church Private Prayer
The Church will be open for Private Prayer on Thursday 11th February between 10.30am and 11.30am
Afternoon Tea this week (Link available from Rev'd Linda)
Toddington Church and Chalgrave Church 4pm on Wednesday 10th February.
If you have trouble accessing any zoom gathering please ring Linda or Nigel on 01525 714442 or 07715 603557
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May you have a good week with blessed, special moments.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
Hello Everyone,
We hope you have had a good week and a restful time over Easter. We loved celebrating Easter Day within the churches as we gathered together again, with many of you returning to church for the first time for a while. The churches were decorated so beautifully with lilies to remember loved ones who had died, and also with Spring Flowers to symbolically remind us of New Life, as we gathered to worship God together, in the knowledge of Jesus' resurrection, sharing Holy Communion for the first time for many months and with organ music ringing out, and in some cases bells tolling above with Easter tunes. It was a wonderful celebration day. Thank you to all who contributed in some way.
Thank you also for walking the journey towards Easter on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
This weekend, we are absorbing the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday and we will offer prayers for him, for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and for the Royal Family in our church services tomorrow. There is also opportunity for us all to hold them in our prayers this week during the official week of mourning and remembrance as preparations are made for his funeral next Saturday 17th April at 3pm. Suggested prayers, which you may wish to use, are attached above.
Sunday services this week:
Harlington Church - Morning Worship at 9.30am
Chalgrave Church - Holy Communion at 9.30am
Toddington Church - Holy Communion at 11am
Westoning Church - Morning Worship at 11am
The Upper Room at 6pm by Zoom - please contact Rev'd Linda for link.
The Recorded Service should appear on the usual link: https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
We plan to continue the pre-recorded Audio Services until the end of April.
Services and events this week:
Monday 12th April - Morning Prayer in Toddington Church 9.30am
Tuesday 13th April - Morning Prayer by Zoom 9.30am - please contact Rev'd Linda for link.
Private Prayer at Toddington Church on Thursday 15th April at 10.30am.
We will update you on other news during the week.. particularly with regard to any service of prayer or Remembrance for Prince Philip.
We send our love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
3rd April 2021
Hello Everyone
We look forward to welcoming you to an Easter Day service in church tomorrow. The churches have been decorated with Lilies and flowers, in memory of loved ones. Some churches may also have an Easter Garden to remind us that on Easter Sunday, when the ladies went to visit Jesus' tomb, it was empty. Jesus' body was not there. We thank God on Easter Sunday for the Resurrection of Jesus and for his tremendous outpouring of love for us all.
Each church will be offering an Easter Communion Service (the first since lockdown in December!) and we will remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples and the importance of being Christ's family..the body of Christ.
Easter Day Service times are:
Harlington Church 8am Holy Communion Service - Book of Common Prayer
Harlington Church 9.30am Holy Communion Service (Common Worship Liturgy) (Booking advisable via the church website)
Chalgrave Church 9.30am Easter Holy Communion Service
Westoning Church 11am Easter Holy Communion Service (Service bookings full - but you will be welcome to attend one of the other churches)
Toddington Church 11am Easter Holy Communion Service
Tingrith Church 3pm Easter Holy Communion Service
The Upper Room online service by Zoom at 6pm also celebrates Easter. The access link is available from Rev'd Linda.
The Easter Day Recorded Service is accessible through the usual link and through the church websites and Facebook pages and is available to be viewed during the following week.
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
Please also remember the Easter Trails which are available at Toddington, Harlington and Westoning.
We send you our love and prayers and hope that you are enjoying being released into the fresh air, now able to meet with family and friends outdoors.
Happy Easter! Christ is Risen.. he is risen indeed, Alleluia
with blessings to you all
Linda and Nigel
27th March 2021
Dear all
There is a lightness of anticipation this weekend as we approach the next stage of 'roadmap' release. It will be good to be able to meet with another household from Monday, or to be able to meet someone in our private gardens... especially as the weather promises to be warmer and brighter too.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to visit St George's Lower School this week to lead daily Easter Collective Worship, and I am looking forward to meeting with Toddington Youth Group, with Rebecca and helpers, on Tuesday. It will be so good to spend time with the youngsters again. There will be an Easter Family Trail in Toddington Church grounds which is being provided by Becky on behalf of a Dunstable church, and a similar Easter trail is being prepared for Westoning folk by Rebecca Caird. Easter Messy Church at home and Twig bags are on their way to families at Westoning and Toddington and we have also been able to give the children at Westoning, Toddington and Chalton schools a copy of the Bible Society Easter Resurrection story.
Each of the churches in the Quintet looks forward to being open tomorrow for Palm Sunday services, and on occasions during Holy Week, and we are also keen to celebrate that 'Jesus is Risen' on Easter Sunday in the churches. There is a lot of information for this week's email so I will keep the introduction brief.
This Sunday's services:
9.30am Palm Sunday Morning worship services at Chalgrave Church, Tingrith Church and Harlington Church (with organ music)
11am Palm Sunday Morning worship service at Toddington Church and Westoning Church (with organ music)
6pm Quintet Upper Room online service by Zoom: with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
This week's Recorded Service for Palm Sunday via church websites or Facebook pages, or by clicking this link:
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
The service sheet and this week's reading sheet are above.
Other Services during Holy Week (Zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda)
Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church Chancel
Tuesday 9.15am Morning Prayer by Zoom
Tuesday 7.30pm Lent Course week 5 via Zoom - Passing on the Story, how the Spirit guides us as we speak.
Wednesday 10am Morning Worship at Harlington Church
Maundy Thursday:
6pm Reflective service at Toddington Church
7.30pm Maundy service at Harlington Church
7.30pm Maundy service by Zoom for Westoning Church and members of the Quintet. (Please contact Nigel for access link 01525 714442)
Good Friday:
10am Family Service at Westoning Church (Booking required via church website or phone 01525 862357)
10.30am Morning Service with reflective readings Chalgrave Church
2pm Service Final hour at the Cross with reflective readings, at Toddington Church
2pm Service Final hour at the Cross with reflective readings at Westoning Church (Booking required via church website or phone 01525 862357)
2pm Service Final hour at the Cross at Harlington Church
Evening Compline at 9pm online by Zoom (Zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda)
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Easter Sunday
8am BCP Holy Easter Communion at Harlington Church
9.30am Holy Easter Communion at Chalgrave Church,
9.30am Holy Easter Communion at Harlington Church (Booking advised via Church website)
11am Holy Easter Communion at Toddington Church
11am Holy Easter Communion at Westoning Church (Booking required via Church Website or phone 01525 862357 - if bookings are full, please register your interest in case it is possible to offer an alternative service)
3pm Easter service at Tingrith Church
The Diocese are also offering times during Holy Week for a silent led retreat:
Come Away and Rest A While - Short Holy Week Retreats to support spiritual and missional engagement.
A series of short retreats on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, looking at The Feeding of the Five Thousand, from the gospel of Mark.
'Come Away' - with so much of work, life and ministry based from home at present, we encourage you to turn off your email notifications, switch your phone to silent and come away from the busyness for a couple of hours.
Open to everybody, the retreat will be a combination of personal and group guided reflections and prayer. We hope they will provide an opportunity to listen to God and to minister to one another.
Format - 2 hours during Holy Week,
- 1st hour - personal Bible reading and reflection on Mark's account of The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mark 6:30-44)
- 2nd hour - join your selected Zoom group to share in some further discussion and prayer about this passage
These retreats are planned with two distinct parts, about an hour for both. A ‘Come Away’ Guided Reflection has been produced for your use on these retreats.
- First hour, by yourself for personal reading and reflection on the passage – Mark 6 : 30-44 (using the Guided Reflection)
- Second hour, join your selected Zoom Gathering to consider this Bible passage with others and pray. The Zoom sessions will be led by senior staff, Officers or Readers from across the diocese, they are planned at the following times: Mon 29 March – 9am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 6pm, ; Tues 30 March – 8am, 12.30pm, 4pm, 8pm, ; Wed 31 March – 9am, 12.30pm, 7pm.
If you cannot get to church over Holy Week or are still shielding please be aware that there are services which you can access:
Daily Hope – dial 0800 804 8044 for prayer, reflection, music and worship services from the Church of England. A weekly service is available from 9 am every Sunday.
- BBC Sunday worship (TV and iplayer)
- BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wzfs
BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition 2020. The Daily Service is available on a Radio 4 DAB side channel which is automatically made available about a minute before the programme begins ...
www.bbc.co.uk
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
Join us in a service of Daily Prayer | The Church of England
Join us in a service of Daily Prayer, including Morning, Evening, Night Prayer and Prayer During the Day. Services are available in both contemporary and traditional forms.
www.churchofengland.org
Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer audio are available on Soundcloud and via the Church’s free Time To Pray app.
We pray that you will be able to step aside for a while this Holy Week to connect with Jesus on his journey into Jerusalem to the cross, from Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion on Good Friday and to the Celebration Alleluia moment on Easter Sunday when be declare that 'Jesus is Risen'.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as we recall the heart of the Christian Story and travel together this Easter, and hopefully, out of lockdown too, to brighter times.
God bless you all
Linda and Nigel
20th March 2021
Hello Everyone
We hope you have had a good week? Hope and anticipation are in the air. The Government Roadmap says shielding will end on 31st March although most of us will still be awaiting our second vaccinations. From the end of March we will be able to meet with up to six people (or two households) outdoors.... socially distanced. Yippee church working parties can commence.
I have smiled to see people sitting on a bench with a friend in the fresh air.. glad to be able to meet for exercise and a chat (socially distanced) and to have a drink too. Children have returned to schools and it is now less than a month until haircut day on 12th April! If all goes to plan, we will also be able to return to gyms, swimming pools, non-essential shops and to sharing hospitality outdoors again. How wonderful this will be. Spring is in the air!
We can but reflect on how well everyone has responded during this lockdown stage, working together to bring down infection rates. Thank you! But how sad it is to see that infection rates in Europe are rising so quickly and in some other parts of the world and we hold these countries in our prayers.
Thank God for the scientists and vaccination teams in this country and across the world who have enabled us to have the hope of release.
It has been a joy to begin discussions with wedding couples and families requesting baptism as we look ahead to the Summer months of sunshine and special family times.
Last week Toddington Church folk returned to church for a Sunday morning service, and this week Chalgrave Church return for a 9.30am service. Next week, on Palm Sunday, and also on Easter Sunday, we are looking forward to each church being open (although Social distancing measures will remain in place). We hope that it will be possible to hold some services for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday within the Quintet and information on these will be confirmed soon.
This Sunday our services are:
The Recorded Service for Sunday, Lent 5 or 'Passiontide', will be on the usual link, or can alternatively be accessed via the church web pages, Facebook pages, or A Church Near You site. The service link is:
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
In Church:
Harlington Church, 9.30am Morning Worship
Chalgrave Church 9.30am, Morning Worship
Online:
11am Quintet Morning worship by zoom. All welcome. Zoom access link available on poster above.
6pm 'The Upper Room' worship with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Services and events during the week: (Zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda).
Monday Morning Prayer 10am at Toddington Church- all welcome. (later times this week due to school assemblies)
Monday Evening at 8pm Chalgrave Lent Course week 2 online via Zoom
Tuesday Morning Prayer by Zoom 10am.
Tuesday Evening Quintet Lent Course at 7.30pm via Zoom.
Wednesday Harlington Church Morning Worship at 10am via Zoom.
Wednesday St George's Church monthly Quiz (will be online this month) 'Toddipedia Quiz' at 7pm. £5 for a team.
Access information to be released soon.
Thursday 10.30am, Private Prayer at Toddington Church
Dates for Diary
Tuesday 4.30pm Tingrith PCC (by zoom)
Thursday 2pm Toddington PCC Meeting (time tbc) (by zoom)
Thursday eve 7.30pm Harlington PCC Meeting (by zoom)
Further updates will be issued about other events and Easter Services in due course.
We send our very best wishes to you all.
God Bless you all. Have a good week.
Linda and Nigel
13th March 2021
Dear All,
Another week passes in lockdown, but as I write the sun is streaming through the window with comforting warmth and light. The tubs outside display open hyacinths and bright pansy faces uplifted to catch the sunlight with pregnant daffodil heads about to bloom. Can it really be a year since Covid reared its head? Words like pandemic, coronavirus, sanitiser and lockdown have slipped into our vocabulary and catch phrases such as ‘Hands, Face, Space’, 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' are part of daily life. Our behaviours have changed and, observing protocols, we entered into new routines. What was 'normal' may never be seen in quite the same way again. As we draw on the lessons of the past and adapt to new ways of living we move forward into a time of a new normal.
At Diocesan Synod meeting this morning, it was remarked that live streaming of services may well be here to stay. Working from home will be favoured by many avoiding the need to crush onto commuter transport. There are also environmental benefits of not travelling long distances, but all these things, and so much more will need to be assessed in due course. There are benefits and there are negatives to also be weighed up and considered. Human beings were made to interact together.. and it will be so wonderful to be free to do this again (without masks, sanitiser and gloves). We long for the day.
On 23rd March, we are called by the Marie Curie charity, and the Government, to a day of reflection to mark the anniversary of the first UK lockdown. There will be the ringing of church bells, the lighting up of public buildings and a call to create a 'beacon of remembrance' from our doorsteps at 8pm as we remember and pay our respects to those who died during this pandemic. It is hard to imagine that at the start of the first lockdown there had been a total of 335 deaths. Sadly, there have been so many more deaths in between with about 175 daily deaths now. How hard this has all been.. but sadly, it is not over yet, and we all need to continue to be vigilant and to look out for each other.
In all this it has been impressive how most people have observed good discipline and care, with kindnesses and courtesy extended. We have drawn closer together in many ways as community, despite being physically distanced.
As Church we have learned how Church can be more than the building as we practise our Christian faith in deeds and with inventiveness in worshipping in new ways and in new places. We’ve missed the singing and the opportunity to see all the familiar faces; oh, to see faces with clear relaxed smiles and open eyes; oh, for the time when we can physically gather to worship freely and sing together.
This Sunday we begin to emerge to open the Church doors for live worship again. We continue to offer a mixture of live worship in church and online at the zoom services, plus the weekly recorded service.
This Sunday's Services:
Harlington Church Mothering Sunday Service at 9.30am
Toddington Church Mothering Sunday Service at 9.30am
These services will be socially distanced. Please wear a face covering in church and please stay at home if you have any Covid- symptoms.
Online services via live zoom link:
11am Quintet Morning worship by zoom. All welcome. Zoom access link available on poster above.
6pm 'The Upper Room' worship with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
The Recorded service will be issued on the usual link: https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service
Other services and events this week (Access links available from Rev'd Linda).
Our Quintet Lent Course via zoom has been going very well on Tuesday evenings. There is still opportunity to drop in as each week’s topic can stand alone.
Morning Prayer on Monday and Tuesday at 9.30am by zoom
Harlington Morning Worship Wednesday 10am by zoom
Afternoon Teas will probably not take place this week except perhaps for Harlington
Chalgrave Lent Course Monday at 7.30pm (by 8x8 link)
With our love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
6th March 2021
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week this week? The days are lengthening with hours of sunshine and bright light which is so encouraging.. although the wind has been rather chilly! Nigel and I went for 'refreshing' walk across the fields today and loved seeing the new leaves, and catkins on the trees with blossom emerging on a few trees. A farmer was out ploughing his field and the sheep in another field gave us a rather curious look as we stopped to chat to them.. no sign of lambs in their field yet, but I was delighted to see young lambs in a field on my way back from Chalgrave the other day. Spring is clearly on the way.
This week has been busy, with the re-scheduling of weddings and also starting to organise baptisms (how wonderful!) Sadly, some wedding couples are re-arranging dates for the second or third time but we hope that this time, their dates will be safe and their weddings will be very special occasions. We are also actively considering how and when we can practically return to church for Sunday services. We are hoping that each church will be open for services on Palm Sunday and for Easter Sunday but this will be confirmed as all becomes clear.
Toddington will host a 9.30am service next Sunday for Mothering Sunday and Chalgrave will host a 9.30am service the following week, in addition to the usual Harlington 9.30am service.
This Sunday the services are as follows:
The Recorded service - kindly recorded by the Quintet Readers: Robert Johns, Jon Denman and Stephen Farmer this week - to give us a breather so we could focus on this week's funeral services. We offer our grateful thanks to them and also to Nicholas for providing much of the music this week.
The Recorded service can be accessed on the link below or via church Facebook page. (The service sheet and reading sheet are attached above)https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service
Service in Church:
Morning Worship 7th March at 9.30am Harlington Church
Online services via live zoom link:
11am Quintet Morning worship by zoom. All welcome. Zoom access link available on poster above.
6pm 'The Upper Room' worship with time of singing, Lent reflections and prayers. All Welcome. Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Other key Services and events this week:
The Lent Course: session 2 of God's Story, Our Story: Tuesday evening at 7.30pm by zoom: Access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Harlington Morning Service 10.00am on Wednesday 10th March 2021 by zoom: Access link available from Rev'd Linda.
There will also be a Chalgrave PCC Meeting at 8.15pm on Monday eve (plus Lent course?) 8x8.
Information about other events will be circulated as appropriate.. but Nigel and I will not be offering Afternoon Teas this week, and I (Linda) am easing back from mid-week zoom and screen commitments this week, to give my eyes a rest.. and to remind myself that I am part-time really (Nigel and I haven't taken a day off for months). So this week, I am going to take opportunity to ease away from the computer screen and take heed of some words by St Anselm, shared to clergy by Bishop Alan in his Ash Wednesday letter, and again last week:
“Come now … flee for a while from your tasks, hide yourself for a little space from the turmoil of your thoughts. Come, cast aside your burdensome cares, and put aside your laborious pursuits. For a little while, give your time to God, and rest in him. Enter into the chamber of your mind, shut out all things save God and whatever may aid you in seeking God; and having barred the door of your chamber, seek him.”
Other news and prayers:
We hold Revd Stephen Williams in our prayers following this announcement from Bishop Richard on Thursday:
Revd Stephen Williams – Retirement
After thirty-five years as Vicar of Harlington, before which he was Curate at St Paul’s Bedford, Steve is to retire on Tuesday 6th April, 2021. Over the years Steve has been at the heart of village life to which he has brought ministry, leadership, service, teaching and a love of history.
We thank him for this ministry in Harlington and the wider Diocese and wish him well for all that lies ahead as he moves to Herefordshire.
I commend Steve to your prayers as he moves on.
We also hold in our prayers those whose funerals have taken place this week, and their families who grieve:
Patricia Sutton - Toddington, Marian Barton - Toddington, Gerald Gordon - Toddington and Jim Rose - Harlington
We hold you all in our prayers this week and especially our schools as the children return on Monday.
May life treat you well. May you be encouraged. Stay safe and well and we look forward to seeing you soon.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
27th February 2021
Dear all
What a wonderfully sunny day it has been today, and also this week. It has been a joy to hear the birds singing in the trees, to see the buds forming - I saw sticky buds yesterday and catkins the other day and the spring bulbs are bursting into flower. How wonderful the 'Lenten Lilies' look dancing in the breeze.. otherwise known as daffodils- or so I have been told... with their bright yellow heads bringing light and joy.
This week we also learned the roadmap way ahead for emerging from lockdown, which has eased the way forward to open the churches for weddings and baptisms, and we are also considering how and when we will return to church for more regular weekly worship.
Today, the church bells rang out at midday to pay our respects to Captain, Sir Tom Moore to commemorate his life at noon at the start of his funeral. What an inspiration he has been to so many of us during the dark months with his determination to raise funds for the NHS, through his walking, and what an amazing amount was raised in tribute to the NHS
A prayer was posted online today praying for Sir Tom and his family, but with an encouragement to us all to follow in his footsteps, to speak words of hope and gratitude, to glimpse and seize opportunities, and to always ask ourselves 'how can I make a difference?'.. It is a message of hope and encouragement that we can take forward into our daily lives.
This Sunday's services
Sunday Services at Church Sunday 28th February.9.30am Morning Worship at Harlington Church
2pm-3pm Chalgrave Church, A short outdoor time of worship and prayer, followed by opportunity for Private Prayer in the church. Please bring a chair.
The Recorded Service is led this week by the Quintet Readers: Robert, Steve and Jon and is accessible through the following link on the St. Mary's Harlington website or can be accessed through the church webpages or Facebook pages:
https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
Online live services via Zoom
'Our Family Service' for Twig and Messy Church families at 10 o'clock. A short, fun, 30 minute service for children and their parents.. to hear a Bible Story, sing a song, and do an activity. The Zoom link has already been sent out but if you know of someone who would like to 'come along' please let me Nigel, Rebecca, Dee or Jane Steer know. All families are welcome.
Quintet Morning Worship at 11am: Zoom access link available on poster above.
The Upper Room Lent Worship at 6pm: with two personal accounts of the meaning of Lent (Zoom access link available from Rev'd Linda).
Other Services and Prayer opportunities this week: (Zoom access links for Services are available from Rev'd Linda)
Morning Prayer by zoom on Monday 1st March at 9.30am
Morning Prayer by zoom on Tuesday 2nd March at 9.30am
Harlington Wednesday Morning worship at 10.00am: (different time)
The Lent Course begins on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm, studying God's Story- Our Story. All welcome, but it would be helpful if you could please let us know in advance if you are coming.
Sixty minutes with God, prayer time. Contact Nigel for the zoom access link
Funerals this week: We remember in our prayers the families of:
Patricia Sutton - Toddington
Marion Barton - Toddington
Jim Rose - Harlington
Gerald Gordon - Toddington
Afternoon Tea - tbc
PCC Meetings this week:
Toddington Church Wednesday 3rd March 7pm by zoom.
Chalgrave Church on Monday 1st March at 8.15pm by 8x8
We wish you a very good week, with God's protection and love surrounding you.
Linda and Nigel
20th February 2021
Dear All,
Another week passes and with vaccines rolling out quickly and infection rates falling there is room for optimism. True infection rates are higher than they were in December and hospitals are still under pressure with very sick patients but if we can be vigilant for another month, observing protocols and socially distancing within lockdown then we can be optimistic about the Spring and Summer and we can begin doing some of the things we have missed so much…like having a haircut or cake or coffee in a restaurant or coming to church with complete confidence. Oh, how we have missed you as we operate behind computer screens, at desks, offering services into individual homes. It is good that we have had the technology to broadcast a whole range of services but how good it will be when we can meet in church, look at each other and perhaps even sing a hymn!! Wow, how wonderful that will be. But until then best behaviour everyone.
The week past has seen us gathering on zoom for some special services which mark that we have entered into Lent. On Tuesday we had Evening Prayer led by Nick Crago as he trains as an LLW. On Wednesday we had two Ash Wednesday services and Thursday evening concluded with a beautifully peaceful Compline. Do tune in next week as we observe Lent and watch out for details of the Lent Course which will be starting soon.
We hope you are well. We try to walk each day as the fresh air seems to have the capacity to lift the heart and amongst the bare trees and wet leafy paths there does seem to be some life springing forth. What joy.
This Sunday's services will be as follows:
- 9.30am Morning worship at Harlington church
- The Recorded Service is available on the usual link: https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
- 11am Online Quintet Morning Worship via Zoom: Please use link in poster above to enter.
- The Upper Room Worship at 6pm by Zoom: Access link available from Rev'd Linda
Everyone is most welcome to any of the services listed.
This week's services are as follows (zoom access links available from Rev'd Linda):
Morning Prayer 9.30am on Tuesday 23rd by zoom
Morning Prayer 9.30am on Wednesday 24th by zoom
Harlington Morning Worship 10.30am Wednesday 24th (Others welcome) by zoom
Compline Thursday eve 9pm 25th by zoom
Afternoon Tea by zoom
Toddington and Chalgrave 4.30pm on Wednesday 24th
Plans are underway to follow the Archbishop's Lent Course on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm for Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington. This will take place on Tuesday evenings March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd. Please contact Nigel for more details. It is hoped to host an alternative Lent course for Chalgrave Church and Toddington Church (details to be issued soon), although you will also be welcome to join Westoning's course.
Next Sunday there will be the 11am Zoom Morning service and the 6pm Upper Room zoom service with a Lenten focus, plus the Recorded Service which will be issued on Saturday.
Please enjoy the sunshine and the approach of Spring this week. We look forward to seeing you all soon
God bless
Linda and Nigel
13th February 2021
Hello everyone,
What a cold week it has been! We hope you have all managed to stay safe and warm.
We have been on a brisk 8 mile walk today which was lovely, but oh so cold. How grateful we are for warm clothing and lots of layers, and a warm home to return to. We have had several conversations this week reminiscing about winters past which were definitely much colder than today.... with Jack Frost on the inside of the bedroom windows, thin gloves used to gather up the snow for snowballing - with fingers wet and cold, snow drifts several feet high, just one fire in the house and no radiators, chilblains, ice thick enough on lakes for iceskating...and I can remember one winter when the school coach to Dunstable couldn't get up the hill into Toddington to take us to school despite us getting out to push and we had to walk home to Flitwick in the snow. Happy times. How good it is to look back and remember.. and how good it is to appreciate and value special memories.
This week at church we look forward in the church calendar to Lent, with Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday leading into Ash Wednesday with the beginning of Lent. As Church services are still suspended we will offer an online Quintet zoom Ash Wednesday service at 7.30pm on Wednesday and will soon let you know about plans for a Lent course.
Services this Sunday 14th February 2021
- This week's recorded Service for the last Sunday before Lent is available on this link https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
- 9.30am Morning Worship service in Harlington church
- 11am Online Quintet Morning Worship via zoom: Please use link in poster above to enter.
- 6pm Quintet 'Upper Room' worship via zoom: Access link available from Rev'd Linda. This week we will be considering Deborah, the Old Testament character and with a nod to Valentine's Day, Jon Denman will be sharing a thought about love.
There are various services and events taking place this week in addition to our recorded service and this Sunday's live zoom services at 11am and 6pm. You are very welcome to join us at any of the services or events listed, to come along to Afternoon Tea, or to join us for a Wednesday soup meal during Lent, in aid of Christian Aid. Please see Dee's email invitation:
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent – when we (together with Churches Together) would be holding the first of our Lent lunches of homemade soup in aid of Christian Aid.
Obviously we cannot do this in lockdown but we invite you to have a soup lunch (homemade if you wish!) on the Wednesdays in Lent.
Then at the end of March we can make a donation (you can pass your donation in an envelope to me) and we can send it via the church to Christian Aid.
We do hope you will want to support Christian Aid in this way ...and please tell your friends and family and invite them to take part too.
Services this week via Zoom (links available from Rev'd Linda):
Morning Prayer by Zoom
Monday 15th February at 9.30am
Tuesday 16th February at 9.30am
Wednesday 17th February at 9.30am
Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer by Zoom
Tuesday 16th February at 8pm. This service will be led by Nick Crago. Please do join him to offer your support.
Morning Worship for Ash Wednesday by Zoom
Wednesday 17th February at 10.30am. Harlington Morning group but others welcome.
Ash Wednesday Evening Service by Zoom
Wednesday 17th February at 7.30pm
Compline by Zoom
Thursday 18th February 9pm
NB: there will be no Private Prayer at Toddington Church this week as there will be a funeral at church. Please pray for Joyce Low's family as they grieve.
Other Events:
Afternoon Tea this week (Link available from Rev'd Linda)
Toddington Church and Chalgrave Church 4pm on Wednesday 17th February.
Nigel and I will be sending information out in the week about up and coming Lent courses. Do please look out for details.
We wish you a happy, healthy and somewhat warmer week. Do please get in touch if you have any concerns or would like some help or support for anything.. or a chat or a prayer. We are here for you and hold you all in our prayers and in our care.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
6th February 2021
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week. Weatherwise, it has been a grey week but the few bursts of sunshine have been so restorative and uplifting. Today we spotted a carpet of snowdrops, with primroses interspersed.. so beautiful. There are encouraging signs that Spring is approaching with birds singing from the trees and different varieties of spring flowers emerging; then there was the wonderful rainbow which arched over each of the villages this week. There were some amazing pictures of Harlington, Toddington and Flitwick on Facebook and of some wonderful double rainbows. It reminds us of God's covenant promise - a sign of hope. There have also been encouraging signs this week with Covid infection rates starting to decline, vaccinations on course and numbers of admissions to hospital starting to reduce, at last. Our hearts go out to those who have died and to those who grieve their loss. We especially remember Captain Tom and his family, and Jim Rose of Harlington Church who died today.
Our services this Sunday 7th February 2021
- Recorded service for second Sunday before Lent is uploaded to Harlington website & can be reached by clicking this link: https://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
- Harlington Church morning worship at 9.30am Sunday 7th February in church (Social Distancing guidelines to be followed
- Online Quintet Morning service at 11am on Zoom, with readers from different Quintet Churches. All Welcome. Please use link in poster above to enter.
- The Upper Room at 6pm by Zoom continues to look at Old Testament characters. This week two people will be sharing a perspective of Jacob and Joseph. Access link available from Rev'd Linda.
Morning Prayer by Zoom (links available from Rev'd Linda)
Monday 8th February at 9.30am
Tuesday 9th February at 9.30am
Wednesday 10th February at 9.30am
Compline by Zoom (link available from Rev'd Linda)
Thursday 11th February 9pm
Prayers for the Nation (link available from Rev'd Nigel)
Monday 8th February 6pm by Zoom with Nigel
Daily prayers are available online. Please let us know if you would like more information.
Toddington Church Private Prayer
The Church will be open for Private Prayer on Thursday 11th February between 10.30am and 11.30am
Afternoon Tea this week (Link available from Rev'd Linda)
Toddington Church and Chalgrave Church 4pm on Wednesday 10th February.
If you have trouble accessing any zoom gathering please ring Linda or Nigel on 01525 714442 or 07715 603557
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May you have a good week with blessed, special moments.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
