Previous messages from Rev'd Linda Washington, Priest-in-Charge
(see Home Page for the most recent message)
12th Sept 2020
Dear All
It has been a busy week but we have had some super events in the churches and the weather has been kind with such lovely sunshine. We hope you are all keeping well and enjoying opportunity to get out in the fresh air?
This Sunday's services are:
Harlington Morning worship at 9.30am inside church (please wear face coverings)
Tingrith Morning Worship at 9.30am inside church (Please wear face coverings)
Westoning Morning Worship at 11am inside church (Please wear face coverings)
Toddington Morning Worship at 11.15am in the church grounds - socially distanced. (service sheet attached)
Chalgrave 800 yrs celebration Picnic at 1pm for church family members, followed by the 800 years Service of Thanksgiving at 2.30pm. Numbers will be limited for SD reasons to Chalgrave Church members. Please bring your own chair and your own picnic. We are pleased to also welcome Bishop Richard and his wife Helen.
6pm Quintet Upper Room zoom service: topic: Inspiring People. Please contact Rev'd Linda for access code.Services and Prayer time this week
Toddington Morning Prayer Monday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am Chancel door entry
Harlington Morning Worship Wednesday 10am
Westoning Private Prayer Wednesday morning 12 noon for an hour
Harlington, Toddington and Chalgrave churches are available for Private prayer but please contact Linda, Nigel or a Church Warden to organise a convenient time.
Recorded Service Our thanks go out to Robert and Steve who read this week, to the Dean of St Albans for his sermon, to Nicholas for our music, (plus St Martins in the Fields for two hymns) and to Iain who is editing (with a few extra challenges this week).
Next Sunday we have Harvest services at:
Chalgrave Church at 9.30am (new regular service time) and at Toddington Church (continuing to meet at 11.15am for the near future). Both harvest services will be a little different to usual. Instead of decorating the churches we are inviting contributions to the Foodbank please. Bishop Alan, the Bishop of St Albans will be joining us.
Westoning Church Harvest service at 11am. Donations to the Foodbank
Dates for the Church APCM meetings are as follows:
Westoning church 4th October at 12 noon after the morning service
Tingrith tbc
Harlington 5th October at 7pm in church following a service of Public Worship
Toddington tbc
Chalgrave 3pm 18th October following a service of Public Worship
Do please link with us if you would like a chat, or any support,
with our best wishes
Linda and Nigel
5th Sept 2020
Dear All
As I write this email the sun is shining down and I look out to the Sunflowers dipping under the weight of their flowers, the green, green grass of home which is thriving, and there is a hint of Autumn in the air. It has been a good week for us and I hope it has been good for you too.
Looking ahead to the coming week there are a few tweaks on timings and types of services as we adjust towards settling back into church:
Sunday Services:
Tingrith Church: 9.30am Morning Service, in church
Harlington Church: 9.30am Morning Service, in church
Chalgrave Church: 10am Morning Service, with Holy Communion, outside in the church grounds (please bring a chair)
Westoning Church: 11am Morning Service, in church
Toddington Church: 11.15am Holy Communion service, in church.
For each service, social distancing measures will be in place, but please wear a face covering for services in church.
Online Upper Room Sunday service: This week's theme is 'Passing the Baton' and it will be held at the new time of 6pm. All Welcome. Please contact Linda for zoom link.
Other Services and events
Morning Prayer at Toddington on Monday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am, in the Chancel
Morning Service at Harlington on Wednesday mornings at 10am.
Private Prayer Opportunities
Westoning Church: Wednesday at noon for one hour
Chalgrave and Toddington Churches.. anyone wishing to go into church for a period of private prayer is most welcome. Please contact Linda or the church wardens to request a convenient time.
Harlington Church.. anyone wishing to go into church for a period of private prayer is most welcome. Please contact Linda, Nigel or Tricia to request a convenient time.
Next Saturday is a busy day with the Beds and Herts Bike and Hike fundraising activity, which is a great opportunity to visit churches in the area, have exercise in the fresh air, and also raise funds for our own churches and for Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust (who have been very supportive to various grant requests from our churches this year). Please consider if you are either able to take part or or able to sponsor someone who is taking part.
Next Saturday is also : Gift Day for Harlington Church.. More details from Tricia or Neil, Churchwardens.
The wedding of Andrea and Wayne at Chalgrave Church (postponed from May due to church closure)
The 800 years anniversary week-end of Chalgrave church, which Church family members will be celebrating in a gentle way on Sunday afternoon... not quite what we had originally planned but please pray for good weather for our church family picnic and the small outdoor service in the afternoon. We would love to invite all the Quintet but the bigger celebration event will take place next year, when we will hopefully all be able to gather freely and joyfully again.
Zoom Coffee Mornings have paused for a few weeks. Please let us know if you miss these and would like them to continue (albeit perhaps fortnightly or monthly).
We are also looking at other possible ways to move forward together in faith.. Would you like some form of Bible study group or virtual home group? Do please let us know your thoughts and any ideas.
With every good wish
Linda and Nigel
29th Aug 2020
Dear all
We hope you are all keeping well and safe.. and surviving the storms, rain and winds this week - well it is a bank holiday weekend!
There is no video recorded service this week with it being a Bank holiday weekend, but Nigel and I have issued a link to an audio recording (but without hymns) - please see above. We expect to return to recorded services the following week.
Our Sunday Services this week:
Other Services and events this week:
Morning Prayer at Toddington Tuesday morning at 9.30am (Different day due to Bank Holiday Monday)
Morning Service at Harlington Wednesday morning at 10am (outside if the weather is suitable)
Private Prayer:
Harlington Church 10-11am on Thursday
Toddington Church 10-11.30am on Thursday
Chalgrave Church 11-12 noon on Thursday
Westoning Church 12 -1pm on Wednesday
Future Sunday Service changes:
From September 6th Harlington Church Morning service will move to 9.30am
The Upper Room zoom service will move to 6pm
Toddington Church hosts a Scarecrow Festival on Sunday afternoon and Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.. programmes available from Wilkinson Hall where refreshments will also be served (outside). Other items of interest in the hall.. (with social distancing measures in place). More information from Dee.
Harlington Church and the village have welcomed the return of the church bells this week. There have been so many happy comments from the village community noting their familiar return.. they are a landmark sound. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the donation appeal and for your generosity.
Chalgrave Church PCC meeting Wednesday eve.
Beware of email scam
There are reports around the country of a growing number of cases of emails impersonating clergy being sent to request a variety of things including purchase of gift cards and vouchers. Please note that we will never ask you by email to spend your own money for the church. In many cases the sender's email is: churchonline948@gmail.com. (This has been reported to the government phishing address). Please be careful.
With best wishes
Linda and Nigel
22nd Aug 2020
Dear All,
We hope you are well and enjoying the month of August. Sundays are now very busy across the Quintet with a series of services taking place.
Services on offer this Sunday are as follows: Tingrith Open Air at 10.15am; Harlington Open Air at 10.15am; Chalgrave Open Air at 10.30am; Westoning Open Air at 11am and
Toddington Open Air at 11.15am
The services in the open air are dependent on good weather conditions so contingency plans for moving inside if the weather is poor have been made.
The Zoom Upper Room Service is live at 9am. The invitation is for all to call by and listen to this 60 minute time of music scripture reflection and prayer.
We are grateful for Steve Farmer who has presented this week's Pre-recorded Service, Fran and Linda who have undertaken readings, Iain Grant who has edited it and Nicholas Hopton who has provided the music.
Other services this week......
Morning Prayer in the chancel in Toddington Church 9.30am on Monday
Open Air Service at Harlington Church 10am on Wednesday
Private Prayer at Westoning Church at 12 noon on Wednesday.
Private Prayer at Chalgrave, Toddington and Harlington Churches at 10am on Thursday
Funerals taking place this week;
Toddington Church: Tuesday 25th August at 11am, Maureen Toms
Toddington Church: Thursday 27th August at 2pm Graeme Renshaw
Toddington Church Scarecrow Festival- next weekend, Sunday 30th and Monday 31st from 12.30-4pm. Scarecrows will be displayed in front gardens and the churchyard. Maps for viewing the scarecrows £5 per family or group and individual visitors £1. More information from Dee
Please let us know if you would like a chat or support in any way.
We send you our love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
15th Aug 2020
Dear all
It has been a strange week with temperatures blazing at the beginning of the week and rain, storms and fog at the end of the week. Our busy schedules have been varied too and on some days we have barely caught a glimpse of each other. Next week, however, we will be easing back for a few days breather.. catching up on a few days off to rest and looking to have some time to reflect and plan as we move forward within the churches.
Our recorded service has been compiled by Iain from Toddington this week.. and huge thanks go to him for his time...(and also for his time trying to save my crashed computer this week.. which has sadly died because the hard drive is worn out!). It feels strangely symbolic. Years of information stored from family, church, and work over the years.. suddenly inaccessible and potentially lost. Just a little stressful! But we give thanks for the skills and willingness of folk to help.. and hopefully my files have been recovered even though my computer has had enough!
The link to the recorded service this week runs from our new St George of England, Toddington You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikWsc99ueTI (Hold down the command button and click with the computer mouse and it should take you to the service).
This week our churches will hold Sunday Morning Outdoor Services (but each church will have an option to move into the church building if there is heavy rain).
Harlington Church 10.15am Outdoor service (Service sheets will be provided)
Chalgrave 10.30am Outdoor service. Please bring a chair and a copy of the Chalgrave service sheet.
Westoning Church 11am Outdoor service (service sheets provided)
Toddington Church 11.15am Outdoor service (service sheets available or bring last week's/ use link above to print sheet)
Wednesday Morning: Harlington Church 10am Outdoor service
Tingrith Church will meet next Sunday at 10.15am for an open air service.
OTHER SERVICES THIS WEEK
Monday 9.30am : Toddington Church Morning Prayer
Tuesday 9.30am : Morning Prayer by zoom. Please ask Linda for the zoom access link
Thursday 10am - 11.30am : Church open for Private Prayer
There will be no zoom mid-week gatherings this week.
We will issue shortly the dates for each church's Annual Parochial Church Meetings which could not take place in April due to church closures but now need to take place by 31st October.
We wish you a very blessed week and look forward to seeing you soon.
God bless
Linda
8th Aug 2020
Hello Everyone
We have pleasure in attaching the link for the recorded service this week which was filmed at Harlington Church and includes beautiful hymns and music courtesy of the choir of St Martins in the Field and Nicholas who leads our hymns and music with such enthusiasm and gifting. The service includes Bible readings by Iain from Toddington Church and Larry from Chalgrave Church, and a sincere meaningful sermon by Bishop Alan, Bishop of St Albans, based on personal experience. The service has been edited by Dr Robert Johns of Harlington Church for the last time, and we extend our most grateful thanks to him for his tremendous commitment and dedication in editing and preparing the service each week over these past months of lockdown. He is stepping back this week to focus more fully on his Readership role and passes the baton on to Iain who has kindly offered to edit our future recorded services. We extend our most sincere thanks to both Robert and Iain. The link for this week's service is: http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service-2/
This week there are one or two modifications to our usual routine of events to accommodate other special services. Please note that there will be no private prayer at Toddington this week on Thursday morning to allow the 72 hours Covid safety clearance before holding a Wedding in Church on 15th August.
There will also be an act of Remembrance at 11am on 15th August at Toddington war memorial to mark the remembrance of VJ day. (This event will be socially distanced - with limited numbers able to gather).
Services this week:
Sunday Upper Room zoom service 9am considers favourite characters from the Bible with contributions from different members of the Quintet churches. It is a special time sharing together, as we gather via the internet. Do join us if you can. Please contact Linda or Nigel for access link, see contact details below.
Outdoor Services on Sunday 9th August (it will be helpful if you could please print your own copy of the appropriate Outdoor Sunday Morning Service sheet - see link above this message heading).
Tingrith Church 10.15am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Harlington Church 10.15am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Chalgrave Church 10.30am - please bring a chair and a printed copy of the Sunday 9th attached service if possible, but copies will be available.
Westoning Church 11am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Toddington Church 11.15am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer in the Chancel in Toddington Church.. please gather at the Chancel door.
Tuesday 9.30am Morning Prayer by zoom. Please ask Linda for the zoom access link
Wednesday 10am Harlington Church outdoor gathering for Morning Prayer.
Wednesday 8pm Churches Together in Harlington zoom service. All welcome.
Private Prayer
Westoning Church 12 noon on Wednesday
Chalgrave Church 11am on Thursday
Zoom gatherings:
Tuesday 10.30am Harlington
Wednesday 11am Toddington
No zoom gathering at Westoning this week.
Please note that it is now a Government requirement to wear a face covering in church not only to protect yourself from infection but also to protect others. Thank you.
Wishing you every blessing this week
Linda and Nigel
1st Aug 2020
Dear All
We hope you have had a good week and have enjoyed the lovely sunshine this week-end. It was a scorcher on Friday!
Online Recorded Service: This week our recorded service, which was filmed at Tingrith Church, can be accessed on this usual link: http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service-2/ If you have difficulties accessing by the link, please also consider logging on to Harlington Church website where you will find a link for This Sunday's service linked to a picture, which you can click and it will take you direct to the filmed service.
Online The Upper Room Service: 9am Sunday morning: please contact Linda or Nigel for access link, see contact details below.
Outdoor Sunday Service: Our outdoor Sunday morning services are proving to be increasingly popular as an opportunity to gather in safety in the fresh air. This week we meet as follows:
Harlington Church 10.15am (Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet)
Chalgrave Church 10.30am (please bring a chair) Sunday 2nd August Service Sheet
Westoning Church 11am (please bring a chair) Sunday 2nd August Service Sheet
Toddington Church 11.15am (please bring a chair although some chairs will be provided) Sunday 2nd August Service Sheet
next week Tingrith Church will also meet for their first outdoor service at 10.15am on Sunday.
While there is an increased risk of virus spread, we will continue to meet outdoors on Sunday mornings (and Wednesday morning at Harlington) - weather permitting.
At each service, please sterilise your hands on arrival and on leaving. If possible, please print and bring your own copy of the respective service sheet and take it home with you afterwards (there will be some copies available at each church). Service sheets attached Sunday 2nd August will be used at Chalgrave, Toddington and Westoning. Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet will be used at Harlington. A list of attendees and contact numbers will be taken at each service for track and trace purposes.
Zoom gatherings this week:
9.30am Tuesday Morning Prayer (please ask Linda for the access link)
10.30am Tuesday Harlington Church
10.15am Wednesday Westoning Church
11am Wednesday Toddington/Chalgrave Churches
Other Services and events:
9.30am Monday Morning Prayer in the Chancel at Toddington Church (Government guidance requires that we now wear a face mask inside the building for Public Worship). Please meet at the Chancel door.
10am Wednesday Morning Prayer gathering outdoors at Harlington Church
Private Prayer:
Thursday 11-12 noon Chalgrave Church
Thursday 10- 11am Harlington Church
Thursday 10-11.30am Toddington Church
Wednesday 12 -1pm Westoning Church
If you would be interested to gather for an 8am BCP service of Morning Prayer at Harlington Church, next Sunday 9th August, can you please let me or Nigel know.
Finance
You may have heard on the news this week about the financial difficulties of Westminster Abbey which has suffered greatly from the loss of tourist and service income (12 million pounds deficit due to the Covid-19 situation so far this year). Unfortunately, many churches are facing deficit situations with our doors having been closed for so long. During the lockdown, our main focus within the Quintet, and within St Albans diocese, has to be to support you as best as we can, and to provide services and gatherings to allow us to worship and meet together. This continues to be our focus alongside your pastoral well being. However, church finances are a concern for the future and so we need to come up to date with new technology and opportunities to meet the approach of the cashless society. For now, there continues to be an offering plate available at each church at our services (both indoor and outdoor) to receive offerings by envelope or cash. However, the collection plate will be in a static place to avoid shared touching, as we are no longer permitted to pass the plate around due to infection risk.
Other opportunities to make an offering are by Card Reader at Toddington, Harlington and Westoning Churches; by donation button on the websites at Harlington, Westoning or Toddington, (or A church Near You page at Toddington). If you are interested to set up a regular payment direct from your bank account, Westoning, Harlington and Toddington have Parish Giving literature and facility available, or please contact the Treasurers for any of our Quintet churches for the church bank details. If you would like to receive a set of envelopes at home, or for someone to pop by to see you, please do let us know. We thank you for your generosity and kindness in the contributions you already make to your local church which enables us to continue in our outreach and Christian witness, and in the upkeep of these wonderful places of worship. Your contributions are truly appreciated. Thank you!
With love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
25th July 2020
Dear All
We hope you are all well and have had a good week? We are pleased that the outdoor Sunday 'services' were well received last Sunday. It was very good to gather back together again. The services continue this week at the following times:
Outdoor Sunday 'Services': *For your information, card readers will be available at Westoning, Harlington and Toddington churches tomorrow, for your convenience.
Online and Recorded services:
Services during the week:
Private Prayer in church: *You are requested please to wear a face covering in church.*
Do please link with us if you have any concerns or prayer requests, or if you would just like to link for a chat.
With love and prayer
Nigel and Linda
18th July 2020
Dear All
Open Air Gathering in the Church Grounds
This week we have the exciting new opportunity to meet for worship together for the first time in many months within the church grounds in the open air, at four of our churches. At this strange time of 'unlocking' many people are wary of entering the churches yet, and so we hope you will feel comfortable to meet outdoors in the fresh air.
We will, of course, need to pay careful attention to social distancing requirements and maintain a 2 metres distance from each other, and some of you may wish to also wear a face covering. If you are in a vulnerable category you may prefer to remain at home, and we quite understand this. Or if you decide to come along, you will be welcome.
Please also bring along your own copy of the service sheet (see above) and then please take it home again with you afterwards. There will be spare copies for anyone unable to print a copy. There will be a collection plate, but it will be set in one place as we are no longer able to hand it around (to reduce the spread of any potential infection). In some churches there may also be a supply of envelopes or a card machine available (as we are now moving into the previously unlikely territory of being advised to use card payments instead of cash).
When you arrive, please remember to sterilise your hands, and again, on leaving. (What strange times we are in.. but this is important for each other's safety and well-being).
Tomorrow (Sunday 19th July), we meet for a short gathering for prayers, Bible readings, and a time of reflection and sharing. There will be no singing of hymns. Please bring your own chair, if possible, although each church will have some chairs available.
This week is a trial arrangement for several churches, and times of services may change over the coming weeks as we seek to balance commitments, but tomorrow (Sunday 19th July) we meet at these times in these churches:
Harlington Church 11am
Toddington Church 11.15am
Chalgrave Church 10.30am
Westoning Church 11am
Online Services
Events in our Churches
Private Prayer:
Toddington 12 noon until 2pm Monday and 10-12 noon on Friday. Please enter through the South Door into Cheney Chapel
Chalgrave 11-12 noon on Thursday
Tingrith Sunday, 11-12 noon
Westoning Wednesday 12 noon -1pm, Saturday 2pm -3pm
Harlington: Thursday 10-11am, Sunday 2-3pm
As the Churches begin to open more frequently some of our Zoom Coffee Morning gatherings will need to change timing butt his week we meet:
Harlington: Tuesday at 10.30am
Westoning: Wednesday 10.15am
Toddington: Wednesday 10.45-11.45am (change of day and time)
On a personal note, as the churches get busier and we try to balance online commitments and physical gatherings at our churches, we recognise that we need to build in our days off to keep up our energy levels. (We are part-time 0.75 and entitled to take 2.5 days each week). During the lockdown period we have continued to work each day, but as demands grow, there is increasingly less time to rest, so we are attempting a new discipline and this week will be taking time off from lunch time on Thursday until late afternoon on Saturday. We will put our phones and emails down during the day but will catch up on anything urgent in the evenings and will be available from late afternoon on Saturday. Thank you for your understanding.
We thank you for your support and extend our gratitude and appreciation of the hard working teams in each of our Churches.
With best wishes
Linda and Nigel
4th July 2020
Dear all
Here we are on 4th July, the day when hairdressers, pubs, holiday cottages and more emerge forth, people are travelling to spend time with families. Churches are now officially allowed to open for Public Worship, weddings can take place and we can begin to discuss baptisms again. Despite the Government clearance to open for Public Worship there are many practical issues to consider, and a lot of guidelines to read and put into place; so, many churches, including ours within the Quintet, will not be opening for Sunday Public worship yet but each church is either open or about to open for Private prayer. We are moving gently forward to a time when we can gather physically in church again.. but we must be safe.
It is an interesting concept how we will manage the hosting of Public Worship Sunday services in the future whilst also looking to live stream services too. Some churches are investigating how to install broadband connections and this may be something that we also need to consider. Life's experiences move us forward into new times and new ways. Gently does it. One step at a time.
Our Services and events this week
Our weekly Quintet pre-recorded service http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service-2/ is accessed by about 200 people on Facebook alone, and other people connect direct to Harlington website, or access via the link in this email so church has taken on a new and exciting dimension. Our service this week includes young Toby and Joshua from Chalgrave Church (and Messy Church and Youth Group) as our Bible readers, Marcel from Harlington Church offers our Intercessions, Jenna Dearden (Ordinand from Westoning) offers a lovely sermon this week, and Nicholas plays skillful accompaniment for our hymns and music. Thank you so much to everyone involved in our service this week, which has been filmed at Harlington Church.
The Upper Room: zoom worship service takes place for an hour at 9am on Sunday morning. People gather from across the Quintet of churches, but also on occasions with visitors from Gloucestershire! This week we are looking at 'Coming to Faith' and 3 ladies will give brief testimonies of their journey (following on from 3 men sharing their stories last week). There will be scripture, music and prayer in an hour of peace and reflection. Last week we had 37 people visiting the Upper Room and many have said how that hour sets them up for the day. Do join us if you can. Please contact Linda or Nigel for access link - see contact details below.
Morning Prayer
Tuesday morning at 9.30am via zoom link. You are most welcome to join us for 45 minutes of sharing Bible passages, prayer and reflection. (Please ask Linda or Nigel for the access link).
Zoom coffee Mornings:
Harlington 10.30am on Tuesday
Westoning 10.15am on Wednesday
Toddington and Chalgrave 10.30am on Thursday
Do please join us for one or more events, if you can.
Quintet Churches open for Private Prayer as follows:
Toddington church is open on Monday 12 noon to 2pm and Friday 10-12noon
Harlington Church will be open tomorrow afternoon 2-3pm and Thursday 10-11am.
Tingrith Church will be open Sundays 11-12 noon
Westoning Church is open for private prayer Wednesday 12 -1pm and Saturday 2-3pm
Chalgrave Church will be open 11-12 noon on Thursdays from 16th July.
Response please
As we move forward into these new stages please link with us and tell how you are feeling about worship and meeting opportunities now, and also how you feel about future worship e.g. are you keen to return to church, or reticent? We would really value your comments.
We send our love in Christ, and our prayers. Please keep safe, take care of yourselves.
Linda and Nigel
27th June 2020
Dear all
Another week has past, and here we are fast approaching the end of June! How quickly time is passing.
With the gradual emerging from lockdown this week Toddington church opened to host a small funeral and two churches - Westoning and Toddington were opened for Private Prayer. We hope that Chalgrave and Harlington churches will also be able to open for private prayer towards the end of next week once practical arrangements have been put into place. (Before we can open, the churches need to be cleaned and prepared for social distancing with appropriate signage and hand sterilisation gels, to make sure that visitors are safe).
Private Prayer times:
It is certainly good to be able to open the church doors again, albeit under strict health and safety guidelines.
At present there can be no led worship, no singing in church and hymn books and contact items have to be removed. Parts of the churches will be cordoned off... but it will be lovely to be able to welcome people to come and pray and to spend some quiet time in church after all these weeks.
We are moving forward with consideration of how and when to open for public Sunday worship services. The government has announced that it is possible to hold public worship from July 4th but the Church of England and our Diocese are still awaiting the accompanying government guidelines. The opening of churches is permissive and not prescriptive and we as ministers have been guided by the bishops that there is no need to rush. We will need to consider carefully what is best for each parish. In the immediate, internet services will continue as many people enjoy accessing these, and it has become an increasingly valued part of weekly ministry.
Services for this week:
Our zoom gatherings continue this week:
Beware of Scams:
There are increasing warnings to be careful of scam attempts online and by phone which seek to access your personal and private banking information. With this in mind, Robert has prepared a special SCAM awareness page, hosted on Harlington Web site. We encourage you to click on this link to read the guidance about how to protect yourself. http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/safeguarding/on-line-scamming-is-a-safeguarding-issue/
We send you our love and care, and our prayers. Do please let us know how you are. We are definitely interested. Thank you also for your care and support towards us.
We hope you have a very good week. We continue to pray for your health and wellbeing and for the protection and care of your families and loved ones.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
20th June 2020
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week and have coped with the further releasing from confinement.. and the torrential rain - the gardens and the gardeners will be happy! This week more shops have opened, more people have returned to work, the roads have become much busier (has anyone else noticed the high number of speeding cars?!).
Our zoom gatherings continue this week:
Moving forward with arrangements for Churches to open for Private prayer. We are tentatively looking at the following options:
At present there can be no led worship, no singing in church and hymn books and contact items have to be removed. Parts of the churches will be cordoned off... but it will be lovely to be able to welcome people to come and pray and to spend some quiet time in church after all these weeks. We will let you know days and dates as soon as they are known.
We send you our love and care, and our prayers. Do please let us know how you are. We are definitely interested. Thank you also for your care and support towards us.
We hope you have a very good week. We continue to pray for your health and wellbeing and for the protection and care of your families and loved ones.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
13th June 2020
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week and are keeping well? It's been a busy week for us with the news that churches can now consider opening for private prayer. There is a lot to consider and we are in discussion with the various PCC's before making any definite decisions but will let you know details as soon as they are known. Please let us know if you would like to go into church to pray.
This week's pre-recorded service is set in St. Mary Magdalene Church Westoning and our readers are from Westoning and Chalgrave Churches.
You are also warmly invited to join us at 'The Upper Room' online service tomorrow at 9am - see link above for poster with details.
You are also invited to our weekly zoom Coffee Mornings and Morning Prayer this week:
Tuesday 9.30am Morning Prayer All welcome. Please let us know if you would like to 'come' to the service.
Tuesday 10.30am Harlington 'Coffee Morning'
Wednesday 10.15am Westoning 'Coffee Morning'
Thursday 10.30am Toddington and Chalgrave 'Coffee Morning'.
Please put these dates in your diary and look out for the invitation links the day before. If you would like any more information, please let me or Nigel know.
On Harlington web site you will also find a link to the RSCM Big Music service at 6 pm in which some of the Quintet choir are singing http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
With every good wish, love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
6th June 2020
Hello Everyone
We hope you are well and have had a good week.. with a good sense of being slightly released. This week the Lower School opened its doors to some year groups, more people are emerging from lockdown, with more people returning to work. Sadly, we still have no indication of when the churches may reopen.. but let's pray that it will not be too far away.
This week our recorded service was filmed in St George's Church, Toddington, with an introductory picture of Tingrith church. We give our thanks to this week's readers.
You are also warmly invite to join a 'zoom' Upper Room' informal worship service at 9am Sunday morning. This is a new style service which has emerged from last week's Thy Kingdom come Prayer initiatives. Last Sunday we held the first service for Westoning Church and a few folk joined us from Toddington and Harlington. It offered a rather special opportunity for worship, sharing testimony and prayerful interaction, and so we have decided to continue this each Sunday in June, and to extend it to the Quintet of churches, so others can join us. There is no obligation to contribute.. it is absolutely ok to come and listen. There is a link to poster above but please contact Nigel on nwashy2@gmail.com or me for access code etc to join the zoom room in the morning.
Zoom Coffee Mornings continue this week:
Harlington: 10.30am on Tuesday
Westoning: 10.15am on Wednesday
Toddington and Chalgrave: 10.30am on Thursday.
We will issue access codes the day before or please email to ask for the link: revdtoddington@gmail.com.
Morning Prayer for the Quintet will be on Tuesday morning at 9.30am. Please let Linda or Nigel know if you would like to join this so we can send you the invitational access codes.
We would really value hearing how you are getting on; if you are managing to access the services ok and if there is any way can offer you support. We will deliver service sheets in the morning to anyone who has requested them, who is not able to access internet services. Please let us know of anyone else who may wish to have contact from us. We have enjoyed several conversations at 2m distance on doorsteps on Sunday morning. Let us know if you would like a similar visit at some stage.
With love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
30th May 2020
Dear All
We hope and pray that you are well and coping ok. Each day seems to bring a new stage and a new set of challenges and adjustments. Do please link with us to share your news, or to let us know if you would like any support eg shopping, IT help, prayer, links by phone etc.
This week's Quintet service celebrates Pentecost which is marked as the birth of the Christian Church. And as the disciples joined together in the Upper Room at Pentecost, so a number of us have joined together remotely from our homes - sharing our different voices, to contribute to our service - please do join us from your homes too so we can share time together.
We offer our sincere thanks to all involved. We also have 2 hymns from St Martin's in the Fields church choir. If you are willing to be involved in future recorded services, to offer a reading, or the Intercessions, please do let us know. You will be most welcome.
This week's services and events:
If you would like to join us this week for a zoom virtual coffee morning please note the following dates and times into your diaries:
Tuesday morning 10.30am Harlington Coffee morning
Wednesday morning 10.15am Westoning Coffee morning
Thursday morning 10.30am Toddington Coffee morning (Chalgrave church members are welcome to join us).
Services:
Sunday 31st 9am Westoning Church: a Pentecost Upper Room time of Prayer (please email Nigel if you would like to join so he can send you the link)
Monday morning 9.30am: Morning Prayer by zoom for Harlington Church (and Quintet church members who would like to join) Please email Linda to ask for the link.
Tuesday morning 9.30am: Morning Prayer by zoom for Toddington church (and Quintet church members who would like to join) Please email Linda to ask for the link: revdtoddington@gmail.com.
We send our love and prayers to you all
Linda and Nigel
9th May 2020
Dear All
This week our service comes from Chalgrave Church (well sort of!). The service is not a Communion Service so is slightly shorter, and we are pleased that our Readers have been involved in reading the Bible passages...it's good to share! If anyone would like to contribute to a future service please let us know. It would be good to include readers and intercessors from across the five churches over the weeks ahead.. and perhaps there might be scope to include a testimony or two to encourage others, if you feel inspired to share.
For members of our churches not on internet, Nigel and I deliver service sheets with the reading sheet each week so everyone is able to worship. If you know of anyone who would like to be included in our mailings or deliveries, please do let us know, or pass on our contact details, or this email, so they can link with us.
It has been very lovely to share with so many of you this week at zoom PCC meeting (Westoning) and zoom coffee mornings or prayer meeting. We will issue zoom invitations for next week's meetings tomorrow which will include a Chalgrave church meeting too.
Please let us know if you, or anyone else you know, would be interested to join an informal church meeting so we can make sure to send out an invitation. We are also considering launching zoom prayer and home study groups . If you feel an interest to join us in these, please let us know asap. Perhaps you might also be interested in a quintet church Quiz night, or a book club?
There have been so many wonderful pictures from the villages of the V.E. day celebrations. Such special times.. socially distanced but enjoying time as community as we all pay tribute and remember.
A quick reminder that the free Daily Hope phone number: 0800 804 8044 to contact if you would like to hear a daily service, hymns or prayers, or to receive the comfort of listening to a reflection. Please pass this on to anyone you know who may not be on the internet but who may be glad of company and encouragement.
Please let us know if you have any other news to be circulated.
With every good wish
Linda and Nigel
3rd May 2020
Dear all
Yet another week has passed in 'lockdown'. How are you and your families coping? We have had some wonderfully sunny weather this week, but also some heavy rain.. quite symbolic. Each day is different but, in many ways, each day can be very much the same. Are you grateful to slow down a little, or do you feel a sense of loss of routine and miss company? Are you climbing the walls or still very content to have space and time to be, to do, and to breathe the cleaner air?
Families are busy with home schooling, and many people are also working from home, whilst others are furloughed. Grandparents and families are finding new ways to connect but will be looking forward to times when they can meet up physically to share a laugh or a cuddle. Many of us are learning new IT skills and there is a growing sense of positivity as we see some regular aspects of life across Europe, Australia and New Zealand begin to release. We too have been told that we are past the peak and there are encouraging signs of some aspects of normality returning... the council tips have opened! Rejoice, Rejoice and again we say rejoice! But, for now, we remain patient and look out for each other within our communities and church families. This week I have included Toddington Messy Church families and offer you a very warm welcome. (If you would prefer not to be included, do please let me know).
Nigel and I miss meeting with you all and encourage you to link and let us know your news. We are here for you if you need us: 01525 714442.
Nigel and I send our very best wishes to you all. We pray protection and peace for you and your families. We also pray for all those who work in the NHS and in the caring services and for all key workers...especially remembering our local schools and businesses. We pray for those who are sick (please forward names of anyone you wish us to pray for). Thank you all so much for all your support and for the different creative initiatives and projects. Have a good week.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
(see Home Page for the most recent message)
12th Sept 2020
Dear All
It has been a busy week but we have had some super events in the churches and the weather has been kind with such lovely sunshine. We hope you are all keeping well and enjoying opportunity to get out in the fresh air?
This Sunday's services are:
Harlington Morning worship at 9.30am inside church (please wear face coverings)
Tingrith Morning Worship at 9.30am inside church (Please wear face coverings)
Westoning Morning Worship at 11am inside church (Please wear face coverings)
Toddington Morning Worship at 11.15am in the church grounds - socially distanced. (service sheet attached)
Chalgrave 800 yrs celebration Picnic at 1pm for church family members, followed by the 800 years Service of Thanksgiving at 2.30pm. Numbers will be limited for SD reasons to Chalgrave Church members. Please bring your own chair and your own picnic. We are pleased to also welcome Bishop Richard and his wife Helen.
6pm Quintet Upper Room zoom service: topic: Inspiring People. Please contact Rev'd Linda for access code.Services and Prayer time this week
Toddington Morning Prayer Monday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am Chancel door entry
Harlington Morning Worship Wednesday 10am
Westoning Private Prayer Wednesday morning 12 noon for an hour
Harlington, Toddington and Chalgrave churches are available for Private prayer but please contact Linda, Nigel or a Church Warden to organise a convenient time.
Recorded Service Our thanks go out to Robert and Steve who read this week, to the Dean of St Albans for his sermon, to Nicholas for our music, (plus St Martins in the Fields for two hymns) and to Iain who is editing (with a few extra challenges this week).
Next Sunday we have Harvest services at:
Chalgrave Church at 9.30am (new regular service time) and at Toddington Church (continuing to meet at 11.15am for the near future). Both harvest services will be a little different to usual. Instead of decorating the churches we are inviting contributions to the Foodbank please. Bishop Alan, the Bishop of St Albans will be joining us.
Westoning Church Harvest service at 11am. Donations to the Foodbank
Dates for the Church APCM meetings are as follows:
Westoning church 4th October at 12 noon after the morning service
Tingrith tbc
Harlington 5th October at 7pm in church following a service of Public Worship
Toddington tbc
Chalgrave 3pm 18th October following a service of Public Worship
Do please link with us if you would like a chat, or any support,
with our best wishes
Linda and Nigel
5th Sept 2020
Dear All
As I write this email the sun is shining down and I look out to the Sunflowers dipping under the weight of their flowers, the green, green grass of home which is thriving, and there is a hint of Autumn in the air. It has been a good week for us and I hope it has been good for you too.
Looking ahead to the coming week there are a few tweaks on timings and types of services as we adjust towards settling back into church:
Sunday Services:
Tingrith Church: 9.30am Morning Service, in church
Harlington Church: 9.30am Morning Service, in church
Chalgrave Church: 10am Morning Service, with Holy Communion, outside in the church grounds (please bring a chair)
Westoning Church: 11am Morning Service, in church
Toddington Church: 11.15am Holy Communion service, in church.
For each service, social distancing measures will be in place, but please wear a face covering for services in church.
Online Upper Room Sunday service: This week's theme is 'Passing the Baton' and it will be held at the new time of 6pm. All Welcome. Please contact Linda for zoom link.
Other Services and events
Morning Prayer at Toddington on Monday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am, in the Chancel
Morning Service at Harlington on Wednesday mornings at 10am.
Private Prayer Opportunities
Westoning Church: Wednesday at noon for one hour
Chalgrave and Toddington Churches.. anyone wishing to go into church for a period of private prayer is most welcome. Please contact Linda or the church wardens to request a convenient time.
Harlington Church.. anyone wishing to go into church for a period of private prayer is most welcome. Please contact Linda, Nigel or Tricia to request a convenient time.
Next Saturday is a busy day with the Beds and Herts Bike and Hike fundraising activity, which is a great opportunity to visit churches in the area, have exercise in the fresh air, and also raise funds for our own churches and for Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust (who have been very supportive to various grant requests from our churches this year). Please consider if you are either able to take part or or able to sponsor someone who is taking part.
Next Saturday is also : Gift Day for Harlington Church.. More details from Tricia or Neil, Churchwardens.
The wedding of Andrea and Wayne at Chalgrave Church (postponed from May due to church closure)
The 800 years anniversary week-end of Chalgrave church, which Church family members will be celebrating in a gentle way on Sunday afternoon... not quite what we had originally planned but please pray for good weather for our church family picnic and the small outdoor service in the afternoon. We would love to invite all the Quintet but the bigger celebration event will take place next year, when we will hopefully all be able to gather freely and joyfully again.
Zoom Coffee Mornings have paused for a few weeks. Please let us know if you miss these and would like them to continue (albeit perhaps fortnightly or monthly).
We are also looking at other possible ways to move forward together in faith.. Would you like some form of Bible study group or virtual home group? Do please let us know your thoughts and any ideas.
With every good wish
Linda and Nigel
29th Aug 2020
Dear all
We hope you are all keeping well and safe.. and surviving the storms, rain and winds this week - well it is a bank holiday weekend!
There is no video recorded service this week with it being a Bank holiday weekend, but Nigel and I have issued a link to an audio recording (but without hymns) - please see above. We expect to return to recorded services the following week.
Our Sunday Services this week:
- Quintet ZOOM UPPER ROOM service at 9am when we shall be looking at the future of the church as we move forward. It promises to be good with two speakers; Chris Nixon from Silsoe Church and Rebecca Caird who is the Family and Mission Outreach worker in the Quintet.
Everyone is welcome in the Upper Room. You can just sit and listen. So do invite your friends, from near and far, to share some music, scripture reflection and prayer in a safe space. 9am this Sunday -Please contact Linda for zoom link.
- Harlington Church: 10.15am Morning Service (inside church)
- Chalgrave Church: 10.30am Morning service gathering (in the church grounds) (service sheet Sunday 30th August)
- Westoning Church: 11am Morning service (inside Church with use of overhead screen)
- Toddington Church: 11.15am Morning service (outside if the weather is suitable, inside if the weather is inclement)
Other Services and events this week:
Morning Prayer at Toddington Tuesday morning at 9.30am (Different day due to Bank Holiday Monday)
Morning Service at Harlington Wednesday morning at 10am (outside if the weather is suitable)
Private Prayer:
Harlington Church 10-11am on Thursday
Toddington Church 10-11.30am on Thursday
Chalgrave Church 11-12 noon on Thursday
Westoning Church 12 -1pm on Wednesday
Future Sunday Service changes:
From September 6th Harlington Church Morning service will move to 9.30am
The Upper Room zoom service will move to 6pm
Toddington Church hosts a Scarecrow Festival on Sunday afternoon and Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.. programmes available from Wilkinson Hall where refreshments will also be served (outside). Other items of interest in the hall.. (with social distancing measures in place). More information from Dee.
Harlington Church and the village have welcomed the return of the church bells this week. There have been so many happy comments from the village community noting their familiar return.. they are a landmark sound. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the donation appeal and for your generosity.
Chalgrave Church PCC meeting Wednesday eve.
Beware of email scam
There are reports around the country of a growing number of cases of emails impersonating clergy being sent to request a variety of things including purchase of gift cards and vouchers. Please note that we will never ask you by email to spend your own money for the church. In many cases the sender's email is: churchonline948@gmail.com. (This has been reported to the government phishing address). Please be careful.
With best wishes
Linda and Nigel
22nd Aug 2020
Dear All,
We hope you are well and enjoying the month of August. Sundays are now very busy across the Quintet with a series of services taking place.
Services on offer this Sunday are as follows: Tingrith Open Air at 10.15am; Harlington Open Air at 10.15am; Chalgrave Open Air at 10.30am; Westoning Open Air at 11am and
Toddington Open Air at 11.15am
The services in the open air are dependent on good weather conditions so contingency plans for moving inside if the weather is poor have been made.
The Zoom Upper Room Service is live at 9am. The invitation is for all to call by and listen to this 60 minute time of music scripture reflection and prayer.
We are grateful for Steve Farmer who has presented this week's Pre-recorded Service, Fran and Linda who have undertaken readings, Iain Grant who has edited it and Nicholas Hopton who has provided the music.
Other services this week......
Morning Prayer in the chancel in Toddington Church 9.30am on Monday
Open Air Service at Harlington Church 10am on Wednesday
Private Prayer at Westoning Church at 12 noon on Wednesday.
Private Prayer at Chalgrave, Toddington and Harlington Churches at 10am on Thursday
Funerals taking place this week;
Toddington Church: Tuesday 25th August at 11am, Maureen Toms
Toddington Church: Thursday 27th August at 2pm Graeme Renshaw
Toddington Church Scarecrow Festival- next weekend, Sunday 30th and Monday 31st from 12.30-4pm. Scarecrows will be displayed in front gardens and the churchyard. Maps for viewing the scarecrows £5 per family or group and individual visitors £1. More information from Dee
Please let us know if you would like a chat or support in any way.
We send you our love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
15th Aug 2020
Dear all
It has been a strange week with temperatures blazing at the beginning of the week and rain, storms and fog at the end of the week. Our busy schedules have been varied too and on some days we have barely caught a glimpse of each other. Next week, however, we will be easing back for a few days breather.. catching up on a few days off to rest and looking to have some time to reflect and plan as we move forward within the churches.
Our recorded service has been compiled by Iain from Toddington this week.. and huge thanks go to him for his time...(and also for his time trying to save my crashed computer this week.. which has sadly died because the hard drive is worn out!). It feels strangely symbolic. Years of information stored from family, church, and work over the years.. suddenly inaccessible and potentially lost. Just a little stressful! But we give thanks for the skills and willingness of folk to help.. and hopefully my files have been recovered even though my computer has had enough!
The link to the recorded service this week runs from our new St George of England, Toddington You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikWsc99ueTI (Hold down the command button and click with the computer mouse and it should take you to the service).
This week our churches will hold Sunday Morning Outdoor Services (but each church will have an option to move into the church building if there is heavy rain).
Harlington Church 10.15am Outdoor service (Service sheets will be provided)
Chalgrave 10.30am Outdoor service. Please bring a chair and a copy of the Chalgrave service sheet.
Westoning Church 11am Outdoor service (service sheets provided)
Toddington Church 11.15am Outdoor service (service sheets available or bring last week's/ use link above to print sheet)
Wednesday Morning: Harlington Church 10am Outdoor service
Tingrith Church will meet next Sunday at 10.15am for an open air service.
OTHER SERVICES THIS WEEK
Monday 9.30am : Toddington Church Morning Prayer
Tuesday 9.30am : Morning Prayer by zoom. Please ask Linda for the zoom access link
Thursday 10am - 11.30am : Church open for Private Prayer
There will be no zoom mid-week gatherings this week.
We will issue shortly the dates for each church's Annual Parochial Church Meetings which could not take place in April due to church closures but now need to take place by 31st October.
We wish you a very blessed week and look forward to seeing you soon.
God bless
Linda
8th Aug 2020
Hello Everyone
We have pleasure in attaching the link for the recorded service this week which was filmed at Harlington Church and includes beautiful hymns and music courtesy of the choir of St Martins in the Field and Nicholas who leads our hymns and music with such enthusiasm and gifting. The service includes Bible readings by Iain from Toddington Church and Larry from Chalgrave Church, and a sincere meaningful sermon by Bishop Alan, Bishop of St Albans, based on personal experience. The service has been edited by Dr Robert Johns of Harlington Church for the last time, and we extend our most grateful thanks to him for his tremendous commitment and dedication in editing and preparing the service each week over these past months of lockdown. He is stepping back this week to focus more fully on his Readership role and passes the baton on to Iain who has kindly offered to edit our future recorded services. We extend our most sincere thanks to both Robert and Iain. The link for this week's service is: http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service-2/
This week there are one or two modifications to our usual routine of events to accommodate other special services. Please note that there will be no private prayer at Toddington this week on Thursday morning to allow the 72 hours Covid safety clearance before holding a Wedding in Church on 15th August.
There will also be an act of Remembrance at 11am on 15th August at Toddington war memorial to mark the remembrance of VJ day. (This event will be socially distanced - with limited numbers able to gather).
Services this week:
Sunday Upper Room zoom service 9am considers favourite characters from the Bible with contributions from different members of the Quintet churches. It is a special time sharing together, as we gather via the internet. Do join us if you can. Please contact Linda or Nigel for access link, see contact details below.
Outdoor Services on Sunday 9th August (it will be helpful if you could please print your own copy of the appropriate Outdoor Sunday Morning Service sheet - see link above this message heading).
Tingrith Church 10.15am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Harlington Church 10.15am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Chalgrave Church 10.30am - please bring a chair and a printed copy of the Sunday 9th attached service if possible, but copies will be available.
Westoning Church 11am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Toddington Church 11.15am Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet
Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer in the Chancel in Toddington Church.. please gather at the Chancel door.
Tuesday 9.30am Morning Prayer by zoom. Please ask Linda for the zoom access link
Wednesday 10am Harlington Church outdoor gathering for Morning Prayer.
Wednesday 8pm Churches Together in Harlington zoom service. All welcome.
Private Prayer
Westoning Church 12 noon on Wednesday
Chalgrave Church 11am on Thursday
Zoom gatherings:
Tuesday 10.30am Harlington
Wednesday 11am Toddington
No zoom gathering at Westoning this week.
Please note that it is now a Government requirement to wear a face covering in church not only to protect yourself from infection but also to protect others. Thank you.
Wishing you every blessing this week
Linda and Nigel
1st Aug 2020
Dear All
We hope you have had a good week and have enjoyed the lovely sunshine this week-end. It was a scorcher on Friday!
Online Recorded Service: This week our recorded service, which was filmed at Tingrith Church, can be accessed on this usual link: http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service-2/ If you have difficulties accessing by the link, please also consider logging on to Harlington Church website where you will find a link for This Sunday's service linked to a picture, which you can click and it will take you direct to the filmed service.
Online The Upper Room Service: 9am Sunday morning: please contact Linda or Nigel for access link, see contact details below.
Outdoor Sunday Service: Our outdoor Sunday morning services are proving to be increasingly popular as an opportunity to gather in safety in the fresh air. This week we meet as follows:
Harlington Church 10.15am (Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet)
Chalgrave Church 10.30am (please bring a chair) Sunday 2nd August Service Sheet
Westoning Church 11am (please bring a chair) Sunday 2nd August Service Sheet
Toddington Church 11.15am (please bring a chair although some chairs will be provided) Sunday 2nd August Service Sheet
next week Tingrith Church will also meet for their first outdoor service at 10.15am on Sunday.
While there is an increased risk of virus spread, we will continue to meet outdoors on Sunday mornings (and Wednesday morning at Harlington) - weather permitting.
At each service, please sterilise your hands on arrival and on leaving. If possible, please print and bring your own copy of the respective service sheet and take it home with you afterwards (there will be some copies available at each church). Service sheets attached Sunday 2nd August will be used at Chalgrave, Toddington and Westoning. Outdoor Sunday morning service sheet will be used at Harlington. A list of attendees and contact numbers will be taken at each service for track and trace purposes.
Zoom gatherings this week:
9.30am Tuesday Morning Prayer (please ask Linda for the access link)
10.30am Tuesday Harlington Church
10.15am Wednesday Westoning Church
11am Wednesday Toddington/Chalgrave Churches
Other Services and events:
9.30am Monday Morning Prayer in the Chancel at Toddington Church (Government guidance requires that we now wear a face mask inside the building for Public Worship). Please meet at the Chancel door.
10am Wednesday Morning Prayer gathering outdoors at Harlington Church
Private Prayer:
Thursday 11-12 noon Chalgrave Church
Thursday 10- 11am Harlington Church
Thursday 10-11.30am Toddington Church
Wednesday 12 -1pm Westoning Church
If you would be interested to gather for an 8am BCP service of Morning Prayer at Harlington Church, next Sunday 9th August, can you please let me or Nigel know.
Finance
You may have heard on the news this week about the financial difficulties of Westminster Abbey which has suffered greatly from the loss of tourist and service income (12 million pounds deficit due to the Covid-19 situation so far this year). Unfortunately, many churches are facing deficit situations with our doors having been closed for so long. During the lockdown, our main focus within the Quintet, and within St Albans diocese, has to be to support you as best as we can, and to provide services and gatherings to allow us to worship and meet together. This continues to be our focus alongside your pastoral well being. However, church finances are a concern for the future and so we need to come up to date with new technology and opportunities to meet the approach of the cashless society. For now, there continues to be an offering plate available at each church at our services (both indoor and outdoor) to receive offerings by envelope or cash. However, the collection plate will be in a static place to avoid shared touching, as we are no longer permitted to pass the plate around due to infection risk.
Other opportunities to make an offering are by Card Reader at Toddington, Harlington and Westoning Churches; by donation button on the websites at Harlington, Westoning or Toddington, (or A church Near You page at Toddington). If you are interested to set up a regular payment direct from your bank account, Westoning, Harlington and Toddington have Parish Giving literature and facility available, or please contact the Treasurers for any of our Quintet churches for the church bank details. If you would like to receive a set of envelopes at home, or for someone to pop by to see you, please do let us know. We thank you for your generosity and kindness in the contributions you already make to your local church which enables us to continue in our outreach and Christian witness, and in the upkeep of these wonderful places of worship. Your contributions are truly appreciated. Thank you!
With love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
25th July 2020
Dear All
We hope you are all well and have had a good week? We are pleased that the outdoor Sunday 'services' were well received last Sunday. It was very good to gather back together again. The services continue this week at the following times:
Outdoor Sunday 'Services': *For your information, card readers will be available at Westoning, Harlington and Toddington churches tomorrow, for your convenience.
- Harlington Church at 10.15am (an earlier time this week). Chairs will be provided or please bring your own, if you prefer.
- Chalgrave Church at 10.30am (please bring a chair, and a drink if you would like to stay for a 'cuppa and chat' afterwards)
- Westoning Church at 11am (please bring a chair if possible but some chairs will be provided)
- Toddington Church at 11.15am (please bring a chair if possible, but some chairs will be provided)
Online and Recorded services:
- Upper Room online service 9am Sunday morning: please contact Linda or Nigel for access link, see contact details below.
- The Recorded Quintet service will be released early on Sunday morning and is available online during the week. It is hosted on the Harlington Church web site. Access links are also available on each Church website (please see above) and on the 'A Church Near You' respective pages, and on the respective Church Facebook pages.
Services during the week:
- Monday 9.30am Morning Prayer at Toddington Church (in the Chancel). Please come to the Chancel door and please also wear a face covering.
- Tuesday 9.30am Morning Prayer by Zoom call. Please request the access code from Linda
- Wednesday 10am Harlington Church- Outdoor 'service' gathering
Private Prayer in church: *You are requested please to wear a face covering in church.*
- Toddington Church: Thursday 10-11.30am (A change of day and time. We will only be opening one day a week now that we also open for Morning Prayer on Monday).
- Chalgrave Church: Thursday 11-12noon
- Harlington Church: Sunday 2-3pm and Thursday 10-11am
- Tingrith Church: Sunday 11am -12 noon
- Westoning: Wednesday 12 noon to 1pm, Saturday 2-3pm
Do please link with us if you have any concerns or prayer requests, or if you would just like to link for a chat.
With love and prayer
Nigel and Linda
18th July 2020
Dear All
Open Air Gathering in the Church Grounds
This week we have the exciting new opportunity to meet for worship together for the first time in many months within the church grounds in the open air, at four of our churches. At this strange time of 'unlocking' many people are wary of entering the churches yet, and so we hope you will feel comfortable to meet outdoors in the fresh air.
We will, of course, need to pay careful attention to social distancing requirements and maintain a 2 metres distance from each other, and some of you may wish to also wear a face covering. If you are in a vulnerable category you may prefer to remain at home, and we quite understand this. Or if you decide to come along, you will be welcome.
Please also bring along your own copy of the service sheet (see above) and then please take it home again with you afterwards. There will be spare copies for anyone unable to print a copy. There will be a collection plate, but it will be set in one place as we are no longer able to hand it around (to reduce the spread of any potential infection). In some churches there may also be a supply of envelopes or a card machine available (as we are now moving into the previously unlikely territory of being advised to use card payments instead of cash).
When you arrive, please remember to sterilise your hands, and again, on leaving. (What strange times we are in.. but this is important for each other's safety and well-being).
Tomorrow (Sunday 19th July), we meet for a short gathering for prayers, Bible readings, and a time of reflection and sharing. There will be no singing of hymns. Please bring your own chair, if possible, although each church will have some chairs available.
This week is a trial arrangement for several churches, and times of services may change over the coming weeks as we seek to balance commitments, but tomorrow (Sunday 19th July) we meet at these times in these churches:
Harlington Church 11am
Toddington Church 11.15am
Chalgrave Church 10.30am
Westoning Church 11am
Online Services
- Our weekly UPPER ROOM SERVICE tomorrow begins at 9am. Do drop in for an hour of Prayer, Scripture, Reflection and Music to start the day. This week we have a testimony and thoughts on the Parable of the Talents. Please contact Linda or Nigel for access link - see contact details below.
- 9.30am Tuesday, Morning Prayer by Zoom ( please contact Linda if you would like to come along)
Events in our Churches
- 9.30am Monday, Morning Prayer at Toddington Church (please access through the Chancel door) - starting as a trial this week.
- 10am Wednesday, Morning Prayer at Harlington Church (in the Church grounds)
Private Prayer:
Toddington 12 noon until 2pm Monday and 10-12 noon on Friday. Please enter through the South Door into Cheney Chapel
Chalgrave 11-12 noon on Thursday
Tingrith Sunday, 11-12 noon
Westoning Wednesday 12 noon -1pm, Saturday 2pm -3pm
Harlington: Thursday 10-11am, Sunday 2-3pm
As the Churches begin to open more frequently some of our Zoom Coffee Morning gatherings will need to change timing butt his week we meet:
Harlington: Tuesday at 10.30am
Westoning: Wednesday 10.15am
Toddington: Wednesday 10.45-11.45am (change of day and time)
On a personal note, as the churches get busier and we try to balance online commitments and physical gatherings at our churches, we recognise that we need to build in our days off to keep up our energy levels. (We are part-time 0.75 and entitled to take 2.5 days each week). During the lockdown period we have continued to work each day, but as demands grow, there is increasingly less time to rest, so we are attempting a new discipline and this week will be taking time off from lunch time on Thursday until late afternoon on Saturday. We will put our phones and emails down during the day but will catch up on anything urgent in the evenings and will be available from late afternoon on Saturday. Thank you for your understanding.
We thank you for your support and extend our gratitude and appreciation of the hard working teams in each of our Churches.
With best wishes
Linda and Nigel
4th July 2020
Dear all
Here we are on 4th July, the day when hairdressers, pubs, holiday cottages and more emerge forth, people are travelling to spend time with families. Churches are now officially allowed to open for Public Worship, weddings can take place and we can begin to discuss baptisms again. Despite the Government clearance to open for Public Worship there are many practical issues to consider, and a lot of guidelines to read and put into place; so, many churches, including ours within the Quintet, will not be opening for Sunday Public worship yet but each church is either open or about to open for Private prayer. We are moving gently forward to a time when we can gather physically in church again.. but we must be safe.
It is an interesting concept how we will manage the hosting of Public Worship Sunday services in the future whilst also looking to live stream services too. Some churches are investigating how to install broadband connections and this may be something that we also need to consider. Life's experiences move us forward into new times and new ways. Gently does it. One step at a time.
Our Services and events this week
Our weekly Quintet pre-recorded service http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service-2/ is accessed by about 200 people on Facebook alone, and other people connect direct to Harlington website, or access via the link in this email so church has taken on a new and exciting dimension. Our service this week includes young Toby and Joshua from Chalgrave Church (and Messy Church and Youth Group) as our Bible readers, Marcel from Harlington Church offers our Intercessions, Jenna Dearden (Ordinand from Westoning) offers a lovely sermon this week, and Nicholas plays skillful accompaniment for our hymns and music. Thank you so much to everyone involved in our service this week, which has been filmed at Harlington Church.
The Upper Room: zoom worship service takes place for an hour at 9am on Sunday morning. People gather from across the Quintet of churches, but also on occasions with visitors from Gloucestershire! This week we are looking at 'Coming to Faith' and 3 ladies will give brief testimonies of their journey (following on from 3 men sharing their stories last week). There will be scripture, music and prayer in an hour of peace and reflection. Last week we had 37 people visiting the Upper Room and many have said how that hour sets them up for the day. Do join us if you can. Please contact Linda or Nigel for access link - see contact details below.
Morning Prayer
Tuesday morning at 9.30am via zoom link. You are most welcome to join us for 45 minutes of sharing Bible passages, prayer and reflection. (Please ask Linda or Nigel for the access link).
Zoom coffee Mornings:
Harlington 10.30am on Tuesday
Westoning 10.15am on Wednesday
Toddington and Chalgrave 10.30am on Thursday
Do please join us for one or more events, if you can.
Quintet Churches open for Private Prayer as follows:
Toddington church is open on Monday 12 noon to 2pm and Friday 10-12noon
Harlington Church will be open tomorrow afternoon 2-3pm and Thursday 10-11am.
Tingrith Church will be open Sundays 11-12 noon
Westoning Church is open for private prayer Wednesday 12 -1pm and Saturday 2-3pm
Chalgrave Church will be open 11-12 noon on Thursdays from 16th July.
Response please
As we move forward into these new stages please link with us and tell how you are feeling about worship and meeting opportunities now, and also how you feel about future worship e.g. are you keen to return to church, or reticent? We would really value your comments.
We send our love in Christ, and our prayers. Please keep safe, take care of yourselves.
Linda and Nigel
27th June 2020
Dear all
Another week has past, and here we are fast approaching the end of June! How quickly time is passing.
With the gradual emerging from lockdown this week Toddington church opened to host a small funeral and two churches - Westoning and Toddington were opened for Private Prayer. We hope that Chalgrave and Harlington churches will also be able to open for private prayer towards the end of next week once practical arrangements have been put into place. (Before we can open, the churches need to be cleaned and prepared for social distancing with appropriate signage and hand sterilisation gels, to make sure that visitors are safe).
Private Prayer times:
- Toddington Church - Monday from 12-2pm and Friday from 10-12noon in the Cheyne Chapel (as part of social distancing safety measures - face mask advised whilst in church).
- Westoning Church - Wednesdays at 12 noon for one hour and Saturdays at 2pm for one hour. (as part of social distancing safety measures - face mask advised whilst in church)
- Tingrith Church will open at 11am on Sunday 4th July.
It is certainly good to be able to open the church doors again, albeit under strict health and safety guidelines.
At present there can be no led worship, no singing in church and hymn books and contact items have to be removed. Parts of the churches will be cordoned off... but it will be lovely to be able to welcome people to come and pray and to spend some quiet time in church after all these weeks.
We are moving forward with consideration of how and when to open for public Sunday worship services. The government has announced that it is possible to hold public worship from July 4th but the Church of England and our Diocese are still awaiting the accompanying government guidelines. The opening of churches is permissive and not prescriptive and we as ministers have been guided by the bishops that there is no need to rush. We will need to consider carefully what is best for each parish. In the immediate, internet services will continue as many people enjoy accessing these, and it has become an increasingly valued part of weekly ministry.
Services for this week:
- This week's pre-recorded service was filmed at Chalgrave Church, with readers Sue and Margaret from Harlington, and Martin from Westoning, with the Quintet choir singing a hymn (recorded individually in their own homes, and compiled by Nicholas in his home... amazing what is possible!). Our musical accompaniment is by Nicholas with some hymns from St Martin's in the Field choir. The service is hosted on Harlington Web site but can also be accessed through each churches' respective websitse or Facebook pages, or on the Church of England 'A Church Near You site'.
- At 9am Sunday 28th we host our live zoom Upper Room service to which you are all welcome (see link to poster above for details). The service offers an hour of different short reflections, music, prayer, and a personal testimony. It is a special time with members from the different Quintet churches joining together in worship. There's opportunity to pray or you can do what most do: sit and bathe in the peace and beauty of the Upper Room, where some disciples gather to start the day. The theme this week is 'Coming to faith.' Do give it a try. It is an hour that will set you up for the week
Our zoom gatherings continue this week:
- Morning Prayer Tuesday at 9.30am
- Harlington Coffee time Tuesday, at 10.30am
- Westoning Coffee morning Wednesday 10.15am
- Toddington/Chalgrave Coffee Morning Thursday 10.30am
- Chalgrave gathering Monday eve on 8x8 at 7.00pm ( an invitation link will be sent out separately)
- Please put these dates in your diary and if you would like any more information re. joining in, please let me or Nigel know.
Beware of Scams:
There are increasing warnings to be careful of scam attempts online and by phone which seek to access your personal and private banking information. With this in mind, Robert has prepared a special SCAM awareness page, hosted on Harlington Web site. We encourage you to click on this link to read the guidance about how to protect yourself. http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/safeguarding/on-line-scamming-is-a-safeguarding-issue/
We send you our love and care, and our prayers. Do please let us know how you are. We are definitely interested. Thank you also for your care and support towards us.
We hope you have a very good week. We continue to pray for your health and wellbeing and for the protection and care of your families and loved ones.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
20th June 2020
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week and have coped with the further releasing from confinement.. and the torrential rain - the gardens and the gardeners will be happy! This week more shops have opened, more people have returned to work, the roads have become much busier (has anyone else noticed the high number of speeding cars?!).
- The news has informed us of Black Lives Matter events and as people begin to reveal their stories we turn our minds to the past, and to the future, recognising the importance of change. Bishop Alan, the Bishop of St Albans has issued an email about events this week to commemorate the third anniversary of Windrush. He also reminds us about the Pilgrimage in memory of St Alban and invites us to tune in to: https://www.youtube.com/user/stalbanscathedral
- Our pre-recorded service this week is filmed at Tingrith Church, with Fran from Toddington church reading the Gospel, Chris, Lay Leader of worship from Harlington church, leading our intercessions, Stephen, Reader giving the sermon and musical accompaniment by Nicholas and recordings from St Martins in the Fields choir.
- At 9am we host our live zoom Upper Room service to which you are all welcome to come along - see link above for poster with details. The service offers an hour of different short reflections, music, prayer, and a personal testimony. It is a special time with members from the different Quintet churches joining together in worship. There's opportunity to pray or you can do what most do: sit and bathe in the peace and beauty of the Upper Room, where some disciples gather to start the day.
Our zoom gatherings continue this week:
- Tuesday Morning Prayer at 9.30am
- Harlington Coffee time will be on Tuesday, at 3pm in the afternoon this week.
- Westoning Coffee Morning 10.15am on Wednesday
- Toddington Coffee Morning 10.30am on Thursday and anyone from Chalgrave who would like to join us.
- Chalgrave evening gathering Tuesday eve on 8x8? at 7.30pm?
- Please put these dates in your diary and if you would like any more information re. joining in, please let me or Nigel know.
Moving forward with arrangements for Churches to open for Private prayer. We are tentatively looking at the following options:
- St George's Toddington: to open Cheyne Chapel once or twice a week for an hour (more information to follow)
- Westoning Church: to open twice in the week - more information to follow.
- Harlington Church: to open once or twice a week - more information to follow
- Tingrith church to open in July for an hour on Sunday afternoons - more information to follow
- Chalgrave church to open once or twice a week for an hour - more information to follow.
At present there can be no led worship, no singing in church and hymn books and contact items have to be removed. Parts of the churches will be cordoned off... but it will be lovely to be able to welcome people to come and pray and to spend some quiet time in church after all these weeks. We will let you know days and dates as soon as they are known.
We send you our love and care, and our prayers. Do please let us know how you are. We are definitely interested. Thank you also for your care and support towards us.
We hope you have a very good week. We continue to pray for your health and wellbeing and for the protection and care of your families and loved ones.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
13th June 2020
Hello everyone
We hope you have had a good week and are keeping well? It's been a busy week for us with the news that churches can now consider opening for private prayer. There is a lot to consider and we are in discussion with the various PCC's before making any definite decisions but will let you know details as soon as they are known. Please let us know if you would like to go into church to pray.
This week's pre-recorded service is set in St. Mary Magdalene Church Westoning and our readers are from Westoning and Chalgrave Churches.
You are also warmly invited to join us at 'The Upper Room' online service tomorrow at 9am - see link above for poster with details.
You are also invited to our weekly zoom Coffee Mornings and Morning Prayer this week:
Tuesday 9.30am Morning Prayer All welcome. Please let us know if you would like to 'come' to the service.
Tuesday 10.30am Harlington 'Coffee Morning'
Wednesday 10.15am Westoning 'Coffee Morning'
Thursday 10.30am Toddington and Chalgrave 'Coffee Morning'.
Please put these dates in your diary and look out for the invitation links the day before. If you would like any more information, please let me or Nigel know.
On Harlington web site you will also find a link to the RSCM Big Music service at 6 pm in which some of the Quintet choir are singing http://www.harlingtonchurch.org/worship-services-2/this-sundays-service/
With every good wish, love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
6th June 2020
Hello Everyone
We hope you are well and have had a good week.. with a good sense of being slightly released. This week the Lower School opened its doors to some year groups, more people are emerging from lockdown, with more people returning to work. Sadly, we still have no indication of when the churches may reopen.. but let's pray that it will not be too far away.
This week our recorded service was filmed in St George's Church, Toddington, with an introductory picture of Tingrith church. We give our thanks to this week's readers.
You are also warmly invite to join a 'zoom' Upper Room' informal worship service at 9am Sunday morning. This is a new style service which has emerged from last week's Thy Kingdom come Prayer initiatives. Last Sunday we held the first service for Westoning Church and a few folk joined us from Toddington and Harlington. It offered a rather special opportunity for worship, sharing testimony and prayerful interaction, and so we have decided to continue this each Sunday in June, and to extend it to the Quintet of churches, so others can join us. There is no obligation to contribute.. it is absolutely ok to come and listen. There is a link to poster above but please contact Nigel on nwashy2@gmail.com or me for access code etc to join the zoom room in the morning.
Zoom Coffee Mornings continue this week:
Harlington: 10.30am on Tuesday
Westoning: 10.15am on Wednesday
Toddington and Chalgrave: 10.30am on Thursday.
We will issue access codes the day before or please email to ask for the link: revdtoddington@gmail.com.
Morning Prayer for the Quintet will be on Tuesday morning at 9.30am. Please let Linda or Nigel know if you would like to join this so we can send you the invitational access codes.
We would really value hearing how you are getting on; if you are managing to access the services ok and if there is any way can offer you support. We will deliver service sheets in the morning to anyone who has requested them, who is not able to access internet services. Please let us know of anyone else who may wish to have contact from us. We have enjoyed several conversations at 2m distance on doorsteps on Sunday morning. Let us know if you would like a similar visit at some stage.
With love and prayers
Linda and Nigel
30th May 2020
Dear All
We hope and pray that you are well and coping ok. Each day seems to bring a new stage and a new set of challenges and adjustments. Do please link with us to share your news, or to let us know if you would like any support eg shopping, IT help, prayer, links by phone etc.
This week's Quintet service celebrates Pentecost which is marked as the birth of the Christian Church. And as the disciples joined together in the Upper Room at Pentecost, so a number of us have joined together remotely from our homes - sharing our different voices, to contribute to our service - please do join us from your homes too so we can share time together.
We offer our sincere thanks to all involved. We also have 2 hymns from St Martin's in the Fields church choir. If you are willing to be involved in future recorded services, to offer a reading, or the Intercessions, please do let us know. You will be most welcome.
This week's services and events:
If you would like to join us this week for a zoom virtual coffee morning please note the following dates and times into your diaries:
Tuesday morning 10.30am Harlington Coffee morning
Wednesday morning 10.15am Westoning Coffee morning
Thursday morning 10.30am Toddington Coffee morning (Chalgrave church members are welcome to join us).
Services:
Sunday 31st 9am Westoning Church: a Pentecost Upper Room time of Prayer (please email Nigel if you would like to join so he can send you the link)
Monday morning 9.30am: Morning Prayer by zoom for Harlington Church (and Quintet church members who would like to join) Please email Linda to ask for the link.
Tuesday morning 9.30am: Morning Prayer by zoom for Toddington church (and Quintet church members who would like to join) Please email Linda to ask for the link: revdtoddington@gmail.com.
We send our love and prayers to you all
Linda and Nigel
9th May 2020
Dear All
This week our service comes from Chalgrave Church (well sort of!). The service is not a Communion Service so is slightly shorter, and we are pleased that our Readers have been involved in reading the Bible passages...it's good to share! If anyone would like to contribute to a future service please let us know. It would be good to include readers and intercessors from across the five churches over the weeks ahead.. and perhaps there might be scope to include a testimony or two to encourage others, if you feel inspired to share.
For members of our churches not on internet, Nigel and I deliver service sheets with the reading sheet each week so everyone is able to worship. If you know of anyone who would like to be included in our mailings or deliveries, please do let us know, or pass on our contact details, or this email, so they can link with us.
It has been very lovely to share with so many of you this week at zoom PCC meeting (Westoning) and zoom coffee mornings or prayer meeting. We will issue zoom invitations for next week's meetings tomorrow which will include a Chalgrave church meeting too.
Please let us know if you, or anyone else you know, would be interested to join an informal church meeting so we can make sure to send out an invitation. We are also considering launching zoom prayer and home study groups . If you feel an interest to join us in these, please let us know asap. Perhaps you might also be interested in a quintet church Quiz night, or a book club?
There have been so many wonderful pictures from the villages of the V.E. day celebrations. Such special times.. socially distanced but enjoying time as community as we all pay tribute and remember.
A quick reminder that the free Daily Hope phone number: 0800 804 8044 to contact if you would like to hear a daily service, hymns or prayers, or to receive the comfort of listening to a reflection. Please pass this on to anyone you know who may not be on the internet but who may be glad of company and encouragement.
Please let us know if you have any other news to be circulated.
With every good wish
Linda and Nigel
3rd May 2020
Dear all
Yet another week has passed in 'lockdown'. How are you and your families coping? We have had some wonderfully sunny weather this week, but also some heavy rain.. quite symbolic. Each day is different but, in many ways, each day can be very much the same. Are you grateful to slow down a little, or do you feel a sense of loss of routine and miss company? Are you climbing the walls or still very content to have space and time to be, to do, and to breathe the cleaner air?
Families are busy with home schooling, and many people are also working from home, whilst others are furloughed. Grandparents and families are finding new ways to connect but will be looking forward to times when they can meet up physically to share a laugh or a cuddle. Many of us are learning new IT skills and there is a growing sense of positivity as we see some regular aspects of life across Europe, Australia and New Zealand begin to release. We too have been told that we are past the peak and there are encouraging signs of some aspects of normality returning... the council tips have opened! Rejoice, Rejoice and again we say rejoice! But, for now, we remain patient and look out for each other within our communities and church families. This week I have included Toddington Messy Church families and offer you a very warm welcome. (If you would prefer not to be included, do please let me know).
Nigel and I miss meeting with you all and encourage you to link and let us know your news. We are here for you if you need us: 01525 714442.
Nigel and I send our very best wishes to you all. We pray protection and peace for you and your families. We also pray for all those who work in the NHS and in the caring services and for all key workers...especially remembering our local schools and businesses. We pray for those who are sick (please forward names of anyone you wish us to pray for). Thank you all so much for all your support and for the different creative initiatives and projects. Have a good week.
God bless
Linda and Nigel
