Previous messages from Rev'd Linda Washington, Priest-in-Charge
(see Home Page for the most recent message)
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)
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
