NEWS
 

ST GEORGE’S  PARISH  CHURCH

MAKING  NEW  DISCIPLES

 Baptisms at St George’s

 25^th September ~ Charlotte and Iona Dow
9^th October ~ Leo George Simmonds
15^th October ~ Ben Williams

If you would like to explore baptism for your child or for yourself and want to know more then why not come along to a baptism preparation session in church.  These are held regularly on Saturday mornings in church.  For dates and more details contact the Rector.

Confirmation Preparation

Preparation for confirmation next year begins in the autumn.  If you are ready to take the next step in your faith journey and would like to consider confirmation then please speak to the Rector for more details and to join the course.   

Wilkinson Hall    3.30pm - 5.30pm

Friday 28^th October  -  Messy Saints
Friday  2^nd Dec  -  Messy Advent

Games, Crafts, Music, Story, Worship and Food for all  the family.
Come and join the mess and madness – everyone welcome!

TRANSFORMING  COMMUNITIES

Weddings at St George’s

10 Sept ~ Matthew Suffling & Michelle Everett
17^th Sept ~ Lee Webb & Samantha Targett 
17^th Sept ~ Steven Pierce & Charlotte Beddow 

For information about being married in church, then please contact the Rector who will be happy to help.  Current fees are on display in church along with a display and photos from all this summer’s weddings in Toddington and Chalgrave.  Renewal of vows to celebrate a special anniversary or perhaps to mark a new beginning are also possible.

Funerals at St George’s

If you would like to have the funeral of your loved one at St George’s then please let your funeral director know and they will contact the Rector so that arrangements can be made both with church and with the crematorium or cemetery.   

Funerals at St George’s this autumn:

29 Sept Mary Neale
5 Oct    Helen Squires
10 Oct  William Lee
18 Oct  Fiona Townley (Roman Catholic requiem mass conducted by  Fr Kieran, with the congregation from St Elizabeth’s sharing church with us)
21 Oct                         Joan Cope
24 Oct                         Doreen Marshall

GOING  DEEPER  INTO  GOD

Mapping Mark

Wed 8pm from 26^th  Oct 

Refreshing 5 week bible study short course on Mark’s Gospel.  We will use art, literature and music to explore what makes this Gospel different from the rest.   Something for everyone, but especially suitable for those wanting to explore the bible for the first time.  For more info contact the Rector 872298

Advent

Travelling Crib ~ if you would like to take part in this lovely tradition and offer a home and welcome to Mary, Joseph and their donkey for a night during Advent,  then please sign up on the rota which will be available in church from the beginning of November or contact Rev’d Anne 872298.  The crib will be blessed and sent on its way at the 11am Parish Eucharist on Advent Sunday 27^th November.

Evening Prayers by Candlelight ~ Sundays 4^th, 11^th, 18^th December at 6pm

Short reflective services in the Celtic and Iona tradition.  See church notice board for more details. 

Christmas at St George’s
 

Sun 11^th Dec               5pm  Carols midst the Trees (part of the Xmas Tree Festival)

Mon 19^th Dec              Churches Together Carols on the Green

Christmas Eve            4pm Crib Service
                               11.15pm  Midnight Mass
Christmas Day            8am  Holy Communion (BCP)
                               10am Joint Festal Eucharist with All Saints, Chalgrave

Organ and Restoration Update

Organ - Our magnificent pipe organ has undergone extensive work over the last year thanks to our new organist Richard Watts.  Richard has worked tirelessly along with John Pask to update the electrics and sort out a whole multitude of minor but tricky problems and repairs.  The organ builder has now been invited to complete the current phase of the organ’s restoration and we are all looking forward to Christmas and having our amazing instrument back in full and glorious working order.  Please see notice board and website for details of a special concert  which will be held to celebrate this good news.  We are also delighted to be welcoming Michael Hammond as organist to St George’s.  Michael is chair of the Bedfordshire Organists Assoc. and he and Richard will share together the role of organist and choirmaster.  Anyone interested in singing and being part of the new choir should contact Richard Watts on 379949.  

Pew Platforms  - the wooden platforms on which our pews sit are in a very bad state, with the wood rotten and the joists collapsing.  Subject to the diocese granting legal permission for the work to go ahead, the platforms will be replaced early in the new year.  We will be unable to use the church building while the work is carried out,  but worship will continue at the usual times on a Sunday in the Wilkinson Church Hall.  For further details please see notice board or the website.

Windows - You will notice that we have now begun restoration work on some of our stained glass windows.  This work will continue over the next few months.  We will also be replacing the rotten pew platforms in church during January and February and while this work is underway church services will take place either in the Wilkinson Church Hall or at All Saints, Chalgrave.  More details will be available in the next edition of this Newsletter and on our website.  If you would like to make a donation towards the cost of restoration then we would be delighted – please contact Andy Barton 872743 or Fran Brown 87250.

Wilkinson Hall -The Wilkinson Hall has also had a mini makeover with the hall floor newly sanded and polished and a new oven installed. 

Growing together – Friendship and Fellowship at St George’s

Sunday Club ~ Our Sunday Club welcomes children aged 3yrs+ and meets in the Wilkinson Hall.  Children leave church during the singing of the first hymn and are brought back into church in time to join parents for communion.  In the south aisle there is a play table with crayons, paper and books and children’s Communion Cubes and service booklets are available here too.

CAMEO ~ for parents/carers with babies and toddlers. Mondays at 1.45pm in Wilkinson Hall.  See church notice board for more details and confirmation of dates.

Wives Group ~ 3^rd Thurs at 8pm in Wilkinson Hall. Dee Curtis 872649

Georgians ~ for children 8+ years and over.  2^nd and 4^th Thurs in Wilkinson Hall.  For more details Dee Curtis 872649 

Mothers Union ~ 3^rd Wed at 2.30pm in Wilkinson Hall.  Pat Smith 872642

Bellringers ~ Practice on Friday evenings at 7.30pm New ringers and beginners always welcome.  Peter Boon 01908 584181

Bible Study Group ~ Monday afternoons. Contact 715515 for venue and details