Hello Everyone
What glorious days we have experienced this week with strong expressions of Spring: offering colour and optimism. These though are tempered by our thoughts for the Ukrainians and the madness of war. We continue to pray and press in to seek practical expressions of ways to help.
If anyone is interested to host a Ukrainian family, do please get in touch with us to let us know so we, as church, can begin to put a support structure in place. Linda attended a meeting at Barton Church on Friday to learn more about what to expect and what the community and host family will need to do if receiving a refugee family. It will be so important to build community links to support the family, and to connect them with other local Ukrainian families. The initial visa application process seems quite complicated but it is important that the procedure is followed correctly before the family travel to England, to make sure support and safeguarding checks are engaged by the local Council. Harlington Community are seeking to offer refuge to a few families and it would be good to connect any potential Toddington, Westoning, Chalgrave or Tingrith hosts too.
The Church of England has an online support link for any families seeking to host a refugee family. One thing to stress is to think carefully before committing. The families will be in need of tlc, safety and security. They have been through so much already. It is for a minimum commitment of 6 months.
Please remember to put your clocks forward one hour tonight.
Services for Mothering Sunday - Sunday March 27th
9.30am Chalgrave, Holy Communion Service Linda
9.30am Harlington,Mothering Sunday Service Nigel/Robert
11am Toddington, Holy Communion Service Linda
11am Westoning, All Age Service for Mothering Sunday Nigel
3pm Tingrith Mothering Sunday Service Nigel/Jon/Linda
Upper Room online service: Theme: Our Mothers Zoom
Other services and events during the week:
Monday 28th March
9.30am Morning Prayer, Toddington Church
10.30am Set up Easter Prayer Stations - Toddington Church
2-4pm Crafty Ladies group - Wilkinson Hall Toddington
8pm Toddington Churches Together AGM Wilkinson Hall
Tingrith PCC Meeting 1.45pm
Harlington Lent Course at Mary's at 3pm
Tuesday 29th March
10-12 noon Westcaf, Westoning Village Hall
10.30am to noon - Knitting Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington
1-3pm Sewing Bees Celebration Westoning Village Hall
7:30pm, Meeting to pray about the changes which will soon be coming to Harlington; Tingrith and Westoning. The first of three monthly prayer meetings will be held at St Nicholas Tingrith. Future meetings will be held across the three churches. prayer material available from Stephen Farmer (StephenJFarmer2@aol.com)
Wednesday 30th March
9.30- 11.45am Lower School visit Toddington Church
10am Harlington Church, Midweek Service
11.30am Daisy Drake's Funeral at Harlington Church
12-1.15pm Lent 'Poverty' Soup lunch, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington - raising funds for Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
7.30pm Westoning PCC via zoom (link to be issued)
Thursday 31st March
10.30am Meeting at Wilkinson Hall about 'Petal and Purl' exhibition for 'Celebrate 800'
Online Lent Course 7.45pm - Unanswered Prayer by Peter Greig. Join Zoom Meeting
Friday 1st April
10.30-12 noon Painting for Pleasure Group, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington
Little Stars: 1.15pm-2.45pm Westoning Church
Friday Fellowship 2-4pm Westoning Village Hall
3.30pm Messy Church, Wilkinson Hall, Toddington
Saturday 2nd April... have a rest!
Wishing you all a good week and a special Mothering Sunday tomorrow.
With love and prayers
Linda and Nigel