Weekly Updates - St. Mary Magdalene Westoning

Weekly Update for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026)

This week sees our normal groups continuing but also a special occasion in the life of our church as Father Mark is installed and Instituted as Vicar of Westoning. A service to mark this is being held on Tuesday 24 March 2026 at 5pm in St Mary Magdalene Church. We will be joined by Bishop Richard, Bishop of Bedford and Acting Bishop of St Albans and the Venerable Dave Middlebrook, Archdeacon of Bedford who will perform the Institution and Installation. Do please join us for this special service if you are able.

Weekly Update for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday 15 March 2026

Here are all the details of what's going on across the benefice this week. We hope to see you!

Weekly Update for the Third Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026)

As always, the notice sheet tells you what's going on this Sunday and next as well as what's happening during the week. Next Sunday (15 March) is Mothering Sunday and there will be services reflecting that theme in each of our three churches. At 9:30 in Harlington and Tingrith and 11 in Westoning. And don't forget to put the evening of Tuesday 24 March into your diary because Bishop Richard and Archdeacon Dave will be at St Mary Magdalene Westoning at 5pm to join with us in a service of Evening Prayer . They will also institute Father Mark as Vicar of the benefice formally ending our period of vacancy!

Weekly Update for the Second Sunday of Lent (1st March 2026)

As we begin the second week of Lent, our Lent course continues with a session concerning Holy Communion. If you haven't been along before you'll be made very welcome. If you could let Rev. Steve know if you're planning to be there then he can make sure there's a booklet for you. But don't worry if you can't do that - just turn up! And if transport to Harlington is a problem again let Rev Steve know because it may be possible to arrange a lift. Other than the Lent course, the World Day of Prayer takes place on 6 March - all are welcome at 2pm at St Mary Magdalene Westoning. We do hope to see you over the coming week.

Weekly Update for the first Sunday of Lent (22 February 2026)

This week saw the beginning on Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) of the season of Lent. Over the next six weeks we will journey with Christ in the wilderness and contemplate our own mortality, our transgressions and how we can draw nearer to God and become more like Jesus. All our services are on the sheet, together with details of the various groups taking place. The Lent group meets again on Tuesday (24th) at St Mary's Harlington where we will be discussing how we draw nearer to God through various forms of prayer. If you'd like to join the group - even if you can only make it for one session - do please let Reverend Steve know on revstevefarmer@gmail.com so he can make sure you have a copy of the booklet.

Weekly Update for the Sunday next before Lent (15 February 2026)

This week sees the beginning of Lent - a time when we journey with Christ through the wilderness. For Him, it was a physical wilderness, for us it is a spiritual wilderness. During the season of Lent we seek to draw nearer to God by learning to rely on Him in all things, trusting that He has the plan already in place to lead us. We have services on Wednesday where ashes are placed on our foreheads to symbolise our mortality and remember that we have all fallen short of God's plan for our lives. There is a Communion service at Harlington at 10am and another Communion service at 7pm at Westoning. Do please join us if you can. Also, our Lent group starts this week on Tuesday - please contact Rev Steve if you'd like to join the group.

Weekly Update for the 2nd Sunday before Lent (8 February 2026)

News from around the benefice as to what services are being held this Sunday and next and also what's happening during the week. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE LENT COURSE STARTING ON TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2026 AND SEND ANY EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN ATTENDING TO REVSTEVEFARMER@GMAIL.COM

Weekly Update for Candlemas (1 February 2026)

This Sunday is Candlemas or the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It's the Sunday where Simeon and Anna recognise Jesus for who He is - the Messiah. It's also the Sunday which marks the turning point for us from the crib - and Jesus' birth - to His passion, death and resurrection - in short our thoughts are towards Lent and Easter. Watch out over the coming weeks for details of the Lent course which is to be held in the benefice. For this week - please note the services and groups taking place and please do come along if you are able. A special note of the Monthly prayer group at St Mary Magdalene on Wednesday at 7:30pm.

Weekly Update for the Conversion of St Paul (25 January 2026)

Here you'll find all the activities going on in the benefice this week - do please take a look. This week, the service in Harlington is at the Methodist Church as we celebrate the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We'll be joined by our friends from Life Church and the Methodist Church.

Weekly Update for the Second Sunday of Epiphany (18 January 2026)

The usual weekly summary of our services and events coming up in the benefice. Do join us for anything you wish - we look forward to seeing you.