Dates to Remember
| Tue 3 Apr | Church Cleaning 4.00pm |
| Sat 7 Apr | Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10.00-11.00am |
| Wed 18 Apr | Preston Village Society – 8.00pm – Pryor House |
| Thur 19 Apr | Parish Council – Village Hall – 8.00pm |
| Sat 21 Apr | Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10.00-11.00am |
| Fri 27 Apr | Village Hall AGM – Village Hall – 11.00am |
| Sat 28 Apr | Police Surgery – Village Hall – 10.00am to 12.00 noon |
| Tue 1 May | Church Cleaning 4.00pm |
Dog Fouling
As the better weather approaches, the Parish Council would like to remind dog owners that it is their responsibility to clear up after their animals, something which really isn’t difficult to do. There are dog bins in various areas of the village to help residents and visitors to the village. It is not pleasant for people to have to clear up after another person’s animal. This includes Preston Cricket Club who would prefer not to have to clear up dog mess before they can start their match to avoid the risk of falling or sliding in it while playing.
Please help to keep Preston a dog faeces free zone so that we can all enjoy a healthy and attractive environment. Evidence of dog fouling can be reported to NHDC on 01462 474000 or online at www.north-herts.gov.uk, then follow the links from environment and planning.
Open Gardens And Tea: St Pauls Waldenbury: Sunday 15 April 2.00 -5.00 p.m
Would anyone be able to make a cake or two to sell with the tea? Whatever you enjoy making will be gratefully received. All proceeds to St Martin’s Church. Cakes can be delivered to Sue Griffiths , 434194 or Di Blockley, 457631. They will also collect cakes if necessary.
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| April | Service | Sidesman | Reader | |
| 1st | 9.30am | EASTER DAY | Malcolm Lowle | Richard Gill |
| Acts 10:34-43, RCL p.541 Gospel:Mark 16:1-8 Intercessions: Dawn Jenkins Chalice: Liz Hunter | ||||
| 11.00am | Family Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 8th | 9.30a | Preacher: The Rev’d Dan Drew | Richard Blockley | Sue Griffiths |
| Acts 4:32-35, RCL p. 547 Gospel: John 20:19-end Intercessions: Doreen Sansom Chalice: Di Blockley | ||||
| 11.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 15th | 8.00am | Holy Communion (BCP) at All Saints’ | ||
| 9.30am | Mike Kellard | Mark Lawson | ||
Intercessions: Meta Reeves Chalice: Mike Kellard | ||||
| 11.00am | Sunday Praise at All Saints’ | |||
| 22nd | 9.30am | Malcolm Lowle | Hugh Reeves | |
| Acts 4:5-12, RCL p. 554 Gospel: John 10:11-18 Intercessions: Elizabeth Bunker Chalice: Carolyn Hill | ||||
| 11.00a | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 29th | 9.30am | Andy Cole | Di Blockley | |
| Acts 8:26-end, RCL p. 557 Gospel: John 15:1-8 Intercessions: Hugh Reeves Chalice: Meta Reeves | ||||
| 11.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| May | ||||
| 6th | No Service at St Martin’s. | |||
| 11.00am | Family Communion at All Saints’ | |||
Weekday services in Whitwell:
Alternate Wednesdays 9.30am Holy Communion Lime Tree House 11, 25 April
Open Gardens Day – Sunday 27th May – The 27th Year!
Please remember the Plant Stall when you are dividing your plants and the Preserves Stall if you are making jams or chutneys. All popular buys for the visitors.
A Letter From Our Team Vicar
Dear Friends,
We now have just one Soup Lunch and Lent Group left and it has been great to see so many joining us. We are all very grateful to those who have hosted the lunches and the group meetings. We have enjoyed nourishing, friendly lunches and you have given generously to church funds. The group meetings, where we have discussed what we need for our Christian journey, have been helpful and thought provoking. We are hoping to start a new discussion group after Easter. Look out for more news and please let us know if you would be interested in this.
Last Sunday was Mothering Sunday and there were good numbers of children (of all ages), mothers and others in both churches and many of us took daffodils home as we thanked God for mothers and other important people who contribute to our family life.
A reminder that:
The Rev’d Dan Drew will be preaching at both churches on 8 April, the Sunday after Easter. Dan is part-time curate at St Mary’s Hitchin and he also leads the Hub Church in Hitchin. He is married to Alex and they have a baby daughter born just before Christmas. Whether you are young or young-at-heart you will enjoy Dan’s preaching.
The Bishop of Hertford, Bishop Michael, will be visiting the parish on Sunday 13 May when he will preside and preach at both services and he will be joining us again on Wednesday 16 May. We will let you have details about this in the May magazine.
We seem to have more ‘news’ than ever from our television screens, radio and newspapers and much of it rather depressing. So it is good to ‘look on the bright side’ especially at the Easter season. On 4 April the world marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the American Baptist minister, Martin Luther King Junior, and although of course his violent death, at the age of 39, was tragic, his life was dedicated to eliminating racism and discrimination. Where Do We Go From Here? the theme for the commemoration of Dr. King’s assassination, was the title of his final book. In 2018, it is important that we not only reflect and recount the history, but we try connect it to contemporary issues. Our main church commemoration in the UK is a service of hope arranged by Christian Aid and Westminster Abbey in the Abbey on 4 April.
By the time you read this, Good Friday and Easter will have passed and some of the chocolate eggs will have been consumed. Thank you to those who purchased Real Easter Eggs again this year.
I hope that you were able to celebrate the love, joy and hope of Easter as we mark the death and Resurrection of Jesus. The Bible and our hymn books tell us that because God loves us all, he sent his Son to earth and that Jesus ‘died that we might be forgiven; he died to make us good.’ And in his new Easter life we are able to enjoy ‘ life in all its fullness.’
With my prayers and good wishes to you all
Elizabeth
Neighbourhood Watch
The number to contact at North Herts Police for all non-emergencies (including witnessing of fly-tipping) is 101 or 01707 354000.
For removal of fly tipping which has already occurred, call NHDC 01462 474000 or online at NHDC’s Fly Tipping Page, then follow the links to Transport and Streets, Street Cleaning and Fly Tipping where there is a form to complete to report the details.
PC Matt Jenkins and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues. Their contact details are as follows:
PC Matt Jenkins: 07736 225349 or 01438 757604
PCSO Heather Burrows: 07847 364955 or 01438 757604 or heather.burrows@herts.pnn.police.uk
In the event of an emergency or if you witness a crime taking place please call 999.
Police Surgery – Village Hall – 28th April
There will be a Police Surgery in Preston Village Hall on Saturday 28th April from 10.00am to 12.00 noon. PCSO Heather Burrows from our Safer Neighbourhood Team will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have.
Preston Village Hall – AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall Committee will take place in the hall on Friday 27 April at 11.00am.
Preston Village Society
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 April at 8.00pm at Rosemary Brenham’s, Pryor House, The Green. Anne Luder will give a talk entitled “Seeds – Spread to Survive”
St Martin’s Church 120 Club 2018/2019
There are a number of ticket returns still outstanding, so the first draw has been postponed and there will be two draws in April. If you are holding a ticket, please return it with your cheque, cash or standing order form to me or your church committee member as soon as possible.
We are pleased to welcome new members this year – the church needs all the help we can get to keep it in condition for future generations. There are a few unsold tickets available for anyone who would like to join this year or are willing to take an additional one.
Tickets cost £20 for the year and there will be 2 prizes of £30 each month and 3 in December.
Please contact to Richard Blockley, Lychgate House, Church Lane 457631.