Dates to Remember
| Sat 1 Dec | Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10.00-11.00am |
| Sun 2 Dec | Christmas Tree Lights switch-on – The Red Lion 6.00pm |
| Mon 10 Dec | Parish Council Meeting – Village Hall – 8.00pm |
| Wed 12 Dec | Preston Village Society – Dynsley House – 8.00pm |
| Fri 14 Dec | Preston Village Voices – St Martin’s Church – 7.30pm |
| Sat 15 Dec | Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10.00-11.00am |
| Fri 21 Dec | Carols in the Red Lion – 8.00pm |
Christmas Tree Lights Switch On
Sunday 2 December, 6.00pm at The Red Lion
The Preston Trust committee warmly invites you to the Christmas Tree lights switch-on.
There will be free mulled wine to keep you warm, along with mince pies and some other treats. Following the switching on of the lights there will be some carols outside, then we will move inside for the Village Voices to kick-start the festive season.
Preston village Voices – Christmas Celebration
Preston Village Voices warmly invite you to our Christmas Celebration of Songs, Carols and Verse @ St Martins Church on Friday 14th December at 7.30pm. Mince pies and wine will be served afterwards and there will be a raffle for a Luxury Christmas Hamper.
The raffle tickets will be available to buy on the night. However if you are unable to attend, but would like to purchase a raffle ticket, they are available through Diane Hayhurst. All proceeds this year are in aid of The Anne Robson Trust and St. Martin’s Church, Preston.
Tickets £7.50. Raffle tickets £1 each. Please contact Diane Hayhurst ☎ 07495541624 or diane@courthomes.co.uk
Carols in the Red Lion
Friday 21 December at 8.00pm. Come along and join in!
St Martin’s Church And All Saints’ Church Services
| December | Service | Sidesman | Reader | |
| 2nd | 10.00am | Joint Parish Communion at St Martin’s | Malcolm Lowle | Danny Rowland |
| Jeremiah 33:14-16, RCL p. 755 Gospel: Luke 21:25-36 Intercessions: Meta Reeves Chalice: Di Blockley | ||||
| 09th | 9.30am | Holy Communion | Mike Kellard | Richard Blockley |
| Malachi 3:1-4, RCL p. 759 Gospel: Luke 3:1-6 Intercessions: Doreen Samson Chalice: Mike Kellard | ||||
| 11.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 16th | 8.00am | Holy Communion (BCP) at All Saints’ | ||
| 4.00pm | Christingle and Crib Service at St Martins | |||
| 6.00pm | Carol Service at All Saints | |||
| 23rd | 9.30am | Holy Communion | Richard Gill | Paul Constantinidi |
| Micah 5:2-5a, RCL p.765 Gospel:Luke 1:39-45 Intercessions: Hugh Reeves Chalice: Meta Reeves | ||||
| 11.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 24th | 3.30am | Crib Service at All Saints’ | ||
| 10.00pm | Holy Communion at St Martins’ | Malcolm Lowle | Various readers | |
| Isaiah 52:7-10, RCL p. 23, Hebrews 1:1-4, John 1:1-14 | ||||
| 10.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 30th | 11.00am | No service at St Martins’ | ||
| January | ||||
| 6th | Parish Communion at St Martin’s | |||
| 10.00am | Elizabeth Hunter | Carolyn Graham | ||
| Isaiah 60:1-6, RCL p.38 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 Intercessions: Meta Reeves Chalice: Elizabeth Hunter | ||||
NB From December 2018 until March 2019 inclusive the service on the first Sunday in the month will be held at St Martin’s Preston at 10.00am.
There will be NO SERVICE AT ALL SAINT’S on these Sundays
Weekday Services in Whitwell:
Tuesdays – 9.30am Morning Prayer All Saints’ Church.
Alternate Wednesdays – 9.30am Holy Communion at Lime Tree House 10th & 24th October.
A Letter From The Reader of our Parish
A LETTER FROM TIM LIDDELL, CHURCHWARDEN,
ALL SAINTS’
Hello
I’m writing this month’s parish magazine as Churchwarden and on behalf the PCC (Parochial Church Council). It is hard to believe we are coming to the end of another year, a very busy and significant year for both All Saints’ and St Martin’s churches, with Elizabeth departing in September.
Not surprisingly Christmas is the busiest time of year and we are working on the usual services, with the Carol Service (Dec 16th6pm at All Saints’) being for many in the village a wonderful opportunity to both start Christmas celebrations and recognise the role our Church plays in the village.
We are also now working on how to manage this period without Elizabeth. It is formally called an Interregnum but referring to it as a vacancy feels more appropriate. The challenge for the PCC is to make it not feel vacant and find a new vicar as successfully as possible. We also have to be realistic, as Elizabeth worked almost fulltime providing ministry and support for the Parishes of St Paul’s Walden and Preston and there are no temporary staff to fill in or central organisation to just “sort it out”. We are part of the Hitchin ministry Team and will be working with them to ensure our weekly services continue and that there is the support for other services. So, the main point of contact for baptisms, weddings and funerals will be through the Hitchin church office * (details at end of this letter).
Also, as we work towards next year we have to consider all that the church seeks to provide in the community. We are fortunate for the considerable support received in keeping the church running and maintained – our weekly church openers, the Preservation Trust members, church flower arrangers, volunteer cleaners and our congregation – but maintaining a grade 1 listed church and supporting the community takes a considerable amount of effort and money. If you feel able to be involved in any part of this then please do let us know, particularly because one of the most attractive features for recruiting a new priest is seeing an engaged community.
All the best
Tim
* Church House, Churchyard, Hitchin, SG5 1HP. Tel. 01462 452758
Promises, Promises,
The Advent study course continues
Come and join us for a fun and lively discussion, as over four weeks on a Wednesday afternoon from 2-3.00pm, we dig deeper into four promises with traditional Advent themes that were either realised in the coming of Christ or that await fulfilment in his coming again.
Not to worry if you missed the first meeting. Come when you can!
December 5th – A sure and certain promise @ Crunnells Green House, Preston
December 12th – An incredible promise @ 50 Hornhill, Whitwell
December 19th – A demanding promise @ Crunnells Green House, Preston
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 www.north-herts.gov.uk, 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.
Hitchin Foodbank
Many thanks for your ongoing support and contributions to the Hitchin Foodbank.
The Foodbank is currently in need of: long life juice, squash, tinned custard, tinned rice, tinned fruit, sponge pudding, tinned fish, tinned meat, tinned and dried potatoes, tinned vegetables, pasta/noodles for 1, sauce for pasta, toilet rolls.
Please ensure items are undamaged and in date. Donations can be deposited at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s or in the blue box in the garage at Lychgate House, Church Lane.
PHC Mud Assault is Back !!
Join us at PHC and get stuck in the mud at our 5km assault course – Sunday 2 December at 10.00am (£15 per adult / £10 children under 14).
Register at www.phchitchin.com/mudassault2018
Preston Village Society
The next meeting will be a Christmas get together on Wednesday 12 December at 8.00pm at Chris Challans, Dynsley House, Butchers Lane.
The 2018 Autumn Litter Pick Up – Saturday 27th October
The Preston Trust committee would, once again, very much like to thank the 18 residents who turned out to lend a hand with this task. This total gave us sufficient ‘power’ to tackle all the lanes and footpaths, including Charlton Road, Tatmore Hills path, Wain Wood, and Hitchwood Lane. The Uberbaser firm’s staff and lorry collected all the filled bags and various loose items on Monday morning, the 29th; this is a very helpful service.
Please continue to be vigilant over litter, and do please report, in the usual way, any fly-tipping in this parish. Many thanks.
Liz Hunter, Preston Trust committee member
St Martin’s 120 Club 2018/2019
The winners in the October draw in the 2018/19 120 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 54 Mrs P A Stark
No. 16 Mrs R C Welch