Dates to Remember
| Tue 2 Jan | Church Cleaning 4.00pm |
| Thur 11 Jan | Neighbourhood Plan Consultation – Village Hall – 6.30-8.30pm |
| Fri 12 Jan | PVS Christmas Party – Village Hall – 7.00pm |
| Sat 13 Jan | Neighbourhood Plan Consultation – Village Hall – 10.00-12.00 |
| Wed 17 Jan | Parish Council – Village Hall – 8.00pm |
| Sat 20 Jan | Community Book Swap – Village Hall – 10.00-11.00am |
| Thur 25 Jan | Burns Night – The Red Lion – 7.00pm |
| Sun 28 Jan | Quiz – The Red Lion – 7.00pm |
| Tue 6 Feb | Church Cleaning 4.00pm |
Neighbourhood Plan Regulation 14 Consultation
The next stage in the Neighbourhood Plan process is the Regulation 14 consultation which will take place from Monday 8 January to Sunday 18 February. This is an online consultation and will be accessible via the Neighbourhood Plan website: www.preston-np.org.uk, then follow the link to Your Say.
To support this process the Steering Group are holding consultations in the village hall on the following dates:
- Thursday 11 January: 6.30 – 8.30pm
- Saturday 13 January: 10.00 – 12.00
- Thursday 8 February: 6.30 – 8.30pm
- Saturday 10 February: 10.00- 12.00
If you have any questions about the consultation or you do not have access to online facilities, please come along on one of these dates and the Steering Group will be very pleased to offer their assistance.
A paper copy of the draft plan is available on loan for anyone without online facilities and who cannot attend on one of the above dates. Please phone: 434403 to organise this. A paper copy will also be available in the Red Lion.
Anyone who has any queries about the draft plan at any time during the consultation period is welcome to contact the Steering Group: 434403.
St Martin’s Church and All Saints’ Church Services
| January | Service | Sidesman | Reader | |
| 7th | 10.00 am | Epiphany | Malcolm Lowle | Hugh Reeves |
| Isaiah 60:1-6, RCL p.38 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 Intercessions: Meta Reeves Chalice: Di Blockley | ||||
| 14th | 9.30am | Liz Hunter | Anna Lawson | |
| 1 Samuel 3:1-10,RCL p.465 Gospel: John 1:43 – end Intercessions: Hugh Reeves Chalice: Liz Hunter | ||||
| 11a | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| 21st | 8.00am | Holy Communion (BCP) at All Saints’ | ||
| 9.30am | Andy Cole | Paul Constantinidi | ||
| Rev. 19:6-10, RCL p.474 Gospel: John 2:1-11 Intercessions: Doreen Sansom Chalice: Carolyn Hill | ||||
| 11.00am | Christingle at All Saints’ | |||
| 28th | 9.30am | Candlemas | Richard Blockley | Richard Gill |
| Malachi 3:1-5 RCLp.60 Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 Intercessions: Elizabeth Bunker Chalice: Meta Reeves | ||||
| 11.00am | Holy Communion at All Saints’ | |||
| February | ||||
| 4th | 10.00am | Malcolm | Lowle Meta Reeves | |
| Colossians 1:15-20, RCL p.499 Gospel: John:1:1-14 Intercessions: Hugh Reeves Chalice: Di Blockley | ||||
NB From November 2017 until March 2018 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 SAINTS’.
Weekday services in Whitwell:
Alternate Wednesdays 9.30am Holy Communion Lime Tree House
3, 17 and 31 January
St Martin’s Church 120 Club
For the December draw in the 2017/18 120 Club there is an extra winner drawn from members who have not won in the past 5 years. The winners (£30 each) were:
No. 45 Mr R Silverman
No. 66 Mr & Mrs R J Gill
No. 92 Mr K J Murray
A Letter From Our Team Vicar
email: elizabethbunker@hotmail.com
Dear Friends,
In church we have had an unusual start to Advent this year. On Advent Sunday we held a joint service with St Martin’s as it was the first Sunday of the month and the following weekend the snow came. So I wasn’t able to get any further than the centre of Hitchin on Sunday morning. But those who managed to get to church sorted out an appropriate service for themselves. Morning Prayer with unaccompanied hymns including the Advent Candle ceremony happened at St Martin’s and at All Saints’ Peter Liddell was present so there was a communion service and there were hymns with piano accompaniment rather than organ. Peter, our organist, lives in Letchworth too. I was delighted to receive emails about these services during the afternoon; I had returned home, with some difficulty, and my worship was thanks to BBC Radio IPlayer.
Dawn and I are visiting the schools and pre-schools this month for various Christmas events. So far I have shared the Christmas story with the children at Preston Pre-school, seen the younger children at Preston School do their Nativity play and have just returned from the Key Stage 2 Carol service at St Martin’s – all lovely occasions. The rest are still to come and I look forward to them all.
Once again as we take stock of the year we realise how many problems exist throughout the world. In 1917 people were horrified by Passchendaele; now in 2017 we have problems here at home – terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, the tragedy of the Grenfell fire and more, while overseas war and the plight of refugees continue. Last year I wrote of the challenges we might face in 2017; 2018 too will, of course, bring opportunities and disappointments for each of us personally and for the UK and the wider world. The time off that most of us have over Christmas and New Year offers us the chance to pause for thought and resolve to do things differently – more thoughtfully, less extravagantly, less selfishly, more carefully in 2018. I hope the Christmas message of love, hope and peace will stir each of us into a small gesture in 2018 and many small gestures could make a big difference.
At the beginning of December it was time to leave the Parish Office in Whitwell High Street. I have been very happy there in my cosy ‘home’ for more than seven years. We will let you know, as soon as we can, the new address for the Parish Office. My contact details are at the top of this letter.
I hope the Christmas season went well for you and those close to you. I offer you my prayers and good wishes for the New Year.
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 Veolia 0800 328 6023.
PC Matt Jenkins and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues – 01438 757604.
In the event of an emergency or if you witness a crime taking place please call 999.
Preston Village Society
Please make a note in your diary for our Christmas Party which will be held on Friday 12 January at 7.00pm in the Village Hall. Details will be sent on a flier.
Luke And Acts – In Depth Bible Studies In Preston
Have you tried studying the Bible on your own and found it hard going? Why not join a small friendly group in Preston and take part in the next course on the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts starting on 24th January and ending in March? We meet fortnightly on Wednesday mornings and there is some homework in between from a course book. Why not phone or email to find out more today?
Meta Reeves 01462-456567 or meta.reeves1@gmail.com
Website: www.goldproject.org
The Red Lion Events
Burns Night – Thursday 25 January
The Red Lion will once again be hosting Burns Night. Organised by Alison Jeffers on behalf of the Albany Bassets, this is a fund raising event for the pack. Tickets cost £23 per person for a traditional haggis supper and can be bought by contacting Alison by email: alisonjeffers@aol.com 01462 432120. The evening starts at 7.00pm.
Quiz Night – Sunday 28 January
The Red Lion pub quiz returns on Sunday 28th January and will be hosted by Ray & Jo. A chance to reboot your brain after the Christmas break, please come and support the evening which starts at 7.00pm. Another quiz will be organised for Sunday 25th February, please make a note of the date in your diary.
The collection in aid of Garden House Hospice at the Carols on 22 December raised £210.