Preston Parish Council: Wednesday 3 March
The next meeting of Preston Parish Council will be held on Wednesday 3 March at 8pm via Zoom video conferencing. Any member of the public who would like to raise an issue to be discussed at this meeting should contact the Clerk. Anyone who would like to join in the electronic meeting should also contact Lisa Lathane, Clerk to the Parish Council:
email: prestonclerk@gmail.com or 07887 875442 by Tuesday 2 March. A link to join the meeting will emailed about 15 minutes before the meeting is due to start.
COVID 19: Preston Help Line
Preston Parish Council and The Preston Trust would like to remind Preston residents that the helpline continues to be available during the on-going corona virus situation.
Anyone who requires help should 01462 434403 and the call will automatically go to whoever is on duty or email: mtrinder@idnet.com or pns@theprestontrust.org.uk
The phone line will be monitored daily from 8.00am to 8.00 pm.
Please note that the answer phone will pick up calls coming in after 8.00pm and the caller will be linked to a volunteer the following day.
Please stay safe and remember to follow the latest Government guidance.
COVID 19 Local Information
Rapid testing for key workers without symptoms is now available in Hertfordshire, including Hitchin on selected dates. To book an appointment, go to: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/coronavirus-tests.aspx#rapid
Anyone requiring support because they are affected by corona virus should contact
Herts Help: www.hertshelp.net email: info@hertshelp.net or 0300 123 4044.
Support available includes: financial support and advice, services that can support you if you are feeling lonely or down and ways to improve your health and wellbeing
Readings And Services For March 2021
All services in March will be held at All Saints’, St Paul’s Walden. St Martin’s Church will re-open for services on Easter Day, April 4.
The services are recorded so they can be seen after 5pm online.
www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7580/
| Sunday 7th March –
|
10am | Holy Communion
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2: 13-22 |
| Sunday 14th March
Mothering Sunday |
8am
10am |
Holy Communion (BCP)
Family Service Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21 |
| Sunday 21st March
|
10am | Sunday Worship
Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 |
| Sunday 28th March
Palm Sunday |
10am | Holy Communion
Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 11:1-11 |
| Sunday 4th April
Easter Day |
t.b.c. | Holy Communion
Acts 10:34-43 Mark 16:1-8 |
Monday 29 March – Wednesday 31 7-8.00pm
Hitchin Team Holy Week Talks on Zoom
Faith, Hope and Love
Followed by Compline
Team Vicar of St Paul’s Walden with Preston:
Letter From Our Vicar
The last year of lockdown and pandemic has been a test for most of us. Things that we had just taken for granted, like seeing family or friends at will, have become difficult or impossible; while the virus itself has had consequences serious for life and health. It has been a very restrictive period.
A couple of weeks ago, like many of you, we had our coronavirus jab, and this little act confirmed for me that we are poised to come out of the period of restriction – a sort of light at the end of the tunnel.
I suspect that, in our quieter moments, we may be asking what the last year has meant – for us personally, for our communities, and more widely on the national stage. Can we make sense of things? What new responses will the last year have encouraged in us? How will we handle the time after lockdown?
For Christians, the season of Lent has begun. We may feel that the whole of the last year had something of the Lenten about it, with its restraints and challenges, its hint of the wilderness. But we will try to hold on, not glibly or without reflection, to the promise that Easter brings – of new life and new possibility. We shall celebrate Easter at services at All Saints and at St. Martin’s – and what a celebration that will be!
With every blessing
Stephen
St Martin’s Church 120 Club Draw 2020/2021
The winners in the February draw in the 2020/21 120 Club (£30 each) were:
No. 20 Ms J E Plotnikoff
No. 15 Mr J A Campbell
This is the final draw of the 2020/21 year. Tickets for 2021/22 are now being raised automatically for those participants who have taken standing orders, others are being distributed to past participants for renewal. We welcome any new participants – tickets cost £20 for the year, with 25 prizes of £30. This is an important source of income for St Martin’s church to help maintain the building and churchyard. If you would like to join please call Richard Blockley 457631.
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. If you use the What3Words app, please include the three words for the location of the fly tipping.
PC Johnie Streeter and PCSO Heather Burrows can be contacted regarding local community issues. Their contact details are as follows:
PC Johnie Streeter: 07525 905431 or 01438 757604 Johnie.streeter@herts.pnn.police.uk
PCSO Heather Burrows: 07740 745168 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.
Reporting suspicious activity
Please report any suspicious activity or vehicles you may witness in the locality.
Call the police on the non-emergency number 101 or report it online by using the website www.herts.police.uk/report and follow the links.
Hitchin Foodbank Shortages
Due to recent strong demand the following items are most urgently needed: Tinned Custard; Sponge Puddings; Tinned Carrots, Peas & Sweetcorn; Cereal Bars; Dried Milk; Small Coffee. Thank you for your continued support. Please ensure items are undamaged and in date. Donations can be deposited in the blue box in the garage at Lychgate House, Church Lane, or at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.
COVID-19 and the Newsletter
Producing our Parish Newsletter is a community initiative. Between us, we have taken steps to protect both the volunteers who produce and deliver as well as our readers. We have reduced the number of people involved in production – Howard edited the newsletter and e-mailed it as a Word file for printing; Rae and Wal printed, folded and sorted into delivery rounds this month; then distributed, contact free to the volunteers who deliver.