You can find the July Hernhill News here.
Holy Week at Hernhill: village green Cross and Zoom services
There is now a wooden cross on the Green which will be bare all through this coming week, Holy Week, but on Easter Day it will be covered with netting so that anyone who would like to can place flowers, prayers or messages on the cross. They can be in memory of a loved one who has died, a prayer, a thanksgiving or simply placed in celebration of the resurrection.
You will need to observe social distancing and may like to wear gloves to place your flowers / prayers / messages and sanitize your hands before and after.
As we go through this coronavirus emergency more than ever we need to be reminded there is no darkness that God, in the end, cannot turn to good. Please do come anytime during Easter Day and help make our cross a symbol of resurrection and new life.
Holy Week and Easter services
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7.30 pm
Night Prayer with short address (Zoom only)
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Maundy Thursday 7.30 pm Holy Communion (Zoom only)
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Good Friday, 2 pm (Zoom only)
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Easter Day 10 am Holy Communion (Zoom only)
Anyone is welcome to join in our Zoom services but you need an invitation, please email jeanburrows@jeanius.me.uk. Zoom services are 40 minutes max.
There are also lots of resources online, radio and television to accompany us through Holy Week and Easter.
Support for Vulnerable People – Covid 19
Swale Borough Council are starting a scheme to support vulnerable people during the present crisis. The scheme should be in operation from the beginning of April.
If you need support, then details of the scheme and how to register will be available from Swale Borough Council after the end of March. If you need help before then or have any difficulty contacting Swale Borough Council, please telephone Councillor Chris Page on 01227 750284 or 07971 178974. He is the Parish Council’s point of contact for any questions about the scheme or coronavirus community support.
The scheme needs volunteers to help with deliveries of food and medicines to vulnerable residents. Training will be given. Volunteers should not be in one of the high risk categories listed on the Public Health England website.
If you are willing to help, then please visit the scheme’s online forum to register. A link to the forum is on the Swale Borough Council website or available by emailing the Parish Council at cllrpagehernhillpc@gmail.com.
No Bonfires – Please!
Respiratory/breathing problems can be made worse by breathing in smoke. Respiratory problems are one of the possible symptoms of Coronavirus. Please be a good neighbour and wait until this crisis has passed before having a bonfire.
Keep safe & well everyone!
A message from Reverend Jean
Hello everyone, I hope you are all keeping safe and well. I’m sure you’ve all heard on the news that all worship services as well as all our church events have been suspended until further notice. I’m very disappointed to say this includes our Hernhill 900 events, we had a big village celebration event on the Green planned for mid-June and many other special events throughout the year. Hopefully once this pandemic is over we will be able to hold our celebration events, even if it is 900+1.
Although church services are no longer being held the church still exists and we are still able to worship, albeit in a different way. There are many resources online and I’ve also sent out resources to regular church members by email and post, please contact me if you would like to receive these. A reminder that Hernhill Church is still open during the day every day so do go in if you would like to, we are also going to put some extra prayer resources in there to help you reflect and pray, especially with Easter approaching. Baptisms and weddings can still go ahead in church but only five people can attend, including me, so most have been postponed. This also affects funerals where immediate family only may attend although this advice may change and crems and funeral directors may also have their own rules about attendance.
The caring and concern people within our villages are showing for those who are vulnerable and self-isolating is heart-warming but at the same time we see horrendous selfishness and greed as people are binge-buying, please don’t do it, it’s not necessary. Remember to keep social distancing however old you are. If there is anything that you think I might be able to help you with or if you would like specific prayer please get in touch.Keep well, keep praying, keep connected.
Revd Jean
01227 751410 jeanburrows@jeanius.me.uk
Neighbourhood Area Designation
Neighbourhood Area Designation – Hernhill Parish Council
Hernhill Parish Council has made an application to Swale Borough Council to designate a neighbourhood area. This is in area within which a neighbourhood plan can be prepared.
Neighbourhood plans give communities power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. The area applied for is the same as the Parish boundary, and can be viewed on a map, along with a letter for the reasons for the application, on Swale Borough Council’s website here:
https://www.swale.gov.uk/Hernhill-NAD.
Swale Borough Council is seeking your views on the suitability of the proposed area to be designated as a neighbourhood area. If you have any comments, you can submit these via email to: aaronwilkinson@swale.gov.uk or by post to:
Planning Policy,
Swale House,
East Street,
Sittingbourne,
Kent,
ME10 3HT
Comments must be received by midday on Monday 16 March 2020, after which a decision will be made and published on Swale Borough Council’s website. If you have any questions, please contact 01795 417395 or aaronwilkinson@swale.gov.uk.
The Parish Council in due course will be looking for parishioners who are interested in contributing to and shaping the Neighbourhood Plan. More information will follow in the coming months
