Saints Alive: Stanhoe and Barwick Newsletter

May 2020

Stanhoe Parish Council Matters:–

Help for All – Coronavirus

The posting on Stanhoe.org website from last month STILL STANDS!

For all vulnerable, over 70, possibly solo, much loved Stanhoe Residents.

If you require any shopping or medicine runs in the absence of normal services, please call the Parish Clerk, Wayne Leighton on 07789 887 380 or 01485 518570 or email at parishclerk@stanhoe.org. Wayne will organise one of a number of volunteer drivers to help.

Please also call or email Wayne if you feel particularly vulnerable for any reason and we can also have someone call you back.

This is time to look after yourselves, so please call if you think we can help.

Stanhoe Volunteers:–

A big thank you to you Stanhoe Volunteers, you know who you are, and we know who you are! You have already done more than you think just by being there, ready to help. Thank you.

Other matters:–

• Palisade Fencing:– The new ‘fencing’ at the Bircham Road crossroads has been finished with wood panels, which we feel is a vast improvement on the rotting log panels they replaced, and on the originally proposed concrete panels. Our thanks to the Highways Department at Norfolk County Council.
• Pond:–Your Council has done some more maintenance work around the Pond. Please feel free to tidy anything you feel necessary, and dog walkers please pick up as usual.
• Tree down on Station Road:– As reported on the website, on Sunday March 29th a large tree came down across Station Road. This was cleared by BCKLWN within 3 hours of reporting - not bad for an understaffed weekend shift!
• Spring Clean:– As with much we have been trying to do, the Spring Clean litter pick up has been delayed until it is safe and legal to gather. We’ll get back to you.
• Parish Council AGM:– It very much appears the AGM and drinks which is scheduled for May 21st will have to be delayed; we’ll keep the refreshments in store.
• Playground:– Sadly the Playground has been closed due to current COVID 19 restrictions. Roll on the end of all this!

STAY SAFE

Cancellations due to Coronavirus:–

Stanhoe & Barwick WI:– all meetings and events throughout April, May and June are cancelled

Syderstone Village Cinema:– the films on 21st March and 25th April are cancelled. No further dates have been set yet.

Brancaster Camera Club:–

Brancaster Camera Club has decided to suspend all its meetings until September. We hope to see anyone interested in photography and/or our club in the Autumn. Keep safe.

Stanhoe Open Gardens:–

With great regret the decision has been made to cancel Gardens Open Day for this year. Hopefully everything will be back on track for 2021.

Very many thanks to everyone who planned to open their garden and help with the stalls and flower exhibition.

Visit the pond:–

A visit to the Pit/Pond and watching the ducklings for a few minutes really lifts the spirits.

You will find that on www.stanhoe.org, there is currently a photo of the village and its surroundings being posted for every day of April, while our lovely surroundings spring into life. Charles Butcher has put them under “news” and “pic of the day” in the navigation menu.

Stanhoe Methodist Church:–

Sadly, the church is currently closed for worship due to the Covid–19 pandemic. However, members continue to pray in their own homes every day and will be happy to pray for you, or for any of your friends and family who are in particular need. Contact Valerie Shackcloth on 518 395, or Elizabeth MacLeod on 578 392. You may see through the windows, that we have left our inside cross illuminated, as a sign of hope and of God’s love in these dark times.

Our Minister, Rev. Steve Oliver, is broadcasting a Gospel Hour, with hymns, worship songs, prayers, readings and chat, every Sunday Morning at 10:00am, via the QE Hospital radio. You can hear him by logging on to their website: www.hospitalradiolynn.org.uk.

The Minister’s contact details are as follows:– telephone 01485 570232 email buzzard177@msn.com

We send our Christian love and good wishes to all our neighbours in Stanhoe.

Our hope is in the Lord.

Some thoughts from All Saints by Peter Cook:–

As everyone seems to be saying, it is a strange time that we’re living through. Yet, in spite of the initial bit of panic buying and the odd glimpse of selfish behaviour where social distancing and common sense are concerned, it has actually been very impressive to see the way in which people have risen to the challenge of life in lockdown or done some remarkable things to raise money and morale – like the near centenarian Captain Moore raising millions for the NHS with his laps of the garden.

I have been impressed here with the willingness of so many people to step forward to help their neighbours – people who, in many cases, they didn’t know before. I’ve been impressed with the actions taken by our parish clerks and parish councils. And, of course, we have to be grateful for the efforts of our medics, our shop workers, our bin men and all who work to keep our society going when we’re all shut indoors.

Now, four weeks into a lockdown that will go on for a few more weeks yet it might be tempting to begin lifting our eyes beyond the bounds of our gardens to life beyond – but, we have to keep on keeping safe so that the country can pick itself up again when the virus is finally under control.

It’s not easy, I know, but we are still here to help. If you’d like to receive a daily prayer or a copy of our prayer service on a Sunday then, please get in touch on 01485 517157 and I can add you to our list. But whatever you do – don’t give up. Instead, take heart from the poem “Don’t Quit” by John Greenleaf Whittier. We will win this fight – eventually.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit –
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure comes about
When you might have won had you stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit -
It’s when things seem worse that you must not quit.