from the
Vicar . . .
Election fever is firmly upon us! People often say “I can’t be bothered to vote
– what difference would my vote make?” But of course something like 35%
of voters don’t go to the polls – so if you’re one of them, you really would
make a difference!
The lowest turnout in a general election was recorded in 1918 at 57.2 %,
due to the end of the First World War.
Between 1922 and 1997 turnout remained above 71 %. At the 2001
general election the turnout was 59.4 %; in 2005 it was 61.4 % and in 2010
it was 65.1%
This suggests that people have been actually getting MORE involved in
national elections recently, which must be a good thing.
The bishops of the Church of England recently produced a (rather long!)
letter, setting out various questions that we might ask ourselves while trying
to decide who to vote for.
If you’d like to read it you can download a copy from; http://gb1.me/chfpqk
There is also a rather good commentary on it at: http://gb1.me/chgbeu
I hope and pray that people will consider the enormous sacrifices that
people have made in the past in order to gain the right to vote for everyone,
and will reflect on the needs of all residents of this country as well as our
impact on the rest of the world, when considering who to vote for.
St Peter’s online information…
From April two sources of information are available on line, a searchable
index of burials in the churchyard and the Church’s calendar.
The burial index of nearly 1,600 graves currently runs up to 2005 and
work is in progress to bring burials since then into the database. You can
access it at gb1.me/ceuhvy
The Church Calendar can be accessed at gb1.me/ciirsm
They can also be found on vicar.arlesey.org.uk
Geoffrey Boult
t: 01462 731227
e: [email protected]
Church Services
St. Peter’s church
Some dates for your diary in May
Sundays
Other dates
S
aturday 2nd
3.00pm
“Remembering Arlesey” Tea and a trip
down memory lane for our more senior
residents
W
ednesday 6th 12.30pm Parish Lunch (Please let Helen Bardell
know if you would like a lunch)
1
0th – 16th May
Christian Aid week
S
aturday 16th 10.00am St Peter’s Plant Sale
Regular Events
T
uesdays
Saturday 16th May 10am-1pm. Refreshments and cake sale
All plants, vegetable and flower seedlings welcome. Share your skill
with others.
Arlesey Methodist Church
Services for May are as follows:
S
unday May 3rd Preacher at 10.30 a.m. Mrs Stella White of Hitchin
S
unday May 10th Preacher at 11.00 a.m. Rev Bob Forrest
S
unday May 17th Preacher at 11.00 a.m. Rev Malcolm Peacock,
Superintendent Minister of the Circuit
S
unday May 24th Preacher at 11.00 a.m. Rev Bob Forrest
– Holy Communion
S
unday May 31st United Section Service at Baldock Methodist Church
at 10.45 a.m. Preacher Rev Bob Forrest
Would like to welcome ladies to our
Birthday Party with entertainment by
at 7pm on Tuesday 12th May 2015
in the W.I. Hall, High Street, Arlesey SG15 6SN
(next to the Arlesey Resource Centre)
For more information please contact:
Bron Martin – 01462 639500
Wendy Pink – 01462 625235
For WI Hall Bookings please ring:
Katie Juffs – 01462 638286
Walk4Health–May/June
M
ay 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th ~ Arlesey Station
J
une 4th ~ Etonbury Wood (meet at entrance to wood
by Etonbury School)
All walks start at 10.45am and last for approximately 1 hour.
For more information please call Brian & Katie on 01462 638286
4 |
May 2015
|
W
ednesdays
T
hursdays
10.00am
Coffee Morning for all, Coffee, tea,
home-made cake
5.00pm “Pebbles” for children 5 yrs upwards
7.30pm Prayer Group at 4 Church End
1.30pm “Little Fishes” for birth to 5yrs, with carers
Bring and Buy Plant Sale
Arlesey W.I.
Mr Serenade
S
unday 3rd
9.30am Parish Communion
12.45am Baptism
S
unday 10th 10.00am Morning Praise
Welcome newly baptised
S
unday 17th 9.30am Parish Communion
S
unday 24th 9.30am Parish Communion
S
unday 31st 9.30am Parish Communion
On 30th May there will be the monthly Coffee Morning at the Church from
10.00 a.m. until noon. Tea and coffee will be available at very reasonable
prices together with home-made cakes. Do call in!
Everyone is welcome at all these events, of course
Minister at the church is Rev Bob Forrest. Tel: 01582 727880
Local contacts: • Mrs Doreen Archer 731392
• Mrs Betty Joyce 731647
• Mr Jim Webb (bookings) 731309
Arlesey pre-school
Arlesey Pre-school are glad to be back to glorious sunshine after the
Easter holidays - long may it last! The children had a brilliant end of
term party with an entertainer and plenty of eggs and we hope they all
had a lovely break. We are thriving at the moment with a high number
of children all taking advantage of our full flexibility, we do have places
available so if you are interested please do not hesitate to contact us
(contact details at back of magazine). We are hoping to put on a Quiz )9