Swale Borough Council Leader Reacts to Tier 4 This Christmas

Councillor Roger Truelove.

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader at the council, said:

“Planning at all levels of government becomes a difficult task when the messages and instructions keep changing so radically.

“At the end of last week, we started to send out letters to all households, further encouraging people to comply with Tier 3 restrictions. And then on Saturday we were catapulted into a hitherto unheard-of Tier 4. I hope those who received a letter will understand that they are now out of date, as are many of our other public notices.

“Tier 4 is said to have been made necessary by the new variant strain about which we in Swale Council had heard nothing until it was announced by the Health Secretary in parliament. It has hit Kent in particular.

“Sadly, infection rates in Swale continue to rise, though not at the same rate as in other places and we are, now, not referred to as the “number one” in the country. Having said that, the situation is critical, and I can not only implore people to follow the guidelines but, in fact, if possible, go even further than the regulations to try to control the virus.

“We are asked to stay at home, get exercise of course, but only meet one person in an outdoors setting. I went for a walk to a park on Sunday afternoon and I have to say that that message had clearly not registered with most people. Regulations will only bring this virus down if we willingly comply.

“Because of our high rate of infection, asymptomatic testing has been introduced into Swale before other parts of the county in the KCC area of public health administration. This is obviously a good step forward. KCC tell us there will be a testing site in Sittingbourne in the New Year.

“The NHS is also starting a programme of vaccination, using the delicate Pfizer vaccine and we look forward to vaccination being rolled out in the months ahead.

“This is not the sort of Christmas that we want, and we must do our best to look forward to better times, but until then, we must do all we can to save lives. Infection comes from close human contact and so we must wear our masks and socially distance. That is the main way to defeat this virus.”

Swale Borough Council

Phones Stolen - Hartlip | Motorcycle Stolen - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/222805/20

Between Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th of December, 2 personal and 2 business phones were stolen from an international produce firm in Spade Lane, Hartlip.

Crime Number: 46/224232/20

Between Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of December, a blue Yamaha YZF R6 04 motorcycle, reg number: GF06 SXD, was stolen from Newington High Street.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

The Six Update: “We Shall Overcome!”

Dear all,

As I was writing this Update Email the news broke about the introduction of Tier 4 by the Government following the PM's announcement this evening. As a result it has, unsurprisingly changed what I was about to write! I have to say that it is incredibly disappointing and frustrating at all levels at this point in time; I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling that. Enough said probably.

The effect though is given the core message of "stay at home" advice and no essential travel, that we have no choice but to cancel the "Share the Light" in the form planned in the different church buildings across the benefice tomorrow afternoon/early evening + all Christmas services also on Christmas Eve & Day until further notice. There was already disquiet anyway before the announcement, such that Christmas Eve services would not have gone ahead any way. I'm not sure what the complete position is regarding communal worship, but I cannot see how that is credible in the current circumstances any way given the latest restrictions. I know this will be disappointing for some, yet also a relief to many too. Right now our core responsibility is the safety and well-being of everyone, whether they be members of the congregations or the wider village communities.

We may not be able to "Share the Light" in our buildings, but we can still do so in a different way in our homes tomorrow evening. You may know I've been encouraging everyone to "Shine a Light" each Sunday at 8:00pm. The experience was due to start at 4:00pm tomorrow afternoon into the early evening.

Can we all shine a light in our window from that time (it may be a candle, it may be a lamp) as a sign of prayer for our communities and our nation at this time. Can we share this as widely as possible, incl via social media contacts, so that around our benefice we continue to "Share the Light" as was planned. Can we take photos of our light and post them too, on Whatsapp, Facebook you name it so that those around us know the "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome the light" for it is just going to shine in a different way!

Of course we are on course for the shortest day of the year and hence longest night of darkness (in a way not imagined even a few hours ago). Yet Christians need not fear the dark, as this season reminds us. I shared the following words with someone during the week, which I wrote as a brief poem years ago. They seem even more apt than ever this evening:

“Sometimes

only in the darkest moments of life

as the storms gather and rage

and everything is shaken, 

do we see the Light 

that has been present all along, 

shining brightly”

We all have that opportunity to perceive this light, Jesus Emmanuel, God with us, quite differently this Christmas. Our celebrations will be different but important, for we can still celebrate in our homes, and know that we are joined even in 'virtual community' with others. This Light is not afraid to go into the most difficult moments of human experience to bring redemption, new life, hope, peace and yes even joy. So we need not be down-hearted or disheartened.

For now that is probably all I can say. The links to the online service tomorrow are below. It premieres at 10:30am on YouTube as normal. It may be that you haven't always connected with this service, or that you have just been added to the list. Whatever, it would be great to have as many of you there together at/from 10:30am, if for no other reason but to say "I'm here joining with you my brothers and sisters". Let us greet one another then and leave messages too. For we are one, we are the Body of Christ here. Why not then subscribe to the channel too?

You can either find the channel either by using the following link: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKD6ga6GRfO6js8jEAiAVfQ/videos or go via: www.thesix.org.uk/thesixonyoutube.htm. Then select the service for Advent 4 20-12-2020. (The service sheet + songs & hymns + talk transcript will be downloadable from the website later).

As we look ahead to Christmas there will be an online Carol Service on Christmas Eve which will premiere at 7:00pm; we will be looking at how we can do Midnight Communion online too.

So for now, I leave you with these words from 1 Thess 5.16-18:

“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus”

May we overcome...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQmgt8qNKD8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU

Every blessing!

Reverend Julian Staniforth

Kent Moves Into Tier 4: Stay At Home

Click poster to enlarge.

Following the earlier announcement from the Government, the whole of Kent will be entering the new Tier 4: Stay At Home from Sunday the 20th of December.

Government guidance has been published at: www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home

Upchurch Matters

Cancellation of Christmas Services at St Mary's, Upchurch

Updated Saturday 19th December 2020

Sunday 20th December 

Share the Light Experience - CANCELLED

Christmas Eve

Outdoor Carol Service - CANCELLED

All Midnight Services - CANCELLED

Christmas Day

Communion Service - CANCELLED

Reverend Julian Staniforth has taken the decision (with great sadness) to cancel all church services, including the Share the Light Experience event tomorrow. 

This decision was taken after the Prime Minister's announcement this afternoon that the whole of Kent is to be placed into Tier 4.

There will be online services which can be accessed via The Six website at: www.thesix.org.uk

Thank you

Gill Gay

Follow The Six Christmas Nativity Trail Around Upchurch

Each village within The Six Benefice will be hosting a Christmas Nativity Trail this year.

The trails are for everyone to join in with but especially for families as an activity to take part in together during the days leading up to Christmas.

Explore the nativity story in Upchurch from the 14th of December through the different displays specially put together in the roads identified on the map.

Keep your eyes peeled because they may not always be as obvious as you may think. There are guided prayers to use at each place when you find it and each trail ends with a crib scene and a blessing prayer.

Download the Upchurch Nativity Trail map at the link here >> http://bit.ly/3av2F0J and enjoy discovering the different images around the village together!

And click here >> https://bit.ly/34qGsgt to watch the video 'Encounter for Christmas' on The Six YouTube Channel.

Visit The Six website at >> www.thesix.org.uk

Upchurch Matters