Garvald Church will re-open for Sunday worship this Sunday 4th October at 9.30 am. It will be a shorter service than usual and everyone will have to socially distance and wear a face mask.
Services will then continue on alternate Sundays in Garvald and Morham.
We would love to welcome everyone to the Church, especially anybody who has recently moved to Garvald.
A few of us have been going out for a Sunday morning run for several years now. Sometimes there have been as many as 5 people, occasionally only 1, but usually at least 2. Please join us.
We run a 5 km circle with a couple of hills and enough flat stretches to chat. Meet 9 am at the Park. It hardly ever rains!
See you this Sunday
Village Hall Fundraising
Unfortunately, we have had to postpone our planned fundraising quiz in the park on 13th September as we felt that it wouldn’t be appropriate to organise a community event given the continuing concerns around Covid-19.
However, we are considering other fundraising ideas which we hope to share shortly. Do please look out for opportunities to support our efforts.
Stay safe
Gary McGregor
Chair of Garvald Village Hall Committee
Update from Gary McGregor, Chair of Garvald Village Hall Trust
With lockdown gradually easing I thought I’d provide an update on Garvald village hall as it remains an integral part of our community.
As with so many other aspects of our lives, Covid – 19 has had a significant impact. The usual hall activities and bookings ceased for 5 months and even now are only recommencing in a limited way.
I’m pleased to advise that the Post Office has re-started its Thursday morning service with appropriate Covid precautions in place. The drama classes for children will begin again soon with the teacher ensuring the necessary safeguards are observed.
Notwithstanding the ongoing constraints that Covid imposes, the hall is available for use where the necessary Covid guidelines can be adhered to. We will ensure that thorough cleaning is undertaken as required.
Unfortunately, the budget that the committee set for 2020 has understandably been badly impacted. The major downside is that the income we had planned to generate from wedding bookings has not materialised as the bookings we had have all cancelled. However, it is hoped that they will re-book for 2021. Meanwhile some necessary expenditure has continued. The end result is that compared to 2019, upon which we based our 2020 budget, we are £4,000 down. In short, we have run at a loss and are now using the contingency funds that we have built up over the past few years. We can do so for some time but it is not sustainable long term.
Whilst we await the resumption of income generating activities the committee are exploring other sources of finance and fundraising. A date for your diary is 3pm Sunday 13th September when we plan to hold a socially distanced FUNdraising Quiz in the park. Watch out for the posters that will go up soon.
These are challenging times for all. But one positive aspect of Covid is that it has highlighted how lucky we are to live in such a caring and close-knit community. Let’s ensure that the village hall remains at the heart of who we are and what we do together.
Hope to see you 13th September.
This poster has appeared in our red telephone box beside the park. If you would like us to keep a payphone in Garvald (since there is no reliable mobile phone signal) and to continue to have the telephone box maintained by BT, please contact Shamin Akhtar
sakhtar@eastlothian.gov.uk
Time is short – please make contact ASAP
Love never fails. Coronavirus impacts all of us. But love unites us all.
Please consider donating this week to help the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest countries. The link takes you to a special message from Garvald and Morham Churches
https://envelope.christianaid.org.uk/envelope/eyJlbnZlbG9wZSI6NDU4OCwgImNoYW5uZWwiOiJjb3B5In0=
We are very proud of the the fact that the churches in Garvald and Morham are open every day for everyone and anyone to visit.
Sadly we have just been informed by Church of Scotland HQ that all churches are to be locked as an additional precaution to try and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
However, the two graveyards are lovely peaceful spots on a Spring Day and we encourage you to include them in your daily walks.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Latest up-date from East Lothian Council
NEW changes to recycling collections have been announced by East Lothian Council, taking effect from tomorrow (Wednesday).
Collection of both the green and blue recycling boxes will resume across East Lothian on each household’s normal calendar dates.
That follows a previous change brought in on Monday which had seen green and blue recycling boxes still emptied on their usual day but, rather than both being emptied at the same time, the green box emptied on the first fortnight and the blue box the second fortnight.
Now, both will be emptied together again.
The council is also continuing to collect non-recyclable waste fortnightly, as per each household’s calendars.
Brown bins for garden waste collections remain suspended until further notice, as had taken effect from Monday.
A council spokesperson said: “If this situation changes due to staff shortages during the current coronavirus crisis, we will issue further updates via our website and social media. Please keep an eye out for these.”
Meanwhile, all four of the county’s recycling centres are closed until further notice.
“We will update you as soon as that situation changes,” the spokesperson added.