Over the last couple of weeks we have received a few reports of a silver Ford Ranger, seen in suspicious circumstances, around north Monmouthshire. The registration number given on two occasions, has been different, but both have been no trace on the Police computers, suggesting that they are probably false, as opposed to having being misread.

It is suspected that the occupants of this vehicle are carrying out rural crime.

If you see any people/vehicles in what you believe to be suspicious circumstances, please report it to the Police by ringing 101 or in an emergency, 999.

Please still check the security of your outbuildings and vehicles regularly.

The Rural Crime Team

Below is an important letter from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.  Please click on the file below.

Important Information from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent

MORSBAG MATERIAL

 DONATIONS

We are still accepting donations of material during this lockdown so why don’t you have a sort out and see if you can find some suitable material to keep us busy over the next few weeks.

Dress making fabric
Duvet covers
Pillow cases
Light/medium weight curtain and upholstery fabric
No clothes

Please leave your donations in a black plastic bag in the Church Porch and they will be moved inside The Nave in the evening for Morsbaggers to collect.

Thank you

Sadly, in accordance with Government restrictions and by instruction from our Archbishop, we have now reached the stage where we are having to close our church buildings. However, this does not mean that we have to put ‘being church’ on hold. Rather, that we just find different ways of worshipping together and interceding on behalf of our communities and our world in these most extraordinary of times.

Here in the Grosmont Group of churches we would like to invite all who are able to join us in a Sunday service of Morning Prayer by Skype, starting this Sunday, 29 March at 10am. To participate in the service you will need to be able to use Skype yourself then…

  In your address search box type either Grosmont Churches OR johnandmary-91 this should give you the contact details and then you will need to request a contact, which will be checked and respond to daily.
 
Please request a contact well in advance of the service time (preferably by the day before) so that when you come online before the service you can be invited into the video link before the service starts.
 
This is something we have never done before and should give us a way of sharing prayer and worship together. However as it is a new venture there are bound to be some glitches as we all get used to how this may work, so please be patient, Thank you.

In addition to this there will be a blessed thought posted on the website each Sunday following the lectionary readings. Prayer resources for use at home are available from the Church in Wales website https://monmouth.churchinwales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/03/praying-at-home-4.pdf

Additional resources can be found on the same site, Monmouth Diocese and by clicking on the Covid-19 Coronavirus box in the top left hand corner. There is a section under resources which you may find of help and interest.

If you would like to keep in touch with things happening in the Diocese and beyond, take a look at the Monmouth Diocese Twitter page. You don’t need to join Twitter to do this. The Church Times have a page of useful resources for worship which you can access from this site.

Mary Moore is investigating setting up a Grosmont Group Facebook page for folk to share prayer requests and to keep in touch with each other, and we are looking at other ways of making a communal service available. If you should have any further ideas of how we can support each other and continue to share God’s love in these challenging times please let me know.

You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Rev Gaynor

If, like me, as we navigate our way through these strange and challenging days, you’re thinking of catching up on your reading, here’s a few more for your list!

dav

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mde

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If you’d like to borrow any of these, please email – I can drop them off or leave them in a labelled bag on my front door. 

philippammay@gmail.com

Working Together, Grosmont

Because of the spread of the Coronavirus, many people are feeling very vulnerable. However, we are not alone. We are all part of a community, a strong Grosmont community, and we will try to help each other. We can start by minimising the risks to ourselves and others by following the guidelines.

 If we have symptoms of the virus (a new continuous cough and/or a high temperature):

• We should stay at home for 7 days (self-isolate). If we live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days. (It may take 7 days for their symptoms to appear)
• We should not go to our GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• We do not need to contact 111 to tell them we are staying at home. However, if we feel we cannot cope at home, our condition gets worse or our symptoms do not get better after 7 days, we should complete the coronavirus symptom checker on: wales.nhs.uk If you have no internet access, call 111 from your phone. In a medical emergency, dial 999.

For the latest information, see the NHS Website

Need Support?

If you are self-isolating, we will try to give you practical support, e.g. with emergency shopping or collecting prescriptions. Local resident volunteers will deliver your goods but not enter your house, to keep them and you safe. We are not a professional body but will do what we can within reason.  If, at any point over the next few weeks or months, you need someone to help in some way please contact one of the coordinators:

 By email:    workingtogethergrosmont@gmail.com    (saying what kind of help you need and contact details).
By phone:
Alison or Richard Brown – (01981) 240563        Paul Sheridan – (01981) 241047

 Jenny Harter – (01981) 241488                                         Jan Chatfield – (01981) 240692

If anyone else would like to join the database of volunteers, please also contact us.

Universal Credit Scam on Facebook

There have been reports of a Facebook scam where people are contacted offering to help with Universal Credit claims.

Criminals offer to help claim £3000 in minutes by obtaining personal details to set up another account in their name.

This is a scam… If you are contacted on Facebook or other social media platforms about Universal Credit, do not give out your personal or financial details.

Verify by your own trusted method. Do not respond or use any contact information contained in the message itself.

Report these incidents to Action Fraud where you can get further advice – https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/