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A Letter from the Rector
Recently in our churches we have been studying the Bible books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The Thessalonians were a Christian community in Thessalonica only a short time after Jesus’ death and resurrection. These ‘books’ are actually letters from St Paul to the community praising them for their lifestyle. The community was a shining example of how to live under God’s rule. They got on well and conducted themselves in a sacrificial way, caring for each other, those around them, and by being honest in all that they did. Their witness was such that they drew attention not only from the towns and cities around them, but beyond their borders in other countries. If they could get it right back then, why can’t we today?
At the very end of the second letter Paul’s final greeting is:
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”
As we move ever closer to Christmas, we reflect through the season of Advent on the meaning and purpose of the festive feast. We are celebrating, through our traditions, God’s gift of Jesus to the world. He did so to teach us how to live in peace and harmony. The Thessalonians got it right. Yet, today as we reflect on the atrocities around the world, we ask: why we have got it so wrong when Jesus showed us how? Let’s not be downhearted for, as we carry heavy hearts for those who are suffering, we can still see so much goodness in our world and our communities. If we take the trouble to look back across history, we see the good that those who learnt Jesus’ ways brought to the world. Our role today, all of us that care, is to keep everyone reminded, regardless of faith or none, that Jesus’ ways make life better for all.
We always ask on every occasion when we worship, that Jesus will give us his peace. Peace in our world, our society, our communities, and in our hearts. May you bring peace to those around you as you remember ‘why’ this Christmas time.
Have a wonderful Christmas and, “May the Lord give you, his peace.”
Rev Barry
Diary: St Peter and St Paul, Saltwood
Our regular pattern of worship includes a service every Sunday at 10am. Usually this is Holy Communion (to which all are welcome, whether or not you choose to receive communion) with a Family Service on the fourth Sunday of each month. Other services of Holy Communion, including ‘Book of Common Prayer’ services at Saltwood and Pedlinge, are shown on the website calendar, along with all services and events for the month.
Sunday Club, for children aged 3 – 10 is held at 10am in the Lads’ Club, on the fist and third Sundays in term time.
DECEMBER
Some Highlights for your own diary:-
Friday 1st – 9.00 – Prayer in the Church (and each following Friday)
Sunday 3rd – 10.00 – First meeting of Bubble Church for tiny ones and their families, in the Lads’ Club
Sunday 3rd 16.00 – Advent Evensong
Monday 4th – 14.00 – Monday Chats in the Lads’ Club (and on Mondays 11th and 18th)
Wednesday 6th – 10.00 to 11.30 – Saltwood Toddlers in the Lads’ Club (Final meeting of term, starting again in January)
Thursday 7th – 19.00 – Choir practice (and each following Thursday)
Sunday 10th – 16.00 – Carols at Pedlinge
Tuesday 12th – 19.30 – Carols on the Green
Wednesday 13th – 14.00 Saltwood Cinema Club in the Lads’ Club
Saturday 16th – 10.30 – Coffee Morning at Lympne Church
Sunday 17th – from 13.00 – Live Nativity at Lympne (Ticketed event)
Monday 18th – N.B. – Last date for items for the January magazine
Thursday 21st – 19.00 for 19.30 – Carols in the Courtyard at Lympne
Friday 22nd – 19.00 – Benefice Christmas Party in the Lads’ Club – pre-booking essential
Saturday 23rd – 16.00 – Service of Lessons and Carols
Sunday 24th – NB – There is no 10am service at Saltwood, but all are welcome to the 11am service at Lympne
Sunday 24th – 16.30 – Crib Service
Sunday 24th – 23.30 – Midnight Mass
Sunday 25th – 10.00 – Family Christmas Service
Sunday 31st – 11.00 – Benefice service of Holy Communion at Lympne
Items for the January Magazine
N.B. Early deadline!
If you have any items for the January edition of the magazine, please forward to Beth Lewsey, by: 18th December, by email if possible, to: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org or deliver to 20 Castle Avenue. (Tel 01303 264577)
Useful Contacts
Rector – Rev Barry Knott: Telephone: 01303 883243 email: rev.barry@icloud.com
Church website: www.saltwoodchurch.org
Community Support Hub: 01303 269602
Parish Pastoral Support: 0300 030 1330
Children & Families Ministry (including weddings and baptisms) – Christine Clover:
Telephone: 0300 030 1662 email: christineclover@lympneandsaltwoodchurches.uk
Lads’ Club Bookings: Jan Heard 01303 266945 email: jan.entendu@gm
Parish Magazine: Beth Lewsey 01303 264577 email: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org
From the Parish Records
Our love and sympathy go to the friends and family of:
Michael Cruickshank, whose funeral was on 21st November
The funeral of Elaine Gavin will take place on Tuesday 5th December at 12 noon, at Saltwood Church. Elaine lived in School Road for sixty years, and her nieces invite any villagers who knew her to attend the service.
Intercessions for December 
Today we pray especially for:
1 Those who live in Castle Road, Kiln Corner, The Close and Castle Crescent
2 Businesses in our parish
3 Bubble Church, as it starts today
4 Those struggling with addiction, thinking particularly of those known to you
5 St Mary & St Ethelburga Lyminge, St Mary Postling and All Saints Stanford
6 Those who live in Cylinder Road and Freshfield Lane
7 Christian communities facing persecution
8 Our ministry team
9 Village community groups
10 Our own discipleship as a community of faith
11 Those who live in Fairlight Road and Harpswood Lane
12 Carol Cooke and John Campbell, our Churchwardens, and the members of the PCC
13 Our local hospitals and Tricia Hill who leads the Canterbury hospital chaplaincy team
14 The King and the Royal Family
15 Those with physical and mental health needs and those who care for them, thinking particularly of those known to you
16 Our prayer groups
17 Those who live in New Road and The Coppice
18 Messy Church
19 Deanery Synod, its committees and officers
20 St Mary & St Eanswythe Folkestone, and St Peter Folkestone
21 Those who live in Tanners Hill, Tanners Hill Gardens and Deedes Close
22 Barry, our Rector
23 The bereaved and those who care for them, thinking particularly of those known to you
24 Pilgrims Hospice
25 Saltwood Primary School – its staff and pupils
26 Those who live on The Green, Old Saltwood Lane and Conway Close
27 St Luke Hawkinge and St Martin Acrise
28 Rose, Bishop of Dover and Darren, Archdeacon of Ashford
29 Mission Aviation Fellowship
30 Our Toddler groups
31 Those who face a new year with anxiety instead of hope
A Prayer for the Month of December
Almighty Father, 
Thank you for your indescribable gift of Jesus – the Light of the world
Lord, how this broken world needs your light today. As we rejoice and give thanks for Christmas, we pray that the light of Jesus will pierce the darkness of self-interest and hatred – and change the hearts of those who do not love you or their neighbours.
Thank you, Father, that because of Jesus, light will always shine in the darkness and the darkness will never be able to extinguish it.
Glory and thanks and praise to You Father God, this Christmas and always.
Amen.
(By Daphne Kitching – adapted )
Christ became what we are that He might make us what He is.
– Athanasius
Wardens’ Corner
From Carol Eastell:
Reminders about Prayer meetings:
 |
Sundays at 9 40 am for a few minutes before the service in Saltwood Church
Fridays at 9 00 am in Saltwood Church
|
There will be an Afternoon Prayer meeting at the home of Penny Forsythe, 34 Harpswood Lane on Wednesday 6 December at 2 pm. (note the change of time!)
Monday Chats:
Monday Chats are such a nice way to spend a cold winter afternoon. Come and join us and see for yourselves. On Monday 11th December we are having a’ bit of a do’ in the Lads’ Club from 2pm till 4pm, when we shall enjoy a glass of prosecco and some delicious cakes. We might even run to a bit of a sing song!
We finish for Christmas on 18 December and we are back in business on Monday 8 January.
Lent Lunches
After Christmas it won’t be long until the start of Lent! The lists will go up at the back of the church, asking for the various help needed. It would be wonderful to have an overall Organiser. It is a great way to get to know people and it would be so nice to have some new blood together with some old hands! Phone Carol on 07795 100 441
Christmas Cards for Sale
Don’t forget to stock up on your Christmas Cards – they are for sale at the back of the church at a very reasonable price.
Churches Together Coffee Morning on Saturday 2nd December from 10 – 12 at 101 in the High Street. If you have not been to 101, it is well worth a look at some lovely things to buy there.
From John Campbell:-
Christmas puts a bit of a strain on the rota of wonderful welcomers so we need to see who might be both available and willing to fill this role over the Christmas service programme. We are looking for those who could be part of the welcoming team for the following services.
3rd December 4.00 pm Advent Evensong
23rd December 4.00 pm Service of Lessons and Carols
24th December 4.00 pm The Crib Service
24th December 11.30 pm Midnight Communion Service
25th December 10.00 am Family Service and Communion
There will be a volunteer sheet at the back of the church, and we would be so grateful if you would consider your availability to help.
Thank you.
Family Stuff
Last month I encouraged you all to come to every service you can, rather than avoiding for example, the Family Service. I explained that the scriptures command us not to forsake the congregating together (or going to church in modern parlance), as is the habit of some.
This week I heard someone on the radio say, “the most important part of a church service can be the 15 minutes before the service and the 30 minutes after the service.”
I thought about this and realised it was profoundly true. Of course, the time of praising and worshipping God is paramount, but a word here and there from another member of the congregation can be so uplifting, encouraging, and even healing. It’s so easy to overlook this, but it’s a strong reason why we must gather as a family regularly. So please be encouraged by this because The Lord wants to use us all to minister His love to each other, in the same church family.
Another point I would like to share with you all this month is from Paul’s letter to the Roman church.
Romans 15:7 “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” The King James Version says, Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.
This is the challenge to all of us. Criticism of others, dissatisfaction with someone or something is not a fruit of the Spirit, but a fruit of the flesh – Galatians 5:16-23. There is no ministry of criticism we can aspire to!
Christ has welcomed us; He has received each of us without complaint of our many shortcomings and shortfalls. We are to do the same with each other and in doing so we glorify God. How much better this must be than criticism and judgement and complaint.
That’s it for this month, so God bless you all and Happy Christmas too.
Prayer Ministry at Saltwood
The Prayer Ministry Team invite you to come for prayer, in the sanctuary immediately after the Sunday morning services. You can ask for prayer for anybody and anything…. maybe the health and well-being of someone else or yourself? Or perhaps you have a national or world concern on your mind? You don’t need to share any sensitive details and you will not be asked any intrusive questions. You can bring your coffee with you if you wish. St John assures us ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.’ (1 John 5:14)
Team members will be glad to pray with you where you are sitting in the pews, if you prefer. Just ask one of the welcome team to let us know.
Book Fair
9th December in the Lads’ Club 10am-12.30pm
Enjoy a sociable coffee or tea …
…and get your Christmas Reading here!!! 
Saltwood Cinema Club
Will be showing
‘WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING’
on Wednesday 13th December
at 2pm at the Lads’ Club
Abandoned by her family, Kya Clark, otherwise known to the townspeople of Barkley Cove as the Marsh Girl, is mysterious and wild. “Where the Crawdads Sing” is a coming-of-age story of a young girl raised by the marshlands of the south in the 1950s. When the town hotshot is found dead, and inexplicably linked to Kya, the Marsh Girl is the prime suspect in his murder case.
Cost £5 per person to include tea and cake
All proceeds to the Lads’ Club Funds
Saltwood Choral Society
So Many Opportunities to Sing Carols this December!
Sunday 10th – 4pm – Lessons and Carols at Pedlinge
Tuesday 12th – 7.30pm – Carols on the Green
Sunday 17th – 2.30pm – Saltwood Choral Society (in the Church)
Saturday 23rd – 4pm – Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols
Sunday 24th (Christmas Eve) – 4.30pm – Crib Service
Sunday 24th (Christmas Eve) – 11.30pm – Midnight Mass
Monday 25th (Christmas Day) – 10.00 Family Christmas service
All are Welcome!
Bubble Church!
St Stephen’s Lympne
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM St STEPHEN’S CHURCH
Services and Events in December
Sunday 3rd – 11.00 – Parish Communion for Advent
Friday 8th – 13.30 – Lympne School Yr 1 & Yr 2 Christingle
Sunday 10th – Family Carol Service for Advent
Saturday 16th – 10.30 – Christmas Coffee Morning
Sunday 17th – 11.00 – Morning Worship for Advent
Sunday 17th – 13.00 – Lympne live Nativity Procession
Thursday 21st – 19.00 for 19.30 – Carols in the Courtyard
Sunday 24th – 11.00 – Benefice Service of Holy Communion for Advent
Sunday 31st – Benefice Service
A big Thank You to all who supported our November Coffee Morning on a rather wet and misty morning. We raised £105.50 of which £35 will go to A21 (Fighting Human Trafficking).
SUNDAY CLUB
Meets at The Lads’ Club, Rectory Lane, Saltwood, CT21 4QA,
10-11am during term time.
We have a wonderful time with all sorts of art & crafts and cooking, games and lots of drama. Fun groups for children aged 3-10 years. New faces are always very welcome.
For more information ring: Christine Clover on 0300 0301662,
text: 07379 877846 or email: christineclover@lympneandsaltwoodchurches.uk.
LYMPNE FELLOWSHIP GROUP
Our November meeting saw us all happily engaged in making a Christmas Angel from an old paperback book. Taking off the covers but keeping the spine intact, a lot of helpful chat and laughter ensued as we turned and folded the pages, pulling our almost finished angel round into a circle to create the dress. The finished angels were very impressive.
Our next meeting is our bring and share Christmas party, with mulled wine and Secret Santa.
Lympne Fellowship normally meets at 1.15pm in the Harry Margary Hall on the 2nd Thursday of the month, with a programme of interesting and informative talks and activities. For further information about our group, please contact Jill Page on 07846 819693
Christmas Coffee Morning at St Stephen’s Lympne
Saturday 16th December
10.30 – 12.30
Join us for mulled wine, coffee/tea, festive bakes
Fun activities
Enjoy our Nativity scene and beautiful, decorated church
Take a break while out for that walk (well-behaved dogs welcome)
Catch up with old friends and new, browse through our books
(donations of novels always appreciated)
Proceeds to maintenance of the church plus a donation to this month’s nominated charity:-
HYTHE DEMENTIA AWARENESS FORUM
SHAL: Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne
Our November speaker was local historian, Vince Williams, in a wide-ranging and fascinating talk on the Lost Churches and Chapels of Folkestone. What is startling is the number of places of worship – nearly 40 existing during the 19th and early 20th centuries which either closed down or merged with another chapel or place of worship. Moreover, the congregations were large, some with 400/500 worshippers. Two Church of England churches closed, and the range of chapels included Wesleyan, Methodists, Seamen’s Missions, Congregationalists, church of the Holy Cross, Baptists, 7th Day Adventists, Gospel Tabernacle, Church of Christ Scientist and of Spiritualists, Church Army, Plymouth Brethren, Quakers, Victorian Gospel Hall, and Salvation Army – just under 20 different types of religions which were followed at a time when Folkestone was a popular holiday resort with the arrival of the railway. The most significant place of worship and landmark was Christ Church in Sandgate Road which had had extensions over years to allow a normal congregation size of 500/600 people. Unfortunately, the church was hit by a large bomb in 1942 killing only 2 or 3 people. A compulsory purchase for preservation of the tower in the 1950s ensured that Christ Church’s tower remains as a Folkestone iconic symbol.
Earlier in November many members who had participated in the August excavation enjoyed a one-day presentation by a leading specialist in Roman pottery, Edward Biddulph of Oxford Archaeology. His talk covered a wide range of styles, materials, origins of manufacture and functions of pottery. He examined the various items of pottery unearthed in the excavation and highlighted significant pieces for further examination.
And there were shepherds
Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus is brilliantly told – the angel’s visit to Mary to tell her she would be mother of the long-promised Messiah, the old priest in the Temple told by another angel that his wife would have a son to be called ‘John’, who would prepare the people of Israel for that event, and then Mary and Joseph making the 60 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, as required by the Roman census. When they got there, no room at the inn, and they settled instead for a convenient stable, where Mary gave birth to a boy child.
Suddenly, Luke changes the tone. ‘And there were shepherds …’ – that’s what he actually wrote, just like that. ‘And there were shepherds’, doing exactly what shepherds do, looking after their flocks by night. But this night was different: yet another angelic message – a call to abandon their sheep and go into Bethlehem to see the baby Messiah. They were given directions and a ‘sign’ to identify Him. He would be lying in a feeding trough. Well, at least they would recognise that.
And why the shepherds, in this glorious story of our salvation? Because the event needed witnesses, and the chosen witnesses would be this bunch of scruffy, smelly shepherds straight from the sheep-pen. Nothing could speak more eloquently of God’s purpose than that. This was not a Saviour for the strong, rich and powerful, but for everybody. The carpenter and his wife guarded the Saviour of the world, and the very first witnesses were not kings or priests but a handful of shepherds.
By David Winter
Castle Green WI
President Julie Andrews welcomed fifty-two members to the November meeting. Kay Hygate was thanked for the flower arrangement for the President’s table as were coffee hostesses, Mandy Elson and Frances Banks.
Apologies were accepted and the minutes of the October meeting were approved and signed.
Julie drew members’ attention to the four resolutions in WI Life which we will be voting on in January.
Used Postage Stamps: Elisa has already sent off used postage stamps to the Childrens Heart Foundation and members were encouraged to keep saving stamps for this worthy cause.
Finance: Daphne brought us up to date with our financial position. Julie said that Daphne will be stepping down as treasurer in the New Year, but the good news is that Margaret Wilson has agreed to take over. Members gave both Daphne and Margaret a hearty round of applause.
Sub Groups: All the sub groups will be holding meetings in November. Please see https://castlegreenwi.org.uk/
Mary Hunter laid a wreath on behalf of Castle Green WI at Saltwood War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday.
Coffee Time! Usually, we catch up with friends old and new, peruse the sales table and buy raffle tickets during coffee time but for this meeting we got organised to take part in craft work. (We still managed to have coffee and cakes!) Romany and Biddy led a group decorating a wooden heart tree decoration, Mary W’s group made a flower using a leaf weaving technique, Jackie V showed her group how to make a paper star, Julie led a group making a felt heart tree decoration and Gill R’s group made a Christingle or a pomander. The sounds of chat and laughter were heard interspersed with periods of extreme concentration! Everyone enjoyed learning a new skill and photographs will be on the website.
The next meeting will be on Friday December 8th when we will be entertained by the Saltwood Hand Bell Ringers. There will also be special Christmas refreshments. Please remember to bring an extra cup/glass for the mulled wine! Castle Green WI is still open for new members; come along to one of our meetings to check us out or contact us via the website.
Margaret Alcock
Finishing with a Smile …
… It was Christmas and the judge was in a benign mood as he asked the prisoner what he was charged with. “Doing my Christmas shopping early,” replied the man.
“Why, that’s no offence,” said the judge. “How early were you doing it?”
“Before the store opened,” replied the defendant.
… December is the month when the family begins to discuss what to get Dad for Christmas. Some argue for a shirt; others hold out for a pair of socks. But the argument usually ends in a tie.
…Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: ‘Peace on Earth’; ‘Goodwill to Men’; and ‘Batteries not included’.