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A Letter from the Rector
Here we go again! Another New Year, same old promises that last for only a fleeting thought. Groans of, ‘Last year went so fast.’ Let’s take a moment to consider the impact of this last year. There are of course the things we experienced that we would rather not, like the loss of a loved one, illness or other unwanted episode in life. There will of course be other things more positive,: the birth of children adding to the family, weddings, holidays, pleasant surprises. For me it was things such as my daughter moving into her first house, finally on the property ladder. Most notably was the ‘all clear’ regarding my prostate cancer. A miracle because I was not receiving treatment.
In the church we celebrate Advent throughout December in preparation for Christmas. Not just a day but a whole month of reflection and gathering in the church and in the community. Of note was the impact of this most recent Christmas season had on me. I noted an increase in those attending events, an increasing confidence to come together. A deeper sense of joy in the increased school activity. The question then to ask is, ‘how do we maintain that joy?’ We marked how Jesus came into the world to teach us how to live better, more peaceful, and united. He also made it very clear, in fact demanded, that we love each other. It is far easier to love others when we are happy. Joy, therefore, leads to us treating each other better. We become kinder and increasingly aware of others.
The Bible has several verses that speak about kindness. Here are a few examples:
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Proverbs 11:17 – “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”
Luke 6:31 – “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
These verses highlight the importance of showing kindness towards others, forgiving one another, and treating others with compassion and love. Let this be our New Year’s resolution for 2024.
Happy New Year,
Rev Barry
Diary: St Peter & 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.
Bubble Church, for families with Toddlers, is held in the Lads’ Club at 10am on the first Sunday of the month; Sunday Club, for children aged 3 – 10 is held at 10am in the Lads’ Club, on the third Sundays in term time.
Some highlights for your own diary include:
Tuesday 2nd – Our Rector’s day off – and each following Tuesday.
Wednesday 3rd – 10.00-11.30 -Saltwood Toddlers in the Lads’ Club – and each following Wednesday this month
Thursday 4th – 19.00 – Choir Practice – and each following Thursday
Friday 5th – 9.00 – Prayer in the church – and each following Friday
Saturday 6th – 10.00 – Churches Together Coffee morning at Hythe URC
Saturday 6th – The Walk of Kings (see poster later in this newsletter)
Monday 8th – 14.00 – Monday Chats in the Lads’ Club
Thursday 11th – 14.00 – Afternoon Prayer Group at 34 Harpswood Lane
Sunday 14th – 16.30 – Christingle with Bonfire and Bangers
Wednesday 17th – 14.00 – Saltwood Cinema Club in the Lads’ Club
Saturday 20th – 10.30 – Coffee Morning at Lympne Church
Wednesday 24th – Last date for items for the February magazine
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
Items for the February Magazine
If you have any items for the February edition of the magazine, please forward to Beth Lewsey, by: 24th January, by email if possible, to: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org or deliver to 20 Castle Avenue. (Tel 01303 264577)
From the Parish Records
We welcome into the family of the church: Isaac Frost, whose baptism was on 10th December
Our love and sympathy go to the friends and family of:
Elaine Gavin, whose funeral was on 5th December
and
Anne Taylor, whose funeral was on 6th December
Intercessions for January
Today we pray especially for:-
1 Those who live in Bartholomew Close and Lea Close
2 Those who protect us – the emergency services
3 All who worship at St Peter & St Paul and at Pedlinge
4 Those who live in Bartholomew Lane and St John’s Road
5 The lonely, thinking particularly of those known to you
6 The work of the Rainbow Centre, on this ‘Walk of the Kings’ day
7 Those who visit our church and those who make use of it
8 Holy Trinity Folkestone, St George Folkestone, and St. Paul Sandgate
9 Our organists and choir
10 Canterbury Cathedral, Diocesan House and their staffs
11 Those who live in Hillcrest Road and Quarry Lane
12 Those who care for the church and churchyard and make them beautiful
13 The national role of the Church of England
14 St John the Baptist Folkestone
15 Our neighbours
16 Those who live in Holly Close and Mulberry Court
17 Those unsure of their future, thinking particularly of those known to you
18 St Augustine’s Primary School – staff and pupils
19 The Pilgrims Hospice
20 Families going through difficult times, thinking particularly of those known to you
21 Those who live in North Road West, North Road and Barrack Hill
22 Those parts of the world where there is war or political strife and those who suffer as a result
23 Our own benefice with St Stephen Lympne
24 His Majesty’s Government and members of Parliament
25 Compassion UK
26 Those who live in Pedlinge and Sandling
27 The terminally ill and their families, thinking particularly of those known to you
28 Our study groups
29 Those who run and attend Monday Chats
30 Other, non-Anglican, churches in the local area
31 Those who live in Sandling Road and Highfield Close
A Prayer for the month of January
, 
Lord, we stand on the threshold of a new year. Some of us are excited, some of us are fearful. We don’t know what 2024 will bring, but we know that there will be ups and downs, joy and sadness mixed in with the months.
As we step into this new year, help us to keep our eyes fixed on you; to know for certain that, whatever happens, you will be in it with us, not watching from the sidelines, but right in the middle of it with us.
Help us to put our trust in what Jesus did on the cross, maybe for the first time, maybe as a New Year re-commitment, so that we will know that nothing can separate us from you.
Let the storm rage, let the sun shine – we are safe!
In the name of the risen, living Lord Jesus.
Amen.
(By Daphne Kitching)
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.
Wardens’ Corner
From John Campbell: –
Volunteers
We are so grateful to and for all our volunteers. I want to thank you for all your faithful contributions. So much goes on unheralded, such as cleaning the church, and arranging the flowers so beautifully week by week, and catering and cake making. Nothing at church just happens. There is invariably a group of volunteers involved. I want to say a huge thank you to each of you.
Speaking of volunteers, Carol and I are required to rustle up some from time to time. Would you all please keep a wary eye on the table by the door where there may be a form seeking to recruit you for some worthy cause. Thank you.
Reverend Barry’s Day Off.
Barry’s nominated weekly day off is Tuesday. This is the day that suits him best, so I would ask you all not to contact him at all that day by any means – by phone, email, or text. If an emergency occurs, by which I mean something that really, really can’t wait until Wednesday, then please contact one of the wardens.
We take our days off for granted and most of us during our working lives had both Saturday and Sunday off. Barry has only one day off and I am asking each one of us to honour it and protect it.
Lent Lunches/SALT Groups
Carol also says something about lunches in her notes and we have to start thinking about it because Easter is early in 2024. The Lent lunches will be on each Saturday in March. I am going to prod the SALT groups and ask each of you if you would consider volunteering as a group, each to run a lent lunch on one of the Saturdays? There will of course be experienced help and advice available, but it would be a good opportunity to work as a group beyond the times of Bible study.
If your group is up for it, would you please let Carol know as soon as possible. Thank you.
A Thought
The Lord Jesus has told us that what we do to/for each other, we do to Him – Matthew 25:31-46. This of course has a negative as well as positive application. If we criticise each other, if we gossip about others, if we withhold support where we are able to give it, the Lord sees us as doing it to Him. That’s a salutary thought and one we all need to consider constantly. Rather, we should do everything as unto the Lord – Colossians 3:23.
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
The Afternoon Prayer Group is meeting a week later than normal in January and that is Thursday 11 January at 2 pm. We meet at the home of Penny Forsythe, 34 Harpswood Lane. This is a warm and friendly small group. We pray for up to an hour and we cover all sorts of requests. We always welcome new pray-ers so please come and join us. It is amazing what happens when people pray!
Monday Chats is great. We meet at 2pm – 4pm every Monday, in the Lads’ Club. We have a lot of fun mixed together with a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and quite a lot of delicious home-made cake. The invitation is open to any and every body, not just Church members, in fact most of our members just pop in from the village and come back week after week which is lovely. Do come and join us. You will be so welcome.
Lent Lunches
No one has stepped up yet to take on this nice little job of overall organizer for Lent Lunches. This is a bit disappointing as many of us really enjoy getting together over a Lent lunch. But while we await your arrival, (come on, you know who you are, don’t be shy. It is a bit like fancying a swim and dipping your toe in the water, it is jolly cold, but oh the joy when you take the plunge – it is so refreshing!) we will put up the lists at the back of the church. Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday 14 February, hotly followed by Lent gatherings. Never a dull moment!
Churches Together meet at the URC for coffee on Saturday 6 January from 10 – midday.
A Quote to Ponder
We know not what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future.
– Willis J Ray
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral entry cards. Many of you will have had cards for the last thirty years and although there is no expiry date on them, two of our people visited a couple of weeks ago and were told their cards are no longer valid. However, all was not lost as they were directed to the Cathedral shop where very quickly, they were issued with new cards.
Editor’s Note: On a personal note, I too discovered that the old style passes had been discontinued. I applied for a new one on-line, but do note it must be collected from the Visitor centre within a month. I thought I had uploaded my photo (a new requirement) but had failed! But the lovely lady at the Centre took my photo for me.
An alternative, which I shall seriously consider, is to become a ‘Friend of Canterbury Cathedral’. Details can be found online, but for an annual subscription, benefits include:
- Free entry to the Cathedral and its Precincts
- Full annual programme of Friends’ events
- New member celebration (which includes a private guided tour)
- 10% discount at the Cathedral Shop and Cathedral Lodge (some exclusions apply)
- Exclusive Friends’ Day each summer
- Monthly Friendly Friday e-newsletters
- Annual Cathedral magazine
- Twice-yearly paper mailings
- Membership badge
- Exclusive Friends’ Day each summer
Children’s and Young People’s Outreach
January, when we often look to the future, seems a good month to focus our church’s outreach to children and young people – who are the future! Thanks to Christine Clover and Bob White for the following:
Children’s & Young People’s Outreach
There are a lot of exciting things going on at the moment in the Benefice for Children and Young People.
Bubble Church is a very exciting new way of doing church especially for babies, toddlers, and young families. It’s a puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-food-fuelled, 30 minute kids and families adventure! We run Bubble church once a month on the first Sunday at the Lads’ Club. We launched Bubble Church on 3rd December and were thrilled with how many families attended, a total of 69 adults, young people and children. Our next will be on 7th January 2024.
Our Amazing True Story from the Bible – A message for Mary. Puppeteers: Sam, Aoife & Isabella, our Young People from The Sunday Club.
We continue to run our Toddler groups every week during term time on Wednesdays at the Lads’ Club and on Thursdays at The Harry Margary Hall in Lympne from 10-11:30am. Since September we have welcomed 68 families. Attendance is at an all time high with 24 adults and 28 children at the Lads’ Club. Luckily, there is lots of space, but we have had to purchase more chairs! At Lympne we have a slightly smaller hall, but pack it with an average of 16 adults and 16 children. We have a wonderful network of volunteers from both churches, to which we are always very grateful. We offer parents, grandparents and carers a very warm welcome and a safe space for their babies and toddlers.
I wanted to share this quote with you:
“We have both really enjoyed going to your toddler groups in both Saltwood and Lympne. You have made it a really special place for the community with your gentle touch, wonderful crafts, great singing and warm welcome. God bless you and the team in all that you do and thank you again for all your hard work. It’s really appreciated.”
Sunday Club parents are amazing, 
they have to cope with a different set up each week as we travel to different family services within the Benefice, not to mention the different times! We are to be found on 3rd Sundays at the Lads’ Club at 10am with fun and games and always lots of craft!
Since September, we have had 24 children and young people on our register. Our thanks go to Debbie who looks after our Young People and Molly who helps with everything!
Family Services in the Benefice
On Second Sundays we are to be found leading the service at Lympne Church at 11am. These are always interactive and fun and usually have a craft element. On Fourth Sundays, we are to be found at Saltwood Church at 10am where we will assist whoever is leading the service, this year, Liz and Roger. We love dressing up with a bit of drama!
Messy Church
This has been another good year for Messy Church. Attendance over the year has averaged 29 children and parents each month, although that disguises quite wide variations in attendance with one month being as low as 14 but in other months in the high 30’s. Our theme for the period January – August 2023 was the I AM sayings of Jesus. In September we started a new teaching cycle based upon The Water of Life. The pattern of Messy Church remains unchanged, starting with crafts in the Lads Club, normally with 6 different crafts for the children to make (and colouring-in for parents which they enjoy!!). This is followed by the worship segment in church led by either Liz or Barry. Then it’s back to the Lads’ Club for a meal.
For the first time this year we ran Messy Church in August and this was attended by 37 children and parents, including three families who had never before been to Messy Church. This underlines the importance of Messy Church as a way in which we continue to reach out to families in the local area. I might add we have a great team of helpers some of whom whizz around with the families, helping with the crafts while others handle the catering side. So continue to pray for us please.
A proud moment for Isobel pictured here with Bishop Rose at her Confirmation at Saltwood Church.
Our heartfelt thanks for all concerned in the wonderful work of sharing the hope of the gospel with our young people
Saltwood Cinema Club
Will be showing
‘THE GEAT ESCAPER’ 
on Wednesday 17th January
at 2pm at the Lads’ Club
Based on a true story that made national news about pensioner Bernard Jordan who in 2014, absconded from his care home in Hove, Sussex UK to attend an event in France marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. After the local Police were notified the care home got a call that evening to say Mr Jordan had been found safe and well in France. He returned a few days later having made his way to the event. Starring Michael Caine as Bernard Jordan and Glenda Jackson as his wife.
Cost £5 per person to include tea and cake
All proceeds to the Lads’ Club Funds
From the Parish Magazine – 2004
Extracts from, the January edition, nearly 20 years ago!
“We have received a number of encouraging responses and enquiries about the proposals to create a ‘Social Area’ within the church and a small two-storey extension, following the launch of the Appeal at the Carol Service on the weekend before Christmas.”
Following a visit to Dover’s Roman Painted House by Saltwood School. Hayden Hogg wrote: “If I were a Roman I would have a dinner party at the Roman Painted House. The Romans loved a good party and drank some wine. Having a banquet was a way of showing off…”
(Extracts for February 2004 next month!)
Spotted on a Church Notice Board:
When you were born, your mother brought you here.
When you were married, your partner brought you here.
When you die, your family will bring you here.
In the meantime, why not try coming on your own sometimes?
The Walk of Kings
Compassion UK
Since 2018 we have been privileged to sponsor two children through Compassion UK. Thanwa and Tangthai live in Thailand in a rural community. Our funding has enabled them to take part in special Compassion run projects where they learn about healthy lifestyles, improve their education and deepen their understanding of the Christian faith. Alongside this Compassion helps families with food parcels and medical support when needed. We write to the children regularly and they in turn write to us. It was particularly good to communicate with them during Covid, to encourage them and to find out about the restrictions on their lives. We were interested to hear earlier in the year that the quality of their lives, and that of their community, have changed so much for the better, that we no longer need to support them.
Recognising what good work Compassion does with children in vulnerable circumstances, we are now sponsoring two more children – Edem and Esenam (5 years old). They live in Golokwati, Ghana. Their parents are agricultural workers. We are beginning to find out about their lives in their letters.
Do keep an eye on the display board at the back of the church for updates as they occur.
St Stephen’s Lympne
Wishing you all a very happy New Year
Services and events in January:
2nd – Lympne Airfield History Society meeting – 19.30
7th – Parish Communion = 11.00
11th – Wedding – 13.00
14th – Morning Worship – 11.00
20th – Coffee Morning – 10.30
21st – Morning Worship – 11.00
28th – Parish Communion – 11.00
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
Cleaners needed
Would you be able to spend a couple of hours or so, say once a month or less, to go on a rota to help keep our lovely church clean and welcoming? You can work alone or with others, at a time to suit you. In addition, a couple of times a year, we organise a bigger group to carry out a deeper clean before Easter and Christmas.
If you would like to help, or for further information, please email fionajarvest22@gmail.com
LYMPNE FELLOWSHIP GROUP
A friendly and festive time was had by all at the December Christmas Social. The table was spread with a magnificent bring-and-share buffet lunch; there were picture quizzes to try; plenty of chatter, with voices lubricated by mulled wine; and Secret Santa provided the grand finale.
Our next meeting on 11th January is a ‘Bingo Quiz’ – where knowing all the answers doesn’t necessarily make you a winner!
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
THE NATIVITY PARADE
What a wonderful turn- out for our very special Nativity Parade on Sunday 17th December! So many from the village, the church and the castle helped to make this a wonderful event. Particular thanks, of course to Rachel Cornish, who coordinated everything. For those of you who missed the spectacle of live camels, and a donkey, here are a few photos!
Coffee Morning at St Stephen’s, Lympne
SATURDAY 20th JANUARY
10.30am – 12.30pm
Join us for coffee, cakes & savoury bakes
(Well-behaved dogs welcome)
Catch up with old friends and new
Proceeds to maintenance of the church plus
a donation to this month’s nominated charity:
Home Farm Trust, Lympne Place – Supporting adults with learning disabilities
SHAL: Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne
We open our 2024 programme on Tues. 16 January with our popular annual ‘Memories of Lympne’ as the theme. The focus this time is on the events and effects of the two World Wars on the village. John Simpson, who chairs the Lympne Airfield Society, will set the scene highlighting the main events in both wars such as the Zeppelin dropping in WWI and another large bomb in WWII. As well as SHAL members, non-members are welcome to attend to share their own memories of WWII or those of their families with earlier stories and experiences of both wars. The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the Harry Margary Hall, and free refreshments are available at the conclusion of the meeting.
Castle Green WI
Vice-President Gill Roffey welcomed thirty-seven members and one guest to the December meeting. Gill reminded members that should we need to evacuate the Lads’ Club members should gather on the pavement opposite the Lads’ Club and wait to be checked off the register before leaving the area.
Apologies from members unable to attend were accepted and Mary Wheatley was thanked for her Christmas flower arrangement. The minutes of the November meeting were approved and signed.
Finance. Members were advised that the Subscription for next year will be £48.00. Of this sum £11.30 goes to East Kent Federation, £13.10 goes to NFWI and £23.60 goes to Castle Green
Subgroups January meetings. Book Group Tuesday 9th January at 3pm in The Nutmeg, Hythe.
Knit and Natter Thursday 18th January 2pm at member’s house. Patchwork Group Tuesday 22nd January at 2pm at member’s house. Walking group Monday 15th January at 10.30am. Lunch Club Thursday 15th February 1pm. More details of the above events are on the website.
The resolutions for the NFWI Annual Meeting on June 5th, 2024, at The Royal Albert Hall will be discussed and voted on at the January meeting. Members were asked to consider joining our committee as some members of the current committee will be standing down in February.
Cancellation of meetings. Members were reminded that in the event of bad weather an email would be sent to all members by 9am should a meeting have to be cancelled.
Having dealt with the business part of the meeting Elisa, Gill and their merry band of helpers served us with mulled wine, coffee, mince pies and stollen whilst The Saltwood Handbell Ringers prepared to entertain us. Their first piece was a special arrangement of Jerusalem followed by carols and Christmas songs. We all sang along with the bell ringers and some daring members even had a go at handbell ringing. This was a lovely start to the festive season. Gill Roffey gave a vote of thanks.
On December 13th forty-five members and guests enjoyed a Christmas lunch at Sotirios in Folkestone. Julia and Maggie were thanked for organising the event and were each given a Poinsettia.
The next meeting will be on Friday January 12th when Vanessa Culliford will talk about the history of Belly Dancing. There will be an opportunity for audience participation!
Castle Green is open for new members. https://castlegreen.org.uk/
Margaret Alcock
Finishing with a Smile…
… After the Christmas and New Year festivities, the wife gingerly crept onto her bathroom scales to weigh herself.
She pulled a sad face.
Her husband asked: “What’s the matter? Are you overweight?”
“Well, not if I was six inches taller.”
May you be showered with blessings in
2024
