The lychgate at St Nicholas Church has been a historic landmark in Thanington since 1871. Perhaps you have been one of many who have walked through it on your way to worship or to mark significant times in the life of family and friends at baptisms, weddings or funerals? Or maybe you took shelter under the lychgate, hanging out with friends? We would love to see any familiy photos you have with the lychgate, perhaps from some of those special occasions? If you would like to share a photo, please click use our 'Get in touch' page to make contact. It would be great to take copies and create a display of the lychgate's history with photos from Thanington residents. Unfortunately, the lychgate is now in poor shape. It needs urgent work to restore the structure and put it on a firm footing, so that it continues to be a feature in Thanington for many years to come. To restore it in a way which makes it safe and preserves its historic character, will cost an estimated £24,000. This is well beyond the means of our regular congregation. We are applying for grants towards the cost, but this takes time and there are no guarantees. So we also need to raise money locally from people who care about Thanington.Do you value Thanington Parish Church? Would you like to help keep this historic building in good shape for future generations? Do you want the lychgate to remain as a historic landmark in Thanington? If so, please consider making a donation. Imagine if hundreds of people each gave a little, according to what they could afford. We know that with the rising cost of living and energy bills that this is just not an option for some. But for those who are able, please visit our giving page for information on how you can give to Thanington Parish Church.The best way to give online to the church is through Parish Giving. To do this, visit www.parishgiving.org.uk and search for Thanington. We will receive all of your donation. Parish Giving does not take a cut. And if you are a taxpayer, Parish Giving can claim tax relief on your donation and give the church an extra 25% of what you donate. So if a taxpayer donates £10 and makes a gift-aid declaration, the church will receive an extra £2.50 gift-aid from HMRC. Lets work together to love our lychgate. Revd Nick White
With energy bills rising and more people facing financial hardship this winter, Christians Togeteher in Canterbury have compiled a leaflet detailing places where people can get warm - places open at the same time each week, with free hot drinks, heating on and a friendly wwelcome. To see the leaflet with all the details, open the attached file or click on this link: Https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5f209069c4808/content/pages/documents/ warm-welcome-leaflet.pdfThe venues for each day are also posted on the Christians Together in Canterbury Facebook page each day. https://www.facebook.com/churchestogethercanterbury
In January we move from the season of Christmas to Epiphany, from celebrating the birth of Jesus as “God with us”, to sharing the good news of Jesus with the world. Our Christmas day bible readings described the angels announcing to some Jewish shepherds that Christ had come and that the baby Jesus in a manger was the sign. Our Epiphany reading from Matthew’s gospel chapter 2 will tell us of the the wise men from the east who see an unusual star and concluding that it is a sign of the birth of an important new king. Both shepehrds and wise men journeyed to find Jesus and ended up in worship. God is always inviting us on a journey. It’s a journey to come, to receive God’s love through Jesus Christ, and to respond in worship. It’s also a journey to go, to follow Jesus in our everyday lives, to share God’s love with others and invite them to follow Jesus. It’s a journey which changes us and the world in which we live. Have a look at the Everyday Faith page for some personal stories and ideas to help you move on in your journey of faith. If you are new or returning to Christian faith, the START course aym be a helpful next step in your journey of faith. For more details, get in touch with me on revnickwhite@gmail.com In 2023 I pray that we will each move on in our journey of faith and that we will shine brightly with the light and love of Jesus Christ, so that more people worship and follow him. Revd Nick White
There’s a line from the Christmas carol Away in a Manger - “the little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes”. It sounds idyllic but it is of course the product of somebody’s imagination! It presents an unrealistic picture of the baby Jesus. Cying is a baby’s prime way of communicating that they need something - whether a feed, a cuddle, a nappy change or something else. Christians believe Jesus was divine, but we also believe he was human - God born into this world as a human baby, growing into a child and an adult. God the creator entrusted himself to the care of those who he had created. God the creator chose to accept the limitations of the human body. God the creator experienced the joys and sorrows of human life. It's mind boggling! Why would God do such a thing? The birth of Jesus shows that God wants to be with us. Matthew’s gospel speaks of the birth of Jesus as Immanuel (which means “God with us”). God knows what its like to be human, God has revealed himself in a way we can relate to, and God wants to be n relationship with us. The birth of Jesus shows that God does not leave us in the dark. John's gospel speaks of Jesus as the light of the world. The life of Jesus here on earth revealed the holy love of God and teaches us what it means to love God and love our neighbour. The birth of Jesus shows that God does not leave us without help or hope. In Luke's gospel, the angels' message to the shepherds was that a Saviour had been born. And in the gospel accounts of Jesus life, death and resurrection, we see this power to save from sin and evil, from sickness and death. This Christmas may you know God with you through Jesus Christ.p.s. If you want some help to reflect more on the birth of Jesus and the events surrounding it, why not try the Church of England's free app - Follow the Star. For more details visit, https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/advent-and-christmas/follow-star-great-invitation
