We come to the darkest time of the year, a month with the shortest day, and then mornings get still darker. Short days, cold nights, little light can all lead us to feeling we have nothing to look forward to. Christmas speaks to us of hope - the light that shines in the darkness - the baby in the manger showing us that God loves us and is with us even in the darkest of times. However you may find yourself this Christmas, know that you are loved and share that love with everyone you meet – and laugh as much as you can. Laughter, as the saying goes, is the best medicine! May God who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, bless us and fill us with peace. Amen
Activities, RefreshmentsCome and join us!
Our weekly shopping trip to Lidl in Hawkinge is a simple errand—until you drive there from Lyminge. The route winds through Etchinghill and along Teddars Leas Road, a narrow country lane where only one car can pass at a time. Almost every journey involves pulling into a passing place to let someone by.When that happens, my wife and I always watch to see what kind of acknowledgment we’ll get. Most drivers are gracious—some flash their lights enthusiastically or wave with gusto. Others offer a simple hand lift, or the laziest of gestures: a barely raised finger from the steering wheel. But every so often, someone zooms past without even a glance of thanks.That lack of gratitude always stings. After all, it feels good to be appreciated, especially when we’ve gone out of our way for someone. It reminds me of a passage from the Gospel of Luke. Ten lepers were healed by Jesus—but only one, a foreigner and a Samaritan, returned to give thanks and praise to God.Gratitude, it seems, is rarer than we think. Yet giving thanks—to God, to others—should be as natural as breathing. It’s an expression of humility and recognition that we’re not self-sufficient.When Jesus met those ten lepers on the border of Samaria and Galilee, they cried out, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” They didn’t demand healing; they asked for mercy. Their plea wasn’t just for restored bodies but for restored dignity and belonging. I once met a small community of lepers in Nepal, cared for by a Christian charity. Their compassion reminded me that mercy still lives in quiet places. Perhaps next time we are helped by someone, or a driver stopping on a narrow lane—we might remember to show the same grace, and to simply say, “Thank you.”
These eight country churches are all lovely for baptisms and each has a beautiful stone font.Baptisms or christenings are usually part of a regular Sunday service, where the congregation can welcome the newly baptised into the church, but in special circumstances a baptism can be arranged as private service (usually later in the day on a Sunday).Scroll down for more photos!<br>For Baptisms please contact Alison Dale, Benefice Administrator:beneficeadmin@elhamvalleygroupofchurches.co.uk
