This Christmas, the Diocese of Canterbury invites everyone to rediscover the hope, wonder, and joy of the season through the Church of England’s biggest-ever campaign – The Joy of Christmas. Running throughout Advent and Christmas, the campaign offers free resources for families, schools, and churches to pause, reflect, and celebrate wherever they are.
Families can enjoy a beautifully illustrated children’s picture book, The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas, along with activity sheets, colouring pages, Bible stories, and songs. Schools have four weeks of ready-to-use collective worship materials, making it easy for children to explore the nativity story and the meaning of joy.
Churches across our diocese will welcome people to carol services, Christingles, and family-friendly gatherings. For those unable to attend in person, many parishes will stream services online. Earlier this year, St Clement’s Sandwich and St Leonard’s Hythe took part in the Church of England’s national online service, showing how our local churches are connecting with people wherever they are.
There are also opportunities to volunteer at local services and events or to use the campaign resources to bring the joy of Christmas to your home, school, or youth group.
Archdeacon of Ashford, The Venerable Darren Miller, said:
"Christmas meets us wherever we find ourselves – in our joys, our longings, and even our tiredness. The Joy of Christmas reminds us that God’s love works quietly, bringing hope that never fails. I pray that everyone in our diocese will know they are deeply loved, never forgotten, and always welcome to experience the wonder of this season."
Discover resources at cofe.io/TheJoyOfChristmas and find local services at AChurchNearYou.com.