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The Christingle Tradition

Today is Christmas Eve and everyone is getting excited.

There will be Christingle services at 3.00 and 4.30.

Do you know what a Christingle is?

Come to the Community Centre and join us for one of the services.

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Christingle is a joyful celebration that brings families and communities together to share the light of Jesus and spread a message of hope.

During the service, each person takes a Christingle and the candles are all lit to create a warm, magical glow symbolising the light of Christ and bringing hope to people living in darkness.

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  • The orange represents the world

  • The candle represents Jesus, the Light of the World

  • The red ribbon represents Jesus' blood, shed when He died for us

  • The four cocktail sticks represent the four seasons and the four directions - everywhere, all year round

  • The nuts and fruit represent the fruits of the earth (sometimes these are replaced with sweets)

The tradition is thought to have started in Germany in 1747 when minister wanted to encourage children to think about the real meaning of Christmas.

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He gave each child a candle with a red ribbon around it. This represented Jesus, the Light of the World and the final prayer in the service was that a flame would be kindled in the children's hearts so that became more like Jesus.

Over the years the custom has developed into what is  shown here and is common today, bringing to our hope for Christmas a reminder of Easter.

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The Christingle tradition has been used in the UK by The Children's Society as a focus for fundraising, the first Christingle service for this purpose being held in a Church of England in 1968 . 

Jesus said, “‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.“
Thank you, Heavenly Father for sending Jesus to be light in a dark world. Thank you that He has overcome the darkness and made it possible for us to live in His light.

Jesus commanded His followers “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” 
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for leading us into the light. Give us the courage to be light at all times, showing Your love to others and encouraging them to know You.
Amen
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